what Dave has to say to science crackpots...

There is particular technique used by physics crackpots (of which there are LOTS) when they are defending their own theories. What they do is to assail Quantum Mechanics or General Relativity on some conceptual ground, and if you try to explain to them how the equations work or how their predictions are confirmed by experience, or god forbid you ask them to show you the equations in THEIR theory... they accuse physics of being a priestood/cult that uses mathematics as a weapon to deny ordinary people admittance. Almost every physics crackpot will use some version of that line somewhere.

The reason physics seems closed off and "cultish" is that there is a significant barrier to entry- which is- in order to be part of the conversation you need to understand the theory. You can not do this by watching the Discovery Channel, reading paperback pop-sci from Borders, and then thinking about it really hard. You learn the theories by working WITH the theories, and just to do THAT takes a minimum of 2-3 years of mathematics courses. Which is why the great majority of crackpots conveniently decree that REAL science doesn't NEED all that math.

But without a familiarity with the tools and techniques of the theories themselves, you have as much chance of making a sensible contribution to the scientific process as someone who has spent the past year in their room playing "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith" has of doing a good job filling in for Joe Perry on the next tour. Call it the CULT OF MUSIC PRIESTS if you want, but pushing the colored buttons on your PS3 controller is not even close to the real thing, no matter how much the fake crowd cheers.

(adapted from YouTube comment thread)