Ideas that might pan out are generally plausible now given the evidence available, even if they cannot be proved, whereas bogus, crank ideas generally ignore what we know to claim something contradictory.
I think this is an important point to recognize. If an idea agrees with observation but makes predictions that can’t currently be tested, it should be given more consideration than an idea which contradicts existing observations.
I think this is an important point to recognize. If an idea agrees with observation but makes predictions that can’t currently be tested, it should be given more consideration than an idea which contradicts existing observations.