The first ever garbage in / garbage out debate

"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
                                                                    -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871)

(Hat tip to my friend George for the reference)