A Flat Earth - Thoughts?

[CaitSeith]

Philosophy Tube have some interesting insights about flat-earthers (and science-deniers in general)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGvGQSazaTM

tl;dr: They do it as a matter of principle. They see scientific evidence as nothing more but a means of persuasion.

Thank you for sharing that; it is refreshing to hear an attempt at a rational take on how in every fuck flat earthers believe what they believe, though I?d have preferred it have been a medical/phsychological bent over a philosophical one, i.e.: yes, they think differently, but is it because of a severe form of brain damage?

Unless it's contagious (like neurosyphilis), I doubt it.

 

[Xprimentyl]

Philosophy Tube have some interesting insights about flat-earthers (and science-deniers in general)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGvGQSazaTM

tl;dr: They do it as a matter of principle. They see scientific evidence as nothing more but a means of persuasion.

Thank you for sharing that; it is refreshing to hear an attempt at a rational take on how in every fuck flat earthers believe what they believe, though I?d have preferred it have been a medical/phsychological bent over a philosophical one, i.e.: yes, they think differently, but is it because of a severe form of brain damage?

Unless it's contagious (like neurosyphilis), I doubt it.

Lol, I was being facetious, though our not knowing for sure is probably because flat earthers think the institution of medicine to be yet another system of control so don?t get themselves tested deferring instead to TRUE healing methods like from crystals and elixirs an?. [small]oh my god.[/small]

I?ve listened to that video twice now, and it is interesting how much sense it makes, but it begs the question how do we learn/teach anything if direct observation is the only thing to be trusted? Who determines what ?persuasion? is benign and which is malicious and how so? And furthermore, what rational person who questions a certain persuasion and decides it to be malicious (because of reasons) just decides to believe the opposite? There?s that breakdown in logic and reasons that perplexes me; it?s utterly juvenile thinking to think because what I see makes more sense than what I don?t understand in the thousands of years of science pretty much universally agreed upon is not just wrong, but a lie.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

You think Flat Earthers are bad? Well one has finally recanted their insane beliefs, and seen the light ... ... kinda.

Now we?re a fucking donut? [small]god damn it.[/small]

Not sure if you watched the video near the start of the article, but a typically arrogant and self-assured flat earther states the two reasons why ?the lie? (and he never quite identifies who exactly started and is perpetuating this ?lie?) are 1.) all the money NASA has raises?. Yeah, apparently NASA RAISES money, and 2.) to make people feel insignificant and easier to control. Baseless facts stringing together nonsense and non sequitur. How they manage to sleep at night making up things to believe while ignoring empirical evidence directly in their faces, in fact, outright calling said evidence ?a lie? simply because they can?t disprove it (for obvious fucking reasons)?. It?s just supremely, superbly and superlatively idiotic.

Let's be honest here, if Flat Earthers were overly interested in facts and scientific proofs they wouldn't believe the Earth was flat in the first place.

 

[Dalisclock]

So I've never met a flat earther in person, at least, not that I'm aware of, but I do have two questions for them.

If the earth is flat, how do time zones work? How can it be noon on one side of the earth and midnight on the other?

Also, how does travel between hemispheres work? Because I've personally flown and sailed between hemispheres numerous times in both directions and I certainly don't remember any drop offs and you'd think with a flat earth there would be one SOMEWHERE. I'm not even getting into stuff like tides and loss of water and gravity and such.

I could see being a flat earther if you'd never traveled outside your home region or didn't have access to TV that could show you live footage from the far side of the earth, or say, talked on the phone to someone numerous time zones away.....but beyond that it seems fucking bizarre. Like trying to convince someone the moon isn't real, it's just an illusion.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

If the earth is flat, how do time zones work? How can it be noon on one side of the earth and midnight on the other?

Most will amit that's a thing. I then give them a large coin and tell them to hold it up to the sun in such a way that one part of the same face is lit and the other part isn't.

Usually works wonder at shutting up most of them, aside from some mumbling about trying to get you to think, sunlight being a narrow focused beam (the sun shoots us with lazors!) or hitting us at a sharp enough angle that it weakens in the atmosphere and eventually gets reflected/absorbed.

Also, how does travel between hemispheres work? Because I've personally flown and sailed between hemispheres numerous times in both directions and I certainly don't remember any drop offs and you'd think with a flat earth there would be one SOMEWHERE. I'm not even getting into stuff like tides and loss of water and gravity and such.

Oh, this one is easy.

Since the Earth is flat, and not a sphere, there obviously can't be hemispheres, can there? The continents, oceans and atmosphere are all on the same side. It's like a pizza. You don't put pizza toppings on the bottom, do you? That's why they're called toppings.

 

[Dalisclock]

Since the Earth is flat, and not a sphere, there obviously can't be hemispheres, can there? The continents, oceans and atmosphere are all on the same side. It's like a pizza. You don't put pizza toppings on the bottom, do you? That's why they're called toppings.

So where's the crust/edge of the pizza/world?

 

[Xprimentyl]

So I've never met a flat earther in person, at least, not that I'm aware of, but I do have two questions for them.

If the earth is flat, how do time zones work? How can it be noon on one side of the earth and midnight on the other?

The one thing you have to understand about flat earthers is that their gravitational center is a highly dense core of confirmation bias; if they are faced with anything that doesn?t fit within their Flat Earth model, they simply ignore it, deny it, or call it a lie. In the case of midnight and noon, one of their core beliefs is that the sun is NOT 93 million miles away, but a mere few thousand miles ?above? us and it and the moon are both much smaller than ?they?ve told us,? and both rotate around the flat plane of earth like the hands of a clock. So, by their ?logic,? when it?s midnight where you are, the sun is on the opposite of the flat plane hence it?s noon there. Simple, right?

Also, how does travel between hemispheres work? Because I've personally flown and sailed between hemispheres numerous times in both directions and I certainly don't remember any drop offs and you'd think with a flat earth there would be one SOMEWHERE. I'm not even getting into stuff like tides and loss of water and gravity and such.

I could see being a flat earther if you'd never traveled outside your home region or didn't have access to TV that could show you live footage from the far side of the earth, or say, talked on the phone to someone numerous time zones away.....but beyond that it seems fucking bizarre. Like trying to convince someone the moon isn't real, it's just an illusion.

See my response to the time zone question; essentially, the ?hemispheres? are just opposite halves of the pizza planet because of reasons. And recall what I said about confirmation bias? Their core tenet is that gravity isn?t real because it?s the one argument that pretty much debunks everything they believe so ?conspiracy! Lies!? They argue often ?how could water (the oceans) conform to the shape of a sphere when water naturally seeks its (flat) level and water on a sphere would run off?? Idiots. Or ?how can the earth curve if planes fly level to the ground and aren?t dipping their noses correcting for curvature every five minutes?? Dumbasses. Or my personal favorite: ?If the earth is round, that would mean [relative to North America], planes in Australia would be flying upside down, and that?s impossible!?

?GRA ? VEH ? TEEEEEEEEEEEE,? YOU FUCKING GEENYUSEZ.

Since the Earth is flat, and not a sphere, there obviously can't be hemispheres, can there? The continents, oceans and atmosphere are all on the same side. It's like a pizza. You don't put pizza toppings on the bottom, do you? That's why they're called toppings.

So where's the crust/edge of the pizza/world?

They believe the North Pole is the ?center? of the earth and the outer edge is, and I shit you not, a wall of ice patrolled by the world?s governments by air and by sea to keep us from reaching it. Seriously, look up some ?Flat Earth Proofs? on YouTube and prepare to have your mind blow by seemingly rational adults explaining this grade school fantasy with authority and smug condescension; it is simultaneously infuriating and fascinating.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

Since the Earth is flat, and not a sphere, there obviously can't be hemispheres, can there? The continents, oceans and atmosphere are all on the same side. It's like a pizza. You don't put pizza toppings on the bottom, do you? That's why they're called toppings.

So where's the crust/edge of the pizza/world?

Pizza/world crust is delish. It has long since been eaten by the dinosaurs. Duh!

See my response to the time zone question; essentially, the ?hemispheres? are just opposite halves of the pizza planet because of reasons.

They believe the North Pole is the ?center? of the earth and the outer edge is, and I shit you not, a wall of ice patrolled by the world?s governments by air and by sea to keep us from reaching it.

I especially like this. On one hand, the hemisphere are on opposite sides of the planetpizza. But on the other hand, the edge is so efficiently and covertly patrolled that no one on the whole fucking in the entire fucking history of mankind ever reached it and got to tell about it. So, how do people from one hemisphere travel to another?

Did everyone from the North side who ever took a vacation to Australia secretly tunnel through the planetpizza without noticing? Do we actually go over the edge, but the World Border Patrol drugs everyone with the lithium in the airplane exhaust into forgetting about it? Or has no one from the northern or southern hemisphere ever actually travelled to the other, but was instead secretly brought to some remote location that is made to look like their intended destination (again drugged. Aluminum vapor in the exhaust)?

 

[Dalisclock]

Also, how does travel between hemispheres work? Because I've personally flown and sailed between hemispheres numerous times in both directions and I certainly don't remember any drop offs and you'd think with a flat earth there would be one SOMEWHERE. I'm not even getting into stuff like tides and loss of water and gravity and such.

I could see being a flat earther if you'd never traveled outside your home region or didn't have access to TV that could show you live footage from the far side of the earth, or say, talked on the phone to someone numerous time zones away.....but beyond that it seems fucking bizarre. Like trying to convince someone the moon isn't real, it's just an illusion.

See my response to the time zone question; essentially, the ?hemispheres? are just opposite halves of the pizza planet because of reasons. And recall what I said about confirmation bias? Their core tenet is that gravity isn?t real because it?s the one argument that pretty much debunks everything they believe so ?conspiracy! Lies!? They argue often ?how could water (the oceans) conform to the shape of a sphere when water naturally seeks its (flat) level and water on a sphere would run off?? Idiots. Or ?how can the earth curve if planes fly level to the ground and aren?t dipping their noses correcting for curvature every five minutes?? Dumbasses. Or my personal favorite: ?If the earth is round, that would mean [relative to North America], planes in Australia would be flying upside down, and that?s impossible!?

?GRA ? VEH ? TEEEEEEEEEEEE,? YOU FUCKING GEENYUSEZ.

Since the Earth is flat, and not a sphere, there obviously can't be hemispheres, can there? The continents, oceans and atmosphere are all on the same side. It's like a pizza. You don't put pizza toppings on the bottom, do you? That's why they're called toppings.

So where's the crust/edge of the pizza/world?

They believe the North Pole is the ?center? of the earth and the outer edge is, and I shit you not, a wall of ice patrolled by the world?s governments by air and by sea to keep us from reaching it. Seriously, look up some ?Flat Earth Proofs? on YouTube and prepare to have your mind blow by seemingly rational adults explaining this grade school fantasy with authority and smug condescension; it is simultaneously infuriating and fascinating.

Sounds like it.

I imagine it's like arguing with a small child, except the child has a reason for being ignorant. I have no clue with what's up with apparent adults who presumably totally believe this shit(and not the people who are pretending to as a joke).

Well, I knew one guy who liked to claim that the Hubble space telescope was actually a spy satellite and that's why the mirror was replaced....because reasons. I suspect he might have been a flat Earther. He apparently doesn't believe evolution is real too because..."No mutation is beneficial" or some such shit.

And I didn't even ask how seasons work on a flat earth? How is it Winter in the Summer hemisphere but Summer in the Northern at the same time? How would that work on a flat surface?

When you have to come up with convoluted and overly complicated explanations to explain how normal everything things work because somehow "The Earth is a Sphere" just can't be/isn't possible, it begs the question what exactly you think this is gaining you.

 

[Leg End]

I have a very strange affection for Flat-Earthers. The concepts and mockups they come up with for a flat Earth are just amazing. It's like they came straight out of an old-school JRPG, filled with adventure. Beyond the Ice Wall is the unknown. Maybe you'll fall off. Maybe you'll find truth beyond mortal comprehension. Maybe it's Golden Sun and the world is eroding. Maybe it's Grandia and the wall is a sham, leading to the rest of the world.

Seriously sit down and watch this, then tell me you don't get that JRPG mystery feel. Just have some alcohol ready.

 

[Xprimentyl]

I have a very strange affection for Flat-Earthers. The concepts and mockups they come up with for a flat Earth are just amazing. It's like they came straight out of an old-school JRPG, filled with adventure. Beyond the Ice Wall is the unknown. Maybe you'll fall off. Maybe you'll find truth beyond mortal comprehension. Maybe it's Golden Sun and the world is eroding. Maybe it's Grandia and the wall is a sham, leading to the rest of the world.

Seriously sit down and watch this, then tell me you don't get that JRPG mystery feel. Just have some alcohol ready.

I?d generally like to agree with you; there is an innocent charm/humor to someone being so assured of something so wrong, but with these characters (and maybe it?s closer to home for me because my best friend is a flat earther,) when they act so smug, so self-righteous, so condescending whilst clearly ignoring facts and dismissing evidence contrary to what they want to believe, I just want to choke them! They literally have NO proof of their bullshit, yet they demand proof of our bullshit, and when presented with the evidence and proof of our bullshit, they CALL bullshit! eeeeeeeeeeAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just left a lengthy comment on that video you shared telling them exactly what I think of them, mostly for catharsis, and it worked because now I need a cigarette.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

What wisdom and use is there to gain if we find out that the Earth is truly 100% flat?

And also this is the ultimate arguement to be made against Flat Earthers.

If the Earth was flat, Europe would have never found the Americas.

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

So I've never met a flat earther in person, at least, not that I'm aware of, but I do have two questions for them.

I have a third one.
So, even assuming you're a flat earther, that never traveled by ship or an airplane, you can still see the sky, right?
Explain this: Why can we see celestial objects the way they are. Spherical.
If Earth is just a flat disk floating in the space, why wouldn't other planets, satelites[footnote]Hell, Moon itself should be enough proof how stupid all of that is.[/footnote], Sun be shaped like that as well?
Is Earth special in that way? Are those other objects we see constantly facing their flat surface towards the Earth? Did the gubment fake the sky???

What wisdom and use is there to gain if we find out that the Earth is truly 100% flat?

And also this is the ultimate arguement to be made against Flat Earthers.

If the Earth was flat, Europe would have never found the Americas.

Now that one can be easily explained, though. Assuming entire known landmass is on the one side of the disc.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

I?ve never actually met one, but I?m glad I haven?t. It baffles me that anyone could be dumb and/or crazy enough to believe that... how do people even believe in that kind of nonsense to begin with?

 

[Dalisclock]

If the Earth was flat, Europe would have never found the Americas.

Now that one can be easily explained, though. Assuming entire known landmass is on the one side of the disc.

Which then begs the questions: Where are the edges of the disc?

Because I've personally crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and didn't see any drop offs anywhere.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

Which then begs the questions: Where are the edges of the disc?

Because I've personally crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and didn't see any drop offs anywhere.

This has come up somewhat in the thread before. The circumference of the Earth disc is lined with massive ice walls which are secretly patrolled by the world governments to keep people away, apparently so succesfully that no one has managed to get within viewing distance and got to tell about it.

I'd say this shows Flat Earthers have no sense of scale either, you know, aside from all other mental faculties they seem to lack. The Earth is tiny on even an interplanetary scale, let alone interstellar, but still pretty massive from a human perspective, with a surface area of some 510 million square km. If you were to turn that into a disc you'd get a circumference of about 80 000 km, if my shitty math is correct. That's pretty fucking long.

To put things into perspective, the most well-guarded border in the world is probably the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Exact numbers are hard to find, but it's estimated that roughly two-thirds of North Korea's 1 million strong active military personel is stationed at the DMZ. A big chunk of South Korea's 625 000 strong military is also guarding it, supplemented by the vast majority of 23 000 US troops. I wouldn't be surprised if the total number of personel dedicated to watching the DMZ is close to a million.

The DMZ is only 250 km long. And people have still managed to slip through. Very few, but it has happened. 4 times in the past 4 years actually.

Now imagine what it would take to do something like that, except the border is 320 times longer. How much manpower, materiel and money? Over decades, perhaps even centuries? And do it with an apparently perfect record?

 

[Xprimentyl]

So I've never met a flat earther in person, at least, not that I'm aware of, but I do have two questions for them.

I have a third one.
So, even assuming you're a flat earther, that never traveled by ship or an airplane, you can still see the sky, right?
Explain this: Why can we see celestial objects the way they are. Spherical.
If Earth is just a flat disk floating in the space, why wouldn't other planets, satelites[footnote]Hell, Moon itself should be enough proof how stupid all of that is.[/footnote], Sun be shaped like that as well?
Is Earth special in that way? Are those other objects we see constantly facing their flat surface towards the Earth? Did the gubment fake the sky???

In short? Yup. Everything you sardonically stated as absurdity is EXACTLY what they believe. The earth is special and uniquely made by God to exaggerate our specialness. Moreover, despite the united front presented by science, common sense, logic and reason, flat earthers don?t uniformly agree between themselves on the exact nature of the observable. Some believe the moon is fake, i.e.: a projected image, others believe the moon is a light source (yes, like a light bulb) and doesn?t simply reflect light from the sun, and most believe it, the sun and stars are tiny by relative comparison and circle above us like the hands of a clock. They often debate the sun?s (and moon?s) distance from the earth, and this is especially perplexing because most argue it?s only 3,000 miles above us, yet post ?proof? videos showing clouds behind the sun? assuming they?ve been on a plane that?s simultaneously flown above the clouds and nowhere NEAR 3,000 miles up, why hasn?t anyone flown by the sun in our nearly 150 years of aviation?

Which then begs the questions: Where are the edges of the disc?

Because I've personally crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and didn't see any drop offs anywhere.

This has come up somewhat in the thread before. The circumference of the Earth disc is lined with massive ice walls which are secretly patrolled by the world governments to keep people away, apparently so succesfully that no one has managed to get within viewing distance and got to tell about it.

I'd say this shows Flat Earthers have no sense of scale either, you know, aside from all other mental faculties they seem to lack. The Earth is tiny on even an interplanetary scale, let alone interstellar, but still pretty massive from a human perspective, with a surface area of some 510 million square km. If you were to turn that into a disc you'd get a circumference of about 80 000 km, if my shitty math is correct. That's pretty fucking long.

To put things into perspective, the most well-guarded border in the world is probably the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Exact numbers are hard to find, but it's estimated that roughly two-thirds of North Korea's 1 million strong active military personel is stationed at the DMZ. A big chunk of South Korea's 625 000 strong military is also guarding it, supplemented by the vast majority of 23 000 US troops. I wouldn't be surprised if the total number of personel dedicated to watching the DMZ is close to a million.

The DMZ is only 250 km long. And people have still managed to slip through. Very few, but it has happened. 4 times in the past 4 years actually.

Now imagine what it would take to do something like that, except the border is 320 times longer. How much manpower, materiel and money? Over decades, perhaps even centuries? And do it with an apparently perfect record?

I?ve not checked your math and logic, sir, but because of reasons, I?ve decided you?re lying and are an agent of Satan. In an honest attempt to save your soul and open your eyes to the unfounded, reality-defying truth, I offer you this tin foil hat and the hammer and nails with which to affix said hat to the rational parts of your brain. Once in afore mentioned proper attire, please feel free to partake of the bleach-based drink bar and various homeopathic medicines on offer at the buffet, then join us for the noonday circle jerk/4 hour sun-staring session. Praze gahd; smart are dumb.

 

[Dalisclock]

Which then begs the questions: Where are the edges of the disc?

Because I've personally crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and didn't see any drop offs anywhere.

This has come up somewhat in the thread before. The circumference of the Earth disc is lined with massive ice walls which are secretly patrolled by the world governments to keep people away, apparently so succesfully that no one has managed to get within viewing distance and got to tell about it.

I'd say this shows Flat Earthers have no sense of scale either, you know, aside from all other mental faculties they seem to lack. The Earth is tiny on even an interplanetary scale, let alone interstellar, but still pretty massive from a human perspective, with a surface area of some 510 million square km. If you were to turn that into a disc you'd get a circumference of about 80 000 km, if my shitty math is correct. That's pretty fucking long.

To put things into perspective, the most well-guarded border in the world is probably the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Exact numbers are hard to find, but it's estimated that roughly two-thirds of North Korea's 1 million strong active military personel is stationed at the DMZ. A big chunk of South Korea's 625 000 strong military is also guarding it, supplemented by the vast majority of 23 000 US troops. I wouldn't be surprised if the total number of personel dedicated to watching the DMZ is close to a million.

The DMZ is only 250 km long. And people have still managed to slip through. Very few, but it has happened. 4 times in the past 4 years actually.

Now imagine what it would take to do something like that, except the border is 320 times longer. How much manpower, materiel and money? Over decades, perhaps even centuries? And do it with an apparently perfect record?

I get that part. I mean, It's totally stupid, but I get the concept of the stupid.

But it still doesn't answer "Where is the supposed ice wall/drop off?"

Because having crossed both international date line and the prime median and gone as far north as Iceland and as far south as Cape Horn, I have to wonder where this stupid ice wall is supposed to be. Because I've yet to see it in my travels.

I get not everyone gets to travel extensively, but it does seem like flat earthism only works if you act like nothing is real outside of your tiny corner of the world.

And the moon is fake.

And gravity is powered by giant magnets ala LOST(I mean, I guess that's what was going on in LOST since they didn't explain jack shit).

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

I get that part. I mean, It's totally stupid, but I get the concept of the stupid.

But it still doesn't answer "Where is the supposed ice wall/drop off?"

Because having crossed both international date line and the prime median and gone as far north as Iceland and as far south as Cape Horn, I have to wonder where this stupid ice wall is supposed to be. Because I've yet to see it in my travels.

I get not everyone gets to travel extensively, but it does seem like flat earthism only works if you act like nothing is real outside of your tiny corner of the world.

And the moon is fake.

And gravity is powered by giant magnets ala LOST(I mean, I guess that's what was going on in LOST since they didn't explain jack shit).

Yeah, kind of went on a rant there, but I did give you the answer in the first paragraph. But doesn't matter 'where' the wall/drop-off is, or how well-travelled you are, because a mindboggingly massive conspiracy involving all world governments is making sure you never ever got within viewing distance.

I know. That doesn't answer your question at all, but it's the kind of answer you can expect from flat earthers.

[small]Fyi, assuming flat earth has the same surface area as real Earth, my earth disc from before has a diameter of a little over 25 000 km, so that's the max distance you can travel in a single direction before reaching the edge.[/small]

 

[Leg End]

I?d generally like to agree with you; there is an innocent charm/humor to someone being so assured of something so wrong, but with these characters (and maybe it?s closer to home for me because my best friend is a flat earther,) when they act so smug, so self-righteous, so condescending whilst clearly ignoring facts and dismissing evidence contrary to what they want to believe, I just want to choke them! They literally have NO proof of their bullshit, yet they demand proof of our bullshit, and when presented with the evidence and proof of our bullshit, they CALL bullshit! eeeeeeeeeeAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's why you've got to be just as smug right back at them. Have some fun with it!

I just left a lengthy comment on that video you shared telling them exactly what I think of them, mostly for catharsis, and it worked because now I need a cigarette.

inb4 you're a satanic jewish heathen.

Which then begs the questions: Where are the edges of the disc?

Because I've personally crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and didn't see any drop offs anywhere.

This one looks to be a favorite of the community. Mine too, since you can just feel it oozing that 90s JRPG vibe.

So, even assuming you're a flat earther, that never traveled by ship or an airplane, you can still see the sky, right?
Explain this: Why can we see celestial objects the way they are. Spherical.
If Earth is just a flat disk floating in the space, why wouldn't other planets, satelites, Sun be shaped like that as well?
Is Earth special in that way? Are those other objects we see constantly facing their flat surface towards the Earth? Did the gubment fake the sky???

One branch seems to think everything besides the Sun and Earth floating above the Earth inside the dome is fake. I've seen a guy 'prove' it by zooming in on planets and saying that the way they look that way proves how fake they are.

Welcome to a new world of people that think a zoom lens disproves everything. Except when it doesn't because you're a globie.