Flat earthers - what's that all about?

[itscallednickingbentcoppers]

I've just been watching a clip of Brian Cox discussing Jupiter's moon IO on Facebook and someone commented how the pictures are CGI. Well of course because it's not like Brian flew to IO with a camera man to take videos of lava lakes. But the comments lead on then to discuss how all photos ever taken of Earth are also CGI and the Earth is actually flat.

What is this all about? Is this a real movement now? Why do people believe this? Does it feed some kind of delusion of intelligence - the rest of us are sheep believing lies fed to us by the Government while they're clever because they watched a YouTube video type thing? Aren't people embarrassed to make these comments in public forums?

I don't know. I think it's perhaps indicative of a general lack of trust that the population has in their rulers. I get around YouTube a lot and encounter a significant amount of paranoia about global leaders and their sinister agenda and how they're trying to control and manipulate the population. Conspiracy theories are common and the flat earth belief is just another one of these. I think it's just a hook that some people have hung their paranoia on as a way of coping with not feeling as though they're in control of their lives. They find solace in communicating with others who share this delusion and then feel less isolated and out of control.

Flat Earthers are real. They believe the world is a disc and that the moon and sun circle around us above the disc. There is an ice wall around the edge of the disc to stop us falling off (antarctica).

At one point they believed that Australia doesn't exist and that people who claim to be from Australia are actors and the pilots are 'in on it' so you are not actually going to Australia, but I am not sure whether that is still true.

They believe that all of the NASA photos of the Earth from space showing a curve are fake. They do not believe the Earth curves because they cannot see it.

I am not entirely sure why they believe it. There is a good documentary on it, I think on Netflix. It is hilarious when they do proper scientific experiments designed to show the Earth is flat and each experiment just proves it is round!!

I thought they also thought Finland didnt exist.

1)Low IQ, 2)a sheltered life, 3)paranoia, 4) American, 5) poor education, 6) spends too much time alone in bedroom

Some or all of the above

There's a bunch of grafitti between Inverness and thurso along the a9 on road signs saying "flat earth" and "flat earth society" I always wonder when I see it if the person who did it actually believes it or a weird prank. Serious effort to go to either way!

Am I right in thinking that there are some places on Earth you can see the curvature of the Earth from?

This has been shared on here before but it always makes me lol

OP, there was a thread here not so long ago called something like "Are there any conspiracy theories you believe in?".

Having read that, with mouth hanging open and eyes popping, I came away feeling that flat earthers are among the least out-there of those who believe odd - to my mind - things.

ineedaknittedhat

I don't know. I think it's perhaps indicative of a general lack of trust that the population has in their rulers.

I can understand the lack of trust totally. But what (flat)* earthly benefit has any ruling body of a country got in making people believe the earth is a sphere if it isn't?

*I know - groan. Appalling joke

Btw, that was a rhetorical question.
I don't think you believe the flat earth thing and were just trying to give a rationale.

1)Low IQ, 2)a sheltered life, 3)paranoia, 4) American, 5) poor education, 6) spends too much time alone in bedroom

Some or all of the above

Sherlock has it, but I’d add too much weed, plus a certain type of mind that involves having a good memory, but absolutely no wisdom.

I know two Flat Earthers and both have a massive distrust of those in power, spend a ridiculous amount of time on YouTube and smoke a large amount of weed. I'm not one to disagree with using cannabis but it is uncanny how many of their fellow Flat Earther friends also spend their days smoking weed and using YouTube. Unfortunately it's impossible to have a sensible debate with them as they are completely sold on the idea and we just aren't enlightened enough. 🙄

Sorry cross-post with ohyesiam

I assume the flat earthers don’t live by the sea, as you can see the curvature of the Earth clearly demonstrated by every ship that sails over the horizon.
Instead of the whole ship just getting steadily smaller (as it would on a flat surface), the lower part disappears first, then the upper, then the top of the mast last, as it goes over the curve. Even the ancient Greeks knew the world was round, for this reason.

Its called Dunning Kruver syndrome. Also rife on antivax boards

sherlock American...

My best friend sadly believes the Earth is flat. He has an average IQ, quite creative and bright. Just watches too much YouTube I think and believes some frankly absurd conspiracies.

It was just a great conspiracy and apparently they were right in the first place in it being flat. They wouldn't believe you that the bottom of the ship on the horizon disappears first. After all, on the documentary they did an experiment which actually proved the Earth was round, said it must be wrong and did another two experiments all of which proved the Earth was round and still thought the experiment had to be wrong as the Earth is flat!

They have changed the line on their website that 'we have many members around the globe' after they were ridiculed.

There are some really great conspiracies out there that actually do seem plausible in some ways, but Flat Earth is definitely not one of them.

"apparently they were right in the first place in it being flat."

What do you mean?

I think the 'Dunning Kruger' effect appears directly after the 'Falling Face Down the Rabbit Hole and Staying There' effect . I have lost myself in YouTube videos and then had to give myself an almighty slap when I find that THEY (whatever nut job has got my attention) might have a point.
I at this point turn off my phone.

There's no real answer to the flat earthers, that doesn't use some derogatory language.

However, on the subject of CGI and real footage, there was a good letter in the Radio Times last week that suggested they should indicate what scenes are CGI and what are real images taken from proper spacecraft.

Didn't seem too contentious to me - quite a sensible idea. So I doubt it'll happen anytime soon.

CustardySergeant I meant that the common theory in history was that the Earth was flat. That was then proved to be incorrect and it was proved it was round (I was taught that was by Christopher Columbus sailing to America and not falling off the edge, but apparently that is a myth and it was proven by the Ancient Greeks). Flat Earthers believe that all of that is fake and that the original view that the Earth was flat (before Ancient Greeks proved otherwise) is the truth. The experiments and everything that has shown the Earth to be round is all fake and a giant conspiracy.

I am still not entirely sure why everyone would bother to fake it as I cannot see the point of centuries of deception when to me it would not make much difference either way.

Rosetti that is such an obvious solution!
I was looking at pictures last night with my youngest and talking about what was CGI. It should be made clear.

Clarity dispels the fog that allows myths to take hold.

Rosetti that is such an obvious solution!

Which is why it's doomed to failure.

There's a film on Netflix about flat earthers.
It's fascinating they have an answer for everything.
Quite a few famous people believe in it too.

The documentary Beyond the Curve on Netflix is well worth a watch - it’s quite jaw dropping actually. I thought the scientists in it actually came across really well and made some valid points about why people have got caught up in the theory.
I hated the main guy though.