(the world is flat, and unicorns prance in fields of gold)
Over on Big Footy (one of the forums I frequent), a thread started that discusses the frankly absurd idea that planet earth is flat. Not a sphere, but in fact, a giant pancake.
That’s right, in the 21st Century, there are still people who would seriously argue for a flat earth.
I’m still not sure if the thread started as part of an elaborate trolling effort, openly mocking the flat earthers, or if it was started out of a genuine belief in this notion. Quite how it can be believed in the face of all the available evidence is completely beyond me, and all I could I think as I read the thread was ‘Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’, over and over again.
(the face I make when I realise someone is serious about a flat earth)
It’s bad enough that the idea still has support anywhere, but now, celebrities are jumping on this bandwagon. Once again, I can’t be sure if this is a clever campaign to expose people who buy into this, or if it’s actually a real belief on the part of rapper B.O.B.
Apparently NASA pictures of the earth are fake, and there are many convulated explanations to wave away little details like how we can circumnavigate the globe by boat or plane, or how we can even see the curvature of the earth in certain situations. Naturally, these details are part of a vast conspiracy to hide the truth.
The big question is, why deny something that should be blatantly obvious? If the world was indeed flat, why hide it? Indeed, what makes anyone seriously think we could hide that for any length of time? Also, what would be gained from such a lie? Who benefits from it?
I could go on at greater length, but I haven’t got the will at nearly 10pm to go deep into a topic that doesn’t deserve the attention in the first place. Granting it so much merit by discussing it will only strengthen the idea in the eyes of those who already believe it, and they will perpetuate this pseudo-scientific nonsense. Can we please come back to the 21st Century now?
And I thought the hollow Earth folks took the cake for crazy and stupid. It’s truly astounding that there are people in this day and age who actually believe this, but it doesn’t surprise me. There are folks who believe that the Earth is only 6,000 years old, despite all the multi-million year old fossils in our museums, that say otherwise. You would think that’s also an obvious fact that the Earth is way older than 6,000 years but some folks have fallen victim to religious ideology that they completely ignore any evidence against what they believe, even when it’s plainly obvious. I suspect these flat earthers might be in the same camp, not sure though. But weather they’re religious fundamentalists or just plain crazy, either way it’s scary to know that these people are still out there.
Case in point, Bill Nye the science guy was giving a presentation to a crowd in Texas and somehow the following biblical verse came up “God made two great lights — the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.” Bill pointed out that the moon wasn’t actually a light because it just reflects light from the sun. But when he said that, many people in the audience immediately became angered, booing him and storming out of the room. One lady was even heard yelling “We believe in God!!!” Again, that should be a very obvious fact that the moon doesn’t produce light but some people are so into their religious thinking that they outright ignore it.
Again, it’s a shame and scary that such thinking still exists in the 21st century.
You are completely correct, such thinking is scary and it worries me that, the world over, religious groups can exercise influence over scientific research and education. I have zero problem with people exploring creationism or intelligent design as matters of faith, but when they intrude upon science lessons, it becomes a step too far.
Flat earth ‘theorists’ (a term I use loosely) are just plain crazy. It’s a conspiracy theory that’s so far out there even the theorists can’t think of a motive!