The Flat-Earth Hypothesis. Why Do People Still Believe in Such Obvious Nonsense?

[Snsl153]

There are a couple of flat-Earthers here on GAG that I've run into and had little "discussions" with, and I would just like to ask them the following.
If the Earth really is flat, then how to you account for:
1. The fact that south of the equator it is now autumn and will soon be winter, but up north it's the opposite.
2. How do you account for the different stars and constellations that are seen where I live, in Australia? Can you people see the Southern Cross constellation, those of you who live far north of the equator?
3. What lies beneath the flat Earth, and how far does that extend?
4. How do you account for night and day? I mean, if the sun is just up there somewhere, hovering around, would we see it all the time? Does it go under the Earth?
5. How do navigation systems like Galileo, Glonass and GPS work, if they don't use satellites?
6. How do you account for eclipses. You know, these things -

I think six questions should be enough, even though there are so many more I could ask. If anyone here who believes the Earth to be flat can successfully answer just ONE of these questions, I'll reconsider my position. :)

Updates

1 y

No. 4 - "... wouldn't we see it all the time?", I meant to say.

[Anonymous]

all the answers will be in the video

https://www.youtube.com/embed/7nFwPDZF_Z8

I have questions for you

1) why is the moon giving off a cold light? when supposedly the only reason the moon glows is cause the sun light is reflecting off the moon SO IT SHOULD BE HOTTER
why is the moon light colder than the shade of the night?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/cH-M4s7S_7I

2) how is the vacuum of space not ripping off the atmosphere
when the vacuum here on earth can do this to a steel rail

now the vacuum of space is said to be 10x stronger than
the vacuum here on earth so we should all be dead

would it not make more sense that we live inside an enclosed system made by the most high GOD Christ

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zz95_VvTxZM

3) the moon is said to be 2000 miles wide
but during the 2017 eclipse the measurement for the moon ended up being 70 miles wide, a reduction of 97%

https://www.youtube.com/embed/06zXoPDfV6U

4) why are there several constellations of stars on the earth right next to each other?
if supposedly we are on a ball
it would not make sense

but it would make sense if we where inside a room
with a dome above us

as you can see in the picture the constellations are right next to each other
one group of stars spinning in one direction
the other group spinning in another direction

the only way this could work on the ball
is if the ball earth was cut in half
LITERALLY

[Opinion Owner]

@snsl153

ill be waiting to see the physical evidence for your words
like I have shown you
anyone can do these things that I have spoken

I don;t need the religious cult of NASA
to tell me anything

FOR I HAVE THE MOST HIGH ABOVE THE DOME

[Snsl153]

I'll look at this later. It's late where I am in Australia (12:26 AM). What time is it over there in Yankeeland? Hmm, why DO we have to divide the world up into time zones? It's dark where I am. Is it light where you are?
Your little model of the Earth, where the sun is seen going over the flat disc, makes no sense at all, if only because the suns rays wouldn't just magically stop a certain distance from the source. That's not how light works.
Anyway, good NIGHT.

[prosaic1]

In all of the Hubble space telescope pictures, not one image has been identified as a dome, that sits at the center of a distant solar system, it's own star orbits it, as well as all other objects. Yet, it's the only object in that solar system that could only be identified as a dome. Hmm...

[Opinion Owner]

@prosaic1

you are assuming outer space is real lol

[Hellodownthere]

People love to think they have insights that others don't have. They like to think they know what others don't. They're fond of believing their senses and instincts are heightened where ours aren't. They believe they have the " truth". They have, according to them, unraveled great mysteries while the rest of us suffer to believe lies. They believe they are the unique, the chosen ones if you will that are part of this special group. It gives them a sense of intellectual superiority. To them we're all just hopelessly blind gnomes while they have the light. It is a volatile mixture of paranoia and stifling arrogance, more so the latter than the former. It's all psychological and extremely cultic. Cultic in that's exactly how people in cults behave. They think they're special people with special knowledge and all the rest of us are doomed cretins.

[Hellodownthere]

I might add that this way of thinking is true of a lot of conspiracy theorists.

[Screenwriter]

You can't argue with people who believe things that logic and facts contravene. Simply stated: they don't believe in logic, facts or science.

What about the folk who believe that lizard people live in the center of the earth? You gonna argue with them? The stolen election folk? The long debunked autism theory linked to childhood vaccines? The man who proposed it wasn't a doctor and had performed no studies. ( He'd lost his license.) How about the folk who poisoned themselves to be taken up to heaven in a UFO "Heaven's Gate." Can't argue with them because they're dead. Another more recent group did the same.

No telling WHY people choose a flat earth theory. You have to ask the question: What does this do for these people? Put them in opposition with the mainstream and therefore give them a position to defend? IT would seem in all the former cases, this is a good bet. It's also a very sad one.

[Snsl153]

It's important to point out when people are wrong about something, because bad ideas have a way of seeping throughout society into the minds of those who, for example, teach children or introduce laws. It's why so many idiots now believe there are more than two genders, or that we're all doomed because of "global warming".

[sacrifices]

@Screenwriter
scroll down idiot

[Screenwriter]

@sacrifices Don't know who you're calling an idiot, but, I read your whole spiel about the six questions. And my contention remains: You approach the problem with logic and facts. These people ignore centuries of both. You would be wasting your time.

[Screenwriter]

Well, we might not ALL be doomed. But if nothing is done to counter climate change, we're in serious trouble. Climate change is not an opinion is it a scientific fact shown by comparing climate records that have been kept for 200 years.

People can micromanage genderism. The fact is there are two biological sexes. GENDER EXPRESSION occurs along a spectrum. So there are many gender expressions. People feel the need to name everything into ad infinitum today. I would be an AB 25ZX 1 on the gender expression scale. Someone WILL quantify this scale on some graduate thesis, I'm sure. I just made the former up.

I wear men's board shorts and shirts. I avoid wearing dresses, skirts and women's clothes, in general. Ostensibly because they are not as well made as men's and too trendy. So my gender expression is not strongly feminine in the clothes I wear.

As for global warming, we are near the tipping point. We have the potential to be doomed. All you have to do is see the increasing number of negative weather events: stronger and more hurricanes, long years of drought in the west and forest fires, problems in desert areas, flooding in other areas. Temperature records hit worldwide. Seems the pundits and scientists agree. We have a big problem.

I think you're wrong about these two issues. But I understand why. They are big, broad and hard to pin down.

[Zeldaismyqueen]

some people think masks don't reduce the spread of a respiratory virus, probably the same people who think the earth is flat, or 6000 years old or some other stupid thing, it's mostly just poor education

[Just4ThisNow2]

As a mask-wearer, this is a little more complicated of an issue relating to the type of mask, type of pathogen involved, and other factors. The common surgical masks can help reduce the speed, distance, and spread of droplets from a wearer’s mouth to others. Unfortunately, they are not able to filter the air we breathe nearly to the extent that occurs with N-95s, which make use of electrostatic forces to help protect from medium-sized particles. As such, surgical masks make a bigger difference protecting others from the wearer rather than the wearer him/herself. Luckily, if all parties have such masks on, there is much greater protection afforded all parties involved. Simply, it’s important to use science to discuss risk stratification and mitigation efforts rather than to criticize or shame others assuming that their rationales are solely based upon extreme religious beliefs lacking empirical evidence. This said, I support the use of masks, social distancing, and other measures in settings where they are needed.

[KostasKouvalis]

Because if it was round, we would be upsidedown in Antarctica and sideways in Kenya.
Like to people in those places, the world wouldn't look right-side up, it would look like this...

[Snsl153]

Oh, you've convinced me! How can I argue with that; photographic PROOF the Earth can't be a sphere. :D

[KostasKouvalis]

👍🏼

[Just4ThisNow2]

People will believe all sorts of things that are unfounded or merely incorrect. No amount of evidence will convince such a person that their beliefs may be flawed. This is not about logic. It's not as if any of them are genuinely wondering whether the Earth might be flat and are weighing the evidence objectively in a pursuit of knowledge or truth.

Although it can be frustrating, it's important to realize that such people represent a small fringe community, truly don't matter in the grand scheme of things, and aren't worth our time arguing with. You're not going to change their minds, so why waste your time or effort trying (or getting upset)?

[prosaic1]

Mr. Anonymous, that was an important point.

[prosaic1]

Erastosthenes of Cyrene, (approximately 500 B. C.) proved that the earth was round by using the circumference formula, and measuring the angle of a stick in a well at two different locations on the 21 of June, (summer solstice). It still took 2000 years for Europe to accept that idea after the Copernican revolution. These flat earth characters are no different than the apollo moon landing conspirators. Anything that's controversial will attract attention, and money.

[lightbulb27]

there's something different in their mind and how they perceive. I'd wonder if they can think/perceive in 3d. maybe to them... it is flat.

youd think if they flew in a plane around the planet start/stop... they'd see it's round. but they'd probably justify it as flying around a disc.

scary hugh, but all our brains don't really work the same. wonder how large this population is...

[mstbooblover]

Possibly a form of paranoia concerning official science, but certainly an organized form of obscurantism, whatever the responsible idiots have in mind.

[andreasderjuengere]

They don't.
They are just bored to death, and frustrated that they are not involved (consulted) when intelligent matters are at hand.
So they open up their own ''science club''.

[Agape93]

Stupidity. Literally thats it. Ignorance is ok, you can educate yourself. But when you refuse to be educated, you're just a fucking idiot.

[ChrisMaster69]

They are a strange bunch.

my usual thing is to ask them to, walk, sail, drive etc to the edge of this flat earth….

[andreasderjuengere]

Is that a girl turtle in the picture?

[ChrisMaster69]

@andreasderjuengere you would have to ask Rincewind.

https://discworld.fandom.com/wiki/Great_A%27Tuin

[SaoirseS]

Anytime the "flat earthers" make an appearance, it reminds me of this:

[andreasderjuengere]

I didn't know that he's back already :D

[andreasderjuengere]

@SaoirseS They certainly mean a FLAT globe :D

[D4nielv]

Because it's fun to troll about or a good way to practice your debating skills. And as a laymen, it's hard to prove that the earth is actually round without relying on other sources, which you can dismiss as "corrupt" or whatever.

[ArrowheadSW]

"The Flat Earth Society boasts that is has members around the globe!"... Haha...

[Snsl153]

An oldie but a goodie :D

[nachosaresexy]

Many of same peeps who criticize flat earthers believe the round earth was created by magical skybeard fella. Life is funny.

[prosaic1]

Disagree with us that's fine. Just be careful to keep your distance from "The poster children for cognitive dissonance". Those little rascals could sell you the London Bridge in arizona.

[Anonymous]

Isn't this all made up?

If there are such nonsensical claims... why does anyone with a brain even respond?

You just keep this topic closer to the surface and keep giving these fools a voice.

[Snsl153]

Unfortunately, there are people who really do believe this rubbish. :'(

[ArtemisSilver]

No fuckin clue, you can see the curvature of the earth from an airline window seat especially when you fly over mountains. It's exactly as depicted on Google Earth.

[lofii]

Lol she posts a few pics and thinks she's a fucking nasa researcher 💀💀

[Snsl153]

Well, actually, I am a researcher :)
One doesn't even need to have the requisite qualifications in order to conduct research. Just familiarise yourself with how it's done, do it properly, and with no subconscious, ulterior motive. Be open and honest about what you find, avoid confirmation bias to the best of your ability, and be willing, able and prepared to be proven wrong. Have an open mind, don't believe everything you see or hear, and be sure to consult as many sources as is humanly possible and necessary.

[Snsl153]

No, I don't work for NASA, but I do know what I'm talking about. The basics of astronomy are not all that difficult to grasp you know.

[lofii]

You just said a whole bunch of stuff and it came to no conclusion.

The earth Is flat. End of story

[Snsl153]

I asked pertinent questions you silly goose! Can you answer any of them for me? The flat-Earth hogwash cannot account for solar eclipses, for example. Or why every other planet in the solar system is a sphere. Or why it's now daytime in Australia but night in North America!

[Snsl153]

Your brain is flat! Go to the petrol station and get it pumped up.

[lofii]

There's still sunlight in NA. I JUST EXPOSED YOU!!

[lofii]

If my brain is flat then so is your a$S!

[Snsl153]

Yes, but it's Saturday morning in Australia. Saturday! It's Friday over there isn't it? :)

[Snsl153]

No, my ass is curved. Like the Earth. Don't you just love curvature? Straight lines are boring and ugly, and nature prefers curves.

[lofii]

You should come educate me then.

[mVCyberduVm]

I have no clue, and I have noticed some people post questions about it as if its true?

[NYlatefun]

Funny I posted a similar question a few days ago, it baffles me!

[Anonymous]

Do you know what is real and what isn't?

[Snsl153]

Yes, I do actually.

[Opinion Owner]

So, who killed JFK?

Was 9/11 terrorists?

What about 7/7 and the other attacks? Also terrorists?

Whats the difference between Iraq and the Ukraine?

[Snsl153]

1. A gunman up in the book suppository. Lee H. Oswald.
2. Um... yes, terrorists. 11 of them, led by Mohammed Atta.
3. Yes, also terrorists.
4. Iraq is a country in the Middle East, Ukraine is in Europe.

[Opinion Owner]

Seems like you would do well to stop mocking flat Earthers to me.

[Snsl153]

I was just joking. Book "suppository"?

[Opinion Owner]

Im not interested in typos

[prosaic1]

The fact that any object in space that has a radius of about 200 miles will have a shape that can only be classified as spherical in shape. No Christmas globes, no turtles, only spheres.

[prosaic1]

Period

[dreamstar72]

It gives them a rush in telling a urban legend.

[MountAverage]

Because it makes them feel special.