The Earth is flat

Other View vs Mainstream View

There is a non-mainstream point of view that "The Earth is flat". Let's take a look at the pros and cons of this statement:

1. Pros: Some flat Earthers believe the Earth appears flat based on their personal observations and homemade experiments.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): Simple observations like ships disappearing bottom-first over the horizon and the curved shadow of the Earth during lunar eclipses demonstrate the Earth is round, not flat. Homemade flat Earth experiments are often flawed.

2. Pros: Some believe in a flat Earth based on a literal interpretation of religious texts.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): A flat disc Earth is physically impossible as it would collapse into a sphere under its own gravity. A flat Earth contradicts countless real-world observations.

3. Pros: Flat Earthers claim photos and videos of the globe from space are faked as part of a conspiracy.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): Many space agencies worldwide, including rivals, have taken images clearly showing Earth's curvature. It's unreasonable to claim they are all conspiring to deceive the public.

4. Pros: Flat Earthers argue that distant skyscrapers are visible despite the supposed curvature of the Earth.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): The Earth's curvature is only noticeable over very large distances. Skyscrapers are not tall enough to be obscured by the curve at the distances they are typically visible from.

5. Pros: Some flat Earthers claim that rivers would flow off the edge if the Earth were round.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): Gravity pulls water towards the center of the Earth, preventing rivers from flowing off into space. The Earth's curvature is gradual enough that it does not affect the flow of rivers.

6. Pros: Flat Earthers argue that people can stand on a round surface, so the Earth cannot be a globe.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): The Earth is so large that its curvature is not noticeable on the scale of a person standing on its surface. Gravity keeps people and objects pulled towards the center of the Earth.

Terms

• Curvature: The degree to which a surface deviates from being flat.

• Gravity: The force that attracts objects with mass towards each other.

• Horizon: The apparent line that separates the Earth's surface from the sky.

• Conspiracy: A secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.

An analogy

Believing in a flat Earth is like thinking the moon is made of cheese. While the "cheesy moon" idea might seem funny or appealing, we have overwhelming evidence from astronauts and probes that it's simply not true. In the same way, all evidence shows the Earth is a globe, not a flat disc.

The history

1. ~330 BC: Greek philosophers like Aristotle provided evidence that the Earth is a sphere.

2. ~240 BC: Eratosthenes calculated the Earth's circumference, confirming it is round.

3. 1851 AD: Foucault's pendulum experiment demonstrated the Earth's rotation.

4. 1900s AD: The first satellites and human spaceflight proved definitively that Earth is a globe.

5. 2010s AD: Despite the evidence, modern flat Earth conspiracy theories spread rapidly on social media.

Three cases how to use it right now

1. If a friend falls for flat Earth videos online, calmly share simple real-world evidence that the Earth is a globe, like the ships over the horizon example. Avoid attacking them personally.

2. When a relative brings up flat Earth talking points, politely explain how we've known Earth is round for over 2000 years based on multiple lines of evidence. Steer the conversation in a more positive direction.

3. If you see flat Earth memes spreading online, reply with links to credible scientific sources rather than arguing. Focus on the facts, not conspiracies.

Interesting facts

• Polls suggest around 11% of Americans believe the Earth might be flat.

• The modern flat Earth model proposes the Sun and Moon are each 50 km wide and circle 5500 km above the flat Earth.

• There are at least 5 different flat Earth models, including one where the Earth is diamond-shaped.

• The first flat Earth societies date back to the 1800s, but the idea has spread much faster with social media.

• Some flat Earthers claim world governments guard an "ice wall" at the edge of the flat Earth to prevent people from falling off.