Flat Earth vs Basic Astronomy: How flat Earth cosmology completely fails

[essentialsaltes]

In some of the theological discussions, there are certain posters who use Bible quotes like a magic spell to win (at least in their own minds) without providing any actual argumentation. For the Flat Earthers, their magic spell seems to be the YouTube link. Preferably one of at least an hour's length.

 

[pitabread]

For the Flat Earthers, their magic spell seems to be the YouTube link. Preferably one of at least an hour's length.

I started reading Escaping the Rabbit Hole by Mick West (a book on conspiracy theories and debunking them). He mentions that a common denominator among those who do believe conspiracy theories is that almost everyone seems to start out by watching a video. I wonder if this leads conspiracy theory proponents like Flat Earthers to assume that such videos will have the same effect on everyone else.

The author also recommends that in response to such videos, one should ask the proponent why they found the video compelling or convincing. Unfortunately it looks like to the two respondents in this thread are drive-bys and aren't going to engage in a dialog about what they posted.

 

[topher694]

Unfortunately it looks like to the two respondents in this thread are drive-bys and aren't going to engage in a dialog about what they posted.

What a shock

 

[46AND2]

I started reading Escaping the Rabbit Hole by Mick West (a book on conspiracy theories and debunking them). He mentions that a common denominator among those who do believe conspiracy theories is that almost everyone seems to start out by watching a video. I wonder if this leads conspiracy theory proponents like Flat Earthers to assume that such videos will have the same effect on everyone else.

The author also recommends that in response to such videos, one should ask the proponent why they found the video compelling or convincing. Unfortunately it looks like to the two respondents in this thread are drive-bys and aren't going to engage in a dialog about what they posted.

He runs a pretty good website at metabunk.org, as well.

 

[pitabread]

He runs a pretty good website at metabunk.org, as well.

Yup, that's where I first learned about his book in fact.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I started reading Escaping the Rabbit Hole by Mick West (a book on conspiracy theories and debunking them). He mentions that a common denominator among those who do believe conspiracy theories is that almost everyone seems to start out by watching a video. I wonder if this leads conspiracy theory proponents like Flat Earthers to assume that such videos will have the same effect on everyone else.

Yeah! I enjoyed the book quite a bit. Here's a relevant bit I noted:

Sometimes they watch the same video over and over again. You get the sense from talking to them that it’s something like a drug, that the “truth” they feel is in the video is activating some kind of function in their brain, resonating with them
...
The data-driven algorithm has evolved to recognize that the way to get people to watch more videos is to direct them downhill, down the path of least resistance. Without human intervention the algorithm has evolved to perfect a method of gently stepping up the intensity of the conspiracy videos that it shows you so that you don’t get turned off, and so you continue to watch. They get more intense because the algorithm has found (not in any human sense, but found nonetheless) that the deeper it can guide people down the rabbit hole, the more revenue it can make.

 

[morse86]

Spend an hour of your time and do the research:

 

[pitabread]

Spend an hour of your time and do the research:

Was this posted as an example of satire? Because given the recent conversation here, this seems like satire.

 

[46AND2]

Spend an hour of your time and do the research:

You tube videos are not research...and research takes longer than an hour.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Spend an hour of your time and do the research:

Why do you find that video convincing or compelling? Can you spell out the evidence or arguments that speak to you?