The truth of the modern Flat Earth movement

[pitabread]

Given the trend among Flat Earth proponents to avoid any sort of discussions in favor of arbitrarily linking YouTube videos, is there any reason to suspect that FE isn't just a ploy to drive up YouTube traffic?

 

[Lost4words]

All their so called 'facts' are on youtube so it must be legit!

 

[topher694]

I think this is half right. I'm convinced that many truly believe it, but that a few take advantage of that.

I did some research on it awhile back and there was a fascinating theory/study that basically said the FE movement was a weird combination of a psychological condition (not a illness, a mindset) and a quirky byproduct of search engine/news algorithms. Basically it boiled down to the fact that the topic got clicks and often ended up on the top of news feeds because of it. It wasn't intentional, just a natural byproduct of these two phenomenon. The higher visibility further feeds and spreads the conspiracy which generates more clicks and the cycle continues.

 

[HARK!]

I've had suspicions that the FEM was started by Atheists, in an attempt to ridicule Christianity; as some of Christianity's more gullible members fall into this snare.

 

[Larniavc]

It thought it was started as a joke to explore the nuances of the scientific method.

Or something like that.

 

[Tom 1]

Given the trend among Flat Earth proponents to avoid any sort of discussions in favor of arbitrarily linking YouTube videos, is there any reason to suspect that FE isn't just a ploy to drive up YouTube traffic?

I reckon it's just a long-play version of the old guys sitting in pubs starting every convo with 'I know for a fact that....'

 

[Sabertooth]

I think that platygeism is a troll against Young-Earth Creationism.

 

[Larniavc]

I've had suspicions that the FEM was started by Atheists, in an attempt to ridicule Christianity; as some of Christianity's more gullible members fall into this snare.

That’s an odd take. You don’t have to be Christian to be gullible.

 

[HARK!]

That’s an odd take. You don’t have to be Christian to be gullible.

Nope! Everyone is gullible to some degree. Agents provocateur show up at political rallies; and people on both sides of the issue are often gullible enough to fall for their deception.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Given the trend among Flat Earth proponents to avoid any sort of discussions in favor of arbitrarily linking YouTube videos, is there any reason to suspect that FE isn't just a ploy to drive up YouTube traffic?

I'm going to agree with the Steven Crowder pic/ bill board. I've heard lots and lots of talk about Flat Earth folks. But I seriously doubt they are a real serious movement to contend with. I'm guessing they are maybe a few thousand folks in the US.

How many people have ever met one of these people in real life? I can't say I ever have. I've met a few religious sub cultures like the Amish, but never someone like this.

The Internet seems to be force multiplier for strangeness. Fringe groups are much more visible or noticeable than they would normally be, even though to some degree the advent of Television, radio, newspapers did something similar in earlier years. e.g. Anton Lavey's Church of Satan got much more attention in the late 1960s to mid 1970s than it would have if it was started decades or a century earlier.

 

[SkyWriting]

I'm going to agree with the Steven Crowder pic/ bill board. I've heard lots and lots of talk about Flat Earth folks. But I seriously doubt they are a real serious movement to contend with. I'm guessing they are maybe a few thousand folks in the US.

How many people have ever met one of these people in real life? I can't say I ever have. I've met a few religious sub cultures like the Amish, but never someone like this.

The Internet seems to be force multiplier for strangeness. Fringe groups are much more visible or noticeable than they would normally be, even though to some degree the advent of Television, radio, newspapers did something similar in earlier years. e.g. Anton Lavey's Church of Satan got much more attention in the late 1960s to mid 1970s than it would have if it was started decades or a century earlier.

A former co-worker of mine believes in ufo's as well as secret government anti-gravity technology. He is otherwise pretty normal.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

A former co-worker of mine believes in ufo's as well as secret government anti-gravity technology. He is otherwise pretty normal.

But that sort of thing is on "The History Channel", and has been part of a pop culture movement going back decades as far as TV shows, and talk radio is concerned. e.g.- The X files was a top TV show for years etc.

 

[Strathos]

I'm going to agree with the Steven Crowder pic/ bill board. I've heard lots and lots of talk about Flat Earth folks. But I seriously doubt they are a real serious movement to contend with. I'm guessing they are maybe a few thousand folks in the US.

There are flat earthers all over the globe.

 

[SkyWriting]

But that sort of thing is on "The History Channel", and has been part of a pop culture movement going back decades as far as TV shows, and talk radio is concerned. e.g.- The X files was a top TV show for years etc.

This guy is on the other end of pop culture. He might not have a tv.

 

[Michael]

But that sort of thing is on "The History Channel", and has been part of a pop culture movement going back decades as far as TV shows, and talk radio is concerned. e.g.- The X files was a top TV show for years etc.

Actually even the US military has acknowledged the existence of UFO's. I suspect they are home (Earth) brew technology of course, but even trained military pilots have trouble explaining them.

US military admits it has secret footage of UFO incident

 

[Jimmy D]

Given the trend among Flat Earth proponents to avoid any sort of discussions in favor of arbitrarily linking YouTube videos, is there any reason to suspect that FE isn't just a ploy to drive up YouTube traffic?

I said more or less the same thing in another thread after watching “Behind the Curve” (or whatever it’s called).

A few of them attempted experiments to show a flat Earth (they failed), but most were only interested in promoting their websites and YouTube channels.

 

[Larniavc]

Nope! Everyone is gullible to some degree. Agents provocateur show up at political rallies; and people on both sides of the issue are often gullible enough to fall for their deception.

Yeah but you said FE was set up specifically set up to trick Christians. Only to most simple minded people steep in magical thinking and conspiracy theories would fall for something as obviously nutty as FE.

Then you say there are always agent provocateurs.

Doth you protest too much?

 

[Bungle_Bear]

Doth you protest too much?

Off topic, but if you want to use archaic forms it would behoove you to use them correctly. Doth is 3rd person singular - doth he, not doth you. 2nd person singular is dost thou.

/off topic rant

 

[HARK!]

Yeah but you said FE was set up specifically set up to trick Christians.

No I didn't. I said that I've had suspicions. I try to avoid making false accusations. Thou shalt not!

Then you say there are always agent provocateurs.

No I didn't. I try to avoid making absolute statements. In order to correctly make an absolute statement; one must most often require absolute knowledge. I reserve that ability to our Father in heaven. Glory to him.

Doth you protest too much?

Let me get this straight.

Do you really have suspicions that I'm an Atheist posing as a Christian?

If so, you might be more gullible than those who have fallen for the FEM.

 

[Larniavc]

Do you really have suspicions that I'm an Atheist posing as a Christian?

Of course not.

I NEVER make absolute statements.