A flat earth

[Chesterton]

I have noticed that some of the people there seem almost too absurd to be serious. That being said, that's an awful lot of effort put in to Poe the world.

It's 2010 and they still have monarchy; they're a "Kingdom". The British will go to any lengths for their sense of humor.

 

[Bushido216]

I was of the opinion that it was an American based organization?

 

[Chesterton]

It was founded in Britain (by a Fellow of the Royal something or other, no less), then moved to California, but the website gives British adresses. So I don't know, I'd always thought of it as a British thing.

 

[Wedjat]

Founded in 1956. They don't have many members and it wouldn't be a terrible stretch to say it's all one big joke (at least not nowadays) but really, reading the extent that they go to to try to disprove a round earth... it just seems like too much effort.

 

[Frattracide]

I always had the sense that it was a big joke but, sometimes, they would censor opposing views. That seems to add too much realism to their very elaborate hoax.

 

[Bushido216]

Like I said, the idea of maintaining a fully functioning forum debate area, and getting 50 or so people to login every day and spout FET stuff, and not ONCE has someone said "gee, this is a big joke guys".

For a joke, there's too many moving parts.

 

[Exial]

I think the most likely arrangement is a mixture of true belief and humour. Maybe some of them do actually truely believe that the earth is flat and there is a massive government conspiracy to lie to them. Others may, like me, find the idea utterly hilarious and are trying to get some laughs or reactions from their over the top persona. Just a thought.

 

[LightHorseman]

It's 2010 and they still have monarchy; they're a "Kingdom". The British will go to any lengths for their sense of humor.

Monarchy is the only form of government endorsed by the Bible. don't knock what works for other people.

 

[SithDoughnut]

I was of the opinion that it was an American based organization?

It was founded by an Englishman in 1956, and then was taken over by an American. IIRC, the official society has disbanded, so they are not the original society, whoever they are. I once read a very interesting book on the Flat Earth hypothesis, but I don't have it with me so I'm recalling this from memory. I could be wrong, but I believe that the majority of flat earth believers are American - the original society proving to be very popular over there.

 

[Chesterton]

Monarchy is the only form of government endorsed by the Bible. don't knock what works for other people.

God save the Queen
'cause tourists are money

 

[Chesterton]

I just remembered another reason I think it's a joke. A long time ago I heard a radio program about them which said that the original Society's "meetings" were always drinking sessions in pubs.

(Not that there's anything wrong with that. )

----

I came across a separate website for another(?) Flat Earth Society. This one claims to have been around for 451 years. Their new member application form asks for stuff like:

Your favorite color
Favorite jellybean flavor
Favorite Radioactive Isotope
Favorite Eastern European nation, etc.

 

[Ellinas]

You guys think the flat Earthers are bad? Then you should see the Electric Universe believers

Is there no end to insanity

 

[Bushido216]

That last website is definitely a hoax.

I'm still not sure about the first.

 

[rickpaul]

I`ve never heard of Poe`s law, what is it?

 

[Chesterton]

I`ve never heard of Poe`s law, what is it?

If upon a midnight dreary, a raven comes a-tapping on your chamber door...don't answer it.

 

[AV1611VET]

Favorite Radioactive Isotope

Radioactive isotopes existed 451 years ago?

 

[Tinker Grey]

I`ve never heard of Poe`s law, what is it?

Altho Chesterton's answer made me laugh, I thought you might prefer a straight answer. Here you go: Poe's Law - RationalWiki

It's named for one of our very own members.

 

[Nathan Poe]

I`ve never heard of Poe`s law, what is it?

"Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it's impossible to make a parody of fundamentalism that someone won't mistake for the real thing."

 

[AV1611VET]

I`ve never heard of Poe`s law, what is it?

Poe's Law basically says that you may not know a person well enough to tell if he is joking or not, so it would be that person's responsibility to place a winking smiley at the end of his point for the benefit of the readers.

It creates a difference in saying:

The earth is flat.

... and ...

The earth is flat ---

 

[Nathan Poe]

Poe's Law basically says that you may not know a person well enough to tell if he is joking or not, so it would be that person's responsibility to place a winking smiley at the end of his point for the benefit of the readers.

It creates a difference in saying: ... and ...

Actually, what it says is that there are people out there whose beliefs are so over-the-top and asinine, that when someone tries to parody those beliefs, they'll never achieve enough of a parody that people won't think they're sincere.