Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
Thu Mar 21, 2019, 10:13 AM Mar 2019

Flat-Earthers planning expedition to Antarctica.

https://nypost.com/2019/03/20/flat-earthers-planning-bizarre-antarctica-trip-to-prove-conspiracy-theory/

The “Flat Earthers” plan is to sail to Antarctica to find the frozen barrier they believe marks the edge of our world.

The supposed “ice wall” is said to be a couple thousand feet thick, towers 164 feet high and surrounds the entire planet.

Next year’s trip — details of which are being kept under wraps — is being organized by the Flat Earth International Conference (FEIC).

...

But many are quick to point out the ship taking them will use navigational equipment which counts on the Earth being a sphere.

Global Position Systems in particular use a network of satellites that orbit the Earth to ping off of each other and pinpoint one’s location.


1.
They cannot be assed to fly to South-America or South-Africa or Australia to make astronomical measurements. But they somehow think they can pull off an antarctic expedition.

2.
They will find their way to Antarctica via formulas and instruments that only work if the Earth is a ball. Finding Antarctica in itself will be a pretty good proof that Earth is not flat.

3.
Here's my guesses what will happen:

- First, they will keep it under wraps how they even got there. They will make navigational measurements at sea, they will get data that proves that Earth is not flat, and then they will cover up what they found.

- There's a good chance they will end the expedition prematurely due to technical difficulties. And then blame the conspiracy.

- If they reach Antarctica, they will DEFINITELY pester lots of sailors and scientists about Flat Earth and the Ice-Wall and the conspiracy.

- If they reach Antarctica, they will DEFINITELY see the antarctic mountains at the horizon and claim that they really are the Ice-Wall.

- They will make up half-assed speculations about whatever they saw and whatever happened. E.g. if the sailors lose their patience with the Flat-Earthers and get unfriendly, those sailors really are NASA-stormtroopers in disguise who try to disencourage visitors.
11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Flat-Earthers planning expedition to Antarctica. (Original Post) DetlefK Mar 2019 OP
Maybe they will have a slip and fall over the edge. Historic NY Mar 2019 #1
Good business for the slip and fall at140 Mar 2019 #3
can we leave them there?... samnsara Mar 2019 #2
Just watched a movie on the Netflix about flat-earthers called Behind the Curve. Canoe52 Mar 2019 #4
Oh, you missed the best part at the end. raging moderate Mar 2019 #5
Sail off in the sunset you numb skulls... BlueJac Mar 2019 #6
aaaand....not The Onion... dhill926 Mar 2019 #7
Yes, this is bound to end well :) uriel1972 Apr 2019 #8
Whenever I read this stuff I wonder if they mistook Terry Pratchett for non-fiction. plimsoll Apr 2019 #9
I have found out, there are 4 types of Flat-Earthers: DetlefK Apr 2019 #10
I'm sure plimsoll Apr 2019 #11

Canoe52

(2,948 posts)
4. Just watched a movie on the Netflix about flat-earthers called Behind the Curve.
Thu Mar 21, 2019, 10:56 AM
Mar 2019

These guys are so stupid and cringe worthy, I couldn’t stomach watching more than 20 minutes of it before I had to turn it off. Total wack-a-doodle, still living with mom nut cases.

raging moderate

(4,297 posts)
5. Oh, you missed the best part at the end.
Thu Mar 21, 2019, 11:13 AM
Mar 2019

There was a bit about their decision to do an experiment comparing light beams with the Earth's surface, to prove the flatness. ( Actually, this is somewhat like some of the experiments done by Ancient Greeks, which showed that the Earth is a sphere and actually allowed the Ancient Greeks to calculate the circumference of the Earth with stunningly close accuracy.) Anyway, after a minute, we could hear one of the experimenters phoning his distant cohort to tell him, "You need to raise your light; we can't see it from here."

plimsoll

(1,668 posts)
9. Whenever I read this stuff I wonder if they mistook Terry Pratchett for non-fiction.
Sat Apr 6, 2019, 11:13 AM
Apr 2019

Last edited Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:54 PM - Edit history (1)

It would be hard to make fun of believers if the basic premise wasn't so destructive.

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
10. I have found out, there are 4 types of Flat-Earthers:
Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:18 PM
Apr 2019

1.
The self-proclaimed scientists who want to re-invent all of science, but lack the mental abilities to do so. They have some superficial understanding of physics, but don't recognize that they are overlooking crucial details. They are actually interested in practical experiments, but commit all sorts of theoretical, logical and mathematical fallacies just to keep the conclusion alive that Earth is flat.

2.
The conspiracy-theorists. The world is evil and they are here to save mankind.

3.
Earth is flat, because God told me so.

4.
The scam-artists, for example Eric Dubay. They don't give a fuck about Flat Earth. It's all about telling Flat-Earthers what they want to hear and fleecing them for donations.

plimsoll

(1,668 posts)
11. I'm sure
Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:53 PM
Apr 2019

but it fails on so many levels.

I wonder if 1 and 2 aren't just variants of 3 who think they've found a way to prove their creation story without saying that they're trying to prove their creation story.

I think Eric Dubay should explore electoral opportunities in the GOP.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Skepticism, Science & Pseudoscience»Flat-Earthers planning ex...