# Gravitists vs Downists **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 5, 2000, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758 "2000-10-05T12:59:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2000, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/101 "2000-10-13T08:04:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _David B chided me thus:_ > This is no joke, man! But that was a nice try – acting like any objections to your message were less than serious, and thus trying to get away with your claims. Did you really think we’d let you off so easily? \*\* Hah! Next you’ll be telling me that those **Christians** are serious! Chortlevirginbirthchortle. Now _that’s_ a well constructed joke :D. pan ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/102 "2000-12-04T16:26:38Z")
When I was 21, I found a number of heavenly bodies were attracted to me. Now that years have passed, I have acquired more mass to my form and have found that, contrary to what Newton would have us believe, heavenly bodies seem to be repulsed. In fact they are repulsed at the rate of my mass increase squared (approx.). An odd footnote…the heavenly bodies that are still attracted to me seem to be of similar or greater mass than myself. ---
**Author:** ![City\_Gent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a87d85/32.png) [@City\_Gent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/City_Gent)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/103 "2000-12-05T02:14:39Z")
DID ANY ONE SEE THE FOX TV SPECIAL STARING CHARLTON HESTON WHERE HE SHOWS HOW GRAVITY IS BECAUSE OF SIN. THEY ECXAVATED MANY ANCIENT SCROLLS AND SCRIPTUERS HERE IS A EXAMPLE “And lo, Shem-bethuel did displease the LORD, and the LORD smote him and fixed his feet fast to the soil. And there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth.” - III John 3:31 I CAN PUT UP SOME INTRERSTING LINKS IF ANY ONE IS INTERSTED. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/104 "2000-12-05T02:31:17Z")
I believe the post regarding the experimental use of cats has made an unfortunate experimental error. Correctly done, the experiment will reveal the primacy of the lateral force over the down force Step 1: Sieze the cat (firmly) by the tail, and begin whirling it about above your head. (Should this first step prove difficult, try administering approx. 2 CC’s of sodium pentothol. To the cat.) Step 2, Once maximum lateral force as been achieved, release the cat. Note that the cat flys _away_ first, _not_ down! Only after lateral force has diminished can the cat’s natural desire to be in direct contact with the surface come into play. Potential lateral force is then stored in the mass of the cat. Step 3. Observe. When the cat reaches the surface, it will invariably move away from you at a high rate of speed, thus potential lateralist force becomes active. If the gravitists were right, the cat would remain fixed in its location, and you could repeat the experiment. But, _aww contrary_, the build up of potential lateralist force is such that the cat will move away with blinding speed should you even so much as take **one** step in its direction! Q.E.D. ---
**Author:** ![questor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/d07c76/32.png) [@questor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/questor)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/105 "2000-12-05T04:01:58Z")
I’ve been lurkin here and noticed you guys are ALL wrong… You can’t see the barn for the cows! ?Hey, was that a cat that just flew by? It’s not Gravist or Downist, or Uppist for that matter… it’s Sideways, man. See it? Sideways!! Its so simple! Sideways! Say it with me… see? It’s Sideways! Ahhh forget it. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/106 "2000-12-05T09:27:30Z")
my bible says: > [@](#): > > And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein; > The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his. > Exodus 21:33-34 See, even in bible times, they knew that things fall. and that was beforr they knew about gravety, so it cant be becase of gravety that we know things fall, So there must be some other expination like maybe GOD said so. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/107 "2000-12-05T16:20:46Z")
Well, I for one am shocked that they teach this “theory” of gravity to children in public schools. Why should my tax dollars go to pay for the indoctrination of children in this atheistic, secular humanistic, unproven “theory”. This is an attack on my religious beliefs, and I won’t stand for it. At the least, the schools should also teach Downism, or as I prefer to call it, THE TRUTH! ---
**Author:** ![Ivorybill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ivorybill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivorybill)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/108 "2000-12-05T16:51:02Z")
Arghhhh… That sound you hear is my head banging the keyboard. It’s sink and float people! Sink and float! We know that the atmosphere is composed of liquids in their gaseous state. Ergo, planes, birds, bugs, bats, and those cute little flying squirrells FLOAT in the atmosphere, much as boats, ships, surfboards, and tennis shoes (judging by what washes up on our local beach) FLOAT on the water. When their float-o-dynamics are altered, planes, birds, bugs, bats, boats, etc. SINK to the bottom of the atmosphere or lake or ocean. Those of us on dry land, of course, have sunk about as far as we can go (evidence courtesy of Mssrs. Gore and Bush). Sheesh. Let me know if I can be of further assistance. ---
**Author:** ![Ivorybill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ivorybill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivorybill)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/109 "2000-12-05T16:53:02Z")
Hey! That should have had a sig file! ---
**Author:** ![wayward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a87d85/32.png) [@wayward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wayward)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/110 "2000-12-05T20:53:57Z")
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!!! Why are you all so stupid? There is no “gravity”. There is no “down”. There is no “sideways”. These are all part of a conspiracy made up by an evil satanic group conisisting of the government, the masons and the aliens who are all Jews and most likely homosexual. Things only stick to the ground because of the weight of air pushing down on top of them. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/111 "2000-12-05T23:01:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chicken Lover \* > **Things only stick to the ground because of the weight of air pushing down on top of them.** Air doesn’t have weight! If it did, you could feel it on top of you! Besides, what keeps the air on the ground? What’s holding IT down? ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/112 "2000-12-05T23:34:11Z")
This thread begs the question “Why am I not in IMHO”. As for gravity, feh. All things are simply a illusion because we are put in a evil computer called “Napster” ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/113 "2000-12-06T04:24:31Z")
If, ya know, like there ain’t no, um, gravity, then like, how come the neatest bands are called “heavy” and stuff? I already know that, like, metal is heavy, but when there’s a band, say, and they’re like really hard, kick ass rockers, then they play, you know, _heavy metal_. So that means there’s gravity because that downism stuff would be, um, like a _downer,_ and that ain’t cool. ---
**Author:** ![Gollum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gollum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollum)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/114 "2000-12-06T07:32:17Z")
I dont subscribe to ‘Downism’, ‘gravitism’,‘upism’ ‘lateralism’, ‘sidewayism’, ‘suckism’ or any of the other fallacies. NO! i say. These may be the works of the creator, but they are a misguided truth. I believe that the natural attraction of all humans to Our Dark Master in the center of the earth is what keeps us all fixed on this sphere. Anton Le Vey wrote something about it. See, because we are all impure we are repulsed from the presence of god, and welcomed into the presence of the Devil™. I dont mean to force my beliefs on you but you downists are all in for a rude shock when the final conflict emerges. Im going to go sacrifice more chickens, so that the great one grants me power and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/115 "2000-12-06T08:03:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > I’ve always wondered this. If the Moon, which is one-sixth the mass of the Earth, orits the Earth, why isn’t my monitor whirling around me? (This, I am sure everyone would agree, would be really cool.) > \*\* Not if you started experiencing tidal forces. ---
**Author:** ![wayward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a87d85/32.png) [@wayward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wayward)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/116 "2000-12-06T11:39:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Chicken Lover \* > > **Things only stick to the ground because of the weight of air pushing down on top of them.** > > Air doesn’t have weight! If it did, you could feel it on top of you! > > Besides, what keeps the air on the ground? What’s holding IT down? \*\* Of course air has weight. You just don’t feel it because you’ve lived with it all your life. And air is pulled to the ground because… of… the… Look over there! A badger with a gun! ::Runs away:: ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/117 "2000-12-06T13:15:57Z")
Oh, PUHLEEEEEEEZE!!! And I lower myself to treat with you people on matters of great importance? Things stick to the ground because it is _ **DOWN!!!** _ Look for yourself! It is down! That’s why everything falls there!! Sheesh! :rolleyes: Now I’m stuck, because you fools got me addicted to message boards before I found out what a bunch of morons you actually are! Maybe I can strike up an intelligent conversation in Yahoo chat… ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/118 "2000-12-06T18:31:19Z")
It’s the iron in our bodies being magnetically attracted to the Earth’s iron core. As for everything else, it’s all irrelevant to a Great Debate because humans are the center of the universe. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/119 "2000-12-06T20:34:00Z")
Boy, there sure are a lot of fundies in here. I subscribe to what many call the “weak downism” idea. Strong downists have to believe that all things fall down, and Gravitists think all things are pulled toward all other things. I think the monitor NOT orbiting the average computer user is enough evidence of that, but the downists have something going for them. The problem, of course, as has been mentioned, is the whole flying bit. Downists have a terribly hard time with flying. That’s why when I found Weak Downism I knew for sure it had to be right. The core of Weak Downism is that things fall, but they don’t _have_ to. The “missing the ground” analogy is quite apt, but it also fails to take into account why birds always fly _forward_, or some reasonable approximation of it. We all know, of course, that downism is the prevailing theory. But birds have an ability to fall, as I’ve said, forward. There are many tests going on right now trying to show that right now there are actually a “downish” force and a “forwardish” force, but that earlier in the evolution of life on this planet they were actually _the same force_ and only after a certian point was reached did the two break apart. Truly, we have some personal evidence of the forwardish force; you know how hard it is to walk backwards? It’s a terribly interesting theory, but I’ve been having a hard time explaining the symmetry of downish and forwardish (some call it sideways, but that’s a little exaggerated). Does anyone have any links for this? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758/120 "2000-12-06T21:11:11Z")
There is no flight…flight is an illusion. There is of course, gliding, but as we all know, “What goes up MUST come down”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitists-vs-downists/35758.md?page=7)