# What is the point to flat earth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748 "2017-05-31T00:57:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/201 "2018-05-03T18:42:46Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Not quite; even into the fourth and fifth centuries C.E., there were still some champions of the flat Earth theory, although there were as many or more who believed it was spherical: > [Flat Earth - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Earth#Early_Christian_Church) Those few were really outliers. The vast majority believed that the dry parts of the earth were a partially submerged ball of dirt floating in a large sphere of water – hence the miracle of god’s creation. That’s according to The Invention of Science: A New History of the Scientific Revolution by David Wootton. There’s a book I haven’t found by Russell called Inventing the Flat Earth which argues that 19th century people who were mocking Christianity came up with the idea that people in the middle ages believed the world was flat – and you know the old saw about a lie being halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/202 "2018-05-03T19:00:41Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > I didn’t realize that Time Cube guy was dead and that the website was now defunct. > > That makes me feel old, for some reason. In a cubic-time universe, age is just an illusion. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/203 "2018-05-03T20:50:19Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The sun dims at night. No, dim sum is brunch. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > Foolish. Everyone knows the earth is a dodecahedron. And God rolls it to determine damage? > [@Kobal2](#): > > At this point of twisting themselves into pretzels they might as well, in true DM fashion, just throw their hands up and shout “SHUT UP IT’S MAGICAL, OK ?! Now roll your fucking Will save.” Dammit! It was MY turn for a D&D reference! ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/204 "2018-05-03T21:00:41Z")
I was skeptical but if you Google search Flat Earth Christian forums there are a lot of them and I don’t think they are all parodies. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/205 "2018-05-03T21:26:24Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > And God rolls it to determine damage? It’s been a while, but I do believe that with proper feats, you can use d12 damage dice for smiting. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/206 "2018-05-03T21:32:35Z")
Maybe it was all just a typo and we are part of a big brotherhood: it is a _frat_ Earth. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/207 "2018-05-03T21:45:48Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Maybe it was all just a typo and we are part of a big brotherhood: it is a _frat_ Earth. And we’ve been put on double secret probation… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/208 "2018-05-03T21:54:37Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > It’s been a while, but I do believe that with proper feats, you can use d12 damage dice for smiting. God as Dungeon Master would explain a lot, though I always thought it was the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/209 "2018-05-04T10:12:55Z")
[Dim Sun and D&D, you say?](http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?236062-Dim-Sun-is-what-now) (Check out the spoiler boxes in post #8 of that thread) ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/210 "2018-05-04T11:02:08Z")
> [@autan](#): > > Thats a good point and here is my answer. > > Lets say I am in the England (which I am) and I am in Manchester which is in Northern England. > Can I see the Northern Coast of France ? NO > > Why because my position in England means I do not have that in my perspective view. > > However if I am in Dover in Southern England, then I can see the Northern Coast of France all day long. > > If I could stand on a hill or mountain and weather permitting, I got out a telescope then I could zoom and zoom and I would be able to see the North Coast of France from Manchester. > > On a globe this is impossible because of the curvature of the earth means I cannot see around the corner. Light bends but not by 8 inches per mile. > > My point being if I had a telescope I could see in England, what they see in Australia only from a different perspective. Let’s say, I’m in Ireland (which I am) on the South coast or Ireland at the [Old Head of Kinsale](https://goo.gl/images/HtDYLu), with a clear line to [France, Wales & the UK](https://goo.gl/images/pHLJ99), I’d like to mention, that I’m also raised by standing on a high cliff. By your flatard-logic I should be able to see France, Wales and England - the thing is, I see nothing but water…choppy water with boats in it… I’ve used binoculars - same result… water! … a stargazer telescope - still only water!!! I should also see the whole East Coast of North & South America from the [Mizen Head](https://goo.gl/images/BsMTZf), but… again… ONLY water!!! Last time I took the ferry from Dover to Calais I was unable to see France from the Dover and just if you’re wondering: seeing the UK from France was also not possible. It might be possible from Manchester, thing are apparently different there - [water flows uphil](https://goo.gl/images/Tccb3B)l, [perpetual motion is possible](https://goo.gl/images/q65cYa) and [faster than light](https://goo.gl/images/2q4vf3) ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/211 "2018-05-04T20:18:53Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Had you ever been to the seaside you would know that is wrong, telescope or not. Clear day, perfect weather, look at a boat going out to sea. You’ll note that long before it vanishes from your sight entirely, soon enough you’ll keep seeing the superstructure & masts while the waterline has disappeared - that’s not because the boat is sinking, merely gone beyond a distance where the curvature of the globe gets between your eyes and it. I’ve never seen this phenomenon for myself, although I have spent a good deal of time at the seashore. It seems like one of those phenomena that exist mainly in textbooks, and is not at all obvious in real-world conditions. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/212 "2018-05-05T00:12:30Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I really have no idea. But my observation on all kinds of pseudoscience crap is that there’s not much relationship between educational attainment and belief in nonsense. If anything, belief in pseudoscience goes down at very low educational levels because they don’t think about this stuff in _any_ capacity. But it’s possible to have just enough enough education to get into trouble. A little knowledge being a dangerous thing is kind of the theme of this thread IMO. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/213 "2018-05-05T00:46:48Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > I’ve never seen this phenomenon for myself, although I have spent a good deal of time at the seashore. It seems like one of those phenomena that exist mainly in textbooks, and is not at all obvious in real-world conditions. I’ve seen video of it, but it was obviously made through a telephoto lens. You can find it on Youtube, of course. The thing is, the boat has to be several kilometers away for the effect to be obvious, so binocs or telescope are pretty much required. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/214 "2018-05-05T00:57:10Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I’ve seen video of it, but it was obviously made through a telephoto lens. You can find it on Youtube, of course. The thing is, the boat has to be several kilometers away for the effect to be obvious, so binocs or telescope are pretty much required. You just need a tall boat. Something with a mast is ideal. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/215 "2018-05-05T01:15:46Z")
I have seen FECT videos of boats viewed using a very high power telephoto. Weird things happen in these situations, primarily because the videos can prettymuch only be made on clear days, so the sun will be driving water vapor off the surface. They get odd inverted double images and other mirage-like effects. Even with magnification, the refraction index of the wet surface air makes it very difficult to observe the horizon descent. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/216 "2018-05-05T03:27:20Z")
I found the answer to one of my questions (“Is the earth itself falling?”): [Universal acceleration](https://wiki.tfes.org/Universal_Acceleration). Basically the theory is that the earth is not only not falling, but is in fact accelerating upwards at 10ms^-2 It’s ironic: the belief in a Flat Earth basically only persists because of a desire to ignore any information that seems to conflict with one’s own eyes and intuition. And yet you end up having to swallow more and more ridiculous and counter-intuitive ideas. In this case, you either say everything is shooting through space, together, at many times the speed of light, or you accept _some_ of special relativity, just so you can set a maximum speed (while still maintaining the rest of it is part of the conspiracy). ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/217 "2018-05-05T13:02:24Z")
The psychologists say that the tendency to want to believe in flat earth is simplicity. They have’t thought deeply… about how satellite technology works. How is the dish that is aimed upward work if the satellite isn’t up there ? About why you see see iridium flares. About how they get ISS to track across the sky on cue every time. Perhaps they don’t really believe in it fully yet, having some idea that the conventional ideas are right but they like the idea and hope someone else that also believes the idea can prove it better. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/218 "2018-05-05T15:18:40Z")
I did run across a rather interesting [first-hand view](http://www.iflscience.com/space/a-scientist-attended-a-flat-earth-convention-heres-what-they-learnt/) of FECT psychology. \*While flat earthers seem to trust and support scientific methods, what they don’t trust is scientists and the established relationships between “power” and “knowledge”. This relationship between power and knowledge has long been theorized by sociologists. By exploring this relationship, we can begin to understand why there is a swelling resurgence of flat earthers. … The level of discussion however often did not revolve around the models on offer but on broader issues of attitudes towards existing structures of knowledge, and the institutions that supported and presented these models. … (The distrustful) viewpoint is somewhat typified by the work of Michel Foucault, a famous and heavily influential 20th-century philosopher who made a career of studying those on the fringes of society …\* Now there is a familiar name. A swinger if ever there was one. _At the time Foucault was writing on the topic, the control of power and knowledge had moved away from religious institutions, who previously held a very singular hold over knowledge and morality, and was instead beginning to move towards a network of scientific institutions, media monopolies, legal courts, and bureaucratized governments. Foucault argued that these institutions work to maintain their claims to legitimacy by controlling knowledge._ The rest of the article suggests that the power/knowledge dynamic may be starting to, uh, swing the other way. And, ironically, the internets may be playing a significant role in undermining measured intellect. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/219 "2018-05-05T15:18:52Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > You just need a tall boat. Something with a mast is ideal. Yeah. Big boats help too - those gigantic cruise liners, RO-RO supercargoes, aircraft carriers… (what can I say, Brest is a busy port :o). It also works with submarines but there’s a trick there. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/220 "2018-05-05T21:17:47Z")
Here is my question for flatearthers If sunrise/set and moonrise/set are just perspective, then Why can you see only half of a circle cut by the horizon? Why is it not infintesimally small at rising/setting? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748.md?page=10)