# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/161 "2018-05-02T08:37:10Z")
> [@wallewek](#): > > The real question here is why you bother arguing with such time-waters, serious or otherwise. It’s the stated purpose of this message board. Granted, that doesn’t make it possible, or easy. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/162 "2018-05-02T09:53:36Z")
I could hardly believe my ears yesterday. I was listening to the BBC, magazine program at lunchtime when they interviewed a flat-earther. This wasn’t some tongue in cheek piece, but a serious interview, done in the same way as if the guy was a serious scientist. He wasn’t even very coherent either and I am sure the FE society could have found someone more convincing. The BBC has to show balance at all times, so they had a proper scientist in the studio who did ask why the water didn’t fall off the edge - the reply was the G of T wall-of-ice theory. Oh - the guy also said that gravity was “only a theory” too. Grrrr. I pay for this rubbish. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/163 "2018-05-02T11:57:01Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > She said she made the whole thing up as a joke. I was gonna say, it pretty obviously reads as a joke. I mean, I know a lot of stuff that people actually believe reads like a joke, but the line “The things these “Australian” says to be doing, all these swear words and actions based on alcoholism, MDMA and bad decisions” gives it away if there’s any doubt. ---
**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 2, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/164 "2018-05-02T15:57:22Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > I suspect a good number of them don’t actually believe it’s flat but enjoy getting people really riled up arguing with them. > [@DrDeth](#): > > I think most of them are just trolling. As I have said before I don’t troll here, but In Real Life I can’t help myself. I would join the reborn Flat Earth Society except they became a Facebook group and using Facebook would require me to interact with my in-laws. > [@Isilder](#): > > And how the hell do they explain circumnavigations of the earth ??? > [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > The flat-earth theory doesn’t explain global circumnavigation… Not so fast, buckos! It’s all a matter of screen wrapping: > [@](#): > > The best explanation isn’t a curved, globe-shaped Earth, Nesbit thinks. Instead, it could be something more like teleportation. Yes, you read that right. Teleportation. > > Like Pac-Man himself, who reappears on one side of the game screen having exited on the other, objects would be transported from one edge of the flat Earth to the opposite edge. Describing this as a “logical possibility” for “truly free thinkers,” Nesbit explained, “Space-time wraps around and we get a Pac-Man effect.” [Flat-Earthers Think 'Pac-Man Effect' Stops Us Falling Off the Edge of the Planet](http://www.newsweek.com/flat-earth-pac-man-edges-907976) > [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > \*\*What is the point to flat earth? \*\* > > It’s flat, it’s got no points. That’s not what the Bible says. Four corners, all 90 degrees because God doesn’t create asymmetry. > [@Flyer](#): > > [nitpick] You mean the Sears Tower. There is no such thing as the “Willis” Tower. Never has been, never will be. [/nitpick] Quoted for Bible truth. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/165 "2018-05-02T18:40:45Z")
Did I miss the mention that the Flat Earth is actually a recent invention, done as a silly joke in the 19th century? That biblical literalists believed the earth was a sphere of land bobbing in a sphere of water, so that the combination was rather pear-shaped? And that this belief was blown apart by the circumnavigation of the globe? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/166 "2018-05-02T19:07:47Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > …What do they hope to gain or change by proving a flat Earth? Does turtle soup become a sin?.. 🙂 I love this. But let me ask: Are you referencing the terror (I think) were this universe-altering geological fact proven, leading ineluctably to the discrete fact of the ethical, nay moral reversal of turtle-soup–the causative effect must be fascinating, and no doubt you could provide one–or, 2) worse: IS IT A METAPHOR?:eek: Cats sleeping with dogs, etc. I can’t say which is more humbling. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/167 "2018-05-02T21:21:05Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > Did I miss the mention that the Flat Earth is actually a recent invention, done as a silly joke in the 19th century? 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 | Early Christian Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Earth#Early_Christian_Church)** > > During the early period of the Christian Church, the spherical view continued to be widely held, with some notable exceptions. > Athenagoras, an eastern Christian writing around the year 175 AD, said that the Earth was spherical. Methodius (c. 290 AD), an eastern Christian writing against "the theory of the Chaldeans and the Egyptians" said: "Let us first lay bare ... the theory of the Chaldeans and the Egyptians. They say that the circumference of the universe is likened to the turnings of The inf... ---
**Author:** ![autan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@autan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/autan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/168 "2018-05-02T21:46:17Z")
I believe the world is flat and not a ball. Show me a genuine unedited picture, unphotoshoped image of our planet from space in real time. Let me see Australians walking along Sydney Harbour Bridge upside down because of this theory of gravity and then I will believe we are on a globe. The reason so many people are getting behind this flat earth theory is because, the Russians have a major problem. Radiation from Chernobyl in Belarus, where their was a sever nuclear accident in the 1980s is beginning to get into the water table. The Russians want to go the site and dig a really big whole and bury all of that Nuclear problems down a deep hole. They have a problem, they have not go any radiation suits that withstand that kind of radiation for more than 2 hours. But they knew who did have this technology, the Americans and Nasa. The Americans went up to space in a rocket and travelled across an area of space called the Van Allen Belt which is much more radioactive than Chernobyl and then they landed on the moon. Build a moon buggy in 20 minutes and put a flag on the moon, took 20,000 photos in less than 12 hours and then flew back to Earth passing through this area of Radiation again and all of the astronauts not only lived but none of them got cancer and some are still alive today, The problem is when the Russians asked for the technology, the Americans claimed neither the rocket or the space suits would protect against radioactivity, proving beyond doubt that NASA never went to the moon and it was all faked, including the picture of the globe from space. People started asking questions and a lot other things didnt add up either, so you have people like me who are open minded. Not fully convinced either way and certainly not going believe the world is a globe because of a photo shopped image. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/169 "2018-05-02T21:57:26Z")
I am trying to find a suitable emoticon from the smiley-menu, there just isn’t one. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/170 "2018-05-02T22:01:27Z")
> [@autan](#): > > The Americans went up to space in a rocket and travelled across an area of space called the Van Allen Belt which is much more radioactive than Chernobyl and then they landed on the moon. I don’t suppose that the fact that this is [utterly false](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Allen_radiation_belt#Implications_for_space_travel) will change your mind, will it? ---
**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 2, 2018, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/171 "2018-05-02T22:31:18Z")
[del]If the hole is deep enough…[/del] [del]So what you’re saying is…[/del] [del]Then how would…[/del] [del]If you accept the moon landings…[/del] (taking a deep breath and remembering where I am.) Welcome aboard, **autan**! Thank you for your contribution. I hope your stay here is fun and educational, though I can’t guarantee it’ll be fun right away. ---
**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 2, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/172 "2018-05-02T23:33:21Z")
> [@autan](#): > > … Let me see Australians walking along Sydney Harbour Bridge upside down because of this theory of gravity and then I will believe we are on a globe. They are actually not “upside down”, because “down” is the same direction for them as it is for us: down. They approach it from a different angle, but it is still “down”. Yet, if you look at the Australian flag, you will notice it depicts a constellation, which is known as Crux (the Southern Cross). If you are in the northern hemisphere, you cannot see that constellation, but it dominates the southern night. If the world is flat, how can this be? ---
**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, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/173 "2018-05-03T00:03:00Z")
The “stars” are closer than you seem to think. Much closer. Much, MUCH closer. Do you know nothing about cosmology? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/174 "2018-05-03T00:22:03Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > The “stars” are closer than you seem to think. Much closer. Much, MUCH closer. Do you know nothing about cosmology? That’s the study of who was on the cover of Cosmo last week, right? ---
**Author:** ![autan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@autan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/autan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/175 "2018-05-03T11:42:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/176 "2018-05-03T12:56:05Z")
> [@autan](#): > > 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. Proof? Ever done it? Not just blandly asserted it can be done? It can’t be done because the Earth is curved. Getting up on a hill and carefully observing what the change in range to what you can actually see can be done, and will yield a result consistent with a curved surface. You are invited to try it. PS, I live in Australia, and have travelled to Manchester quite a few times. I have a very good idea about what can and can’t be seen on the journey. Firsthand, as seen with my own eyes. Observing the star constellations in the sky and their changing orientation and position in the sky is quite neat. Indeed seeing the Southern Cross lying over the horizon was quite something. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/177 "2018-05-03T13:02:59Z")
What astounds me is that, when all the other planets and large moons in our solar system are viewed through a telescope, they are ALL spherical in shape, yet only our planet is flat. Go figure. ---
**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 3, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/178 "2018-05-03T13:10:37Z")
> [@Isilder](#): > > Thats so mental. > > The airplane doesn’t fly down its axis exactly, its not like a car… Even if you factor out actual knowledge of airplane physics, the spirit level test wouldn’t prove jack shit re:the curvature of the Earth or lack thereof. In the round earth physics model gravity pulls towards the center of the Earth sphere, therefore a plane flying at a level altitude all the way around the globe, and therefore always at a tangent to the sphere & perpendicular to the pull of gravity, would leave the bubble levelled the whole flight. Step #1 to experimental design : your experiment should not only prove your theory but also falsify competing theories. Back to the drawing board, kooks ! ---
**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 3, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/179 "2018-05-03T13:11:53Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > What astounds me is that, when all the other planets and large moons in our solar system are viewed through a telescope, they are ALL spherical in shape, yet only our planet is flat. Go figure. Nah, it’s an optical illusion mate. They’re flat too, just all oriented towards the Earth ! ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748/180 "2018-05-03T13:22:28Z")
This video may be relevant. And if you can't stand to watch 16 minutes, at least watch this one: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/T874RMncnAQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Ship "sinking" over horizon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T874RMncnAQ) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-to-flat-earth/787748.md?page=10)