…and a hearty thanks to you Brits for founding the modern flat-earth movement.
What dangermom said. Flat Earthers are mostly hramless eccentrics.
It’s a widely believed myth that people thought the Earth was flat until relatively recently. This just isn’t so - every sailor can see the curvature of the Earth, as well as the apparent slow rising of approaching masts. Columbus believed the world was sort of pear shaped (I have no idea why), but he would have been laughed out of town if he claimed it was flat.
As a rough rule of thumb, if you’re on a flat sea or level ground and you’re about 5 feet high, the horizon is about 25 miles away. This is something that lots of people have known over the ages.
Simple, because a round earth is just a theory. A different theory is that the earth is flat. Thus, there is a controversy.
We should teach the flat earth theory in schools. Or at least teach the controversy.
Hey, I’m not a flat earther. The OP asked why there are still flat earthers around. They are around, I think, partly because they believe their own senses above all of the inferences drawn from evidence. In addition, the Bible clearly implies a flat earth (with corners) and from a high mountain you can see “… all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them” (Matt. 4:8) which would be impossible with a spherical earth.
Brilliant, just brilliant. Though I like David Simmons’ explanation as well.
I can’t help but think that the Flat Earth Society may be just an excuse to get together and hoist a few. Like the Man Will Never Fly Society, the motto of which is “Birds fly. Men drink.”