SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Interesting bit to be found at The Conversation:
Speakers recently flew in from around (or perhaps, across?) the earth for a three-day event held in Birmingham: the UK's first ever public Flat Earth Convention. It was well attended, and wasn't just three days of speeches and YouTube clips (though, granted, there was a lot of this). There was also a lot of team-building, networking, debating, workshops – and scientific experiments.
Yes, flat earthers do seem to place a lot of emphasis and priority on scientific methods and, in particular, on observable facts. The weekend in no small part revolved around discussing and debating science, with lots of time spent running, planning, and reporting on the latest set of flat earth experiments and models. Indeed, as one presenter noted early on, flat earthers try to "look for multiple, verifiable evidence" and advised attendees to "always do your own research and accept you might be wrong".
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 theorised by sociologists. By exploring this relationship, we can begin to understand why there is a swelling resurgence of flat earthers.
Interestingly enough, the author delves into philosophy, particularly the work of Michel Foucault, who, for those not familiar with him, traced the relations between knowledge and power, especially in The Archaeology of Knowledge.
In the 21st century, we are witnessing another important shift in both power and knowledge due to factors that include the increased public platforms afforded by social media. Knowledge is no longer centrally controlled and – as has been pointed out in the wake of Brexit – the age of the expert may be passing. Now, everybody has the power to create and share content. When Michael Gove, a leading proponent of Brexit, proclaimed: "I think the people of this country have had enough of experts", it would seem that he, in many ways, meant it.
Ah, that explains so much beyond Brexit! Alternative Knowledge!
And for those who will never read the entire article, bit of the take-away:
In many ways, a public meeting of flat earthers is a product and sign of our time; a reflection of our increasing distrust in scientific institutions, and the moves by power-holding institutions towards populism and emotions. In much the same way that Foucault reflected on what social outcasts could reveal about our social systems, there is a lot flat earthers can reveal to us about the current changing relationship between power and knowledge. And judging by the success of this UK event – and the large conventions planned in Canada and America this year – it seems the flat earth is going to be around for a while yet.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Saturday May 05 2018, @06:28PM (5 children)
And you know this how?
A balloon absolutely would suffice, as would standing on a seaside overlook, or mountain. Even the beach by the sea will show you the curvature of the earth. You really gotta get out more.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @06:56PM (3 children)
I used to be able to see the curvature of the Earth from the window in my mom's basement but our neighbor started parking their car in the way.
(Score: 3, Funny) by fyngyrz on Saturday May 05 2018, @07:39PM (2 children)
I'm telling ya, man, her name is Cindy, she's not your "earth mother", and if you don't stop staring at her from that basement window, we're going to have to make you stay in the shed out back again.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday May 05 2018, @08:09PM (1 child)
And I'm positive that wasn't the curvature of the 'Earth' he was staring at!
8)))
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @09:59PM
But, but, that curvature has gravitational pull!
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Saturday May 05 2018, @11:36PM
What does it take to convince you that the Earth is curved? I think you need to really consider that your evidence is insufficient. A circular horizon doesn't suffice. There's the argument about distant ships coming over the horizon in pieces, top of the mast first, and that's a pretty good one, but the view out a window doesn't do the job at all. It's quite consistent with a flat earth with local bumps.
I don't remember the view from the top of Mt. Fuji well enough to state whether or not it suffices to show that the world is round, but the top of the Berkeley hills or Mount Diablo sure doesn't suffice.
That said, I've never been up in a balloon, so perhaps that does suffice. I really doubt it, but it's possible. But I can guarantee that ONE flight wouldn't suffice. You'd need to measure various angles of separation from one known spot at a particular height, and then do it again from another known spot at a known height where you could identify the same features. Actually, you'd probably need to do it from three spots. Even then you'd be assuming a homogeneity of the surface that is demonstrably not present at a small scale.
Your problem is actually the same as theirs. When something agrees with your beliefs, you aren't sufficiently critical about what evidence you accept as proving them. That your conclusions are essentially accurate in this case doesn't make the reasoning valid.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.