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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: 5, Interesting) by LoRdTAW on Saturday May 05 2018, @06:45PM (7 children)
It's not trolling. It's a scam. Why else would people go through such great lengths and efforts to launch rockets and organize conventions. These guys are using their conspiracy to sell crap. Just like the rest of the so called "nutters" like Alex Jones. They aren't nutters. They are great actors and salesmen for their products and endorsements. Doesn't matter what you're selling so long as you're making money.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday May 05 2018, @08:13PM (1 child)
Yup. If they REALLY wanted to prove one way or the other, the scientific way, cheaply, would be take the grand Poooo-bah up in a jet and fly him around the world, refuelling on the go.
Fly the equator and the Greenwich line (??) and let him see for himself. But that would be too scientific a method, I guess.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday May 05 2018, @10:39PM
Or just watch the Sun cross the sky.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 06 2018, @09:10PM (4 children)
> It's not trolling. It's a scam.
It's a purposeful and well oiled activity that hurts the other truth movements, be them in good faith or scams, so I vote for trolling.
A scam would use something more difficult to disprove. Like a god (no, it's not an atheist speaking so do not derail, please).
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Sunday May 06 2018, @09:32PM (3 children)
The easier the conspiracy is to disprove the more crazy people think you are so they leave you alone. People are scared of crazy. Think about it: if someone told you the sky is pink when it's plainly blue and the reason is some bat shit crazy conspiracy, you'd want to put as much distance between you and that mad man as fast as possible. That's called cover.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 07 2018, @04:35PM (2 children)
Wait, have people been thinking I'm crazy this whole time just because I'm color blind? I get into "color situations" like that at least once a month.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 07 2018, @04:42PM
I'll give the reason as "The eye actually contains cones and rods, with three types of cones to see the colors red, green, and blue. I only have two types of cones and their peak sensitivity is shifted to the middle of red-green and green-blue. Its true, you can look it up on youtube." Then they will just kind of nod their head but I can tell they just think I'm saying I have different flavored ice cream cones in my eyes or talking about some bible story.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Monday May 07 2018, @09:24PM
Well, unless colorblindness is a conspiracy, no one should be running from you.