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posted by mrpg on Saturday May 05 2018, @05:41PM   Printer-friendly
from the not-flat-or-round-it-is-a-line dept.

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.


Original Submission

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.

 
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  • (Score: 2) by fritsd on Saturday May 05 2018, @07:16PM (7 children)

    by fritsd (4586) on Saturday May 05 2018, @07:16PM (#676129) Journal

    Clever that they organized it in Birmingham, far inland in England.

    If they'd done the conference in e.g. Plymouth instead, then they'd have to make sure none of the conference goers saw any sailing boats coming in to harbour.

    (If they were sailing out, they could still conclude that the Earth is flat, and unfortunately every sailing boat that leaves Plymouth, sinks before it disappears out of sight under the waves)

    some of the comments below the video are.. well.. not very appreciative [youtube.com]

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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by fyngyrz on Saturday May 05 2018, @07:41PM (5 children)

    by fyngyrz (6567) on Saturday May 05 2018, @07:41PM (#676138) Journal

    You know those boats were almost sunk, and they were bailing as they came in towards port, right? RIGHT?

    • (Score: 3, Touché) by acid andy on Saturday May 05 2018, @09:44PM (4 children)

      by acid andy (1683) on Saturday May 05 2018, @09:44PM (#676164) Homepage Journal

      as they came in towards port, right? RIGHT?

      I'll have you know starboard is RIGHT, you insensitive clod!

      --
      If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
      • (Score: 2) by Whoever on Saturday May 05 2018, @10:15PM (3 children)

        by Whoever (4524) on Saturday May 05 2018, @10:15PM (#676174) Journal

        I'll have you know starboard is RIGHT, you insensitive clod!

        Not when I am looking over the stern, it isn't, you insensitive clod.

        • (Score: 5, Touché) by acid andy on Saturday May 05 2018, @10:37PM (2 children)

          by acid andy (1683) on Saturday May 05 2018, @10:37PM (#676183) Homepage Journal

          In light of your stern words, I think I'm going to have to bow out of this conversation.

          --
          If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
          • (Score: 2) by Whoever on Sunday May 06 2018, @02:45AM (1 child)

            by Whoever (4524) on Sunday May 06 2018, @02:45AM (#676232) Journal

            I suggest you make a dash for the nearest port.

  • (Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday May 05 2018, @10:41PM

    by wonkey_monkey (279) on Saturday May 05 2018, @10:41PM (#676187) Homepage

    Nuh uh. "Perspective," apparently.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk