The Round Earth Society

[Mulder]

http://www.theroundearthsociety.net/

Apparently there is a Round Earth Society. I may have this wrong but they seem to have set up in opposition to the Flat Earth Society. Anyone know more?

Perhaps there should be No Psychics Society and a Dowsing Doesn't Work Club.

[Mulder]

I think 'round earth' may be a variation on 'flat earth'. What is really needed is an 'oblate spheroid earth society'.

[ZERO]

Perhaps there should be No Psychics Society and a Dowsing Doesn't Work Club.

Great idea!

The woos have organizations like the Foundation for Thought and Ethics for promoting ID.
Is there an equivalent for improving and promoting proper science education?

[svenanders]

Apparently there is a Round Earth Society. I may have this wrong but they seem to have set up in opposition to the Flat Earth Society. Anyone know more?

Perhaps there should be No Psychics Society and a Dowsing Doesn't Work Club.

This is correct. I'm the creator of The Round Earth Society.
The purpose of the site is to both check our opinion that the Earth is round is based on evidence not bias, and to give FE'ers a chance to go on the offensive. The FE site is almost entirely FE'ers defending themselves. They deserve a chance to attack OUR opinions.

If you guys support that the earth is round, join us and let's debunk The Flat Earth Theory.

[MischiefMonkey]

This is correct. I'm the creator of The Round Earth Society.
The purpose of the site is to both check our opinion that the Earth is round is based on evidence not bias, and to give FE'ers a chance to go on the offensive. The FE site is almost entirely FE'ers defending themselves. They deserve a chance to attack OUR opinions.

If you guys support that the earth is round, join us and let's debunk The Flat Earth Theory.

I get confused with the Flat Earthers. Do they really believe the earth is flat or is it a mental exercise? An opportunity to argue about evidence? A challenge to examine evidence yourself?

Or are they just bat shit insane?

[svenanders]

I get confused with the Flat Earthers. Do they really believe the earth is flat or is it a mental exercise? An opportunity to argue about evidence? A challenge to examine evidence yourself?

Or are they just bat shit insane?

There are a few who actually believe that the earth is flat, but most of them are just playing the devil's advocate. I think the sites purpose is to show people that nothing can be proved 100%.

[MischiefMonkey]

There are a few who actually believe that the earth is flat, but most of them are just playing the devil's advocate. I think the sites purpose is to show people that nothing can be proved 100%.

That is my general impression too.

Though I do think one or two are BSI (bat shit insane)

Whether arguing over the '100% certainty' is useful, that is debatable. To say '100%' certain in some instances could stifle debate and impede new ideas. In others, (flat earth, homeopathy) it is pointless. Though perhaps a useful metal exercise.

[Mojo]

I get confused with the Flat Earthers. Do they really believe the earth is flat or is it a mental exercise? An opportunity to argue about evidence? A challenge to examine evidence yourself?

Or are they just bat shit insane?

Try Flat Earth by Christine Garwood, which gives a history of the various flat earth protagonists.

[MischiefMonkey]

Try Flat Earth by Christine Garwood, which gives a history of the various flat earth protagonists.

Thanks Mojo. I have to say Flat Earth fascinates me. I just can't quite get how anyone that isn't BSI could believe in a flat earth. A 'round' (ish) earth makes absolute perfect sense to me. But is that my preconceptions or real science - remembering that I am not a astrophysics expert. I get confirmation bias, cognitive dissonacence etc. But RLY?

Looks like an interesting read

[niggle]

It's worth looking up the myth of the flat earth too.

We often hear the claim that people in the middle ages (or sometimes just anyone before the modern age) thought the earth was flat. But they didn't: the ancient greeks knew the earth was round and that knowledge wasn't lost.

The myth apparently started in the seventeenth century with a number of historians deliberately misrepresenting the ideas of the church and others as believing in a flat earth. They didn't!

In fact the Historical Society nominated the idea that Columbus believed the earth was flat as the second most common error in the study of history.

[Trinoc]

The myth apparently started in the seventeenth century with a number of historians deliberately misrepresenting the ideas of the church and others as believing in a flat earth. They didn't!

Not even (real) historians as far as I know. I think it was Washington Irving ... the author who gave us Rip van Winkle and Sleepy Hollow (as well as somehow getting his pen name adopted as the word for women's underwear).

[Mulder]

There are a few who actually believe that the earth is flat, but most of them are just playing the devil's advocate. I think the sites purpose is to show people that nothing can be proved 100%.

This is a central problem in paranormal research. Many people accept, for instance, that orbs are out of focus bits of dust or insects. However, a significant number argue that SOME orbs are, or might be, paranormal.

While this is a logical argument it is not pragmatic and it prevents them from 'moving on' to more promising areas of research. They remain stuck forever wasting their time and misguiding the public! This sort of thinking is widespread among paranormal believers and, in my opinion, holds the subject up.

[niggle]

This sort of thinking is widespread among paranormal believers and, in my opinion, holds the subject up.

I agree. What's needed is simple, widespread demonstration that the phenomena in question are entirely prosaic.

Did you ever come across "rods"? They're a bit lke orbs, strange shapes commonly seen on video footage. That one had me scratching my head and undecided until someone researched it and showed how to make them appear.

[Mulder]

http://www.assap.org/newsite/article...ng%20rods.html

[Mojo]

http://www.assap.org/newsite/article...ng%20rods.html

The top image looks suspiciously like subliminal advertising by chiropractors. Several of the rods have clearly visible subluxations.