Re:Why Bad Ideas Refuse to Die
by titanomachy on Sunday August 07, 2016 @04:13PM
(#12243452)
The sun setting at different times depending on longitude seems to be a pretty obvious hole in the theory. I'm curious how the flat earthers justify that, although not curious enough to actually research it.
You don't even need to go around the world... just call an East-coast friend from the West coast a couple of hours before sunset... "hey is it night there?" "yep" "OK, the world must be round then!"
Sure. I'm not arguing for flat-earth, but I've never called someone to check if the sun has set for the purpose of satisfying my curiosity about the shape of the Earth. It is, however, implied in the conversations we have every day (coworkers finishing work at different times because of timezones) so there is no need to ask some things I guess.
My point was more that we take a lot for granted, some things obvious, some maybe less so, and it is not always silly to question even the simplest of assumptions.
Why not? The Earth is flat for a four-dimensional being.
Re:Why Bad Ideas Refuse to Die
by mikhailfranco on Monday August 08, 2016 @03:35AM
(#12246036)
We have flatness and straightness. The 4D beings would have 3-flatness, 2-flatness and straightness.
One is talking to someone on the other side of the planet, where the time would be different (and so day or night instead of night or day).
The other - that the stars look quite different when you go to another latitude.
It may not be possible to question and personally re-check everything, but if you make that a habit, you'll notice a pattern of which experts are usually right and in which field (besides getting a good idea of how the world runs).
From there, you can bridge the gaps in your experience with carefully placed bits of trust.