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Re:The flat-Earth conspiracy is spreading around the globe by seibelj on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @07:23PM (#21579916)
My brother loves flat earth as a purely social phenomenon. He tells people he’s a flat earther mostly to get a rise, which is what I think most people who claim to support this also do.

It’s trolling as performance art and it riles up self-important sciencey types which is what continues to propel it forwards. Global warming denial only goes so far - but swearing up and down the world is flat? Now you’re talking!

Re:The flat-Earth conspiracy is spreading around the globe by LiquidSky on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @09:31PM (#21580627)
One issue with this "for the lols" stuff is that some percentage of people won't be doing it for the lols. Even if only 1% of the people doing it aren't joking, that number continues to grow and those people, thanks to the other 99%, think they're onto something and have found a movement. That could one day lead to actual problems caused by these people regarding funding or research, or just a general nuisance as with the anti-vax people.
Re:The flat-Earth conspiracy is spreading around the globe by Cuckoo123 on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @08:16PM (#21580231)
Awesome, perhaps in the future we'll stop wasting our reverence on the great minds of everything from science to literature. Instead, we'll spend it on worshiping people like your brother, who lead the way in mocking anyone who respects intelligence.

Utopia here we come!

Re:The flat-Earth conspiracy is spreading around the globe by seibelj on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @08:26PM (#21580285)
Your response is the exact type of response he tries to get from people. My dad, him, and me all enjoy poking people, it’s a genetic thing I think.
Re:The flat-Earth conspiracy is spreading around the globe by Cuckoo123 on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @09:59PM (#21580739)
Nah, it's an increasingly common nihilistic attitude we see in society - people reveling in eroding of all moral principles, because it's far easier than actually getting recognition for doing something enriching with their lives. Angry Incels being the ultimate epitome of this.

Not saying your brother is an incel, but "trolling for lolz" is definitely on the spectrum.

Re:The flat-Earth conspiracy is spreading around the globe by seibelj on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @10:12PM (#21580804)
How upset you are by the thought of my brother teasing people by pretending to genuinely believe the earth is flat is making me smile!
Re:The flat-Earth conspiracy is spreading around the globe by Cuckoo123 on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @10:19PM (#21580835)
Good for you champ. Glad it was so easy to please you.
Re:The flat-Earth conspiracy is spreading around the globe by PrefixKitten on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @09:29PM (#21580622)
I'm of the opinion that the Earth is actually a Hypertorus with the sun suspended in the center of the Torus. The surface of the Earth coninually wraps inside and out. The portions of the planet surface that are facing inward experience day time, and those facing outward night.