Flat Earth Society

[exegesis]

I initially inadvertently posted this on the wrong board.

Does anyone know whether these people are serious? It's so over the top that I can't help but wonder whether this is a spoof. I suppose nothing should be surprising anymore.

I highly recommend visiting the site for the entertainment value. Whether or not they are serious, it is pretty funny.


http://www.flat-earth.org/

[MRC_Hans]

From that site (the FAQ):
20. Does Idaho exist
No. The existence of Idaho is a lie, fabricated by a conspiracy of cartographers, as is England (see question 10).
21. What about North Dakota?
That doesn't exist either.
22. Any other places which are believed to exist but really don't?
Yes, Australia. And then there are the cryptogeographica, places such as Kadath, Carcosa, Hobbiton, Narnia, Hy-Brasil, Hell and such whose existence has not been satisfactorily proven.
This FAQ was compiled by Lee Harvey Oswald Smith, KSC EMF, Chairperson dei gratia, Flat Earth Society, with the assistance of members of the Society and independent researchers; last updated: 43 Cfn 3163
I conclude that it is a joke site ;)

Hans

[Lost Boy]

Are there serious 'Flat-Earthers' still around?

[The Don]

Still a few bible literalists out there

http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/fe-scidi.htm

[Craig]

There is a school of thought which states, however, that the Earth does not move through space, but rather that it rests on the back of a giant turtle, and that what we call gravity is, in fact, the turtle's animal magnetism.

:D

[Rolfe]

Originally posted by Lost Boy
Are there serious 'Flat-Earthers' still around? We had this crazy thread a week or two back, entitled "Prove the earth is round" (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30034). This was essentially Kumar (Kayveeh?) challenging us to prove that the earth is round (spherical), and then refusing to accept any of the evidence he was offered.

Apparently this was intended as something of a metaphor, in that Kumar was trying to show to us how frustrating it is for him when all his excellent and irrefutable evidence that homoeopathy is true and valid is rejected by us irrational sceptics. Unfortunately many people didn't quite appreciate the intent, and the cry of "troll" was heard throughout the land.

The surreal bit of it was that the metaphor works even better the other way round. The the earth being spherical and homoeopathy being delusional are both equally well supported by observed fact and rational argument, but it is equally possible for the bone-headed idiot to deny these rational positions. Kumar's success in fending off rationality as regards the shape of the earth wasn't really so surprising, given the practice he's had fending off rationality as regards the validity of homoeopathy.

Rolfe.

[tim]

Originally posted by exegesis
I initially inadvertently posted this on the wrong board.

Does anyone know whether these people are serious? It's so over the top that I can't help but wonder whether this is a spoof. I suppose nothing should be surprising anymore.

I highly recommend visiting the site for the entertainment value. Whether or not they are serious, it is pretty funny.


http://www.flat-earth.org/

Look at the "Mr Teapot Campaign" and take a guess.........:D

Edited to add "and welcome to JREF!" ;)

[Vorticity]

Originally posted by exegesis
I initially inadvertently posted this on the wrong board.

Does anyone know whether these people are serious? It's so over the top that I can't help but wonder whether this is a spoof. I suppose nothing should be surprising anymore.

I highly recommend visiting the site for the entertainment value. Whether or not they are serious, it is pretty funny.


http://www.flat-earth.org/
That site you link to is a parody. However, this link at talkorigins

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flatearth.html

documents the actual, non-parody existence of something called "The International Flat Earth Society". So there you have it.

[!Xx+-Rational-+xX!]

This is just what the crab people want you to think!

[tim]

Originally posted by Vorticity

That site you link to is a parody. However, this link at talkorigins

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flatearth.html

documents the actual, non-parody existence of something called "The International Flat Earth Society". So there you have it.

Scroll down to the bottom where the joining form is and you will find this -

Age ______ RACE ______ Sex ______

Occupation ______

Are you a teacher of any kind in the education system? ______
Minister? ______
Priest? ______
Rabbi? ______


I hereby affirm my aim in joining is not to harm, degrade, damage or defame this Society

signed ______
date ______

How did you hear of us?

SPECIAL: FLAT EARTH MAP (as featured in Newsweek, 7/2/84) $6.00 postpaid; Membership, Certificate, and Map $20.00.

Note the RACE. Their capitals.

[Lost Boy]

Originally posted by tim
Note the RACE. Their capitals.

Googling on these people and reading a profile of their erstwhile leader, it's clear he was a form of survivalist Bible literalist, so maybe it's not surprising.

[Zep]

Originally posted by Rolfe
We had this crazy thread a week or two back, entitled "Prove the earth is round" (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30034). This was essentially Kumar (Kayveeh?) challenging us to prove that the earth is round (spherical), and then refusing to accept any of the evidence he was offered.

Apparently this was intended as something of a metaphor, in that Kumar was trying to show to us how frustrating it is for him when all his excellent and irrefutable evidence that homoeopathy is true and valid is rejected by us irrational sceptics. Unfortunately many people didn't quite appreciate the intent, and the cry of "troll" was heard throughout the land.

The surreal bit of it was that the metaphor works even better the other way round. The the earth being spherical and homoeopathy being delusional are both equally well supported by observed fact and rational argument, but it is equally possible for the bone-headed idiot to deny these rational positions. Kumar's success in fending off rationality as regards the shape of the earth wasn't really so surprising, given the practice he's had fending off rationality as regards the validity of homoeopathy.

Rolfe. For the record: I was the one who first called troll on Mr K, and before I did, I was quite fully aware of his attempt at metaphor. When it became obvious that he was using the construct not as a metaphor but as simply a position from which to issue stonewalling denials then it became obvious to me that his "metaphor" had actually broken down - it did not correspond to what he thought it did. He was informed that this was the case (and he has been a few more times since, thanks to Rolfe). Anyway, and at that point I realised he was simply trolling, and called it as I saw it.

[Undodog]

I thought the Earth was a cube this week?
Bah! I can't keep up! :(

[Lost Boy]

Originally posted by Zep
Anyway, and at that point I realised he was simply trolling, and called it as I saw it.

I get a bit lost in the subtleties of what exactly a 'troll' is supposed to be (i.e. are they clever people presenting a false face trying to sucker in other forum members into a spurious argument or are trolls people who just turn up openly to abuse other members? I don't think the term extends to the merely weird of brain!), but following the path that has been suggested to homeopathyhome.com to see the poster kayveeh there and who must be the same person, it seems that his posts here and there are of the same type. So if he is consciously trying to annoy people, he picks on the credulous homeopaths and skeptics alike. It seems more likely to me that he is asking questions that for him are genuine, but with a very disorganised approach to the subjects that interest him. I think he thinks he makes sense.

By the way on the subject of trolls, I think we all assume that the image conjured by the term is of an ogre-type creature lurking to pounce on the unwary, but I've heard another explanation that it is derived from an angling verb 'to troll', which is a technique of luring fish. Thus the noun should be 'troller' but has been shortened to troll by people not understanding this etymology. Anyone else heard of this?

[Rolfe]

I always thought it was "trawl", as in go fishing, in terms of deliberately posting things which were calculated to provoke a flame reaction. Then the spelling transmogrified.

Kumar/Kayveeh may not be deliberately trying to provoke a flame, but by golly, he's putting up a pretty good imitation.

Have you seen his latest on the BBC board (http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/h2/h2.cgi?x=y&thread=%3C1069704037-29208.5%40forum2.thdo.bbc.co.uk%3E&board=science.headlines&mid=11100&offset=0&state=view&sort=Te#11102)?LIVE AND LET LIVE: " Live and let live is the rule of common justice " specially when LION'S SHARE: The greater part of the whole is taken. Is there any logic behind these famous sayings in this regard?Sheesh!

Rolfe.

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by Lost Boy


Googling on these people and reading a profile of their erstwhile leader, it's clear he was a form of survivalist Bible literalist, so maybe it's not surprising.

And dead apparently.Charles Johnson died March 19, 2001. He was 76. For nearly 30 years Charles fought the lonely and futile battle to "restore the world to sanity."

[Rolfe]

Originally posted by Zep
For the record: I was the one who first called troll on Mr K, ....If we're getting competitive here :D , I submit this post here (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28980&perpage=30&pagenumber=1#post1870152293) as my entry for the "first call of 'troll' on Kumar". Timed and dated at 2.02 pm GMT, on 23rd October. When was yours?

Whaddaya mean, it was a different thread? :p

Rolfe.

[Glory]

Regarding the Flat Earth Society, my step father is a member. He maintains his membership, not because he litterally believes, but as a reminder not to accept arguments from authority. He rejects any argument which begins, "everybody knows...", as a matter of course.

Glory

[tracer]

Originally posted by Undodog
I thought the Earth was a cube this week?
No, but I can biblically prove that the Earth is square (http://home.netcom.com/~rogermw/square_earth.html).

[Chaos]

Craig
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is a school of thought which states, however, that the Earth does not move through space, but rather that it rests on the back of a giant turtle, and that what we call gravity is, in fact, the turtle's animal magnetism.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You know that this is straight out of Terry Pratchett´s "Discworld" novels, don´t you?

However, more exactly, the world rests on four giant elephants which stand on the back of said turtle.

[Glory]

Originally posted by Chaos
Craig
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is a school of thought which states, however, that the Earth does not move through space, but rather that it rests on the back of a giant turtle, and that what we call gravity is, in fact, the turtle's animal magnetism.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You know that this is straight out of Terry Pratchett´s "Discworld" novels, don´t you?

However, more exactly, the world rests on four giant elephants which stand on the back of said turtle.

Terry Pratchett did not invent this mythology. He used it for his fantasy universe but the idea is much older than he.

Glory

[Schizobunny]

It's a joke...hopefully.

[Schizobunny]

Originally posted by Chaos
Craig
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is a school of thought which states, however, that the Earth does not move through space, but rather that it rests on the back of a giant turtle, and that what we call gravity is, in fact, the turtle's animal magnetism.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You know that this is straight out of Terry Pratchett´s "Discworld" novels, don´t you?

However, more exactly, the world rests on four giant elephants which stand on the back of said turtle.

Poor turtle. It has to deal with all those elephants on its back. What happens if the elephants drop the Earth on the turtle?

[Glory]

Originally posted by Schizobunny


Poor turtle. It has to deal with all those elephants on its back. What happens if the elephants drop the Earth on the turtle?

She'll be alright. She is a BIG turtle.

Glory

[DarkPrimus]

Originally posted by Undodog
I thought the Earth was a cube this week?

No, you're thinking of the TimeCube.

[tracer]

Originally posted by DarkPrimus
No, you're thinking of the TimeCube.
You are educated stupid, and you don't know you are educated stupid.

My magnificent creation of 4 simultaneous 24 hour days within a single rotation of Earth, debunks the puny 1-day rotation of a fake word god and stupid educators.

[Zep]

Originally posted by Rolfe
If we're getting competitive here :D , I submit this post here (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28980&perpage=30&pagenumber=1#post1870152293) as my entry for the "first call of 'troll' on Kumar". Timed and dated at 2.02 pm GMT, on 23rd October. When was yours?

Whaddaya mean, it was a different thread? :p

Rolfe. I graciously bow to your previous posting.

{grumble. He probably had Hal fix the datestamp or something... grumble}

[nyarltep]

the earth is not round
nor is it square
http://www.triangularearth.com/