What sort of reception did you get? Did everyone laugh? Did anyone take you semi-seriously, either by arguing against the FE or by considering it?
Well met. Very much so actually.
If the site had not gone down the next day i bet we would have a few more users giving mature posts.
It played out about like this:
First they just took it like a story i was telling.
Then they questioned my belief. (I didn't use the word conspiracy. Again most ppl don't swallow that pill well.) I pretty much said "Outside of modern day technology (i.e. satellites, high altitude spy planes...) prove to me the world isn't flat. It looks pretty flat to me."
Once a friendly debate ensued then a few ppl mumbled and left the table. These ppl are probably the ones that would come and flame the site. Obviously ppl aren't going to be as rude in person to their neighbor as a stranger would be on the intranet.
The ones that suck around (about 60%) ate it up. Either they got stumped or brought good thoughts. And a few sided with me just for arguments sake. This conversation lasted a while and ended up spawning a few tangents that were clearly just for practicing debate. and spawning debate is entertaining in its own right.
I didn't leave the party with any Flat Earth converts, However this was not my goal. I brought the topic of FE to a real-life public forum (around a keg) and it was very well received.
It sure as hell beat hearing ppl bitch about their job or GF/BF/wife/husband. And it was more entertaining than the same religious debate that pops up occasionally.