Reasons for Belief

I'm just curious to hear from the people who believe the earth is flat. Why do you believe it? When did your belief start? Did you really read that book mentioned in the FAQ and you were convinced?

Or, do you really believe it, or are you just convinced that both theories are possible, and we should be open minded.



I guess my confusion is, if we pretend both theories are equally supported by evidence, then it still remains that the round earth theory seems more likely. FE theory requires a vast, hard to comprehend, unexplained conspiracy, as well as various undocumented, not reproduceable optical illusions. RE theory seems more coherent, more consistent, and to fit better in the world we can observe. FE requires some pretty wild explainations. RE, in summation, seems simpler. Doesn't it seem much more likely that the simpler theory is better? Occams razor? That sort of thing?

What are the FEers problems with a RE, exactly? Because it looks that way up close? So would an RE. What seems illogical about an RE?


I'm genuinely curious. It'd be nice if people didn't flame or give joke answers.

It'd be nice if people didn't flame or give joke answers.

Too bad

Anyway, it's no use pretending that there is equal support for both theories as there basically is shit all support for the flat earthers that isn't based on ridiculously bad attempts at disproving basic laws of physics, and commonsense.

What are the FEers problems with a RE, exactly? Because it looks that way up close? So would an RE. What seems illogical about an RE?

What do you think is the purpose of this forum?

Is that a rhetorical question?

cause we're metaphorical DA's  :lol:

Speak for yourself.

I'm a literal Devil's advocate.

Speak for yourself.

I'm a literal Devil's advocate.

no no, i dont think you understood what the guys question was.  if you understood you would be using "devils advocate" as a metaphor.  its not like you really advocate the devil  :wink:

It's just like that.

- user name "beast"

can i ask...why did u choose to believe THIS particular model?

if u had been told one thing all ur life...why is it that u choose to follow a different path, u cant suddenly become a muslim if u neva heard nething about it, and so i assume u've been briefed about the topic of a flat earth.

where did u first hear about this? (excluding bible, or a bible-basher)

this intrigues me

can i ask...why did u choose to believe THIS particular model?

if u had been told one thing all ur life...why is it that u choose to follow a different path, u cant suddenly become a muslim if u neva heard nething about it, and so i assume u've been briefed about the topic of a flat earth.

where did u first hear about this? (excluding bible, or a bible-basher)

this intrigues me

well, i dont really believe either model.  i accept that we MIGHT NOT EXIST!?!?! :O:O:O

we dont exist?!?!

OH GOD!!! lol, im pretty sure we exist in sum form, otherwise it wuld be impossible for us to be having this conversation. matter exists, atoms exist, anti-matter exists, energy too...

im pretty sure that the FE and RE wuld agree 100% with me that im quite sure that if we were NOT one of the above, it wuld literally be impossible for us to...exist...and as such look up this forum on the internet, and talk over it

therefore...we do exist, jst where and on wat shaped mound of dirt, seems to be the questions raised on this forum

Well the question of what is real is a very old a difficult question.  I'd suggest reading some philosophy before commenting too much.

I guess probably Hume or Kant would be very good to read, but I think really you should start with Aristotle before reading them to get a better idea where they're coming from.  Ferge would also be good to read.  Of course Buddhist philosophy also has very interesting views on existence - as do all the existentialists (Satre, Neitzsche etc.).

While I'm sure on a very basic level most people would agree with you that we must exist on 'sum' form I really think the question of existence is much more complicated then that.  I also think it is crucial to understand that there is a significant difference between our perceptions and reality.  Actually some people would argue that there isn't but I believe that universal reality exists outside or perceptions.  Other people believe that what we percieve is reality.  There is quite a significant distinction between those two views.

Well the question of what is real is a very old a difficult question.  I'd suggest reading some philosophy before commenting too much.

I guess probably Hume or Kant would be very good to read, but I think really you should start with Aristotle before reading them to get a better idea where they're coming from.  Ferge would also be good to read.  Of course Buddhist philosophy also has very interesting views on existence - as do all the existentialists (Satre, Neitzsche etc.).

While I'm sure on a very basic level most people would agree with you that we must exist on 'sum' form I really think the question of existence is much more complicated then that.  I also think it is crucial to understand that there is a significant difference between our perceptions and reality.  Actually some people would argue that there isn't but I believe that universal reality exists outside or perceptions.  Other people believe that what we percieve is reality.  There is quite a significant distinction between those two views.

damn straight.

haha, ok...watever u intellects think, but dont count me out jst cos i type like a retard

I'm not in anyway calling you stupid.  I just think you need to read some of those philosophers to have a better understand and also I am sure you will enjoy reading what they have to say (even if you disagree).  I see this forum as more of a place for discussing philosophy than anything else.  I think a lot of people come here and misunderstand what people are trying to do and then argue very strongly that the world is round.  I think most people here are more interested in philosophy than they're interested in the shape of the planet.

One could ask if the shape of the Earth being round or flat is actually significant at all - and I would say it only matters if it infers there is a big global conspiracy or not.

are you suggesting there isnt a global conspiracy?

lol, u dumbarse

No, I'm suggesting that it doesn't really effect us very much we think the Earth is flat or round - but it would effect us significantly if there was a huge conspiracy or there wasn't.  That would be relevent knowledge while the fact that Earth is actually flat wouldn't really change very much about our lives on it's own - it's what it infers that would.

Not one FEer has responded! What is up with this forum??

Well... It really would cause a flat earth really does mess with stuff like gravity (gravitons if you will) and photons.
Perhaps not directly but by the time we're gonna want to colonize other planets we really need to get straight if the Earth's flat or round.

I'm not in anyway calling you stupid.  I just think you need to read some of those philosophers to have a better understand and also I am sure you will enjoy reading what they have to say (even if you disagree).  I see this forum as more of a place for discussing philosophy than anything else.  I think a lot of people come here and misunderstand what people are trying to do and then argue very strongly that the world is round.  I think most people here are more interested in philosophy than they're interested in the shape of the planet.

One could ask if the shape of the Earth being round or flat is actually significant at all - and I would say it only matters if it infers there is a big global conspiracy or not.

Actually, to be honest, I think this is more of a scientific forum.  Many, many users here are much less philosophically oriented than they are scientifically oriented.

Still no one has answered the original question of the thread.

Still no one has answered the original question of the thread.

That's because they can't justify their beliefs; there is no evidence for them, and all they can do is say "I believe it because I do". It's a bit like belief in god, execpt that there's probably more evidence for god* (such as various studies into the effects of prayer on healing).


*Discalaimer, I believe in god (non-christian; hindu if you must know), but not a flat earth, so my opinion is not entirely unbiased.

Also various studies about the placebo effect.

The God and the FE theory make alot of similar arguments.

It's a bit like belief in god, execpt that there's probably more evidence for god*

Ah, see, I thought you were trying to whore them by saying this. But if you believe in God then that's cool too.

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It's a bit like belief in god, execpt that there's probably more evidence for god*

Ah, see, I thought you were trying to whore them by saying this. But if you believe in God then that's cool too.

The difference between me and the FE guys is that I'll happily admit that I have no proof of the existance of god; I have some circumstancial evidence through personal experience, but I couldn't build a logical proof that would stand the scrutiniy of scientific method. Some of these FEers areunwilling to admit that, so they build up a global conspiricy instead.

Quote from: "soggycrouton"

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It's a bit like belief in god, execpt that there's probably more evidence for god*

Ah, see, I thought you were trying to whore them by saying this. But if you believe in God then that's cool too.

The difference between me and the FE guys is that I'll happily admit that I have no proof of the existance of god; I have some circumstancial evidence through personal experience, but I couldn't build a logical proof that would stand the scrutiniy of scientific method. Some of these FEers areunwilling to admit that, so they build up a global conspiricy instead.

Right! And you'd be happy to explain WHY you believe in god, and you could have some decent reasons.

But I don't understand WHY they beleive it, and not only believe it, but KNOW it. You'd think there'd be a really good impetus somewhere, and yet nothing...



So yeah, no one's going to explain why?

Are you asking why an FEer believes the earth is flat?

Because it looks flat.

That's the impetus. And I'm sure if you ask a young toddler who has never been told otherwise, he'd say the same thing.

The difference is that FEers aren't as easily convinced to go against their initial assumption. While REers say "Oh, ok, I guess I was wrong. It must be round," an FEer says "I don't believe you."

Are you asking why an FEer believes the earth is flat?

Because it looks flat.

But so would a round earth of this size... therefore both beliefs are equally valid.

That's the impetus. And I'm sure if you ask a young toddler who has never been told otherwise, he'd say the same thing.

The difference is that FEers aren't as easily convinced to go against their initial assumption. While REers say "Oh, ok, I guess I was wrong. It must be round," an FEer says "I don't believe you."

That's pretty wild. Toddlers believe a lot of things that aren't true. Then they grow up into reasonable adults, get convinced of reasonable things.

So I guess you're saying FEers are as reasonable as toddlers?

I can't see "it looks flat" as being reason enough to so blithely not accept overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Are you asking why an FEer believes the earth is flat?

Because it looks flat.

That's the impetus. And I'm sure if you ask a young toddler who has never been told otherwise, he'd say the same thing.

The difference is that FEers aren't as easily convinced to go against their initial assumption. While REers say "Oh, ok, I guess I was wrong. It must be round," an FEer says "I don't believe you."

This is interesting.... on one hand, you have the obvious, casual observation "The earth looks flat, so it must be"

Then on the other hand, the mental gymnastics that must be executed to CONTINUE justifying what is simply a failed initial observation...

The sun miraculously circling over the flat earth...
'Gravity' being generated by some bizarre perpetual thrust scheme...
Ignoring every shred of proof of the earth's roundness by constructing a massive conspiracy theory...

At what point would a sane person simply reconsider the original assumption?