MrDebunk presents
THE FALL-FLAT FALLACY
A small window into the flat earther psyche
The scientific method, and before that, scientific experimentation in general, is to observe something, hypothesize what is happening, then experiment, and collect all the observations into a conclusion. A theory is formed from observations. This is how we know many things about the world we live in.
The flat earth theory, being incredibly false, naturally has many holes in it. Flat earthers are constantly patching these holes with workarounds which are just that. Workarounds. That is forming observations from a theory, which means it is not an observation, just an easy exit from a tough argument. These are never truly observed to be true, and may as well have huge holes by themselves.
Flat-earthers are flat-earthers for one reason: they barely know anything about the round earth model (a.k.a. reality). When they discover the flat-earth, they eat up all the "proofs" out there and now believe the Earth is flat and
the government is covering it up. One thing that often reveals itself is a lack of understanding of simple physical concepts by flat earthers, as evident when they try to debunk the round earth. Sometimes their errors are in the more complex sense, other times they completely fall flat. Their mind usually is too tainted to understand more than a basic level,
but it can be done.
Hence, my coinage of the term "Fall-Flat Fallacy." (FFF)
Don't believe FFF is a legitimate thing?Here are some examples of cheap workarounds created by flat earthers.
Sun and moon rising and setting?A complex system of the sun and moon
orbiting
something, while the Earth
orbits
nothing. Where is the object it
is supposed to orbit around?
Sun rises and sets due to "perspective",
which is usually not elaborated beyond
that.
The four seasons?A 13-minute video that is for "demonstration
purposes only", and uses a complex animation
instead of 22-degree axis tilt and Earth's orbit.
The edge of the Earth?It is usually believed an "ice wall" surrounds a flat
Earth (normally called Antarctica), and that it is
heavily guarded. There is no proof for either. No
actual images, nothing.
Gravity?A common belief is that a flat earth is accelerated
upward 9.87 m/s^2 by a mythical force called
"universal acceleration". Not only is there no
proof of this, but this "universal acceleration"
would break the first law of thermodynamics.
Eclipses?A solar eclipse would probably still be
just the Moon in front of the Sun.
A lunar eclipse is described as being
done by a "shadow object", which not
only has no proof of existing, but is
not supposed to be visible. Easily the
most ridiculous of the excuses.
Boats going under the horizon?Again, the excuses of "perspective" and maybe even
"waves" are the most prevalent on this one. No real
argument, just an excuse or a shallow "debunk".
There are various other things that I
could cover here, but I probably could not bother to do so. This shall be a debate, this post is only the start.
Flat Earther Special Edition of the scientific method:
1. Discover an observation from a round-earther that seems to be a total nail-in-the-coffin to the Flat Earth theory.
2. Wait and think about what they just said.
3. Make a claim that would be used as a lazy exit from the apparent end of the Flat Earth theory.
4. Dance around Occam's razor like a retarded octopus, but never even sense its presence while you abuse your claim all around the Internet.