I’ve recently watched some videos of interviews with Flat Earth advocates. I’ve also investigated flat-earth discussion forums. I’m absolutely amazed at how much evidence they can so casually ignore and to what extreme lengths they can go in generating alternative explanations and imaginative conspiracy theories.
Many flat-earthers actually believe that governments around the world spend vast sums of money on naval fleets and ground troops which protect the “ice wall” at the circular edge of the flat world—so that no curious person will discover the truth about Antarctica! I’ve yet to have any flat-earther offer a sensible explanation as to why any nation would have such a vested interest in hiding the “truth” of a flat earth and would spend so much taxpayer money on keeping this alleged secret. So I’m prone to ask: At what point does a crazy, evidence-ignoring personal opinion represent a delusional break from reality and even serious mental illness?
TRIGGER WARNING: Perhaps what follows should relegate this topic to a semi-private discussion thread???
I agree with the objectives of Peaceful Science. Peaceful is good. Yet, looking back at my own trek out of my church background in youth earthism and anti-evolutionism (and even global floodism), it was the not-so-peaceful people who hit me hard with the abundant evidence and with the absurdity of my own positions who helped me most! (They certainly got my attention to where I took a very critical look at my “creation science” advocacy.) Am I just a rare exception or do we humans in general sometimes need a swift kick in the rear to realize just how wrong we are when we are stuck in our Dunning-Kruger delusions?
I well remember when a faculty colleague told me in no uncertain terms that a famous Young Earth Creationist ministry leader and anti-evolution debater of the 1960’s was a blatant liar and con-man. Whether those latter labels were truly accurate is another topic for another time—because for now I’m focusing on how those stark accusations so greatly helped me at the time. He got my attention. His willingness to be abrasive helped me get honest with myself about the hypocrisy and self-contradictions I personally witnessed in observing various “creation science” heroes.
Was I the exception? When should we politely educate and when should we rebuke? I’m thankful that I was rebuked sufficiently (and even ridiculed) to where I got serious about questioning my positions.
Where do we draw the boundaries?