And Finally...

1175 readers

251 users here now

A place for odd or quirky world news stories.

Elsewhere in the Fediverse:

Rules:

Be excellent to each other
The Internet will resurface old "And finally..." material. Just mark it [VINTAGE]

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

420

Flat Earther admits he was wrong after traveling 9,000 miles to Antarctica to test his belief (www.themirror.com)

submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

111 comments fedilink hide all child comments

In a surprising turn of events, a well-known flat-earther conceded that his long-held conspiracy theory was incorrect after embarking on a 9,000-mile journey to Antarctica.

YouTuber Jeran Campanella traveled to the southernmost continent to witness a 24-hour sun - a phenomenon that would be impossible if the Earth were flat.

"I realize that I'll be called a shill for just saying that and you know what, if you're a shill for being honest so be it - I honestly believed there was no 24-hour sun... I honestly now believe there is. That's it," added Campanella.

...

Campanella still didn't fully embrace the globe Earth model: “I won’t say the Earth is a perfect sphere,” then said, after first admitting he was wrong.

...

The expedition was part of the Final Experiment project, organized by Colorado pastor Will Duffy, who "hopes to end the debate over the shape of the Earth."

The expedition was part of the Final Experiment project, organized by Colorado pastor Will Duffy, who "hopes to end the debate over the shape of the Earth."

He arranged an expedition in which four flat Earthers and four "globe Earthers" were flown to Antarctica to witness the continent's midnight Sun. Antarctica's Midnight Sun is one of many proofs that the Earth is spherical. It can only occur on a tilted and rotating sphere, and the axial tilt during summer positions the South Pole to face the Sun continuously for 24 hours.

Flat Earthers often claim that the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 prevents civilians from visiting the southernmost continent in an attempt to hide the true shape of planet Earth. However, Pastor Duffy wanted to demonstrate that this wasn't the case.

"I created The Final Experiment to end this debate, once and for all. After we go to Antarctica, no one has to waste any more time debating the shape of the Earth," Duffy declared in a statement. "This is, of course, assuming that the entire "experiment" isn't just an elaborate prank designed to fool us 'globe Earthers.' It seems highly unlikely, but we'll keep you posted if anything changes – not that we're trying to sound conspiratorial or paranoid."

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Neither of those reasons are necessarily required to believe in a conspiracy theory.

Plenty of objectively smart people succumb to conspiracy theories. I am almost certain you have unfounded beliefs that when scrutinised make no logical sense.

Often it is just that a person has been disenfranchised and in a vulnerable position where seizing upon a conspiracy theory gives them a sense of control, community and power.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

I think this is a lot more common than any other reason.

There is constantly a group of people somewhere shouting loudly that this fact you were just told is no longer true. About everything.

The philosophy of fact and truth eventually has to bridge a gap of trust from the individual. That's where it can be exploited by some group who stands to benefit or worn down by seeing the scientists rewrite the textbooks with XYZ new discovery.