RE: Should Flat-Earthers be debated or ignored?
June 12, 2019 at 5:44 pm
(This post was last modified: June 12, 2019 at 5:46 pm by Get off my lawn.
Edit Reason: one more point...
)
I have "debated" flat earthers online for some time now, and I think there are several sides to the story:
1. You can argue that obvious horse manure like flat earth is a waste of time to get into, and is only good for entertainment and to kill time. The believers will believe no matter how much you pound them with facts and science and reasoning and logic. Whenever they are met with convincing arguments, they will just deny the facts, the science, the arguments, and the logic, and will introduce inane homebrew physics and logic that has nothing to do with reality.
2. Arguing with flat earthers can be considered an exercise in self control and patience, as well as practicing your argumentation and debating skills. I use flat earth discussions as a test bed to improve my own argumentation, and to find angles of attack that more efficiently expose the bullcrap for what it is.
3. When arguing with flat earthers, my main goal is not really to convince the flat earthers that they are wrong. That is almost impossible. Instead, my real audience are the silent crowd. Those who sit on the fence and don't quite know what to believe, and/or are looking for more information on the subject. These people can be reached with facts and rational arguments, and if even just one person can be educated enough to steer away from the flat earth conspiracy lunacy, it is all worth it.
4. Bullshit needs to be exposed for what it is. It will not be exposed if it is just given the silent treatment.
5. When countering the arguments the woo woo crowd present, I am forced to read up on the subject. And I like learning new things, and to brush up on old knowledge. So in that sense it is worth it.
The same goes for creationists, religionists, believers in alternative medicine, conspiracy theorists, and other nuts.
1. You can argue that obvious horse manure like flat earth is a waste of time to get into, and is only good for entertainment and to kill time. The believers will believe no matter how much you pound them with facts and science and reasoning and logic. Whenever they are met with convincing arguments, they will just deny the facts, the science, the arguments, and the logic, and will introduce inane homebrew physics and logic that has nothing to do with reality.
2. Arguing with flat earthers can be considered an exercise in self control and patience, as well as practicing your argumentation and debating skills. I use flat earth discussions as a test bed to improve my own argumentation, and to find angles of attack that more efficiently expose the bullcrap for what it is.
3. When arguing with flat earthers, my main goal is not really to convince the flat earthers that they are wrong. That is almost impossible. Instead, my real audience are the silent crowd. Those who sit on the fence and don't quite know what to believe, and/or are looking for more information on the subject. These people can be reached with facts and rational arguments, and if even just one person can be educated enough to steer away from the flat earth conspiracy lunacy, it is all worth it.
4. Bullshit needs to be exposed for what it is. It will not be exposed if it is just given the silent treatment.
5. When countering the arguments the woo woo crowd present, I am forced to read up on the subject. And I like learning new things, and to brush up on old knowledge. So in that sense it is worth it.
The same goes for creationists, religionists, believers in alternative medicine, conspiracy theorists, and other nuts.
