Is the Earth flat, just like Discworld? Here’s what you should know about Flat Earthers, and why this belief has taken off on the internet. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
‘The Earth is flat!’ claim the world’s Flat Earthers
Is the Earth flat, just like Discworld? Here’s what you should know about Flat Earthers, and why this belief has taken off on the internet.
Is the Earth flat, just like Discworld? Here’s what you should know about Flat Earthers, and why this belief has taken off on the internet. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Is the Earth spherical and almost round or is the planet completely flat?
Anyone who thinks they know the answer to this question, might be surprised to find out that there’s a large community of people out there believing the planet is flat.
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Here’s what you should know about Flat Earthers, and why this belief has taken off on the internet.
What is a flat earther?
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a “flat earther” is someone who believes the planet is flat instead of spherical.
While it’s a popular theory in fiction like Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, there is no scientific evidence that supports the idea of a completely flat planet.
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There are still people who believe the planet is flat. Those who believe in the theory of a flatter planet have grown larger thanks to social media.
According to Scientific American, certain believers of this theory are sure that Antarctica extends into almost neverending space.
What are Flat Earthers?
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the belief in flat Earth has become popular on social media even though there is scientific evidence that contradicts it.
According to an article in Washington Examiner, the belief in flat Earth may stem from the fact that people are likely to believe they are right – and any contradiction only makes their belief stronger that their idea is the correct one
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Collective belief also has something to do with it: if you form a group with five people who all believe in flat Earth, those five people will reinforce eachother’s belief in the idea – even when it is wrong.
Mistrust in mainstream science or news may also contribute to someone’s belief in a flat planet, even when confronted with photographs from space.
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Collins Dictionary also mentions that the term “flat Earther” can be used as an insult, meaning someone is “out of touch with the realities of modern life”.
Is the Earth flat?
There is absolutely no scientific evidence to suggest that the Earth is flat.
