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Former Flat Earthers Reveal What Convinced Them That Planet Is Round

Former Flat Earthers Reveal What Convinced Them That Planet Is Round

The conspiracy theory has gained a remarkable amount of traction in recent times, but some converts have explained how they saw sense

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

The fact the Earth is round has become increasingly undeniable as the years have gone by, and yet, the Flat Earth community shows no sign of disbanding, flying in the face of all the evidence.

But what was it that brought some of these conspiracy theorists back down to Earth?

Former flat Earthers have been opening up about what made them come round on Reddit.

Doesn't look flat, does it? 'Yeah but Photoshop and fisheye lens yadda yadda yadda'.
PA

For one, it was the circular logic which proved that the Flat Earth theory carried no weight.

They argued: "It made sense on the surface, but after a while you start to realize the 'theory' has no depth. It's all just circular logic, with no core mechanism to keep the whole thing together."

I reckon you can see what they did there.

Another said they never truly believed it, but they inadvertently backed themselves into a corner, and it took them years to let go.

They explained: "I knew all along, I was just stuck in a loop of having to fight the Flat Earth corner because people just don't shut up about it.

"I shut myself off to it on the internet, just barred myself. Once the online forum wasn't there to argue about it anymore, I had to fight the battles of building back relationships, it really is that damaging of a thing to defend. I honestly regret doing it so much, literally lost 5 years of my life to it.

"Over the years my friends and family had the individual conversation with me about it and I'd just say I was going through a weird phase and was being a smart a*** to get attention."

For one person who was getting drawn into the conspiracy theory black hole, it just took a stern word to set them straight.

They recalled: "Okay so I wasn't technically a Flat Earther but I got sucked into a loop hole of watching some theories on it, and I went to my boyfriend and was like 'Woah watch this video with me, it actually sounds like it could be true' and he looked at me and said 'Are you f***ing stupid?' that snapped me right out of it."

For some, a harsh rebuke was enough to bring them back down to Earth.
Pixabay

Many others said they were Flat Earthers - until they stopped being toddlers.

As one explained: "Well, I never really thought about the Earth being round or flat as a young child.

"When I got old enough to start asking questions about such things, I found out you can measure the circumference of the Earth with two sticks (Eratosthenes method). I thought that was pretty neat, and considered the matter concluded for the time being."

And for one, it was the all-consuming nature of commercialisation which disproved the flat Earth theory.

A Reddit user recalled: "Not personally, but a friend's colleague who was a flat-Earther managed to disengage with that theory because if the Earth was flat, 'they would have found some way to monetise the edge of the Earth'.

"Basically his extreme detest of capitalism outweighed his flat-Earth belief."

Featured Image Credit: Pexels/Porapak Apichodilok

Topics: Interesting, Community, Reddit, Weird