this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2024
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And Finally...

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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."

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Good for them for admitting thier mistake. Respect.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The rest of flat earth society will immediately dismiss these findings of course.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

IMO it's proof enough to watch the oceans horizon on a clear day when traveling by ship and observe things like ships, buildings or wind farms emerge top first, even though the waves are too shallow to cover them. You can use binoculars to see it more clearly.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 days ago (7 children)

Sorry for my ignorance but why didn't they just go to the Arctic, it should be much cheaper and one don't have to go straight to the Pole, northernmost parts of Canada, Alaska, or Europe would be enough to witness 24-hours sun. I personally was to the north of the Arctic circle and the polar day was lit. And it was as cheap and easy as buy one railway ticket from Moscow.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They considered Tromsø, but it was too expensive and too much of a tourist trap. Also I'm not sure how welcoming Russia is to Americans RN. I assume you didn't go to Norilsk on holiday, so how was Murmansk?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Actually, I was a biology student at that time and we had summer field practice near the White Sea. It was great, nature and atmosphere were wonderful, except mosquitoes, mosquitoes were everywhere and they were hungry. Though I've been to Murmansk later, and the city is decent, I mean, it's still small, dying, and depressing, but it could be much worse. I was there literally for a day and can't say much, but they had a very good regional museum and the first nuclear icebreaker is now an interesting museum too.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Was that 9,000 one way or was it for the round trip?

[–] ICastFist 1 points 1 day ago

Maybe he went around a few circles, much like his logic

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The debate over the shape of the earth???

Obviously you can come up with an explanation for the 24 hour sun. These people just aren’t trying hard enough.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

And they will. Most will say this guy is a sell out/bullied. Given, they genuinely claim world powers are preventing people going.

It is sorta interesting that the difficulty of getting somewhere. Has a history of creating false stories. If you look at the1400-1600s maps of Africa. Created by Europeans. Humanity has a natural desire to invent the impossible when evidence is not clearly visible.

They seem to ignore how, despite questioning the science behind spherical (ish) earth. They really have no possible explanation for how the universe created their own alternative. Not even a clearly debunkable one.

It's just like the mythical creatures drawn on the 1500s maps of Africa. It's more about interesting stories than actual desire to understand.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Well a floating balloon would give you 24hr light too! Did he keep the sun in view the whole time he was flying to Antarctica? Maybe they just took him to where they had the stationary 'sun' instead of the moving one? Maybe he didn't travel far enough to see the edge of the earth! /s for those who need it.

Seriously though, imagine what this guy would think if he got on to one of the space expedition flights, or simply a high altitude one... I hear it's quite a humbling, eye opening experience to see the curvature of the planet.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

He admitted he was wrong. Why do you want to rub it in his face ?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago

Gotta rub it somewhere.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago

I've watched an island slowly rise above the horizon as I climbed a hill, and just that was a pretty remarkable feeling. I can very much believe what astronauts say about it

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

I don't believe it. I think he was incepted on the plane ride. Where was Leonardo DiCaprio during this?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Have any flat earthers ever flown to Asia from the western US? If the earth was flat, you couldn't take a worldwide flight without flying off the edge if you kept travelling west :P

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The argument would be you are flying in a circle?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

And that "plane windows distort the image"

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