Page 17 - March 2019 - v1_june_july_2009.qxd

Flat Earthers and Conspiracy Theories 17

Flat Earthers and the

Psychology Behind

Conspiracy Theories

by Angela Brussel

Where did you first hear about the “Flat Earth”
movement? Was it rapper B.o.B’s twitter
crusade, in which he demanded to know why he
is unable to see “the curve”? Or maybe you
stumbled across news of the flat-Earther ‘Mad’
Mike Hughes, who wanted to launch himself
and his $20,000 steam-powered rocket into the
air to prove the Earth’s flatness. Perhaps you
even heard on NPR that certain middle-
schoolers got the idea of a flat planet from
basketball star Kyrie Irving and couldn’t be
convinced otherwise by neither teacher nor
science. But why is interest in flat Earth
increasing in popularity? Why now?
The readily apparent answer is that the devoted follower Lady Elizabeth Blount convincingly dissects the inaccuracies in the
surge in interest is aligned with online celebrity founded the Universal Zetetic Society in the late Warren Commission, Sargent found himself
endorsement and bolstered by ensuing media 19th century and spearheaded the creation of formulating more questions, not just about
coverage. Flat Earth, according to Google dozens of Zetetic Societies aimed at promoting President Johnson being a part of a coup d’état
Trends, has had several obvious peaks in the last scientific investigations designed to spread flat to assassinate Kennedy, but about society at
year, like in August when flat-Earthers were Earth gospel. Its first membership roster large. “We often take whatever our parents or
asked to explain the solar eclipse and in purportedly included an archbishop, major the school system or the people in positions of
February when Irving insinuated that he general, scholars, and a smattering of authority say as gospel. JFK showed me that
believed the Earth was flat on the Road Trippin’ aristocrats. Fifty-odd years later in 1956, the there’s more out there. That you shouldn’t just
podcast. But why the interest in the first place? International Flat Earth Society (a successor to take everything that people higher than you tell
Would it be entirely wrong to suggest that the the Universal Zetetic Society) was founded by you at face value.” Taken out of its
notion of a flat Earth is perfectly reflective of signwriter Samuel Shenton. Satellite images of conspiratorial context, this sentiment rings
this nonsensical, fact-and-science-bashing time Earth were deemed fake, the U.S. government deafeningly true. But Sargent’s logic, or lack
we’re living in? And that the theory’s visual was crucified, and NASA was rendered null and thereof, ultimately stems from a place of
“evidence”, though absurd, makes for void. Another half a century later, thanks to the debilitating suspicion.
irresistibly shareable memes? internet and its increasing multitude of web- “A good conspiracy theory is a good
I grew up in a world that abounded with based discussion forums, the flat Earth doctrine story. It’s very appealing sometimes,” said
globes. Perched on Dad’s desk was a plastic one accrued even more visibility. War against Patrick Leman, Professor of Psychology at
we would often consult when discussing the information was waged. London’s King College, when I asked him about
atrocities of war, where Mom grew up Though conspiracy theories certainly Sargent’s interest in JFK. He was not in the least
(Yerevan, Armenia), and the many countries my existed before the internet, they did not have the bit surprised that that was the film that served as
father had visited in his youth. And in every ability to spread swiftly like brushfire. You had his gateway drug to conspiratorial thinking. But
classroom I had ever inhabited throughout my to seek them out. Now, if you let them, they will the best story is not always the right one. Flat
primary and secondary school education, there find you. “Conspiracy theories permeate all Earth, for instance, smacks of science fiction
were globes of varying size and shades of green parts of American society,” write political and for that reason is compelling. As someone
and blue. Had I heard there were people who scientists Joseph Uscinski and Joseph Parent in who grew up watching “The Twilight Zone” and
believed the Earth was flat, I would have their 2014 book American Conspiracy Theories. “Quantum Leap,” I find the portrayal of a dinner
thought that there was something terribly wrong “They cut across gender, age, race, income, plate-shaped world lined by a giant ice wall to
with them. Science was paramount, and so was political affiliation, educational level, and appeal to me greatly as both writer and human.
understanding your place in the world, both occupational status.” We are all susceptible to Science fiction extends to the final frontiers of
geographically and cosmologically. its underpinnings. So how, then, does it happen? human imagination and momentarily plucks us
During the nineteenth century, when How does reality burst asunder? out of the dailiness of existence. It finds pattern
pseudoscientific disciplines from phrenology to For Mark Sargent, former proprietary and meaning in this senseless racket of life.
creationism flourished, English inventor software trainer and professional computer Magic, even. But I cannot, in good conscience,
Samuel Rowbotham developed a new branch of game player, reality had long been contained subscribe to it. Sargent, however, felt differently.
“science” called zetetic (from Greek, meaning and so he wanted to push beyond the confines In the middle of the night on the 10th of
proceeding by inquiry) astronomy, in which the imposed first by family and then by self. Raised February in 2015 (wouldn’t you remember the
Earth was modeled as an enclosed plane with in a born-again Christian community on exact time and date of your enlightenment?), it
the North Pole at its center and an ice wall at its Washington’s South Whidbey island, he lived a dawned on him that the Earth had to be flat.
perimeter. People actually believed this, and sheltered existence. “You know how some high Though he once scoffed at the notion of
could you blame them? Science, at that schools have most naive or most gullible a pancake-shaped Earth, Sargent is now
juncture, wasn’t advanced enough to always be awards?” he asked me with a degree of charm I responsible for the creation of the Flat Earth
able to distinguish between amateur and pundit. found almost disarming. “It would have been Clues video series, which has garnered millions
What many of these pseudoscientists had in me. I didn’t even think people lied until I went of views on YouTube. In it, he presents “12
common, though, was an anti-elitist streak and a to college. I never questioned anything. compelling reasons why you should rethink the
deep curiosity about how the body and the Ignorance was bliss.” globe model that you have been taught,” one
cosmos functioned (and, in the most fanatical Then he saw Oliver Stone’s JFK and being that the motion picture industry and
circumstances, a desire to wed science to everything was thrown into relief. When I asked NASA are in cahoots with one another, making
scripture). what exactly the film proved to him, he spoke the stuff of “fiction” and “fantasy” (like man on
Convinced by Rowbotham that broadly of a global, organized cover-up and the the moon) seem feasible. It is now his mission to
astronomy had actually been invalidated, pursuit of “truth.” Because the film so leave no stone unturned. (Cont’d on Page 18)