Question: do you think the earth is flat? because i do.

Laura Fisk answered on 11 Jun 2019:

I think this is an interesting question. I have no problem saying, “I think the Earth is (almost) a sphere”. I think this because people I have respect for (astrophysicists etc) have said so, and I have no reason to disbelieve them. I’ve also seen pictures of the Earth taken from outer space, and that seems like good evidence for me of the Earth being spherical (ish). Similarly, my undertanding of physics (though it’s not extensive) suggests that when I’ve been in a plane looking out the window I’ve reckoned it’s a sphere.
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At the same time, all the experiences I have as a human being who mostly lives on the ground is that it’s quite flat (other than hills and mountains of course!). I appreciate, therefore, that anything that tells me otherwise is taken to some extent on trust. That means, I have made a decision to believe things like ‘evidence’ and ‘respected people’ to tell me about the world. In a way, it’s funny that I haven’t really questioned this ‘received wisdom’. But in fact, it’s really useful that I can do this: being able to learn from other people (like astrophysicists, geographers, etc), means I don’t have to find out everything myself and I can concentrate on things I find more interesting and which affect my every day life – like how to help people get on better in their relationships, or help them feel better…