Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MineralMan

(150,436 posts)
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 01:24 PM Monday

How Do I Get There from Here? Proof That Flat Earth Theory Is Nonsense

We're so used to looking at Mercator Projection maps of the Earth that we have a poor idea of how planes fly from one point on the planet to another distant point. It has no relationship to drawing a straight line on a Mercator Projection map. A lack of understanding of these things is just part of our misunderstanding of our home planet.

Want an example? Go to this link to see how you fly on the shortest route between Los Angeles and London. See?

https://www.greatcirclemap.com/?routes=LAX-LHR

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How Do I Get There from Here? Proof That Flat Earth Theory Is Nonsense (Original Post) MineralMan Monday OP
I watched "Behind the Curve" a few months ago. flvegan Monday #1
If the earth were flat, cats would have pushed everything off of it by now. Ocelot II Monday #2
Beyond a doubt! MineralMan Monday #5
Thanks MineralMan Coolgoober Monday #3
I baffles me that this is even a subject of debate. bluesbassman Monday #4
There's a whole lot of stupid going around. Ocelot II Monday #8
Flat earthers Norrrm Monday #6
That's pretty funny jfz9580m Monday #13
You're stealing it? Gasp. Sputter. I am shocked... That's how I got it. Norrrm Monday #14
lol jfz9580m Monday #15
No problem. We work on a system of shared responsibility. Norrrm Monday #16
As a collector of a century of globes, I approve this post sanatanadharma Monday #7
Sadly, that's not the kind of proof that would make a dent in any flat-earther muriel_volestrangler Monday #9
Flat Eartherism simply cherry picking in this day and age. BadgerKid Monday #10
I tilted it too, to get "the "straight" line". electric_blue68 Monday #12
Fun. I did my only two big flights. electric_blue68 Monday #11

flvegan

(65,605 posts)
1. I watched "Behind the Curve" a few months ago.
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 01:32 PM
Monday

It's a documentary (?) that is/was on Prime. Those flat-earthers are complete loons, and some of it seemed kind of...grifty.

Coolgoober

(200 posts)
3. Thanks MineralMan
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 01:38 PM
Monday

That was cool. Played with it for a few minutes. My daughter-in-law flies all over the world and she tells me her flight pattern. I always think it's very interesting. And I was once an ATC in the Marines many moons ago.

bluesbassman

(20,366 posts)
4. I baffles me that this is even a subject of debate.
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 01:49 PM
Monday

Sure people are entitled to their own opinions, but in offering an opinion of this magnitude you must provide scientific proof in order to even begin to be taken seriously. There is none for flat earth codswallop.

It’s instructive to consider that the vast majority of flat earthers are right leaning. I have never encountered a Liberal or Progressive that entertained that nonsense.

Ocelot II

(128,633 posts)
8. There's a whole lot of stupid going around.
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 01:59 PM
Monday

Don't forget, there's a very famous guy who thinks stealth airplanes are actually invisible, windmills cause cancer, and that covid can be treated by shining a UV light up your butt. And many people believe him.

jfz9580m

(16,360 posts)
15. lol
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:05 PM
Monday

Fine then, but if the plagiarismtoday dude comes for me I am blaming your corrupting influence Norrrm!

Norrrm

(3,730 posts)
16. No problem. We work on a system of shared responsibility.
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 08:15 PM
Monday

I take full blame.
You get full punishment.

sanatanadharma

(4,075 posts)
7. As a collector of a century of globes, I approve this post
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 01:58 PM
Monday

Flat-earth prattle debunking videos on You Tube are my only exposure to the thinking of those who live in delusional land where things fall but gravity is denied.
I need to get a life.
Maybe You Tube Swamis can free me from the delusion of living on the wrong side of our earth disk.

muriel_volestrangler

(105,388 posts)
9. Sadly, that's not the kind of proof that would make a dent in any flat-earther
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 01:59 PM
Monday

They'd just say "it's an illustration - someone faked it".

I'd ask them if they think the entire population of the Southern Hemisphere is lying when they say their stars circle around a southern pole in the sky (and some countries even point that out on their flags). Because two poles is basically what gets you a sphere (mathematicians two thousand years ago were good enough to work it out from the different rising, falling or never rising and falling of stars as you go further south, without having to get all the way to the equator; but I take it as given that a flat-earther cannot do any math whatsoever).

BadgerKid

(4,937 posts)
10. Flat Eartherism simply cherry picking in this day and age.
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 02:26 PM
Monday

I was amused how the Great Circle Map can be tilted to get a projection of a straight line. Yes, it is straight from a certain point of view, but doing so ignores other realities.

electric_blue68

(25,373 posts)
11. Fun. I did my only two big flights.
Mon Dec 8, 2025, 07:45 PM
Monday

But I think I remember seeing the curve of the earth when we flew to Fla from NYC in ? 1957 in a prop plane.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»How Do I Get There from H...