For some reason, over the past few weeks I've been fascinated by Flat Earther videos (did quite a number on my Youtube homepage). I guess I should write a bit about what I saw but here's a few quick thoughts
1. It's a modern movement. They aren't holdovers from a previous historical or traditional movement. This tells you something - if this is a modern movement then the reasons it exists are also modern issues
2. They actually *do* seem to obsess over "evidence". Only, they twist it around in a clever way. "Evidence" for them is redefined to "whatever can change my mind" (and since nothing can, then problem solved)
3. It's an actual community that's somehow defined by collective adoption of a counter-truth. Members have both a need to belong to a group, and pressure to conform to the group truths, at pain of excommunication (and relentless trolling)
4. There's a whole cottage industry of sciency-type Youtubers dedicated to "debunking" them and what's interesting is that these debunkers actually end up reinforcing the community. They *need* adversaries so they can close ranks and "unite"
5. When you do come across someone who's "left" Flat Earth (there's a few videos of that) the more interesting story of how they got in/got out isn't really about the facts at all, but about personal issues
6. Yes there is some intersection with old world creationists and others who are trying to "prove the bible", but most of them really aren't in it for religious reasons. It's more about feeling they're the special ones who can see through the matrix or something
It's basically another counter-modernity movement that uses the language and tools of modernity ("evidence", "logic", etc) to "disprove" one of the most foundational elements of modernity (science). It's fascinating. And now my Youtube recommendations are a mess.
I don't know, I guess I'm fascinated by... movements that come together over collective rejection of reality? Or maybe I'm really interested in how communities react when their foundational truths are no longer true? Or how human beings can create their own truths? Or something
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