It’s hard to take flat-Earthers seriously — but maybe we should at least acknowledge them. In a hilarious new marketing stunt, the CEO of Columbia pokes fun at those who believe the Earth is not round, but is, in fact, a flat construction with edges.
Tim Boyle actually makes a proposition for those who believe in this strange view of the universe: Prove it. Anyone who can reach the “edge of the Earth” and take a photo will win “everything owned by Columbia.”
And no — metaphorical versions of this proposition won’t pass muster.
“‘The Edge of the Earth’ is a visible, physical end to the planet Earth,” the vid description states. “We’re talking infinite sheer drop, abyssal void, clouds cascading into infinity. What is not ‘The Edge of the Earth’: A clifftop in Seattle. A cul-de-sac in Kansas. Or your buddy Dave legally changing his name to ‘The Edge.’”
Boyle proceeds to make a round of Columbia’s office spaces, offering up everything from computers to coffee machines to anyone who can reach the fabled “edges” of the flat Earth.
Reality of Flat Earth Theory
It’s a hilarious trolling of those who believe in this “out there” theory, but it’s worth noting that flat-Earthers are more common than many people may realize. A 2021 survey by the University of New Hampshire found that about 10% of Americans believe the Earth is flat, and 12% don’t believe that NASA ever landed on the moon. A Flat Earth International Conference was held in Dallas in 2019, though it seems the website hasn’t been updated since then.
The modern prevalence of the flat Earth conspiracy is often linked to the increased spread of misinformation online. Ironically, YouTube is often cited as a common culprit — the same platform where you’ll find Columbia’s clever marketing stunt.
It’s also the platform where you’ll find a video that NASA made earlier this year, fittingly titled How Do We Know the Earth Isn’t Flat? We Asked a NASA Expert.
The video cites lots of evidence, like analysis of the sun’s movements, marine navigation, and, of course, images from NASA’s trip to the moon. When I’ve encountered people who questioned that the Earth is round, I simply suggest looking at the curvature of the horizon the next time they take a plane flight.
But in the age of the internet, it’s always possible to find a video to justify your position — no matter how absurd it might be.
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