Behaviouronomics: The Backfire Effect

Let me ask you a simple question. What’s the shape of the earth?

You might say, “Round.” To sound little more accurate, some of you might say, “Earth is like a solid sphere.” Those who are mathematically inclined would probably point out that the earth is a spheroid that bulges at the equator and is somewhat squashed at the poles.

What if I told you that there’s a large group of people who (still) believe that the earth is a flat circular disc with a large dome covering it from all sides and the sun and the moon are man-made lights hung on a huge pole standing at the center of the circular disc?

Yes, in the 21st century there exists a real flat earth society. And these people aren’t crazy. They’re a thriving community and perhaps growing. Google it.

Of course, the flat earth model doesn’t explain everything but it’s interesting to observe a flat-earther’s response when you ask him to explain why certain observations don’t fit his theory. Instead of re-evaluating the validity of his beliefs, he’d take the refuge of a conspiracy theory. And like all conspiracy theories, everything can be reasoned by flat-earthers using circular logic.

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