Here are, what I think, are good elements of a conversation talking about the flat earth to strangers (or anyone else for that matter). This refers to the previous conversation Click Here to access it.
1 – Be friendly. No one likes to talk to someone with a frown or someone that doesn’t look like fun to be with.
2 – Start with small talk. You don’t have to start with the weather as that is old a trite. Find something else you can talk on and if it’s something that makes them laugh, so much the better. This way, you’ll look like a friendly person to be with; someone they would like to listen to.
3 – Then, introduce the flat earth topic. There are many different ways you can do this. Here are a couple, but you might think of your own.
Did you hear about the big talk going around the internet about the flat earth? (If you are talking to a young person, associate this to Facebook, as many young people are into social media.)
“I heard this crazy talk about the flat earth; what do you think about it?”
“Someone recently told me that the earth is flat and I though he was crazy?”
“A lot of people are ignorant about geography and I thought I knew it all.”
“Do you think there is a possibility that the earth is flat?”
There are many variations of the above or something that is different. Wait for their response. Firstly, they might already think the earth is flat or have their suspicions. If not, tell them you thought the say way, too. Secondly, by using, what is called in grammar ‘talking in the third person singular’ you saying that someone else is saying this, so it’s not directly reflected back to you. That is, until you talk more. But this is very useful when introducing a very controversial subject.
4 – Start with a hard-hitting piece of fact. In my conversation (see previous Post) I had use water and that it seeks its own level. You can use other examples, but make sure that it gets to the point fast.
I then followed through with maths involved in a planet that is 25,000 mile in circumference; that the maths doesn’t work out. In short, this a a quick ‘1, 2 punch.’
The edge to contain the water I used next. So, this is number 3 of something that is hard to dispute – even if they are heliocentric believers.
Most people never heard of a wall around the earth and would think you are crazy until you tell them about the Antarctic ice wall. When they see the pictures, they can’t deny it or, they might already know about this but never thought it as a wall. They start to really think at this point, they start to doubt what they’ve been told.
5 – Gently correct someone if they get off track, like I did when the man brought up Columbus sailing to the new world.
6 – Answering other questions or statements that they bring up. If you have time to answer them, do so. If you don’t know the answer, simply say you don’t know but you do know enough to question what you have been told about the earth from astronomers.
7 – If the conversation ends before they are convinced – which, in all probability it will – end with ‘Just do a YouTube search on the flat earth; there are many videos to choose from. Do your own research and don’t believe; check it out yourself.
As a side note, when you say, ‘You don’t have to believe me…’ this works to your advantage. The subconscious mind does not understand or accept the words: not, no don’t So, their subconscious cancels out the ‘don’t’ and is left with, ‘You have to believe me.’ Sneaky, huh?
After any conversation you have, write down anything they say that shows disbelief or even scepticism. If you don’t know the answer, find it out. If you can’t find the answer, just tell them you don’t know. As the saying goes, ‘One sharp sword sharpens another.’ What this means, it will make you a better ‘soldier’ you’d be able to handle even the difficult questions that may come up later.
When you do give your talk, bring up the questions that people will most likely ask and answer them first! This is known as ‘a pre-emptive strike’ (lol)!
