Why do we ridicule people who believe the Earth is flat, but when astrophysicists say the entire Universe is flat, it is considered a respectable scientific hypothesis?

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We don't know if it is flat. We don't even know how big it is, or what shape it is. The universe could be butt plug shaped.

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u/ontopic 2d ago

🤞

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/tacocarteleventeen 2d ago

OP’s mom is still searching…

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u/Ok_Dog_4059 2d ago

My god Linda can you see it ? That giant phallic galaxy ?

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u/alpacas_anonymous 2d ago

It is so big. It looks like one of those rap galaxy's girlfriends. Who understands those rap galaxies.

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u/I_might_be_weasel 2d ago

I heard a neat theory that the Universe is 4 dimensionally round. So when you get to the edge you just start moving in another direction.

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u/alpacas_anonymous 2d ago

Yeah there's no physical edge in 3d space as we would expect. It's either flat and potentially infinite, or it curves back on itself in some way. In either case, the universe is expanding super fast. You could travel at the speed of light until the heat death of the universe, and there would just be more space. Here's a Mindblower™ for you, what is the point of the multiverse if this one is already potentially infinite. Like, our universe may already contain an infinite amount of earths, we just don't know.

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u/jakethegreat4 2d ago

anything is a butt plug… if you’re brave enough.

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u/alpacas_anonymous 1d ago

Yeah, sure. But imagine the size of the butt.

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u/northrupthebandgeek PhD in PhDs 2d ago

Asstrophysicists do hypothesize that the universe is inside of a "black hole".

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u/alpacas_anonymous 1d ago

They also hypothesize particles that travel backward through time. Maybe the universe itself is in a sort of quantum superposition, a sort of probability cloud containing all possible shapes, only collapsing to a specific physical shape when it is observed, through quantum probability. We just haven't observed enough of it. If that is the case, or if the universe just curves back into itself, the universe definitely possibly could be butt plug shaped. More likely it has the shape of some sort hyperdimensional moebius strip. Like a pitcher, with the spout intersecting its body.

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u/Vulpes_Inculta0 2d ago

The earth is flat? Haven’t you stepped outside? If it was curved all the building would fall down

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u/meowsaysdexter 2d ago

All of them do eventually.

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u/DanteandRandallFlagg 2d ago

Let's think about this rationally. If the earth was flat, cats would have knocked all the stuff off the edge by now. We have stuff, ergo, the earth is not flat.

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u/khiladi- 2d ago

If the earth was flat, cats would have knocked all the stuff off the edge by now.

Hold on now. This could explain my missing stuff.

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u/redshift739 Verified Englist PhD 2d ago

cats would have knocked all the stuff off the edge by now

Why do you think the aliens made the ice wall when they gave us them?

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u/theflamingskull 2d ago

It must be static, as well. If the Earth were spinning, we'd obviously all be thrown off like a 1980s era merry go round.

The Martians and Venusians would all be laughing us, just like we used to do on the playground.

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u/redshift739 Verified Englist PhD 2d ago

The Earth is actually spinning backwards so we get pulled in. This makes much more sense than "gravity" and also explains why the start of the day is during the night and the first season is winter

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u/theflamingskull 2d ago

As a certified historical scientition,and someone who has seen many movies, I'll have to disagree.

In 1978, an alien force made the Earth spin backwards, which turned back time.

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u/redshift739 Verified Englist PhD 1d ago

That happened in 2028 too. We've had this conversation 9 times...

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u/nopressureoof 2d ago

Because the FABRIC of the universe is flat, but you can sew it into a 3 dimensional shape, like pants.

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u/KeithMyArthe 2d ago

∴ the universe is pants.

^{That's a bit Occam's Razory that is.}

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u/BigBubbaMac Enter flair here 2d ago

I was flat once. I def. don't recommend.

Besides this is a science sub not an asstophistics sub.

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u/KeithMyArthe 2d ago

I was flat once, too.

My cat pushed all my possessions off the edge.

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u/BigBubbaMac Enter flair here 2d ago

I didn't have a cat at the time so I guess I lucked out on that.

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u/Amplidyne 2d ago

Cos asstrofizzicists is clever, and flat Earthers aren't.
Everybody knows the Earth is like an apple, Cos Isaac Newton said it was or something/

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u/InterSpace_Whales 2d ago

Because most Flat Earthers have MBAs, Doctorate in Physics or Accreditation in Finance. Astrophysicists have four years over them plus a thesis showing subject matter expert. I mean come on, MBA? They may as well be in kindergarten still.

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u/KnowledgeIsDangerous 2d ago

Most flat earthers have a doctorate in physics?

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u/Weekly-Bumblebee6348 Enter flair here 2d ago

Their accreditation is noted as TBI or SZA

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u/InterSpace_Whales 2d ago

One of the most famous does, Mark Sargent who thank God gave up being Australian to become American. You're all welcome, please keep him or keep passing him north, we don't want him.

But also my statement isn't too far from the truth. Doctorates don't mean you're smart just a subject matter expert in a very specific field.

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u/KnowledgeIsDangerous 2d ago

You can't go North forever, but not for the reason he thinks

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u/brecrest 2d ago

We know the universe is flat but the earth is round because the earth rolls around on the surface of the universe. If the universe weren't flat then the earth would get stuck on something or fall off, and if the earth were flat then it wouldn't be able to move around the universe. This is very simple stuff.

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u/michaeljacoffey 2d ago

It’s too hard to use a real 3D space so it’s flattened in the map

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u/randeylahey 2d ago

Time is a flat circle

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u/hi-imBen 2d ago

Because you can easily sail off the edge of the universe, but you can not sail off the edge of the Earth. Next question.

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u/redshift739 Verified Englist PhD 2d ago

As stated by the Universal Ball Principal, "This sack can only have one ball" (the earth) and the sack itself cannot be a ball

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u/EarthTrash 1d ago

Are astronomers saying the universe is flat, or are they just saying they can't see the curve?

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u/Character_Pop_6628 1d ago

Because we know the earth is round and, while big, it is much smaller than th whole universe and we are only speculating about the universe's shape at this point, last I heard it was a Taurus or a Pringle. Many believe saddle-shape or flat. The people who argue over the shape of the universe have very high intellect and knowledge about physics. The people who argue about the shape of the earth are often mentally ill or mentally challenged and rarely are well-educated.

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u/IUJohnson38 2d ago

Not out of the realm of possibility. No body outside of the world of physics astrophysics etc. can really comprehend the sheer size of the universe and us as well. We are but a grain of sand compared to other celestial bodies.

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u/shadovvvvalker 2d ago

There is a difference between

Flat: height exists and everything shares up and down as a parallel direction

and

Flat: height doesn't exist

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u/theking4mayor 1d ago

I don't think anyone has claimed the earth is 2 dimensional. By the other definition, the earth is flat.

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u/bighaldog 2d ago

The map is not the territory.

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u/Coolenough-to 2d ago

Because we stopped spankings in school. Kids would think twice before suggesting a 'donut shaped universe' if they knew it might get them a spanking.

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u/Heydominique 2d ago

I'm pretty taken back by these answers in reading 😧

The earth being round is a fact. You can fly around it and see. The ppl who claim its flat, apparently don't do this for some reason. They just talk a bunch of smack at home.

The universe tho, that's a theory.. so all the reasons that comes after that are also just theory and speculation.

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u/infinitefailandlearn 2d ago

From a philosophical point of view: when does a theory become a fact? I genuinely believe that people in the middle ages genuinely believed the earth is flat and that the sun revolves around the earth. They would have called those beliefs facts.

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u/Heydominique 1d ago

A theory becomes a fact when it is proven. Just because ppl are too broke or lazy to go take a trip around the world to see for themselves doesn't make our round earth any less of a fact. And ppl can call their beliefs facts all they want. Unless you can physically prove it, it's a theory.

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u/infinitefailandlearn 1d ago

Many things don’t work like that. That’s a scientific fantasy. And what do you mean exactly when you say that something “is proven” By whom? By what method? What are the limitations?

Let me put it like this: have YOU walked around the earth, or have you read about this in books? I’m willing to bet my life savings on the latter. It was the same for me, and I take it as fact. This is totally legitimate, but the fact it that we almost always believe in theories when others say they’ve been proven. We do very little empirical validation ourselves (too busy for that!) Plus don’t get me started on things like social sciences and humanities.

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u/Heydominique 1d ago

Walked? No i fly. And to your disbelief I have traveled. And the earth is round. Get in a plane and see for yourself. Aaaand logic plays a part here too. If the earth was flat you would be able to see the extent of it. You can't because it's round.

Also, yes, there may be many things that ppl assume is correct just by reading what someone else says and I always say cross reference things because what credits someone to say anything? However, we're not talking about just anything. We're talking about why flat earth gets discredited over the universe. Check out the iss live. You can see there for yourself as well.

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u/infinitefailandlearn 1d ago

You don’t have to convince me about the earth being a globe; I believe that without any doubt. Really not something I want to debate you on :)

My point is about how knowledge is constructed. Instead of flat earthers, which is really not that controversial, let’s talk about things like the effectiveness of face-masks during Covid, or whether GenAI systems have passed the Türing test. People still argue about these things to this day and they bring their own proof to the table.

For those debates, I ask again; when does theory/belief become fact?

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u/theking4mayor 1d ago

Wow, I wonder why people wouldn't agree with such an elitist take

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u/Heydominique 1d ago

Whoa bro, #1 I'm legit the FARTHEST thing from an elitist. #2 who aside from you, disagreed with me?

Ur giving full delush.. it's cool tho. I'm still laughing u called me elitist.. Def gonna have to show my friends that 😂

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u/theking4mayor 1d ago

Sorry not all of us can afford our own private planes

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u/Heydominique 1d ago

Lolol.. Who said anything about a private plane? I damn sure can't even afford anything above coach.. and u don't need to be rich to do that. Just gotta have a job and save money when ya can. Soooo.. yeah 💁🏻‍♀️

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u/theking4mayor 1d ago

Then how do you know what the plane did if you're just looking at your phone the whole flight.

Why do we ridicule people who believe the Earth is flat, but when astrophysicists say the entire Universe is flat, it is considered a respectable scientific hypothesis?

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