Flat Earther dies attempting to prove the Earth is flat

[torridon]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51602655

[Roses]

I have just seen that on the BBC news website. No wonder people called him 'Mad' Mike Hughes.

[SteveH]

Apparently, he fell off the edge.

[Roses]

It is very hard to fathom how some people can actually believe the earth is flat when there is so much evidence to prove that is not the case. There are people who don't believe we landed on the moon, or the Holocaust happened. The list of conspiracy theories is remarkably long!

[Udayana]

On a day to day basis it doesn't make any difference to most people whether the earth is flat or not or if we have reached the moon. Or most historical events.

Even this Mad Mike Hughes' death was not caused because the earth was not flat, but by technical problems with his rocket.

Unless there is a significant direct impact on their own lives, people allow themselves the freedom of believing whatever takes their fancy.
 

[ippy]

It is very hard to fathom how some people can actually believe the earth is flat when there is so much evidence to prove that is not the case. There are people who don't believe we landed on the moon, or the Holocaust happened. The list of conspiracy theories is remarkably long!

There's still a lot of people that don't believe in 'Star Trek', even though it's so difficult to believe L R.

ippy.

[Gordon]

I've always thought that having eccentrics around adds some zest to life, even if their causes are flawed and their efforts are futile - so a guy building his own steam powered rocket so as to show the Earth is flat is kind of joyous: sadly for him it went wrong.

[SusanDoris]

I've always though that having eccentrics around adds some zest to life, even if their causes are flawed and their efforts are futile - so a guy building his own steam powered rocket so as to show the Earth is flat is kind of joyous: sadly for him it went wrong.

I wonder if anyone will put him forward for a Darwin Award? Probably not, because if he has children it's too late to remove himself from the gene pool.

[torridon]

I've always thought that having eccentrics around adds some zest to life, even if their causes are flawed and their efforts are futile - so a guy building his own steam powered rocket so as to show the Earth is flat is kind of joyous: sadly for him it went wrong.

His bereaved relatives must be wondering, is it ever possible to truly divorce eccentricity from stupidity ?

[SteveH]

I've always thought that having eccentrics around adds some zest to life, even if their causes are flawed and their efforts are futile - so a guy building his own steam powered rocket so as to show the Earth is flat is kind of joyous: sadly for him it went wrong.

Up to a point, Lord Copper. The trouble starts when they expect their bonkers theories to be taken seriously, and refuse to have their kids vaccinated, or taught evolution.

[Walter]

Up to a point, Lord Copper. The trouble starts when they expect their bonkers theories to be taken seriously, and refuse to have their kids vaccinated, or taught evolution.

I know, its crazy. Some people also believe god/s exist.

[SteveH]

I know, its crazy. Some people also believe god/s exist.

Cheap shot.

[Walter]

Cheap shot.

easy pickings 

[jeremyp]

I’ve seen footage of the actual flight. The parachute deployed on take off and was then ripped off as the rocket accelerated. The rest of the flight was rather pathetically Wile E Coyote. The poor man must have known he was going to die for some time because it lasted for at least 15 seconds.

[Udayana]

I’ve seen footage of the actual flight. The parachute deployed on take off and was then ripped off as the rocket accelerated. The rest of the flight was rather pathetically Wile E Coyote.

Can't see that it proves anything one way or another.

The poor man must have known he was going to die for some time because it lasted for at least 15 seconds.

Long enough to understand how physics and actual experience of the world are related.

[jeremyp]

Can't see that it proves anything one way or another.

I wasn't trying to prove anything.

Long enough to understand how physics and actual experience of the world are related.

Well the trajectory was quite a graceful parabolic arc. He didn't get anywhere near 5,000 feet though.