Xref: utzoo talk.origins:971 alt.flame:1522 Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!decwrl!labrea!husc6!bbn!rochester!kodak!elmgate!ram From: ram@elmgate.UUCP (Randy Martens) Newsgroups: talk.origins,alt.flame Subject: Re: Flat Earth? More mindless drivel. Summary: *sigh* Keywords: Platygaeanism Idiocy Mindless Drivel Message-ID: <864@elmgate.UUCP> Date: 27 Jan 88 23:47:58 GMT References: <4238@uwmcsd1.UUCP> <1867@wiley.UUCP> <10731@shemp.UCLA.EDU> <862@elmgate.UUCP> <1551@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> Reply-To: ram@elmgate.UUCP (Randy Martens) Organization: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY Lines: 65 Setting Mertilizer Beam on "deep fry - extra crispy" ... In article <1551@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> greg@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Gregory Nowak) writes: }In article <862@elmgate.UUCP> ram@elmgate.UUCP (Randy Martens) writes: }}His postings are even more amusing than ever. The essential flaw in his }}arguments is this: There are no round earth theories, because the earth }}being round is _FACT_ . Do you hear that Mr. "Mathemagus". Not theory. }}Fact. Period. }Randy, }Calm down. Please explain to us hall how you have managed to bypass }scientific method, and now come to certain knowledge of the natural }worldby define revelation. There are no facts, only theories. The }round-earthers have their theories which they believe explain the }facts comprehensively and consisely. So do the flat-earthers. By }jumping up and down and screaming "FACT! FACT!" you merely reveal }yourself as an ignorant child who is unfit to discuss matters of }science. If you are as certain as you claim to be, why don't you }reveal the grounds for your certainty, instead of mindlessly chanting }about how the earth is round, without providing your proofs? Science }isn't a beauty contest. Different theories can be accomodated, and may }the simplest and most comprehensive theory win.(Sometimes simplicity }and comprehensivenss come into conflict; this is where the fun begins }-- and where my recent work lies.) I suggest you also attempt to be }less rude to Mr. Joly. } Greg Nowak/Phoenix Gang/Princeton NJ 08540 Hi Greg. *sigh* I am surpised at your siding with this bunch of pinheads. But I think you have some valid points, so I will respond to them. I stand by my statement. The Earth is roughly Spherical. In fact, it is quite close to a true sphere, it's oblateness being only on the order of 130 km and it's roughness only 20 km. So the total roundness is .98. Not too bad. The difficulty I have with Mr. Jolly and his position, and the reason I find it so laughable, is that the _FACT_ of the shape of the Earth has been established by hundreds of scientists, explorers, and lately by quite a few astronauts. The point has been proved beyond any shadow of any doubt. Therfore, I do not _need_ to prove my point. Facts are already well established, and need no further proof. Now if you wish to debate platygaenism as an intellectual exercise, all well and good. But apparently, Mr. Jolly takes this stuff seriously. Unless he is putting us all on, this brings his sanity into question. I am by the way quite calm. I _DO_NOT_ want to stop Mr. Jolly from continuing his postings on the topic of platygaenism. Please post, Mr. Jolly. I need things to laugh at. By the way Gweggy, you owe me an apology for that remark about "ignorant child". I can be quite an apt and persausive debater if I need to, and if you wish to question my aptitude for the discussion of scientific topics, I will gladly engage in a discussion of the currently technologies in optics, Astrophysics, particle physics, atsronomy, computing technology, robotics, process control, or the history of the Holy Roman Empire. There are probably a few other topics I could feel relatively competant in if you wish to discuss them. Since you have not ever had such a discussion with me, I would ask that you refrain from insulting me on this matter. And if you don't apologize, you wont get any more Shark Cheese ! :-) ;-) -- * Randy Martens @ rochester!kodak!elmgate!ram * "You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike." * disclaimer : The preceeding represents only my random babbling, * and certainly reflects no one else's opinions. Fnord.