"So previously I set up a non-patronising, inquisitive approach to find out what makes flat earther's believe what they do."
You, sir, are more patient than I. I don't get how people can be on Steemit and think the earth is flat. I mean, we're far less stupid here on average, compared to facebook.
I've had to unfollow no less than 5 people this week for flat earth posts. It's honestly unfathomable that anyone can be so dumb as to publicly support this viewpoint. There are like 10 ways a grade schooler can prove to you the earth is round.
Sigh.
"His answer was that I assume people haven't been. It's likely that they have, but that information has been concealed from the public."
Yep, it's all part of a complex conspiracy, lol. I don't know how these people dress themselves.
Though crypto may invite more technologically advanced minds, I'm not sure it brings more intelligent people on the whole.
The paranoid and skeptical people are drawn to this technology en masse for its anonymity, for example, the idea of being free from the constraints of the government.
It's less about intelligence and more about who you're surrounded by. If you have a wacky idea like orange is green, you get ridiculed... UNLESS the small group around you agree that orange is green and support you, and show you evidence to support it. As vague or cherry picked as it might be, it appeals to the human brain, desperate to be pleased and confirmed.
Depending on people's upbringing can decide whether you're a muslim, hindu, flat earther, breatharian or what. It's a phenomenal psychological quirk of human nature. We're all capable of it, i reckon.
What is a Breatharian?
People who believe they don't need to eat, and can survive on the energy of the Universe alone. And that they have managed to live for years without eating more than a fruit in a week or something, just for social occasions
Condemnation before investigation is the height of ignorance.