TV Debate - Is the World Flat or Round?

[Mike]

This debate took place on Iraqi TV between a physicist (who was seen clutching a Science book from yesteryear close to his chest) vs a Koran scientific interpreter. I was just a bit surprised by the whole debate, it must be very scary for people to suddenly think that the world is flat.

This link suggests that the world being round was discovered in 220BC so this person is only about 2208 years behind everyone else in this particular field. Okay, so I think it was classed as Heretical for a little while but that is how long it takes to challenge the convention.

[stimpsonslostson]

OOOKAAAYY! There are some stupid people out there!
I taught a Muslim student who would only read science books written in accordance with her faith... everything was built in accordance with Gods design, "the ants are there to show us how to work together in peace and to defend ourselves collectively when attacked".
Suffice to say such things concern me!
p
Americans can be just as bad...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q566ys0sqVQ

[BarcelonAl]

OOOKAAAYY! "the ants are there to show us how to work together in peace and to defend ourselves collectively when attacked".

Just what justification could she come up with for Aardvarcks, Platypusses and Crane Flys (the most pointless creature on the Earth in my view...)?

[Mike]

Oh dear. . . I liked the KFC question it went like this,

Interviewer: What state does KFC come from?
Answer: I don't know. . . a Chicken?
I: Do you know what KFC stands for?
A: Kentucky Fried Chicken right?!

[mr_e]

That first clip may have lowered my IQ. I have no idea how the crazy guy got from that verse he quoted to any of his conclusions. His explanation of the classic "ship sailing over the horizon" argument was laughable, and I believe we do understand how the eye works, quite well. He, however, does not. Dogma = lose.

Incidentally, visit MEMRI for more similarly crazy video exerpts, plus some more normal stuff. Be aware of what may be a slight bias if you do browse the site, but there's a load of stuff there if Middle Eastern culture and politics from another perspective interests you.

Edit: don't laugh too much at the Americans, there's one of British people being insanely stupid as well, although one of the questions was a little tricksier. But feel free to laugh at the French. Wisdom of crowds my arse.