Mike Reeves-McMillan

People in SF are often as rational as the writers, unless it’s satirical SF like Robert Sheckley.

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Mike Reeves-McMillan

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People in SF are often as rational as the writers, unless it’s satirical SF like Robert Sheckley. But people in real life believe all kinds of bizarre things. How might you realistically and convincingly incorporate a belief like this into your story?

Originally shared by Yonatan Zunger

There is a new theory making the rounds in Flat Earth circles. (Squares?) The forests you see are not real forests; the true forests are long dead, and the things which we think are mountains are actually their ruins.

There’s a marvelous article here about how such a theory spreads, and its curious and somewhat mad beauty. (OK, strike “somewhat”) It’s a fascinating way to start your day.

h/t Steven Flaeck

http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/09/flat-earth-truthers/499322/

Comments

6 responses to “People in SF are often as rational as the writers, unless it’s satirical SF like Robert Sheckley.”

  1. Jenn Thorson Avatar
    Jenn Thorson

    In the case of my universe, I would perhaps have a group of Flat-Earthers unexpectedly meet members of my Intergalactic Underworld, who came to Earth to hide out after a big job and dodge the interstellar constabulary.

    The varying levels of denial even in the face of space ships, extra-terrestrial humanoids, and squid-people would be pretty entertaining to write.

    Mind you, I don’t know if it’s “realistic” but it would convincingly work within the stuff I write.

    Reply
  2. Yonatan Zunger Avatar
    Yonatan Zunger

    I think there are two approaches. One is that they’re simply mad, much like they are in our own world. The other is that they’re actually right in some way. I don’t know if you could make a decent story out of accepting flat earth theories as-is; they’re just a bit too silly, and require too many epicycles of conspiracies to explain how they work. But if there were some meta-explanation for why a few people perceive the structure of reality differently…

    That said, I’m not sure it would actually make for a good story. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Richard Kendrick Avatar
    Richard Kendrick

    I occasionally have to remind myself that my characters do not have to think like I do. They can leap to conclusions that I wouldn’t.

    Also, this is just more evidence that real people will believe things nuttier than anything you can invent. So research.

    Reply
  4. Mike Reeves-McMillan Avatar
    Mike Reeves-McMillan

    I have a story on the cook in which conspiracy theorists in Internet bubbles are ironically manipulated by an actual conspiracy, because they can’t critically evaluate calls coming from inside the house.

    Reply
  5. Jenn Thorson Avatar
    Jenn Thorson

    Mike Reeves-McMillan But that’s totally believable. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Maria Rich Avatar
    Maria Rich

    a very good read, thanks for sharing. I think I need to read this again later…. let it percolate through my brain for a while…. lots to think about here.

    Reply

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