Xref: utzoo talk.religion.newage:1267 alt.flame:967
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdahl!ames!ucbcad!zen!ucla-cs!troly
From: troly@CS.UCLA.EDU
Newsgroups: talk.religion.newage,alt.flame
Subject: Platygaeanism
Message-ID: <9901@shemp.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 15 Dec 87 10:01:33 GMT
Sender: root@CS.UCLA.EDU
Reply-To: troly@CS.UCLA.EDU (Bret Jolly)
Lines: 51
References:
Organization:LA Platygaean Society
Keywords:Platygeanism

The net.debate on platygaeanism seems to have 3 sides.  Platygeanism,
rational round-earthism, and irrational hysterical round-earthism. I
propose to get rid of this last group by flaming them out.

Consider a posting by Ronald Cole.  I wrote

>>MATHEMATICAL CONSISTENCY DOES NOT IMPLY TRUTH.
He replied

>Then what does it imply?

Can this be serious? He further wrote

>Can you explain why matter has a nasty tendency to assume a spherical shape
>when in free fall?  Did a flat raindrop hit you on your flat head?

!?!?!?!?  This is really strange.  Is he saying that the earth is round
for the same reason that water droplet is rounded? (Actually a falling
raindrop has a long attenuated tail due to air resistance.)  That surface
tension forces the earth into a round shape? Or that water droplets 
exemplify the "natural roundness" of nature, the bane of weight-watchers
everywhere? :-) :-)  You should be sure you understand both the theories
you are attacking and those that you support before posting articles to
the net. Evidently Ronald Cole understands neither. (Cheer up, Ronald,
ignorance can be cured! :-) )

Numerous flames have been posted to the net about supposed conspiracy
theories involving Communists, Secular Humanists (whatever they are),
the CIA, the Bermuda triangle, The US army, Yetis, LSD experiments,
Steven Spielberg(!), the AMA, the "sexist/war-mongering elite",... 
(I'm sure the Illuminati and the Vogons will pop up tomorrow :-) ).
Gosh, platygaeanism sure looks kooky with all those paranoid theories,
doesn't it. But has anyone noticed that all those theories have nothing
to do with anything I have posted, or with anything posted or stated
by any other member of my organization? That these conspiracy theories
are entirely the fancies of the *opponents* of platygaeanism. In particular
I have never posted any article supporting a conspiracy theory (yet :-)).

This sort of nonsense has no place in a rational and honest discussion.
So why don't those who understand nothing of either platygaeanism or
round-earthism, and those who wish to advance their cause by attacking
statements that I have *not* made, either reform themselves or stay out
of the discussion. Thanx.

By the way, Ronald, I don't mean to single you out too much, you were just
a handy example. Many others would have served as well.  And don't think
I think you're a jerk in general. Everyone occassionally shoots his mouth
off about things he knows nothing about. Peace.
                 /
Bret Jolly (bo'-ret tro ly) Mathemagus   LA platygaean society  
             .