Current Events > My best friend growing up is a physician. He is also a flat earther

(+) Yeah! (+)

Before I begin, I just want to way I don't endorse or believe in a flat earth. This topic is in no way saying "hey my doctor friend says the earth is flat. Checkmate!" it's actually saying that no matter where you go, and no matter how educated some people might be, they'll hold some ridiculous views and guess what...? Most of the time it's inconsequential. He never really talks about it outside of his friends.

I haven't lived in the same city as him since I was 18 but we have always kept in touch via email, phone, and text messages. He is still my best friend. He and I took radically career paths. He immediately went into learning biology and medicine the moment after high school. I studied something else. I won't say because I don't want to reveal too much of myself or me. A good enough sleuth would be able to find us out, and I'd hate to ruin his reputation. He's a good physician. If it were publicly known he's a Flat Earther and Trump supporter it could really strain his career.

Some facts about him but not too much.

- he is a minority. I won't say from where but it's one of the ethnicities that southern states in America don't like. The reason mention this is to show the fact he isn't a "dumb white boy"
- he went to a well known medical school. It's reputation isn't Harvard or Jon Hopkins tier, but it's a school that if I mentioned most people would immediately know, even if not for the medical school itself.
- he didn't take the traditional route to become a physician. After high school he worked as a hosptial worker and then later went to study to become a physician.
- he graduated medical school anywhere between 2006 and 2012... I think. I honestly forgot his graduation date. But I think that range sounds accurate enough.
- he practices primarily as an internist/general practitioner/family doctor.
- he is currently a teacher at his former medical school. He told me recently he's quitting and returning to actual practice.
-while his training is as an internist, he is also qualified to practice in a field of medicine that I won't say because it seems to be quite uncommon. In fact prior for him telling me about that field of medicine, I didn't know it existed.
- he has saved a lot of lives. One notable time was when someone had a heart attack in a public place and he performed emergency aid to them.
- I'm not entirely sure what state he's actually licensed to practice, but I do know he's practiced medicine in at least two states. One of them being California where he currently practices.
- if you knew his name you could easily look him up. He wasn't blowing smoke up my ass and trying to look cool. He has done all that I mentioned.
- he lives in a really nice house in an expensive area. I guess physicians make the big bucks.
- he was and may still be a Trump Supporter. While I talk to him semi regularly we generally don't talk politics. I do know he was a big supporter of Trump in the 2020 election. It confounded me because of his ethnic background.

And yet, despite his education and qualifications, he has literally told me before that Outer Space doesn't exist. That the Earth is flat. That there's a one world conspiracy theory or whatever that's called.

I don't subscribe to any of that and neither do I support Trump. But he is my best friend and I know he's done good things. Better things than most I've ever met. Him believing in a flat Earth is so inconsequential to the bigger picture. He's just one man who never talks about it outside his circle of close friends. And he isn't dumb. Sure he holds some dumb views but we ALL are guilty of that. He is very intelligent and competent in his line of work.
Chances are you work with a Flat Earther. Maybe you were treated by one who was also a physician. Maybe you crossed a bridge which was designed by an engineer that was a flat Earther. Who cares? It's seriously not that big of a deal.

I say that because most people I see online have said to others "cut ties with him/her. They're a dumb ass". No. I will not cut ties with him because he holds a dumb belief but chances are he's smarter than you (you being the people who say that).

Flat Earthers come in all shapes and sizes. I hope one day the flat Earth theory ceases to exist. But until then, they're out there and doing incredible things just like the rest of us.

This has to be copy pasta.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/b/b063ee14.jpg

megamanfreakXD posted...

This has to be copy pasta.

This, but if not...

iwasapoetonce posted...

Most of the time it's inconsequential

Nah, shit like this is poison to the people who believe it and puts strain on their relationships with loved ones far more often than not. I have family members who I was once close with who I can't have a real conversation with anymore because it inevitably turns to some batshit insane conspiracy theory, and there are so many people out there who share my experience.

megamanfreakXD posted...

This has to be copy pasta.

nope. but looking back maybe I should have just gotten to the point.

Well the topic title is enough. There are people I know much smarter than me, people with master's degrees, people who have successful businesses and are just generally accomplished more than me, that don't "believe" in the moon landing, or "global warming" or alternately take stock of astrology and star signs.

And quite frankly, my knowing this stuff has not made me have any benefit in my life. This guy wholeheartedly believing in flatter earths has not impacted his life negatively, and my knowing the opposite has not impacted my life positively. I just stay quiet because I don't want to get into their debate and also I'm more focused on living my life and at least trying to accomplish the things that will make me happy e.g. having money and wealth and starting a loving family

... Okay

Your friend is a fucking idiot. And his support of Trump leads to more harm than the people he has helped as a doctor.

I doubt it

saspa posted...

Well the topic title is enough. There are people I know much smarter than me, people with master's degrees, people who have successful businesses and are just generally accomplished more than me, that don't "believe" in the moon landing, or "global warming" or alternately take stock of astrology and star signs.

And quite frankly, my knowing this stuff has not made me have any benefit in my life. This guy wholeheartedly believing in flatter earths has not impacted his life negatively, and my knowing the opposite has not impacted my life positively. I just stay quiet because I don't want to get into their debate and also I'm more focused on living my life and at least trying to accomplish the things that will make me happy e.g. having money and wealth and starting a loving family

oh trust me it has

believing the moon landing is fake or that the earth is flat, is not doing any one any favors.

it shows an uneducated side of a person, it shows weakness, among many other things.

People can be stupid isln specific ways.

His doctoring is unfortunately not always going to well inform all his other abilities to figure things out.