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Still... He Was Brave

nPeace

Veteran Member
At least he tried to prove something, to... once, and for all.
He likely knew the risks involved, but he was determined... to prove by experiment and observation.

 

epronovost

Well-Known Member
At least he tried to prove something, to... once, and for all.
He likely knew the risks involved, but he was determined... to prove by experiment and observation.


Actually no, the idiot had built a rocket that could go up to 1500 meters in the sky. At this altitude you can't see the curve of the Earth it's also not very high considerng that there is a wealth of mountains higher than that (even taking into consideration his starting alitude. The man died because he was a complete moron with a completely stupid plan to prove a completely stupid theory.
 

Polymath257

Think & Care
Staff member
Premium Member
The guy was a sorry case. Clearly stupid to the point of self-destruction. He also didn't even go up as far as standard airplanes do, so the whole things was pointless. And the matter had been proven many times before. He just didn't want to believe it himself.

I don't call that brave. I call it foolish.
 

nPeace

Veteran Member
The police should have stopped him - just like thy will stop someone trying to commit suicide.
Sounds like you are thinking of a marvel hero trying to stop a mad scientist. Mike wasn't out to rule the world though, was he?
Still a brave chap, imo.
 

nPeace

Veteran Member
Just because he had doubts doesn't mean he was stupid. Or should we apply that to all skeptics, who say they need to see to believe, rather than just accept what persons think, or believe?
 

epronovost

Well-Known Member
Just because he had doubts doesn't mean he was stupid. Or should we apply that to all skeptics, who say they need to see to believe, rather than just accept what persons think, or believe?

If you "doubt" something so fundamentally easy to demonstrate as the shape of the Earth you are an insane idiot. Next what, we will not consider insane people who doubt the existence of eels or perpetual ice? Some people are absolute cretin in life, not because of some sort of handicap, but simply because of a crippling lack of education and judgement.
 

nPeace

Veteran Member
If you "doubt" something so fundamentally easy to demonstrate as the shape of the Earth you are an insane idiot. Next what, we will not consider insane people who doubt the existence of eels or perpetual ice? Some people are absolute cretin in life, not because of some sort of handicap, but simply because of a crippling lack of education and judgement.
well at least everyone doesn't think like that... which I think shows heart.
 

Altfish

Veteran Member
Actually no, the idiot had built a rocket that could go up to 1500 meters in the sky. At this altitude you can't see the curve of the Earth it's also not very high considerng that there is a wealth of mountains higher than that (even taking into consideration his starting alitude. The man died because he was a complete moron with a completely stupid plan to prove a completely stupid theory.
Also he was egged on by media and TV companies. Sad but also very stupid
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Sounds like you are thinking of a marvel hero trying to stop a mad scientist.
I am too old to be interested in Marvel comics. Actually, I am against belief in all comic heroes, and God is one. But what he was attempting was perhaps in the knowledge of his community. And police generally are aware of what is happening in their region.
Just because he had doubts doesn't mean he was stupid.
He was absolutely foolish. He could have consulted people working in the field. Or he could even have checked things on internet. I am sure that would have convinced him of his foolishness.

IMO, Icarus was better. At least, there was nobody at that time to advice him that his contraption would not work, and the wind-pressure will make his arms ineffective.
 
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exchemist

Veteran Member
The guy was a sorry case. Clearly stupid to the point of self-destruction. He also didn't even go up as far as standard airplanes do, so the whole things was pointless. And the matter had been proven many times before. He just didn't want to believe it himself.

I don't call that brave. I call it foolish.
Yes.

"Foolhardy" is the term I would choose to describe this mix of stupidity and bravery. In another context, he could have made use of it, e.g. for a virtually suicidal military mission of some kind but, as it is, a pointless and predictable waste of a life.

What a berk. :rolleyes:
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Actually no, the idiot had built a rocket that could go up to 1500 meters in the sky. At this altitude you can't see the curve of the Earth it's also not very high considerng that there is a wealth of mountains higher than that (even taking into consideration his starting alitude. The man died because he was a complete moron with a completely stupid plan to prove a completely stupid theory.
He could however become a legend now in American folklore. The Amazing Adventures of Mad Mike who found 'flatness' literally.

No doubt he was a just bit shy of the required 21336 meters needed to see the curvature of the Earth.

Now if only Horrible Histories, Stupid Deaths could create a special place for Mad Mike in that similar vein as our buddy Franz, another flat individual.

 

Yazata

Active Member
At least he tried to prove something to...

I'm not convinced that "Mad" Mike really believed that the Earth is flat. It was just a hook that he used to get the press to pay attention to him. (They love trashing perceived inferiors.) And I think that he loved poking his finger in the eye of established mainstream opinion. He was something of a rebel.

He was ultimately an adventurer, and this was his adventure.

He likely knew the risks involved

He most definitely did, and said so repeatedly. He made his living as a professional daredevil, a dying breed in our increasingly risk-averse age.

I don't really see much difference between what he was doing and free-climbing sheer rock faces in Yosemite, climbing Mt. Everest, base-jumping, or flying little SpaceshipOne up above the Karman line.

People often attempt dangerous things that might get them killed. And many other people who wouldn't do those things themselves find the idea that there are people who will to be kind of inspiring. It's why adventure novels exist as a genre.
 
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Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
No doubt he was a just bit shy of the required 21336 meters needed to see the curvature of the Earth.
There are other ways of finding Earth's curvature. The first known scientific measurement and calculation of the circumference of the Earth was performed by Eratosthenes in about 240 BC. Estimates of the accuracy of Eratosthenes's measurement range from 0.5% to 17%.
 

Polymath257

Think & Care
Staff member
Premium Member
There are other ways of finding Earth's curvature. The first known scientific measurement and calculation of the circumference of the Earth was performed by Eratosthenes in about 240 BC. Estimates of the accuracy of Eratosthenes's measurement range from 0.5% to 17%.

And it should be pointed out that the spherical nature of the Earth was known well before that. It is easy enough to see the shadow of the Earth on the moon during an eclipse and to determine the geometry needed to produce that shadow.

If you include the known properties of light and who can and who cannot see the lunar eclipse, there is no doubt about the fact that the Earth is round.

As has been pointed out, even watching ships go over the horizon was enough for people to conclude that there is curvature to the Earth.

And even the 'experiments' done by flat-earthers shows they are wrong!

So, no, this guy was NOT brave. He was foolhardy.

But, I guess he got to go out in the way he wanted.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Just because he had doubts doesn't mean he was stupid. Or should we apply that to all skeptics, who say they need to see to believe, rather than just accept what persons think, or believe?

No of course it is not "just because". You have
cause and effect backwards.
Having what you call "doubts" is not what made
him wacko.

If btw you want to promote skepticism, why dont
you apply some to your own beliefs?
 

Polymath257

Think & Care
Staff member
Premium Member
Just because he had doubts doesn't mean he was stupid. Or should we apply that to all skeptics, who say they need to see to believe, rather than just accept what persons think, or believe?

it isn't having doubts that made him stupid and foolhardy.

it was thinking this was a way (let alone the best way) to resolve those doubts that made him stupid.
 

Yazata

Active Member
So, no, this guy was NOT brave. He was foolhardy.

So are you really arguing that anyone with a false belief can't be brave?

Assuming that Mike Hughes did have a false belief. His actual position was that he didn't really know whether the Earth was flat or spherical, that he didn't want to just blindly accept authority, so he wanted to find out for himself. It's harder to argue with that.

(Not unlike increasingly common atheist rhetoric when they insist that they aren't claiming that god doesn't exist, but only that they don't believe that 'he' does. Hence they supposedly have no burden of proof.)

We're also assuming that his rocket flights were motivated by 'flat earth' ideas. I doubt very much whether they were. Mike was a professional daredevil for many years before the flat earth thing ever came up. He didn't do it to prove anything, he did it for the thrill. Some of his associates say that he latched on to the flat earth thing in hopes of generating interest, particularly from the media.

'Mad Mike' Hughes Was a Daredevil First, Flat Earther Second

And I'd also say that the distinction between 'brave' and 'foolhardy' isn't always clear and distinct.

Free solo climbing - Wikipedia
 
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