RTAINST

Some people believe that the earth is flat, others that the Apollo moon landings were faked. The Flat Earth International Conference is being held in November. Two days with an exhibition! The conference website promotes a Flat Earth cruise in 2020, clearly unconcerned that for many years marine navigation has relied upon a more spherical model of the earth. Can we dismiss these people and ideas as irrelevant or are there wider lessons to be learnt that impact more serious issues? Bernstein's concept of an idiot culture maybe a bit harsh but too often scientific rationale is lost, and sometimes poorly communicated, in a plethora of opinions. Being right is not the same as being effective.