The Flat Earth Society

Flat Earth Discussion Boards => Flat Earth Community => Topic started by: Tom Bishop on March 19, 2017, 08:29:26 PM

Title: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 19, 2017, 08:29:26 PM
Start listening at 9:30: http://podbay.fm/show/1000068299/e/1488182460?autostart=1
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 19, 2017, 08:36:24 PM
Well that clinches it!
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rekt on March 19, 2017, 08:59:53 PM
I'm almost certain that Shaq is not loved for his intelligence. That's like saying that Kim Kardashian supporting Flat Earth makes it more truthful.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 19, 2017, 09:30:14 PM
I'm almost certain that Shaq is not loved for his intelligence. That's like saying that Kim Kardashian supporting Flat Earth makes it more truthful.

Shaq has a Bachelors, Masters, and a Doctorate in Education from Barry University. What kind of education do you have?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 19, 2017, 11:37:28 PM
I'm almost certain that Shaq is not loved for his intelligence. That's like saying that Kim Kardashian supporting Flat Earth makes it more truthful.

Shaq has a Bachelors, Masters, and a Doctorate in Education from Barry University. What kind of education do you have?
He must have skipped English and geometry.  Any man who says " I do not go up and down at a 360-degree angle" has no idea what he talking about.  Sounds very astute doesn't he?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 12:24:37 AM
He must have skipped English and geometry.  Any man who says " I do not go up and down at a 360-degree angle" has no idea what he talking about.  Sounds very astute doesn't he?

It sounds like he is the doctor of education and you are not.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 20, 2017, 12:28:42 AM
He must have skipped English and geometry.  Any man who says " I do not go up and down at a 360-degree angle" has no idea what he talking about.  Sounds very astute doesn't he?

It sounds like he is the doctor of education and you are not.
I'm just trying to figure out how one can go up at a 360 degree angle no matter what the shape of the earth is.   Can you help me understand what he was saying?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 12:32:40 AM
He must have skipped English and geometry.  Any man who says " I do not go up and down at a 360-degree angle" has no idea what he talking about.  Sounds very astute doesn't he?

It sounds like he is the doctor of education and you are not.
I'm just trying to figure out how one can go up at a 360 degree angle no matter what the shape of the earth is.   Can you help me understand what he was saying?

Shaq travels the world and he does not observe himself going up and down 365 degrees around an earth. It is an empirical argument that the earth is first and foremost flat and all we have to say otherwise are based on government claims.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 20, 2017, 12:40:52 AM
He must have skipped English and geometry.  Any man who says " I do not go up and down at a 360-degree angle" has no idea what he talking about.  Sounds very astute doesn't he?

It sounds like he is the doctor of education and you are not.
I'm just trying to figure out how one can go up at a 360 degree angle no matter what the shape of the earth is.   Can you help me understand what he was saying?

Shaq travels the world and he does not observe himself going up and down 365 degrees around an earth. It is an empirical argument that the earth is first and foremost flat and all we have to say otherwise are government pictures.
So you now think the it takes 365 degrees to go around.   Shaquille was referencing a trip from Florida to California requiring him to go up and down at a specified angle.  His specified angle was 360 degrees.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 01:15:49 AM
So you now think the it takes 365 degrees to go around.   Shaquille was referencing a trip from Florida to California requiring to up and down at a specified angle.  His specified angle was 360 degrees.

It sounds pretty clear what he was saying to me. Shaq does a lot of traveling, not just that one trip. On his travels he observes himself going up and down on a flat earth, not a round one. When we go to China, we go horizontally, and it is ridiculous to believe that it is under us. All observations are that we live on a plane. The Round Earth belief system exists almost entirely on appeals to an authority. Shaq also touches on how the authority uses the educational system to brainwash us as children into believing the correct thing to believe in, with his Columbus example.

Dr. O'Neal tells us that we should open our minds and not blindly follow the herd. He basically says that there are powers which conspire to brainwash us into believing certain things, and we should be skeptical of unquestionable truths.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 20, 2017, 01:40:37 AM
why does it matter to you that he has a phd?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 20, 2017, 01:45:18 AM
He doesn't have a PhD.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 01:50:35 AM
He doesn't have a PhD.

Educational doctorates are called Ed.D., which makes him an authority when he says that we are being brainwashed by powers into believing certain things without satisfactory evidence.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 01:56:41 AM
Who am I going to believe, a doctor of education; or you guys, who are not doctors of education?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 20, 2017, 02:03:41 AM
Who am I going to believe, a doctor of education; or you guys, who are not doctors of education?

so you believe what he says just because he has a phd?

why is his opinion more credible to you because he has a phd?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 02:14:26 AM
so you believe what he says just because he has a phd?

why is his opinion more credible to you because he has a phd?

He is credible because he spent a very significant amount of study in the field of education. His position that we are being brainwashed into believing that the earth is round is certainly a lot more credible than the opinions of the many people who are mocking him, who do not possess such an education.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 20, 2017, 02:15:31 AM
So you believe Shaquille because he has a Ed.D (no published peer reviewed dissertation required) but dismiss scientists who have a PhD (published peer-reviewed dissertation required)?

I'm not demeaning Dr. Shaquille O'neal's accomplishments.  I'm only questioning your logic. 
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 02:21:24 AM
So you believe Shaquille because he has a Ed.D (no published peer reviewed dissertation required) but dismiss scientists who have a PhD (published peer-reviewed dissertation required)?


It is literally night and day. An Ed.D. studies the educational system and is very knowledgeable about that. The same cannot be said about a PhD. A PhD in Chemistry is not qualified to speak on the nature of the educational system. He just does the classes and assignments and gets his certificate.

Shaq saying that we are being brainwashed by the educational authorities is a lot more credible than some chemist saying it.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 20, 2017, 02:24:57 AM
So you believe Shaquille because he has a Ed.D (no published peer reviewed dissertation required) but dismiss scientists who have a PhD (published peer-reviewed dissertation required)?

It is literally night and day. An Ed.D. studies the educational system and is very knowledgeable about that. The same cannot be said about a PhD. A PhD is Chemistry is not qualified to speak on the nature of the educational system. He just does the classes and assignments and gets his certificate.

Shaq saying that we are being brainwashed by the educational authorities is a lot more credible than some chemist saying it.
So a PhD in astronomy doesn't give a person any credibility in the realms of the nature of our universe?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 02:30:31 AM
Quote
So a PhD in astronomy doesn't give a person any credibility in the realms of the nature of our universe?

Well, yes, they are not credible because Shaq is saying that their education is not credible. Shaq is basically saying that those astronomers are educated by merely accepting authority and answering correctly on their tests that the earth is round. Shaq is very qualified to say that.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 20, 2017, 02:42:03 AM
Quote
So a PhD in astronomy doesn't give a person any credibility in the realms of the nature of our universe?

Well, yes, Shaq is basically saying that those astronomers are educated by merely accepting authority and answering correctly on their tests that the earth is round. Shaq is very qualified to say that.

Tom, I don't think you understand what it takes to get a PhD.  It's not about passing tests.  My friend is on year 6 of his full time PhD work.  He has had to do new research in his field that makes a significant new contribution, teach undergraduate classes, write a full dissertation on his research, undergo questioning and verbal defense of his research findings by panels of other experts in the field.  The work has to be something that is publishable in the science community and contains findings that expand the knowledge of the science field.   
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 20, 2017, 02:47:51 AM
I just read about Shaquille's capstone project.  He did a video presentation that included interviews with 4 CEO s about the role of humor in leadership.  The video has never been published. That is his doctoral contribution to his field.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 02:50:16 AM
Tom, I don't think you understand what it takes to get a PhD.  It's not about passing tests.  My friend is on year 6 of his full time PhD work.  He has had to do new research in his field that makes a significant new contribution, teach undergraduate classes, write a full dissertation on his research, undergo questioning and verbal defense of his research findings by panels of other experts in the field.  The work has to be something that is publishable in the science community and contains findings that expand the knowledge of the science field.

The scientific community is very biased. Nothing about Zodiac signs is really publishable in the scientific community, for example, because of inherent bias, no matter how accurate the personality traits may be.

On top of that, there is not really any experimentation in Astronomy. It is an observing science. Astronomers aren't making experiments on dark matter in distant galaxies before writing papers about it. The entire field is almost completely without experimentation on the universe.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 20, 2017, 02:56:45 AM
Quote
So a PhD in astronomy doesn't give a person any credibility in the realms of the nature of our universe?

Well, yes, they are not credible because Shaq is saying that their education is not credible. Shaq is basically saying that those astronomers are educated by merely accepting authority and answering correctly on their tests that the earth is round. Shaq is very qualified to say that, and the hosts of that podcast show are not qualified enough to laugh at him.

If you surveyed a group of people who have the same credentials as Shaq and asked them whether they believed the earth was flat or globular what do you think the results would be? If you accept Shaq's opinion based on his qualifications, on what basis do you reject the opposing opinion of those who have the same qualifications.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 02:58:56 AM
I just read about Shaquille's capstone project.  He did a video presentation that included interviews with 4 CEO s about the role of humor in leadership.  The video has never been published. That is his doctoral contribution to his field.
'

Actually the title is "How Leaders Utilize Humor or Aggression in Leadership Styles." Both humor and aggression can be of supreme importance in succeeding in business and leadership roles. I don't see how that is an inappropriate subject to study. That is how businessmen become billionaires, and how politicians become presidents.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 20, 2017, 02:59:57 AM
do you really not see the irony in using an appeal to authority to justify your acceptance of the premise that one should not accept appeals to authority to justify the acceptance of a premise?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 20, 2017, 03:05:33 AM
Alright, Tom.

Eat your heart out on his vast studies in the field of education:

Bachelor Arts Degree in General Studies

MBA in Business Administration

Doctorate in the field of Human Resources

Title of the Doctorate capstone project:  The Duality of  Humor and Agression in Leadership Styles

You misunderstand what a Ed. D degree is.  His field of study is not education. 
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 03:09:36 AM
If you surveyed a group of people who have the same credentials as Shaq and asked them whether they believed the earth was flat or globular what do you think the results would be? If you accept Shaq's opinion based on his qualifications, on what basis do you reject the opposing opinion of those who have the same qualifications.

Too many what-ifs. Maybe if they talked to Shaq they would become Flat Earthers too.

do you really not see the irony in using an appeal to authority to justify your acceptance of the premise that one should not accept appeals to authority to justify the acceptance of a premise?

Shaq is a doctor which studied the workings of that authority in the educational system, so that makes him more credible than the dupes it produced.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 03:11:35 AM
Alright, Tom.

Eat your heart out on his vast studies in the field of education:

Bachelor Arts Degree in General Studies

MBA in Business Administration

Doctorate in the field of Human Resources

Title of the Doctorate capstone project:  The Duality of  Humor and Agression in Leadership Styles

You misunderstand what a Ed. D degree is.  His field of study is not education.

No, his Ed.D. degree is a degree in education with a specialty in human resources.

The capstone project is standard in that field: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-05-09/news/fl-dr-shaq-mayocol-b051012-20120509_1_doctoral-degree-education-doctorates-nba-star-shaquille-o-neal

Quote
Barry spokesman Michael Laderman said O'Neal didn't get any special treatment and the oral presentations, known as Capstone Projects, are standard for doctorates in education, including at Ivy League schools.

O'Neal's spokesman described it as "a more practical doctorate, as opposed to a research-based doctorate like a Ph.D."

The criticism that he did not do a dissertation is stupid. It's not a research-based doctorate.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 20, 2017, 03:18:10 AM
so just to be clear, some guy you've never met goes on a podcast and talks about how the education system trains people to merely accept things as true merely because a phd said it is so, and you believe him because he has a phd and says it is so.

i bet it's just a coincidence that everything he said was stuff you already believe.  lol suddenly having a phd is the bright-line for credibility.  i mean, as you said yourself, none of us have phds in education, so we aren't credible.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 03:21:48 AM
so just to be clear, some guy you've never met goes on a podcast and talks about how the education system trains people to merely accept things as true merely because a phd said it is so, and you believe him because he has a phd and says it is so.

i bet it's just a coincidence that everything he said was stuff you already believe.  lol suddenly having a phd is the bright-line for credibility.  i mean, as you said yourself, none of us have phds in education, so we aren't credible.

He has the doctorate in that field, which makes him supremely more qualified to hold that position than for you to laugh at him about it.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 20, 2017, 03:22:46 AM
Alright, Tom.

Eat your heart out on his vast studies in the field of education:

Bachelor Arts Degree in General Studies

MBA in Business Administration

Doctorate in the field of Human Resources

Title of the Doctorate capstone project:  The Duality of  Humor and Agression in Leadership Styles

You misunderstand what a Ed. D degree is.  His field of study is not education.

No, the degree is in education with a specialty in human resources.
Tom, if the guy has incredible credentials to understand the brainwashing of education in America then why was his BA in general studies, his MBA in Business Administration, and Ed. D in Human Resources?   His doctoral studies weren't even about it.  Yet, to you he is an expert in understanding the fallacies of the educational system.  In reality, he is just regurgitating previously stated flat earth claims about education and proving himself a sheep.    If he had done 4 years of research about the educational system of America then he might have some competence.  In this end it's about using humor in leadership.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 20, 2017, 03:25:12 AM
If Shaq came out tomorrow and said it was just a joke and he actually believed the earth was a globe I'm sure you would become a GE since he has the qualifications to know! LOL
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 20, 2017, 03:28:52 AM
He has the doctorate in that field, which makes him supremely more qualified to hold that position than for you to laugh at him about it.

why?

i'm not laughing at shaq.  although i admit i do find it puzzling that out of all the phds out there doing research in education (unlike shaq), he's the only one to have noticed these fundamental flaws in education.  i guess all the other phds got brainwashed.  not shaq, though!

i'm only perplexed by your position that we should believe shaq because he has a phd.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 03:43:47 AM
Tom, if the guy has incredible credentials to understand the brainwashing of education in America why was his BA in general studies, his MBA in Business Administration, and Ed. D in Human Resources.  His doctoral studies weren't even about it.  Yet, to you he is an expert in understanding the fallacies of the educational system.  In reality, he is just regurgitation previously stated flat earth claims about education and proving himself a sheep.

Apparently you have NO idea how it works. Any Ed.D with BA and MA degrees in different fields is just as qualified as an Ed.D with both Ed.BA and Ed.MA degrees. Those people with different degrees would need to take extra courses to satisfy the prerequisite requirements for the Ed.D degree program.

Having his undergraduate degree as general studies simply means that he knows a little bit about everything, and is not limited in his knowledge base. A bachelors degree is more of a general knowledge degree anyway, so he made the right choice, and it makes him more well rounded.

His degree is a doctorate in education with a specialty in human resources. It is not a degree in human resources. It says that everywhere on a million websites. You are just making things up.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 03:48:02 AM
He has the doctorate in that field, which makes him supremely more qualified to hold that position than for you to laugh at him about it.

why?

i'm not laughing at shaq.  although i admit i do find it puzzling that out of all the phds out there doing research in education (unlike shaq), he's the only one to have noticed these fundamental flaws in education.  i guess all the other phds got brainwashed.  not shaq, though!

i'm only perplexed by your position that we should believe shaq because he has a phd.

There are many professional doctorates that do not require dissertations (MD, DO, DC, JD, DDS, etc.). I don't know what criticism you have with Shaq not doing a dissertation. As his spokesman said, the capstone is the standard practice at many ivy leagues.

Is an MD a less significant degree because there was no dissertation? No. There are different kinds of doctorates, and they all require a lot of hard work. The people criticizing Shaq for not doing a dissertation are just very ignorant of education.

I said that Shaq is a credible source on matters of education because he studied that subject enough to get a doctorate. That is pretty indisputable.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 20, 2017, 04:00:18 AM
so just to be clear, some guy you've never met goes on a podcast and talks about how the education system trains people to merely accept things as true merely because a phd said it is so, and you believe him because he has a phd and says it is so.

i bet it's just a coincidence that everything he said was stuff you already believe.  lol suddenly having a phd is the bright-line for credibility.  i mean, as you said yourself, none of us have phds in education, so we aren't credible.

He has the doctorate in that field, which makes him supremely more qualified to hold that position than for you to laugh at him about it.

Apparently not everyone thinks that an Ed. D. isn't as big a deal as you might think.
Quote from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Education#Criticisms
Barbara K. Townsend, Professor of Higher Education and Associate Dean for Research and Development at the University of Missouri at Columbia, suggests the doctorate of education is most frequently sought for vanity purposes and to improve one's status, citing a 2000 survey of California school superintendents in which they identify the greatest value of the Ed. D. as being its "symbolic value (credibility and respects a basis for leadership)," further adding that there is scant research or evidence to suggest that possession of a doctorate in education improves one's ability to be an effective administrator.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 04:07:12 AM
Apparently not everyone thinks that an Ed. D. isn't as big a deal as you might think.
Quote from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Education#Criticisms
Barbara K. Townsend, Professor of Higher Education and Associate Dean for Research and Development at the University of Missouri at Columbia, suggests the doctorate of education is most frequently sought for vanity purposes and to improve one's status, citing a 2000 survey of California school superintendents in which they identify the greatest value of the Ed. D. as being its "symbolic value (credibility and respects a basis for leadership)," further adding that there is scant research or evidence to suggest that possession of a doctorate in education improves one's ability to be an effective administrator.

Why would the study of education make you a better administrator? That requires a lot more than merely knowing all about education. If your goal is to become a good leader and you are getting a degree with the word education in it just because you are running an education facility, then yes, you are getting it for mostly vain purposes.

You are probably better off getting both a business degree and an education degree like Shaq did.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 20, 2017, 04:14:22 AM
There are many professional doctorates that do not require dissertations (MD, DO, DC, JD, DDS, etc.). I don't know what criticism you have with Shaq not doing a dissertation. As his spokesman said, the capstone is the standard practice at many ivy leagues.

Is an MD a less significant degree because there was no dissertation? No. There are different kinds of doctorates, and they all require a lot of hard work. The people criticizing Shaq for not doing a dissertation are just very ignorant of how other fields work.

I said that Shaq is a credible source on matters of education because he studied that subject enough to get a doctorate. That's pretty indisputable.

i am not denying that shaq is a credible source of information on the topic of education, and i'm not criticizing his degree.

i'm criticizing you for championing as fact the words of a complete stranger merely because he has a phd.  it's confusing given that the position you are championing is "the education system is bad because it operates entirely on appeals to authority."

tbh i'm mostly just poking fun at you for suddenly asserting an appeal to authority when the speaker says something you already agreed with.  your worldview is in many ways fundamentally based on a resistance to appeals to authority (not meant as a criticism); you can't start asserting it now.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 04:42:04 AM
There are many professional doctorates that do not require dissertations (MD, DO, DC, JD, DDS, etc.). I don't know what criticism you have with Shaq not doing a dissertation. As his spokesman said, the capstone is the standard practice at many ivy leagues.

Is an MD a less significant degree because there was no dissertation? No. There are different kinds of doctorates, and they all require a lot of hard work. The people criticizing Shaq for not doing a dissertation are just very ignorant of how other fields work.

I said that Shaq is a credible source on matters of education because he studied that subject enough to get a doctorate. That's pretty indisputable.

i am not denying that shaq is a credible source of information on the topic of education, and i'm not criticizing his degree.

i'm criticizing you for championing as fact the words of a complete stranger merely because he has a phd.  it's confusing given that the position you are championing is "the education system is bad because it operates entirely on appeals to authority."

tbh i'm mostly just poking fun at you for suddenly asserting an appeal to authority when the speaker says something you already agreed with.  your worldview is in many ways fundamentally based on a resistance to appeals to authority (not meant as a criticism); you can't start asserting it now.

I never said that ALL appeals to authority are bad. Its more like blind appeals to an authority are bad. An appeal to a credible authority is good!

It is a perfectly legitimate argument to point to NASA pictures as proof that the earth is round. It is also perfectly legitimate for us to discredit that source of authority by pointing out the questionable and sketchy pictures NASA has produced.

In order to discredit Shaq as a source of authority you would need to show that he cheated in his classes or something, just like we regularly show that NASA is cheating in its efforts.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rounder on March 20, 2017, 05:00:05 AM
There are literally thousands of people with more or less the same credentials as the one Shaq has holds.  Why don't we hear them in their multitudes proclaiming the flat earth?  Because they don't believe in the flat earth!  Why does Shaq's degree give his flat earth notion credibility, but the very same degree confers no credibility to the thousands of round earth believers?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 05:17:08 AM
There are literally thousands of people with more or less the same credentials as the one Shaq has holds.  Why don't we hear them in their multitudes proclaiming the flat earth?  Because they don't believe in the flat earth!  Why does Shaq's degree give his flat earth notion credibility, but the very same degree confers no credibility to the thousands of round earth believers?

You could also say that there were thousands of phsyscists in Einstein's day but none of them came up with E=MC^2. Why not? They just didn't think about it.

When the other physcists saw his equation they all reacted to it favorably.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 20, 2017, 05:37:40 AM
Coming soon! A wave of Dr. O'Neil's colleagues rejecting their former positions regarding the shape of the earth and turning to FEism.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: disputeone on March 20, 2017, 10:50:22 AM
Dr Dre dispute here, can confirm the earth is flat.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xdK3LBLWCw

Disagreements in Earth shape aside, he was a great basketballer.

Hey Boots.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: disputeone on March 20, 2017, 10:51:47 AM
There are literally thousands of people with more or less the same credentials as the one Shaq has holds.  Why don't we hear them in their multitudes proclaiming the flat earth?  Because they don't believe in the flat earth!  Why does Shaq's degree give his flat earth notion credibility, but the very same degree confers no credibility to the thousands of round earth believers?

Sounds like someones upset.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: totallackey on March 20, 2017, 11:13:01 AM
If you surveyed a group of people who have the same credentials as Shaq and asked them whether they believed the earth was flat or globular what do you think the results would be? If you accept Shaq's opinion based on his qualifications, on what basis do you reject the opposing opinion of those who have the same qualifications.

Based on amount of world travel for one.

Shaq has observed far more of the plane than most anyone.

Certainly, anyone posting here.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: totallackey on March 20, 2017, 11:17:15 AM
so just to be clear, some guy you've never met goes on a podcast and talks about how the education system trains people to merely accept things as true merely because a phd said it is so, and you believe him because he has a phd and says it is so.

i bet it's just a coincidence that everything he said was stuff you already believe.  lol suddenly having a phd is the bright-line for credibility.  i mean, as you said yourself, none of us have phds in education, so we aren't credible.

He has the doctorate in that field, which makes him supremely more qualified to hold that position than for you to laugh at him about it.

Apparently not everyone thinks that an Ed. D. isn't as big a deal as you might think.
Quote from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Education#Criticisms
Barbara K. Townsend, Professor of Higher Education and Associate Dean for Research and Development at the University of Missouri at Columbia, suggests the doctorate of education is most frequently sought for vanity purposes and to improve one's status, citing a 2000 survey of California school superintendents in which they identify the greatest value of the Ed. D. as being its "symbolic value (credibility and respects a basis for leadership)," further adding that there is scant research or evidence to suggest that possession of a doctorate in education improves one's ability to be an effective administrator.

Your source closes with the word - "ADMINISTRATOR."


What point were you trying to make?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: totallackey on March 20, 2017, 11:19:46 AM
There are literally thousands of people with more or less the same credentials as the one Shaq has holds.  Why don't we hear them in their multitudes proclaiming the flat earth?  Because they don't believe in the flat earth!  Why does Shaq's degree give his flat earth notion credibility, but the very same degree confers no credibility to the thousands of round earth believers?

Really, you have evidence there are currently thousands of people with the same credentials?

Sounds more like hyperbole to me.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 20, 2017, 11:40:23 AM
If you surveyed a group of people who have the same credentials as Shaq and asked them whether they believed the earth was flat or globular what do you think the results would be? If you accept Shaq's opinion based on his qualifications, on what basis do you reject the opposing opinion of those who have the same qualifications.

Based on amount of world travel for one.

Shaq has observed far more of the plane than most anyone.

Certainly, anyone posting here.

Are you Sarah Palin irl?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 20, 2017, 12:30:44 PM
There are many professional doctorates that do not require dissertations (MD, DO, DC, JD, DDS, etc.). I don't know what criticism you have with Shaq not doing a dissertation. As his spokesman said, the capstone is the standard practice at many ivy leagues.

Is an MD a less significant degree because there was no dissertation? No. There are different kinds of doctorates, and they all require a lot of hard work. The people criticizing Shaq for not doing a dissertation are just very ignorant of how other fields work.

I said that Shaq is a credible source on matters of education because he studied that subject enough to get a doctorate. That's pretty indisputable.

i am not denying that shaq is a credible source of information on the topic of education, and i'm not criticizing his degree.

i'm criticizing you for championing as fact the words of a complete stranger merely because he has a phd.  it's confusing given that the position you are championing is "the education system is bad because it operates entirely on appeals to authority."

tbh i'm mostly just poking fun at you for suddenly asserting an appeal to authority when the speaker says something you already agreed with.  your worldview is in many ways fundamentally based on a resistance to appeals to authority (not meant as a criticism); you can't start asserting it now.

I never said that ALL appeals to authority are bad. Its more like blind appeals to an authority are bad. An appeal to a credible authority is good!

It is a perfectly legitimate argument to point to NASA pictures as proof that the earth is round. It is also perfectly legitimate for us to discredit that source of authority by pointing out the questionable and sketchy pictures NASA has produced.

In order to discredit Shaq as a source of authority you would need to show that he cheated in his classes or something, just like we regularly show that NASA is cheating in its efforts.
When considering the shape of the earth, wouldn't one think that an authority that deals with physical sciences would be more credible than someone who deals with educational sciences? 
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: totallackey on March 20, 2017, 12:44:26 PM
When considering the shape of the earth, wouldn't one think that an authority that deals with physical sciences would be more credible than someone who deals with educational sciences?

You tried to discredit Shaq's academic credentials and that failed.

I would wager Shaq has more credit hours in all science classes than you.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 20, 2017, 01:09:56 PM
Apparently not everyone thinks that an Ed. D. isn't as big a deal as you might think.
Quote from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Education#Criticisms
Barbara K. Townsend, Professor of Higher Education and Associate Dean for Research and Development at the University of Missouri at Columbia, suggests the doctorate of education is most frequently sought for vanity purposes and to improve one's status, citing a 2000 survey of California school superintendents in which they identify the greatest value of the Ed. D. as being its "symbolic value (credibility and respects a basis for leadership)," further adding that there is scant research or evidence to suggest that possession of a doctorate in education improves one's ability to be an effective administrator.

Why would the study of education make you a better administrator?
I don't know, but a degree in human resources sounds pretty administrative to me.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Jura-Glenlivet on March 20, 2017, 02:52:11 PM

When considering the shape of the earth, wouldn't one think that an authority that deals with physical sciences would be more credible than someone who deals with educational sciences?

Yeah but they have the wrong sort of degrees, Shaq’ has a humanities one that lets him see through the veil, and all that flying, all power to him for not tiring of looking out of those grubby little portals, and watching a movie, especially at 7 foot, he must be hunched up, there again he probably has his own with a glass roof, even so it wouldn’t give him a perspective that could challenge the round earth as he wouldn’t be high enough, maybe that isn’t covered in humanities. Is this the same Shaq’ who believed that a flight from the East Coast to California might be shorter than a flight to the moon. He reasoned that the flights should be of comparable length because he can walk out the door and see the moon, but cannot see California?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 02:53:09 PM
Apparently not everyone thinks that an Ed. D. isn't as big a deal as you might think.
Quote from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Education#Criticisms
Barbara K. Townsend, Professor of Higher Education and Associate Dean for Research and Development at the University of Missouri at Columbia, suggests the doctorate of education is most frequently sought for vanity purposes and to improve one's status, citing a 2000 survey of California school superintendents in which they identify the greatest value of the Ed. D. as being its "symbolic value (credibility and respects a basis for leadership)," further adding that there is scant research or evidence to suggest that possession of a doctorate in education improves one's ability to be an effective administrator.

Why would the study of education make you a better administrator?
I don't know, but a degree in human resources sounds pretty administrative to me.

Are you saying that a Doctor of Education doesn't know anything about education?

He had to specialize in something, and chose HR. No one gets a Doctor of Education and specializes in Education, just like no one gets a Doctor of Medicine and specializes in Medicine. Next you will be telling us that a Doctor of Medicine with specialization in Immunization basically just got a certificate in immunization and doesn't know anything else about how the body works.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on March 20, 2017, 02:55:53 PM
Start listening at 9:30: http://podbay.fm/show/1000068299/e/1488182460?autostart=1
I'm late to the party, but: Thanks! I've posted an announcement (https://forum.tfes.org/index.php?topic=5911.0) (which will show up on our homepage, as per usual) and shared it on our social media.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 20, 2017, 08:37:59 PM
You could also say that there were thousands of phsyscists in Einstein's day but none of them came up with E=MC^2. Why not? They just didn't think about it.

When the other physcists saw his equation they all reacted to it favorably.

einstein didn't just "come up" with e=mc^2.  it emerged from a careful process of deduction that he then shared in full with the scientific community.  it survives because it passed empirical tests.

had einstein merely gone on a radio broadcast and announced that mass and energy are equivalent, then no one would've cared.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 20, 2017, 09:06:38 PM
Apparently not everyone thinks that an Ed. D. isn't as big a deal as you might think.
Quote from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Education#Criticisms
Barbara K. Townsend, Professor of Higher Education and Associate Dean for Research and Development at the University of Missouri at Columbia, suggests the doctorate of education is most frequently sought for vanity purposes and to improve one's status, citing a 2000 survey of California school superintendents in which they identify the greatest value of the Ed. D. as being its "symbolic value (credibility and respects a basis for leadership)," further adding that there is scant research or evidence to suggest that possession of a doctorate in education improves one's ability to be an effective administrator.

Why would the study of education make you a better administrator?
I don't know, but a degree in human resources sounds pretty administrative to me.

Are you saying that a Doctor of Education doesn't know anything about education?

He had to specialize in something, and chose HR. No one gets a Doctor of Education and specializes in Education, just like no one gets a Doctor of Medicine and specializes in Medicine. Next you will be telling us that a Doctor of Medicine with specialization in Immunization basically just got a certificate in immunization and doesn't know anything else about how the body works.
Most people who get an Ed. d. specialize in something related to education.  What does human resources have to do with education?  Most people who specialize in HR get an MBA or Ph. d. in HR, not an Ed. d. in HR.

Regardless, I still don't see how a doctorate in education or human resources makes one an authority on the shape of the earth.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rama Set on March 20, 2017, 10:21:57 PM
Who am I going to believe, a doctor of education; or you guys, who are not doctors of education?

You don't believe PhDs in physics about physics, but when someone who received a doctorate in a field not directly related to geodetics makes a pronouncement that agrees with you, and does so in a way that demonstrates no understanding of geometry, you believe it.  Sounds like the one to trust least in this whole affair is you... as usual...
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rama Set on March 20, 2017, 10:24:06 PM
When considering the shape of the earth, wouldn't one think that an authority that deals with physical sciences would be more credible than someone who deals with educational sciences?

You tried to discredit Shaq's academic credentials and that failed.

I would wager Shaq has more credit hours in all science classes than you.

I would wager all those scientists that say agree the Earth is round have more credit hours in science than Shaq.  YOU LOSE!!!!

P.S. This is my new favorite thread.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 20, 2017, 11:04:54 PM
Most people who get an Ed. d. specialize in something related to education.  What does human resources have to do with education?  Most people who specialize in HR get an MBA or Ph. d. in HR, not an Ed. d. in HR.

HR has a lot to do with education. You do realize that HR needs to have expertise in educational assessment, certification, and continuing education, right? There are a number of sub disciplines which create, manage, and develop training programs as well.

Quote
Regardless, I still don't see how a doctorate in education or human resources makes one an authority on the shape of the earth.

A doctorate in education makes one an authority on education.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 21, 2017, 01:11:48 AM
Quote
Regardless, I still don't see how a doctorate in education or human resources makes one an authority on the shape of the earth.

A doctorate in education makes one an authority on education.
Then you agree that Shaq's degree in education does not make him an authority on the shape of the earth.  Good to know.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on March 21, 2017, 01:17:04 AM
I wonder why Shaq's capstone project was never released to the public.  I'm a project manager.  I'd love to know when I need to whip out my humor or my aggression to get things done. 
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 21, 2017, 02:07:21 AM
I wonder why Shaq's capstone project was never released to the public.  I'm a project manager.  I'd love to know when I need to whip out my humor or my aggression to get things done.
Maybe it wasn't the slam dunk that he was hoping for.

*ducks*
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 21, 2017, 03:24:09 AM
http://thecomicscomic.com/2013/03/05/leadership-through-humor-a-comedy-theory-by-dr-shaquille-oneal-ph-d/

Quote
“Happy employees = happy customers. Happy customers = happy shareholders.”

That’s what Shaquille O’Neal told CBS News he had learned by May 2012, when he received his Doctorate in Education degree from Barry University, a private Catholic college in Miami.

lol i take back my concession about shaq's allegedly deep knowledge of the educational system.  he studied the use of humor as a leadership trait.  who cares.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rounder on March 21, 2017, 05:05:32 AM
Shaq has observed far more of the plane than most anyone.
Certainly, anyone posting here.
Incorrect.  Those of us (myself among them) who served in the Navy have observed more of the GLOBE than he.  And by "observed" of course I mean "conducted observations with our own eyes, observations that had real world consequences for navigation of billions of dollars of naval vessel" not whatever the 360° angle nonsense was that Shaq talked about.


Really, you have evidence there are currently thousands of people with the same credentials?
Sounds more like hyperbole to me.
Advanced degrees in education are available from hundreds of colleges.  Each of which awards multiple degrees, in multiple years.  To be a teacher requires more and more degrees and certifications all the time, so YES, there are certainly thousands with the same Ed.D credentials.  Probably tens of thousands.


Are you saying that a Doctor of Education doesn't know anything about education?
Others have said exactly that.  In many cases, the Ed.D isn’t worth the paper it is printed on (https://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/education-degrees-and-teachers-pay/):
Quote
Nothing shows how downright phony the game is than the Ed.D.s — the Doctors of Education. I have seen administrators who have had trouble writing clear letters home to parents and who murdered the English language in public go about brandishing their degrees and insisting on being called “Doctor.”


Mostly though, what I’m saying is this ‘doctorate’ of his gains him zero insight into the shape of the earth.  No more than it would gain him insight into the events of 9/11, the efficacy of vaccines, the fate of D. B. Cooper, or the identity of Nicole Brown Simpson’s real killer.  It's fine for him to have opinions on these matters, it's fine for him to talk about those opinions, it's fine that you agree with him.  His degree is irrelevant to any of it, is what I'm saying.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on March 21, 2017, 11:00:32 AM
Mostly though, what I’m saying is this ‘doctorate’ of his gains him zero insight into the shape of the earth.  No more than it would gain him insight into the events of 9/11, the efficacy of vaccines, the fate of D. B. Cooper, or the identity of Nicole Brown Simpson’s real killer.  It's fine for him to have opinions on these matters, it's fine for him to talk about those opinions, it's fine that you agree with him.  His degree is irrelevant to any of it, is what I'm saying.
A lot of what he said had to do with how people are being deceived - that is very relevant to his doctorate. In fact, the substance of what he says about FET is minimal - he doesn't say much more than "yeah, it's flat, it looks flat". The public deception bit is where his expertise comes into play.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rounder on March 24, 2017, 04:58:49 AM
The fact that people CAN be deceived does not mean they ARE being deceived about one specific topic.   
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 24, 2017, 06:32:30 AM
In order to discredit Shaq as a source of authority you would need to show that he cheated in his classes or something

If Shaq came out tomorrow and said it was just a joke and he actually believed the earth was a globe I'm sure you would become a GE since he has the qualifications to know! LOL


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyLlPUJSXzk

Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 24, 2017, 07:28:08 AM
Shaq obviously caved in to pressure since the story went world wide and was hurting his brand and the NBA. If this is his joking style show us where he has ever made a similar "joke".
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 24, 2017, 08:14:18 AM
LOL
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 24, 2017, 08:25:33 AM


Shaq obviously caved in to pressure since the story went world wide and was hurting his brand and the NBA. If this is his joking style show us where he has ever made a similar "joke".

Really Tom? Really?

I mean, I know it hurts that all of you used Shaq's statement and tried to fuel your position in the public with being" backed by a celebrity". Now this is a conspiracy too, and Shaq "obviously" caved in to pressure.

I guess the joke is on you.

Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Jura-Glenlivet on March 24, 2017, 08:36:44 AM
And Tom, we should listen to him, he has a doctorate.

Also are you saying that believing in "The Truth" hurt his brand?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 24, 2017, 01:20:41 PM
Shaq obviously caved in to pressure since the story went world wide and was hurting his brand and the NBA.

yeah just like kyrie irving

https://solecollector.com/news/2017/03/nike-kyrie-irving-3-best-selling-basketball-sneaker
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 24, 2017, 03:23:17 PM
Shaq obviously caved in to pressure since the story went world wide and was hurting his brand and the NBA.

yeah just like kyrie irving

https://solecollector.com/news/2017/03/nike-kyrie-irving-3-best-selling-basketball-sneaker

So? Shaq's managers would perceive what he said as being negative. Do you think they saw the world mocking him and said that it would make them millions of dollars?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 24, 2017, 03:27:31 PM
Really Tom? Really?

I mean, I know it hurts that all of you used Shaq's statement and tried to fuel your position in the public with being" backed by a celebrity". Now this is a conspiracy too, and Shaq "obviously" caved in to pressure.

I guess the joke is on you.

The entire world was mocking him. He was going to either go with it, or backtrack and try to save face. When you question the status quo you are mocked and ridiculed.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 24, 2017, 03:31:52 PM
Really Tom? Really?

I mean, I know it hurts that all of you used Shaq's statement and tried to fuel your position in the public with being" backed by a celebrity". Now this is a conspiracy too, and Shaq "obviously" caved in to pressure.

I guess the joke is on you.

The entire world was mocking him. He was going to either go with it, or backtrack and try to save face. When you question the status quo you are mocked and ridiculed.
How is that a more relevant point when it comes to Shaq, but not the other celebrities supposedly backing FES?

You're just looking for excuses, Tom. You guys got played and you jumped in feet first.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 24, 2017, 03:37:55 PM
How is that a more relevant point when it comes to Shaq, but not the other celebrities supposedly backing FES?

You're just looking for excuses, Tom. You guys got played and you jumped in feet first.

It was to be expected that something was going to break with that kind of overwhelming ridicule, either Shaq's career, or some kind of backtrack on his position. Shaq chose to try and save his career.

Again, if this is his joking style, where has he made a similar "joke"?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 24, 2017, 03:39:58 PM
How is that a more relevant point when it comes to Shaq, but not the other celebrities supposedly backing FES?

You're just looking for excuses, Tom. You guys got played and you jumped in feet first.

It was to be expected that something was going to break with that kind of overwhelming ridicule, either Shaq's career, or some kind of backtrack on his position. Shaq chose to try and save his career.
Yes, keep telling yourself that. Or, maybe you guys just didn't know the character of Shaq really well and jumped the gun on bragging about his support.

If it makes your life easier that he succumbed to the pressure, fine. Have it your way. I'm telling you though, you got played. Period.

Either way, it makes you look even more stupid. You defending this makes it even worse on you as an individual. For each reply of yours in this thread, you're making a lot of people's Friday very, very enjoyable, including mine. Gotta say.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on March 24, 2017, 04:11:19 PM
Or, maybe you guys just didn't know the character of Shaq really well and jumped the gun on bragging about his support.
I'm fairly familiar with Shaq and this was quite obviously out of character for him. The media (who follow him quite closely) have pointed out this much, too. But hey, something something if it makes your life easier, right?

I'm telling you though, you got played. Period.
Dude, saying "period!!!!" as the be-all-end-all of a conversation is so outdated. You should be saying "*drops mic*" these days. It will make you seem more right, especially if you're just presenting baseless claims.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Jura-Glenlivet on March 24, 2017, 05:01:24 PM

I can't quite work out which is the most tragic, insisting that the 7 foot multi millionaire has been bullied into retraction or Sexpest trying to come across as king cool.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 24, 2017, 05:11:47 PM
Tragic? They are equally hilarious! ;D
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: totallackey on March 24, 2017, 05:16:12 PM
I derive a great deal of pleasure by labeling other people as stupid.

Hey, I boiled all your BS into one concise point.

Why don't you make that your signature?

That way, people can see exactly what kind of jackass they dealing with without actually reading your long-winded crap.

Truth in advertising kinda...
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 24, 2017, 05:28:05 PM
Or, maybe you guys just didn't know the character of Shaq really well and jumped the gun on bragging about his support.
I'm fairly familiar with Shaq and this was quite obviously out of character for him. The media (who follow him quite closely) have pointed out this much, too. But hey, something something if it makes your life easier, right?

I'm telling you though, you got played. Period.
Dude, saying "period!!!!" as the be-all-end-all of a conversation is so outdated. You should be saying "*drops mic*" these days. It will make you seem more right, especially if you're just presenting baseless claims.
Haha, what a pointless reply, and you know it. :)

It's OK. For the FES, his "brand" being "hurt" is the natural explanation for this turnaround. For the rest of us, it's another nail in the coffin.

I have to say, I'm surprised you made the announcement in the first place. First of all, the quotes by Shaq is filled with errors in general. Secondly, it's Shaq. Smells fishy to me all in all.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 24, 2017, 05:32:03 PM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor. If this is Shaq's character then show us where he has done anything similar. You can't because he hasn't.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 24, 2017, 06:50:11 PM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor. If this is Shaq's character then show us where he has done anything similar. You can't because he hasn't.
Haha, how is that a proof of anything exactly!? So now prominent flat earthers have no spine? Give me a break, nobody can be this dense. You dispute just about every single argument, proven theory and observable fact about the globe earth, yet you naively assume that Shaq is converted but took back his statements about the shape of the earth because of public pressure.

Are you going to tell me that you didn't for a second think you just got trolled by Shaq?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 24, 2017, 07:05:46 PM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor. If this is Shaq's character then show us where he has done anything similar. You can't because he hasn't.
Haha, how is that a proof of anything exactly!?

It is a proof that you are a moron for repeating that we simply don't understand Shaq's character.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 24, 2017, 07:12:30 PM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor. If this is Shaq's character then show us where he has done anything similar. You can't because he hasn't.
Haha, how is that a proof of anything exactly!?

It is a proof that you are a moron for repeating that we simply don't understand Shaq's character.
I didn't repeat that at all, "moron", I'm simply implying you might have misjudged his character, with a very high probability. You're talking about a human being here, not an Oracle. I can only deduct from the tone in your reply that you feel really deceived by Shaq.

From one serious human being to another, I really think you need help. I mean this in the least arrogant and hostile manner, Tom.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rama Set on March 24, 2017, 07:52:09 PM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor. If this is Shaq's character then show us where he has done anything similar. You can't because he hasn't.

It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's worldview. If this is Shaq's worldview then show us where he has expressed anything similar. You can't because he hasn't.

Wow, it was super easy to refute your terrible argument!
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 24, 2017, 08:14:28 PM
yeah just like kyrie irving

https://solecollector.com/news/2017/03/nike-kyrie-irving-3-best-selling-basketball-sneaker

So?

so i don't really get how you can say that shaq must be protecting his 'brand' from ridicule or whatever.  kyrie irving did the exact same thing like 40 seconds ago and has the best selling sneakers in america.  mostly because all the people who love kyrie and shaq do so for sports reasons and don't care about their personal beliefs basically at all.

i mean, do you think he's gonna get fired from tnt or lose a gold bond endorsement or something?

https://youtu.be/SJwrUaQvtsc

srsly tho shaq would never do anything silly or goofy or make himself look like a fool just for the lols.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on March 24, 2017, 10:41:07 PM
I can't quite work out which is the most tragic, insisting that the 7 foot multi millionaire has been bullied into retraction or Sexpest trying to come across as king cool.
Both of these happen on a daily basis, so I would describe neither as "tragic".
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 25, 2017, 12:59:55 AM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor.
Are you sure about that, Tom?  After all, his Ed. D. dissertation was on humor, wasn't it?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 25, 2017, 01:57:32 AM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor. If this is Shaq's character then show us where he has done anything similar. You can't because he hasn't.

It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's worldview. If this is Shaq's worldview then show us where he has expressed anything similar. You can't because he hasn't.

Wow, it was super easy to refute your terrible argument!

That is a weak argument. Shaq goes onto pod casts and tells his worldview in a seemingly serious manner all the time. He does not go back and say "just kidding!".

so i don't really get how you can say that shaq must be protecting his 'brand' from ridicule or whatever.  kyrie irving did the exact same thing like 40 seconds ago and has the best selling sneakers in america.  mostly because all the people who love kyrie and shaq do so for sports reasons and don't care about their personal beliefs basically at all.

Yeah, Irving only expressed his Flat Earth opinion 40 seconds ago and you are showing me a link for sales starting from last year. Totally irrelevant. The link even provides a disclaimer that his shoes are only leading in the "performance" basketball shoe market, whatever that is, and that Nike is underpricing the shoes compared to other signature brands.

Are you seriously trying to tell us that Shaq's managers and partners would have thought that world-wide ridicule was a good thing? People would have been screaming at him to retract his statement or his career was over. Do you really think that seeing that irrelevant link would change their minds?

Quote
https://youtu.be/SJwrUaQvtsc

srsly tho shaq would never do anything silly or goofy or make himself look like a fool just for the lols.

That's not really the same type of humor at all here, and Shaq revealed himself at the end. Its not even his own idea, he's an actor in a commercial for Lyft.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 25, 2017, 02:06:48 AM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor.
Are you sure about that, Tom?  After all, his Ed. D. dissertation was on humor, wasn't it?

Shaq likes jokes, but all of his jokes tend to cause people to laugh at the end, not leave people thinking that he is a serial killer. The type of humor here is uncharacteristic of everything he has ever done.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 25, 2017, 06:26:24 AM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor.
Are you sure about that, Tom?  After all, his Ed. D. dissertation was on humor, wasn't it?

Shaq like jokes, but all of his jokes tend to cause people to laugh at the end, not leave people thinking that he is a serial killer. The type of humor here is uncharacteristic of everything he has ever done.
Hahaha!
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rama Set on March 25, 2017, 02:52:48 PM

That is a weak argument. Shaq goes onto pod casts and tells his worldview in a seemingly serious manner all the time.

"expressed anything similar"

Quote
He does not go back and say "just kidding!".

But he did this time.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 25, 2017, 04:05:57 PM
It's pretty obvious that this isn't Shaq's type of humor.
Are you sure about that, Tom?  After all, his Ed. D. dissertation was on humor, wasn't it?

Shaq like jokes, but all of his jokes tend to cause people to laugh at the end, not leave people thinking that he is a serial killer. The type of humor here is uncharacteristic of everything he has ever done.
Tom, this is nothing more than just one more case of FE'ers unquestioningly accepting any bit of support without the slightest bit of critical though.  You went out of your way to talk up Shaq's Ed. d., yet you never thought to consider just how far out of character it would be for someone with an advanced degree, seemingly out of nowhere, to come out and support FET.  Then, just to make things even worse, you desperately try to hold on to his endorsement even after he publicly admits that he was just trolling everyone. 

Tom, do yourself a favor and just admit that you got played and move on.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 25, 2017, 04:22:45 PM
fwiw i'm way more offended by your misunderstanding of sports fandom and sneakers and shaq than anything else.

Yeah, Irving only expressed his Flat Earth opinion 40 seconds ago and you are showing me a link for sales starting from last year. Totally irrelevant. The link even provides a disclaimer that his shoes are only leading in the "performance" basketball shoe market, whatever that is, and that Nike is underpricing the shoes compared to other signature brands.

fair enough, maybe the market hasn't had time to react the career-ending news that kyrie irving believes something weird.

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/03/sales_of_kyrie_irvings_nike_sh.html

"Kyrie Irving has another reason to celebrate on this, his 25th birthday. The latest iteration of his signature basketball shoe by Nike is currently the best-selling pair of basketball kicks out there.

"The Kyrie 3 launched in December and now is the top-selling performance basketball shoe in the marketplace," Nike Brand President Trevor Edwards said in an earnings call."

nike's brand president seems to think that kryie irving's band is just fine.  probably why they keep releasing models (https://solecollector.com/news/2017/03/nike-kyrie-3-red-silver-pe).

Are you seriously trying to tell us that Shaq's managers and partners would have thought that world-wide ridicule was a good thing? People would have been screaming at him to retract his statement or his career was over. Do you really think that seeing that irrelevant link would change their minds?

lol "or his career was over."  what are you talking about?  do you think he's gonna get fired from tnt or something?  lose an endorsement?  the folks at icy-hot probably didn't hire shaq because of his intellect.  what's the specific thing that happens when people find out what shaq believes something weird?

That's not really the same type of humor at all here, and Shaq revealed himself at the end. Its not even his own idea, he's an actor in a commercial for Lyft.
  you've missed the point entirely.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/Kazaam_poster.jpg)

i just sorta get the feeling that shaq's 'brand' can withstand people laughing at him.  i mean he got a degree in humor ffs.

Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 25, 2017, 05:55:22 PM
Tom, this is nothing more than just one more case of FE'ers unquestioningly accepting any bit of support without the slightest bit of critical though.  You went out of your way to talk up Shaq's Ed. d., yet you never thought to consider just how far out of character it would be for someone with an advanced degree, seemingly out of nowhere, to come out and support FET.  Then, just to make things even worse, you desperately try to hold on to his endorsement even after he publicly admits that he was just trolling everyone. 

Tom, do yourself a favor and just admit that you got played and move on.

Yeah, no. There is obviously great pressure to retract your statement when you are one of the most famous people in America and the entire world is mocking you.

I would like you to show how everyone believing that he was an idiot was good for his brand and his ego. Would Shaq and his managers and partners think that the situation would benefit them greatly? It is hard to see how everyone around him would have encouraged Shaq to go with it.

Frankly, the only person in denial here is you. If Shaq was making a joke that he was an idiot he would have said JUST KIDDING in the podcast, not leave everyone to think that he is an idiot. What kind of joke is that?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 25, 2017, 06:05:59 PM
Well, Dr. O'Neal says he was joking and I think we should believe him.

Who am I going to believe, a doctor of education; or you guys, who are not doctors of education?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 25, 2017, 06:22:06 PM
Well, Dr. O'Neal says he was joking and I think we should believe him.

Who am I going to believe, a doctor of education; or you guys, who are not doctors of education?

He only said that he was joking after the story went around the world and he was mocked and ridiculed relentlessly. Kind of too late and not really obviously genuine.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 25, 2017, 06:36:59 PM
How do you know what Dr. O'Neal really believes?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 25, 2017, 06:52:06 PM
Frankly, the only person in denial here is you. If Shaq was making a joke that he was an idiot he would have said JUST KIDDING in the podcast, not leave everyone to think that he is an idiot. What kind of joke is that?
Come now Tom, he knew he's have to give it a day or two for the story to spread wide enough to see how many people would fall for it.  Besides, it's not as if Shaq isn't used to people laughing at him.
(http://www.allthatsepic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/shaq-fu.jpg)
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rama Set on March 25, 2017, 07:11:37 PM
Well, Dr. O'Neal says he was joking and I think we should believe him.

Who am I going to believe, a doctor of education; or you guys, who are not doctors of education?

He only said that he was joking after the story went around the world and he was mocked and ridiculed relentlessly. Kind of too late and not really obviously genuine.

Classic conspiratard thinking. When he says what you agree with you take him at face value. When he retracts that statement and says he is joking there must be something more going on beneath the surface. Back to the vitamin C clinic!
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 25, 2017, 08:16:48 PM
Well, Dr. O'Neal says he was joking and I think we should believe him.

Who am I going to believe, a doctor of education; or you guys, who are not doctors of education?

He only said that he was joking after the story went around the world and he was mocked and ridiculed relentlessly. Kind of too late and not really obviously genuine.

Classic conspiratard thinking. When he says what you agree with you take him at face value. When he retracts that statement and says he is joking there must be something more going on beneath the surface. Back to the vitamin C clinic!


Does vitamin C really cure conspiratarditus?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rama Set on March 25, 2017, 09:51:59 PM
Vitamin C cures everything.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on March 26, 2017, 09:07:12 PM
Why are we still arguing this? People whose job is literally to know Shaq's character agree that his retraction was extremely out of character, and that the original "joke" didn't make sense as far as Shaq's humour is concerned.

The media (who follow him quite closely) have pointed out this much, too. But hey, something something if it makes your life easier, right?

Quote from: https://sports.yahoo.com/news/shaquille-oneal-isnt-a-flat-earther-after-all-im-joking-you-idiots-183258371.html
I’m not sure how Shaq saying on his own podcast, “The Earth is flat,” and repeatedly telling his bewildered and inquiring cohost, “Yes it is” — and then being quoted as such — “messed up” the point he was trying to get across, but OK.
[...]
If Shaq’s intention was to trick folks into thinking he was a flat-Earther, I’m not sure intentionally manufacturing fake news really does much other than lend more credence to the idea of fake news.

Quote from: http://uk.businessinsider.com/shaquille-o-neal-flat-earth-conspiracy-im-joking-you-idiots-2017-3
The second part is in reference to O'Neal's initial comments about the Earth supposedly being flat. That's, uh, quite an elaborate joke!
[...]
This, while rather confusing, seems to be Shaq saying that the general public should have known he was joking about the Earth being flat because he's Shaq.

We also know that some analysts are perfectly clear that the money+pressure mixture was involved:

Quote from: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/shaq-was-apparently-trolling-everyone-when-he-made-his-flat-earth-comments/
The bigger point here speaks to something trickier.

Essentially, players -- current and former -- have such a built-in distrust of the media and the current environment, based on quotes being taken out of context and how every little thing is extrapolated into a controversy, combined with a natural predisposition as both athletes and multi-millionaires to want to agitate situations, that they routinely walk the line between being serious and “messing with us.”

The only time this gets straightened out is if money is involved, if a player is at risk of losing a job or endorsement money. Then all of a sudden, the jokes stop.

This is just a case of RE'ers going "NUH UH EVIDENCE DON'T REAL", and it's really quite embarrassing.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rama Set on March 26, 2017, 11:06:55 PM
Why are you embrassed?  It's pretty neurotic to be embrassed for someone else. So at the very least we can agree that you supporter is not reliable and prone to flip-flopping on unprincipled grounds? I'm ok with that.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 27, 2017, 01:25:23 AM
Well if "People whose job is literally to know" agree on something I guess we should take their word for it!  ;D
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 27, 2017, 05:27:29 AM
Why are we still arguing this? People whose job is literally to know Shaq's character agree that his retraction was extremely out of character, and that the original "joke" didn't make sense as far as Shaq's humour is concerned.
Was his retraction any farther out of character than his claiming that the earth is flat in the first place?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 27, 2017, 07:18:15 AM
We all know that there's a horde of people who's job is to literally know Shaq's character that were just waiting for a claim like this from him.

Analysists have been eagerly waiting for a chance to analyze every single public move Shaq would make on supporting the flat earth theory.

You should all be writing movie scripts. You're very creative! That explanation is even more of a fairy tale than the flat earth theory is.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Jura-Glenlivet on March 27, 2017, 07:38:03 AM

Yeah that must be it, we're not seeing the evidence that is right in front of our eyes.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on March 27, 2017, 01:27:12 PM
Why are you embrassed?  It's pretty neurotic to be embrassed for someone else.
Surely you know me well enough to know that I'm a pretty neurotic person.

Well if "People whose job is literally to know" agree on something I guess we should take their word for it!
Close, but no cigar. When your side's claim is "you can't possibly know Shaq's character!", a response along the lines of "Well, here's a bunch of people who do know his character telling you exactly what we've been telling you" becomes quite relevant. Of course, you're welcome to ignore any and all evidence and just keep restating your baseless claims in the face of reality. It's just that not many people will take you very seriously if you do.

So at the very least we can agree that you supporter is not reliable and prone to flip-flopping on unprincipled grounds? I'm ok with that.
Yes. What he said in the first place is still valuable, though, and we should milk it as hard as we can. The quotes have been really helping us out on social media.

Was his retraction any farther out of character than his claiming that the earth is flat in the first place?
Yes.

We all know that there's a horde of people who's job is to literally know Shaq's character that were just waiting for a claim like this from him.

Analysists have been eagerly waiting for a chance to analyze every single public move Shaq would make on supporting the flat earth theory.

You should all be writing movie scripts. You're very creative! That explanation is even more of a fairy tale than the flat earth theory is.
Thank you for confirming the accusations I've levelled against you. You're being too kind - you should have at least tried denying that your position is "NUH UH EVIDENCE DON'T REAL".

Yeah that must be it, we're not seeing the evidence that is right in front of our eyes.
Oh, you're seeing it all right. That's why you were unable to say much more than the above.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 27, 2017, 02:52:27 PM
I'm going to let you stay in the belief that you've won this argument, not pointing out that the majority is laughing at you trying to defend your way out the fact that you got played. Everybody wins!

The sun is out, I'm in a good mood, and your online characters are making this day even better. I'm a nice guy like that.

Have a good one! :)
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 27, 2017, 03:01:35 PM
It's not really that complicated. Shaq made two statements. Only one of them was under duress.

Why should we think the statement made under duress is better than the one which was not?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 27, 2017, 03:48:39 PM
It's not really that complicated. Shaq made two statements. Only one of them was under duress.

Why should we think the statement made under duress is better than the one which was not?
You obviously wouldn't since the "statement" made under "duress" doesn't support your cause. That's basically why you're OK about making a fool of yourself trying to hypothesize about his "sudden change of heart" while the rest of us enjoy what he did for what it is. You know, the simple explanation, something you'd normally hold very dear.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 27, 2017, 03:51:35 PM
It's not really that complicated. Shaq made two statements. Only one of them was under duress.

Why should we think the statement made under duress is better than the one which was not?
You obviously wouldn't since the "statement" made under "duress" doesn't support your cause. That's basically why you're OK about making a fool of yourself trying to hypothesize about his "sudden change of heart" while the rest of us enjoy what he did for what it is. You know, the simple explanation, something you'd normally hold very dear.

The simplest explanation is that the statement which was not made under duress is the most credible.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 27, 2017, 03:53:44 PM
It's not really that complicated. Shaq made two statements. Only one of them was under duress.

Why should we think the statement made under duress is better than the one which was not?
You obviously wouldn't since the "statement" made under "duress" doesn't support your cause. That's basically why you're OK about making a fool of yourself trying to hypothesize about his "sudden change of heart" while the rest of us enjoy what he did for what it is. You know, the simple explanation, something you'd normally hold very dear.

The simplest explanation is that the statement which was not made under duress is the most credible.

To you perhaps, being biased. To me, the most simple explanation is the one coming from the source it self. That way, you don't have to hypothesize. If anything, it has strengthened his brand in my opinion. "Shaq picking on people with no sense of reality" - There's a fair amount of humor to that :)
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 27, 2017, 04:01:38 PM
To you perhaps, being biased. To me, the most simple explanation is the one coming from the source it self. That way, you don't have to hypothesize. If anything, it has strengthened his brand in my opinion. "Shaq picking on people with no sense on reality" - There's a fair amount of humor to that :)

What are you talking about? He claimed to believe in two different things at different times, not one. The source made two contradictory statements. One of those statements was under durress, and you are here telling us that a duressed statement is more credible over one which was not.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 27, 2017, 04:04:12 PM


To you perhaps, being biased. To me, the most simple explanation is the one coming from the source it self. That way, you don't have to hypothesize. If anything, it has strengthened his brand in my opinion. "Shaq picking on people with no sense on reality" - There's a fair amount of humor to that :)

The source made two contradictory statements. One  of them was under durress. I find it hard to believe why anyone would think that a duressed statement is more credible over one which was not.

"One of them was made under duress. I have to believe that, otherwise it would appear we made a mistake" you mean.

I believe he gives less shits about public opinion on this matter than you obviously do.

But you know what Tom, I'm not here to change your view on the world. In that regard, you're way out of reach. We both are. I'm here to talk about the science of flat earth. To get explanations and facts that globe earth doesn't explain. Testable, verifiable theories and facts. I've seen exactly zero of those. For a community having such a hard time explaining even the most simple observations in a satisfactory manner that globe earth doesn't explain, one would think you have bigger problems than debating whether or not a basketball star played a trick on the public.

I guess the tiny, tiny battles are worth debating for you because you make so little impact. Social Media statistics are all cool and dandy if you're a TextWarrior, but you guys are making no impact whatsoever, simply because your explanations reek of unicorns.

Shaq obviously knew that. :)
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 27, 2017, 04:51:09 PM
"One of them was made under duress. I have to believe that, otherwise it would appear we made a mistake" you mean.

I believe he gives less shits about public opinion on this matter than you obviously do.

Are you just making things up? In his second statement he clearly conveyed that he didn't like what people were saying about him.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Rama Set on March 27, 2017, 05:34:51 PM
It's not really that complicated. Shaq made two statements. Only one of them was under duress.

That is conjecture at best, Thomas.  Any evidence of duress?

Quote
Why should we think the statement made under duress is better than the one which was not?

Does not follow from the premises.  As soon as you can show that the statement was made under duress, then we can entertain the possibility.

Surely you know me well enough to know that I'm a pretty neurotic person.

*hugs*


Yes. What he said in the first place is still valuable, though, and we should milk it as hard as we can. The quotes have been really helping us out on social media.

Then we good.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 27, 2017, 05:41:45 PM
I'm going to let you stay in the belief that you've won this argument, not pointing out that the majority is laughing at you trying to defend your way out the fact that you got played. Everybody wins!

The sun is out, I'm in a good mood, and your online characters are making this day even better. I'm a nice guy like that.

Have a good one! :)

This. (The first sentence does seem to contain a contradiction but this seems like the type of thread where you just LOL and go with it.)

P.S. This is my new favorite thread.

And this.

LOL!
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Jura-Glenlivet on March 27, 2017, 08:39:42 PM


Yeah that must be it, we're not seeing the evidence that is right in front of our eyes.
Oh, you're seeing it all right. That's why you were unable to say much more than the above.

No, that was me winding down with a bit of gentle irony.

So where are we on this? Shaq says he backs some other basketball player in his belief of a flat earth, with anecdotes about his driving and flying across America in a light-hearted podcast, incidentally later in the same podcast when one of the others suggested the the original player wasn't serious but was making a statement about false news Shaq seems to agree, but hey.

FES jumps in with both feet, using the shaky argument that his doctorate (in an unrelated discipline) gives weight to his casual musings, whereas doctors in more relevant fields (astronomy, physics etc) are ignored, nothing new there.

Then Shaq drops the bomb, and FES goes into full paranoid mode, instead of taking him at his word this time it presses the conspiracy button and suddenly we find Sexpest & Tom are secret Shaqologist's and at heart the giant millionaire is a pussy who folds at the slightest pressure and not as some (admittedly not Shaqologist's) think, that he although he wasn't aware of the amount of furore, he didn't particularly care.

I will let you don your tin-foil hats and mount your soap boxes now, but leave you with a paraphrase from probably the biggest expert in what Shaq thinks, the man himself, he was joking you idiots. 
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 27, 2017, 09:11:51 PM
So a statement which was made under duress is more credible than one which was not?

I listened to Shaq's second statement again. He clearly communicates that he does not like the criticism and ridicule that is transpiring and that it is a point of contention for him. But according to what I'm reading here I thought he doesn't care about public opinion and loves being mocked as a dumb dumb.  ???
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 27, 2017, 09:55:24 PM
But according to what I'm reading here I thought he doesn't care about public opinion and loves being mocked as a dumb dumb.  ???
I'm not sure I understand your sentence correctly, but it seems like you're saying that according to what you're reading here, Shaq loves being mocked as a dumb dumb.

What has anyone written here that implies that Shaq loves being mocked as a dumb dumb?

Another question, given Shaq's superior qualifications how is it that he did not foresee what the results of his statements would be?

Intikam foresaw that it would take strength for Shaq to maintain his position. Here is his quote:

Shaq is Strong enough to carry our flag. And it suits him. Go shaq!

I guess he wasn't strong enough after all.  :'(
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 27, 2017, 10:30:57 PM
I'm not sure I understand your sentence correctly, but it seems like you're saying that according to what you're reading here, Shaq loves being mocked as a dumb dumb.

What has anyone written here that implies that Shaq loves being mocked as a dumb dumb?

It is directly argued here that Shaq likes to make the entire world think that he is a dumb dumb for the lulz. It is argued that he doesn't care about being mocked and ridiculed.

But according to what he says in the second statement, he does care about public opinion. How can that be?

Quote
Another question, given Shaq's superior qualifications how is it that he did not foresee what the results of his statements would be?

Well, the RE position on this matter seems to be that this was all premeditated and designed by him, to trick the world into thinking that he was an idiot... which he apparently does not like.

It makes a lot more sense if his statements were off the cuff and honest, and this was the unintended result.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: andruszkow on March 27, 2017, 11:09:26 PM
Tom, I'm going to do you a favor and link you three videos an acquaintance of mine did. There's no magical flat earth explanations for what you see in these videos.

Filming Turning Torsoe in Malmö from different distances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoK2BKj7QYk

Flat surface meets observing from ground level
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_7ev7h3bEI

Proof that the horizon is below eye level
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgHP8x69jFA

Have fun!
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 27, 2017, 11:56:01 PM
It is directly argued here that Shaq likes to make the entire world think that he is a dumb dumb for the lulz. It is argued that he doesn't care about being mocked and ridiculed.

But according to what he says in the second statement, he does care about public opinion. How can that be?

Arguing that Shaq did this for a joke is not the same thing as saying Shaq loves being mocked as a dumb dumb.

According to what he says in the second statement it was a joke.


Well, the RE position on this matter seems to be that this was all premeditated and designed by him, to trick the world into thinking that he was an idiot... which he apparently does not like.

It makes a lot more sense if his statements were off the cuff and honest, and this was the unintended result.

An educated celebrity of his superior qualifications should surely be aware of the likely results of making such a statement publicly, even when he's doing it "off the cuff."
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 28, 2017, 03:36:27 AM
It is directly argued here that Shaq likes to make the entire world think that he is a dumb dumb for the lulz. It is argued that he doesn't care about being mocked and ridiculed.

But according to what he says in the second statement, he does care about public opinion. How can that be?

Arguing that Shaq did this for a joke is not the same thing as saying Shaq loves being mocked as a dumb dumb.

According to what he says in the second statement it was a joke.
Can you really blame Shaq for no one else getting the joke?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 28, 2017, 05:01:48 AM
It is directly argued here that Shaq likes to make the entire world think that he is a dumb dumb for the lulz. It is argued that he doesn't care about being mocked and ridiculed.

But according to what he says in the second statement, he does care about public opinion. How can that be?

Arguing that Shaq did this for a joke is not the same thing as saying Shaq loves being mocked as a dumb dumb.

According to what he says in the second statement it was a joke.


Well, the RE position on this matter seems to be that this was all premeditated and designed by him, to trick the world into thinking that he was an idiot... which he apparently does not like.

It makes a lot more sense if his statements were off the cuff and honest, and this was the unintended result.

An educated celebrity of his superior qualifications should surely be aware of the likely results of making such a statement publicly, even when he's doing it "off the cuff."

So does Shaq like being called an idiot or not? If not, why would he deliberately try to leave people thinking that he was one?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 28, 2017, 05:37:12 AM
It is directly argued here that Shaq likes to make the entire world think that he is a dumb dumb for the lulz. It is argued that he doesn't care about being mocked and ridiculed.

But according to what he says in the second statement, he does care about public opinion. How can that be?

Arguing that Shaq did this for a joke is not the same thing as saying Shaq loves being mocked as a dumb dumb.

According to what he says in the second statement it was a joke.


Well, the RE position on this matter seems to be that this was all premeditated and designed by him, to trick the world into thinking that he was an idiot... which he apparently does not like.

It makes a lot more sense if his statements were off the cuff and honest, and this was the unintended result.

An educated celebrity of his superior qualifications should surely be aware of the likely results of making such a statement publicly, even when he's doing it "off the cuff."

So does Shaq like being called an idiot or not? If not, why would he deliberately try to leave people thinking that he was one?

I doubt he cares what you and I think of him. But he'd probably get a good laugh if he read this thread.  ;D
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 28, 2017, 12:04:36 PM
I doubt he cares what you and I think of him. But he'd probably get a good laugh if he read this thread.  ;D

You are not making very much sense. In some posts you seem to be saying that Shaq does not like to be called an idiot. Shaq seems to agree with that through what he said in his second statement.

In other posts you seem to be saying that Shaq wanted the world to think that he was an idiot with his first statement. He gets off on that and doesn't care about public opinion.

You are being pretty contradictory. Please clarify.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 28, 2017, 01:17:51 PM
I doubt he cares what you and I think of him. But he'd probably get a good laugh if he read this thread.  ;D

You are not making very much sense. In some posts you seem to be saying that Shaq does not like to be called an idiot. Shaq seems to agree with that through what he said in his second statement.

In other posts you seem to be saying that Shaq wanted the world to thing that he was an idiot with his first statement. He gets off on that and doesn't care about public opinion.

You are being pretty contradictory. Please clarify.
Maybe Shaq wanted to see how many people are gullible enough to believe that he's dumb enough to think that the earth is flat.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 28, 2017, 01:30:09 PM
I doubt he cares what you and I think of him. But he'd probably get a good laugh if he read this thread.  ;D

You are not making very much sense. In some posts you seem to be saying that Shaq does not like to be called an idiot. Shaq seems to agree with that through what he said in his second statement.

In other posts you seem to be saying that Shaq wanted the world to thing that he was an idiot with his first statement. He gets off on that and doesn't care about public opinion.

You are being pretty contradictory. Please clarify.
Maybe Shaq wanted to see how many people are gullible enough to believe that he's dumb enough to think that the earth is flat.

Why are you avoiding the question? It's either Shaq doesn't care about public opinion and being called an idiot or he does care about public opinion and doesn't like being called an idiot.

In his second statement he is clearly saying that he didn't like what people were saying about him. So, an explanation please?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Jura-Glenlivet on March 28, 2017, 03:19:47 PM

Can you really blame Shaq for no one else getting the joke?

Not if the overliteral, humour oblivious, irony deficient autistic’s here are representative.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 28, 2017, 03:48:23 PM
I doubt he cares what you and I think of him. But he'd probably get a good laugh if he read this thread.  ;D

You are not making very much sense. In some posts you seem to be saying that Shaq does not like to be called an idiot. Shaq seems to agree with that through what he said in his second statement.

In other posts you seem to be saying that Shaq wanted the world to thing that he was an idiot with his first statement. He gets off on that and doesn't care about public opinion.

You are being pretty contradictory. Please clarify.

I can't clarify it to you because you don't seem to know what a joke is.

One way people joke around is to say something that people will think is outrageous just to get a re-action(people wondering if they are crazy) . A short time later they laugh and say they were just joking. If they did it right, everybody laughs. Revealing that you were just joking is part of the joke. If you leave it hanging nobody laughs. This may sound silly, especially to someone as dry and humorless as yourself but it happens all the time.


Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Tom Bishop on March 28, 2017, 04:29:12 PM
I doubt he cares what you and I think of him. But he'd probably get a good laugh if he read this thread.  ;D

You are not making very much sense. In some posts you seem to be saying that Shaq does not like to be called an idiot. Shaq seems to agree with that through what he said in his second statement.

In other posts you seem to be saying that Shaq wanted the world to thing that he was an idiot with his first statement. He gets off on that and doesn't care about public opinion.

You are being pretty contradictory. Please clarify.

I can't clarify it to you because you don't seem to know what a joke is.

One way people joke around is to say something that people will think is outrageous just to get a re-action(people wondering if they are crazy) . A short time later they laugh and say they were just joking. If they did it right, everybody laughs. Revealing that you were just joking is part of the joke. If you leave it hanging nobody laughs. This may sound silly, especially to someone as dry and humorless as yourself but it happens all the time.

What are you talking about? Does Shaq care about public opinion and everyone calling him an idiot or not?

If no, he doesn't care, then why does he communicate that he does care?

If yes, he does care, then why did he deliberately leave everyone to think that he was an idiot?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 28, 2017, 04:38:22 PM
Why are we still arguing this?
why wouldn't i want to argue about shaq with the preeminent flat earth theorists of the 21st century? 

People whose job is literally to know Shaq's character
not really.  those articles were written by sports beat writers, and their only job is to write about sports.  these columns amount to the opinions of some well-informed sports fans.

We also know that some analysts are perfectly clear that the money+pressure mixture was involved:

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/shaq-was-apparently-trolling-everyone-when-he-made-his-flat-earth-comments/

your source does not indicate that shaq lost any sponsors.  he's speaking in generalities, and he doesn't at all indicate that he believe shaq was pressured or coerced into retracting his statement.  he describes it as an intentional duplicity emblematic of the way athletes relate to media outlets generally.

Quote
The only time this gets straightened out is if money is involved, if a player is at risk of losing a job or endorsement money. Then all of a sudden, the jokes stop. But there’s a little bit of a duplicitous, and honestly, at times, patronizing tone taken by a lot of players. If they don’t take the media seriously, if they make them look like fools, then they can then disregard and diminish anything that the media reports. And the media is handcuffed because all they can do is report on what the players say. And if they sound serious when they say it, it has to be reported that way. Is much of this the result of a sensationalistic news environment driven by an ever-demanding and ever-evolving audience dynamic? Absolutely.

But it makes trying to figure out what players really say and don’t say an almost-impossible task.

Anyway, there you go. Shaq believes the Earth is round.

the imagery that tom is playing up where shaq is being laughed out of the gym simply isn't accurate.  y'all are vastly overestimating how much anyone in sports cares about an athlete having weird opinions or saying weird things.  for example: the question about the flat earth (https://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/shaquille-oneal-flat-earth-theory-episode-602/) takes place at the very end of an hour-long podcast. precisely none of the sports podcasts i consume even brought it up.

one of your sources even describes it as a potential marketing ploy.  and kyrie is still moving shoes.  i don't see what evidence there is that anything negative happened to shaq as a result of him saying he thinks the earth is flat.

also, shaq has a phd.  i think it's safe to say that he is smart enough to know that curvature can't be confirmed or rejected by driving across the country in a car.  he was clearly joking the first time.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Boots on March 28, 2017, 04:58:37 PM
I doubt he cares what you and I think of him. But he'd probably get a good laugh if he read this thread.  ;D

You are not making very much sense. In some posts you seem to be saying that Shaq does not like to be called an idiot. Shaq seems to agree with that through what he said in his second statement.

In other posts you seem to be saying that Shaq wanted the world to thing that he was an idiot with his first statement. He gets off on that and doesn't care about public opinion.

You are being pretty contradictory. Please clarify.

I can't clarify it to you because you don't seem to know what a joke is.

One way people joke around is to say something that people will think is outrageous just to get a re-action(people wondering if they are crazy) . A short time later they laugh and say they were just joking. If they did it right, everybody laughs. Revealing that you were just joking is part of the joke. If you leave it hanging nobody laughs. This may sound silly, especially to someone as dry and humorless as yourself but it happens all the time.

What are you talking about? Does Shaq care about public opinion and everyone calling him an idiot or not?

If no, he doesn't care, then why does he communicate that he does care?

If yes, he does care, then why did he deliberately leave everyone to think that he was an idiot?

I don't know whether he cares or not. (And neither do you) It is irrelevant.

(Possibly he cares if the world thinks he's an idiot in the long term but doesn't care so much if it's just for a few days)

He did it for a joke, according to him. Like I said, you will not understand it because you don't understand humor. Also, I guess it doesn't help that you're desperately trying to save face. ;D
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on March 28, 2017, 06:11:04 PM
the rest of us enjoy what he did for what it is
It's not "the rest of us". It's a handful of people here (coincidentally, it's the same handful as usual - the peanut gallery, if you will) who reject the expertise of virtually all media analysts and who desperately try to play it down (see garygreen's post if you don't want to indulge in too much self-reflection).

i don't see what evidence there is that anything negative happened to shaq as a result of him saying he thinks the earth is flat.
So, why did you decide to ignore Shaq's own words? Why is only part of his "haha I was joking" statement valuable, and why is the remainder of it non-existent?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 29, 2017, 03:15:44 AM
i don't see what evidence there is that anything negative happened to shaq as a result of him saying he thinks the earth is flat.
So, why did you decide to ignore Shaq's own words? Why is only part of his "haha I was joking" statement valuable, and why is the remainder of it non-existent?
Do you mean like the part where he said that he isn't serious 80% of the time?  Or the part where he said:
Quote from: http://www.businessinsider.com/shaquille-o-neal-flat-earth-conspiracy-im-joking-you-idiots-2017-3
This world we live in, people take things too seriously, but I’m going to give the people answers to my test. Knowing that I’m a funny guy, if something seems controversial or boom, boom, boom, you’ve got to have my funny points on, right? So now, once you have my funny points on, that should eradicate and get rid of all your negative thoughts, right? That’s what you should do when you hear a Shaquille O’Neal statement, OK? You should know that he has funny points right over here, and what did he say? Boom, boom, boom, add the funny points. You either laugh or you don’t laugh, but don’t take me seriously. When I want you to take me seriously, you will know by the tone of my voice that I’m being serious.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on March 30, 2017, 01:52:54 AM
Do you mean like the part where he said that he isn't serious 80% of the time?  Or the part where he said [other stuff]
No. It would take a particularly unintelligent person to think that's what I meant, and I know you better than that, markjo.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 30, 2017, 02:39:10 AM
Do you mean like the part where he said that he isn't serious 80% of the time?  Or the part where he said [other stuff]
No. It would take a particularly unintelligent person to think that's what I meant, and I know you better than that, markjo.
Then please point out exactly which part(s) you do mean.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on March 30, 2017, 07:55:26 PM
Then please point out exactly which part(s) you do mean.
One would have thought you'd be capable of listening to the podcast, or reading a transcript, by yourself.

Oh well, here's one example:

Quote
There’s too much going on, so if somebody says something and they title it and they send it out, by the time it gets to another guy and another guy, it’s all messed up, so people actually really believed I was serious when I said that. We actually had people call into the office.

On an unrelated note, he dropped a nice hint in his "retraction":

Quote
When I want you to take me seriously, you will know by the tone of my voice that I’m being serious.
;)
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 30, 2017, 08:22:44 PM
Then please point out exactly which part(s) you do mean.
One would have thought you'd be capable of listening to the podcast, or reading a transcript, by yourself.

Oh well, here's one example:

Quote
There’s too much going on, so if somebody says something and they title it and they send it out, by the time it gets to another guy and another guy, it’s all messed up, so people actually really believed I was serious when I said that. We actually had people call into the office.
I think that you highlighted the wrong part.  Fixed that for you.  ;)

On an unrelated note, he dropped a nice hint in his "retraction":

Quote
When I want you to take me seriously, you will know by the tone of my voice that I’m being serious.
;)
Yes, I quoted that, but you snipped it out as "[other stuff]".  :-*
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on March 31, 2017, 02:25:40 AM
reject the expertise of virtually all media analysts

not quite.  i simply don't agree that a beat writers and columnists are experts on the psyches of the players they write about.  that isn't part of the job.  sure, i would expect these authors to be experts on shaq's basketball career; but, the notion that all sports writers are experts on the personality traits of all/most/many/whatever noteworthy athletes is absurd.  very few sports writers are themselves noteworthy enough to have the opportunity to establish personal relationships with celebrities like shaq.

tbh i think this is exactly the sentiment that your third source is trying to convey: athletes are disingenuous in their relationship with the media, making their genuine personality traits and beliefs difficult to discern from their public interactions.

i don't see what evidence there is that anything negative happened to shaq as a result of him saying he thinks the earth is flat.
So, why did you decide to ignore Shaq's own words? Why is only part of his "haha I was joking" statement valuable, and why is the remainder of it non-existent?

i agree that the entire statement is relevant, but i don't hear anything in there about anything negative happening to shaq beyond receiving some phone calls of the form "does shaq really..."  he sounds more annoyed than threatened or defensive.  i was thinking more along the lines of losing an endorsement or getting fired or something.  something materially negative.

the leap from that podcast, to 'shaq definitely believes the world is flat but was forced to recant by his business associates in order to save his career from ubiquitous mocking,' is pretty large.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Roundy on March 31, 2017, 05:56:57 PM
I myself will continue to believe that Shaq believes the Earth is flat.  One would have to think that he rises above the Tila Tequilas of the world in that his influence might have convinced the Conspiracy that they needed to take measures to keep him in line.  That's all the rationality I need.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: markjo on March 31, 2017, 06:37:52 PM
So it doesn't matter to you that Shaq admits that he like messing with people who take things too seriously?
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Roundy on March 31, 2017, 11:44:59 PM
So it doesn't matter to you that Shaq admits that he like messing with people who take things too seriously?

Who doesn't?  ???
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Pete Svarrior on April 01, 2017, 04:21:59 PM
I think that you highlighted the wrong part.  Fixed that for you.
Hmm, if you really think I meant that part, then perhaps I should stop giving you the benefit of the doubt. Let's go back to basics, direct you to http://www.rif.org/ (http://www.rif.org/), and continue talking among adults while you're busy, shall we?

Yes, I quoted that, but you snipped it out as "[other stuff]".
I mean, yes, that's what "unrelated" means...

i simply don't agree that a beat writers and columnists are experts on the psyches of the players they write about.
In comparison to the people here? Come on, now.

i was thinking more along the lines of losing an endorsement or getting fired or something.  something materially negative.

the leap from that podcast, to 'shaq definitely believes the world is flat but was forced to recant by his business associates in order to save his career from ubiquitous mocking,' is pretty large.
There's no leap. I provided a source which very strongly hints that this happened. Combine that with Shaq's statement that could (at a push, I admit) be interpreted the same way, and there you go.

In short:
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on April 01, 2017, 04:55:51 PM
I think Shaquille caved into pressure.  We already know he doesn't have a lot of backbone.   
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Roundy on April 01, 2017, 06:07:40 PM
Just look at his free throw percentage.  He is pathetic under pressure.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: Flatout on April 02, 2017, 03:06:28 AM
And he settled for an Ed.D in humor.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neal believes that the earth is flat
Post by: garygreen on April 04, 2017, 05:25:18 AM
i simply don't agree that a beat writers and columnists are experts on the psyches of the players they write about.
In comparison to the people here? Come on, now.
you're vastly overestimating these folks expertise.  for real the nba columnist for yahoo is basically just a blogger.  and no one dreams of writing sports columns for business insider.  i'm not saying that their opinions aren't probably well-informed, but they really aren't that much better informed than anyone else you know who really loves the nba.

There is some evidence - not the strongest evidence, but evidence nonetheless - that he was pressured. People who watch his career closely felt the "joke" was extremely out of character, and I maintain they're much closer to being experts on the matter than you are, even if you disagree that they are experts at all
tbh none of them mention his character.  they just say they found it confusing.  both yahoo pieces indicate that they do believe he was joking, and the first entertained the possibility from the start:

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/shaquille-oneal-isnt-a-flat-earther-after-all-im-joking-you-idiots-183258371.html
Quote
Last we left you with the NBA’s flat-Earth society, we pondered whether Shaquille O’Neal’s theory was as earnest as Kyrie Irving’s appears to be, or if the Pro Basketball Hall of Famer was just trolling us all.
...
That, as a belief, is wild. That, as a joke, is quite elaborate and a bit confusing. It was hard to imagine a guy with a doctorate degree in education actually thought the Earth was flat. It would be hilarious if he actually believed that theory. That he just said a bunch of stuff he doesn’t really believe, well, Shaq isn’t too concerned about whether you find it funny.

In contrast, there is very little evidence to corroborate the "Shaq really was just kidding" narrative.
1) shaq said he was kidding.  seems relevant.
2) kyrie irving did the same thing in the same industry at the same time and didn't take it back.  no one even talks about it anymore.  still moving sneakers.
3) shaq does silly shit all the time, like play genies in shitty 90s movies and pretend to be a cabbie for lols.
4) there's no evidence to begin with that anyone really gave a shit beyond a handful of sports columns that are already forgotten.  literally none of the sports-talk media i consume even covered it at all.  anecdotal, sure, but i mean ffs the very podcast in which he 'recanted' had 59 minutes of shit they thought was more important to talk about.  it's difficult for me to reconcile that with the narrative that he was being laughed out of his career.
5) shaq is obviously smart enough to know that driving across the country can't confirm or reject the earth's flatness.  no one with a phd could be so naive.  he was clearly joking.
Title: Re: Shaquille O'Neil believes that the earth is flat
Post by: alien experiment on April 29, 2017, 01:15:26 AM
If he believes so strongly that the educational system is so corrupt why would he spend years getting 3 degrees in it?