1

Philosophy, Religion & Society / French Taxi Drivers Rioting over Uber

« on: June 27, 2015, 05:30:28 PM »

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/france-uber-riots-shocking-video-5960000

So this is a thing. Apparently French taxi drivers have decided to riot because they can't compete with Uber for prices.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Antisemitism in Europe

« on: March 17, 2015, 03:28:07 PM »

Just read an interesting article and thought I'd post it.

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/03/is-it-time-for-the-jews-to-leave-europe/386279/

The author is basically making the argument that after several decades of tolerance post-Holocaust, old-timey violent antisemitism is on the rise again in Europe. He claims that European jews are under attack not just by radical Islam as western media likes to portray, but also by increasingly popular fascist groups.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. I've never encountered antisemitism personally, despite my Jewish blood, but I also live in America. It seems like the author is making the argument that antisemitism runs too deeply in Europe ever to fade completely.

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Earth Not a Globe Workshop / Welcome to the Workshop

« on: February 06, 2015, 09:54:10 PM »

This board is dedicated to discussing and working on the annotated Earth Not a Globe. Standard forum rules apply, with the ammendment that discussion must be kept relevant to ENaG. Debate between globularism and planarism does not count as relevant. This is not a debate board. We feel that this rule is necessary to keep discussion on target.

The Zetetic Council has been graciously give the right to moderate this board. If you have a problem with our moderation, feel free to bring it up in S&C.

Thanks in advance to everyone who chooses to donate their time to this project. The Society couldn't exist without you.

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Flat Earth Projects / Notice of inactivity

« on: January 12, 2015, 05:11:35 PM »

I'm going to be a bit inactive for the next month or so, because the internet ia sketchy at the ranch where I'm staying. If you need me for a vote or anything, please send me a PM.

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Flat Earth Community / Elections and Impeachment

« on: September 16, 2014, 01:37:23 AM »

The Zetetic Council has officially voted to impeach Roundy. It's nothing against him, but he seems to have abandoned us and multiple attempts to contact him have failed. We didn't have much choice.

So, who would like to replace him? Post in this thread if you're interested in running for a position on the council. I ask that only serious contestants compete.

In addition, PM me if you would like to be an Official Member. At the moment this title will give you the ability to vote in elections and not much else. I reserve the right to refuse your official membership.

EDIT: Ignore that last bit. I am dumb.

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Flat Earth Projects / Impeachment of Roundy

« on: September 11, 2014, 03:51:06 PM »

I hate to do this, but I don't think we really have much choice. Roundy is online all the time, but he doesn't respond to repeated requests to chime in here. He's absent, which is exactly what impeachment was designed for.

This is nothing against Roundy. We just need to get shit done.

So, all in favor of removing Roundy from the council? In addition, should there be an election to replace him or should we just continue as 4 until the next major election?

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Suggestions & Concerns / Flat Earth Society Honorifics

« on: September 08, 2014, 05:56:32 PM »

Would anyone else be interested in these? Specifically I'm thinking of an Honorary Doctorate to be bestowed by the society upon any member who significantly advances Flat Earth Theory (i.e. if John Davis ever published his book and it was as significant as he claims it is). If it were to happen the Zetetic Council would be in charge of it.

I'm also thinking of something analogous to a peerage for someone who does something significant for FES outside of FET.

Is this a good idea? A terrible idea?

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Flat Earth Projects / Ratification of the FES Constitution

« on: August 19, 2014, 04:22:26 AM »

This is the official thread to ratify the constitution. Please post only ratification or refusal to ratify in this thread. Discussion should occur in the S&C thread. All five Council members must ratify the constitution for it to be in effect

The draft being voted on is the 3rd, linked here

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Suggestions & Concerns / FES Constitution, Third Draft

« on: August 14, 2014, 05:33:23 PM »

You guys know the drill. Thoughts, comments, concerns, and inane ramblings with regard to the new draft of the constitution belong here.

Here's a link to it.

____

New Changes:

-The sections about administration and moderation have been replaced with a section about Society Affiliated Sites
-The section on the Zetetic Council has been amended slightly at the request of Tom

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Flat Earth Projects / FES Constitution, Third Draft

« on: August 14, 2014, 05:29:55 PM »

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be The Flat Earth Society. This group may be officially abbreviated as TFES or FES.

ARTICLE II: Purpose

The Flat Earth Society is a society of free thinkers dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the universe and demonstrating the inaccuracy of Round Earth Theory, as well as promoting the acceptance and discussion of Flat Earth Theory.

ARTICLE III: Society Affiliated Sites

A Society Affiliated Site is a website which is officially connected to the Flat Earth Society. This official connection may occur with the agreement of a majority of official members and an affirmative vote by the Zetetic Council. A site may lose its official affiliation with the Society upon a 75% majority of voting official members or unanimous vote by the Zetetic Council. Society Affiliated Sites are under the complete control of the site owner and may be administrated and delegated at their will. Site owners may make decisions within the site which are contradictory to this constitution.

ARTICLE IV: Zetetic Council

The Zetetic Council will be the official leadership of the Flat Earth Society. It will be in charge of publicizing the society and FET. It also will be, by default, in charge of any aspect of the Flat Earth Society that isn't part of the forum. It will have the power to delegate authority to other groups at its discretion and will be in charge of creating and amending this constitution. Any authority, within reason, which isn't given to another group will be given to the council.

The Zetetic Council will consist of five (5) elected members. Each member may propose topics to be voted on by the council. By default a vote may be decided by a simple majority.

Zetetic Council elections will be once every 6 months. They may also be held in the interim in the case that, for whatever reason, there should be fewer than five members of the council. Whether in not an election will be held in the latter case will be at the discretion of the council. All society members with more than 100 posts will be allowed to vote in the elections, which will be held in a specially created subforum on the website. Nominees may be selected by any member, although the Council holds the right to veto nominations for any reason. The council also has the right to revoke voting privileges from a member.

Zetetic Council Members may be removed from their position at their own request or via the process of impeachment. Impeachment requires that either 1) A 80% majority of voting official members vote in favor of the act or 2) a majority of remaining members vote in favor of the act. Up to two council members may be impeached at one time. Alternatively, a 80% majority of voting official members may vote to replace the entire council at once. In this case, the council will remain in operation until elections are finished. Impeached council members may not run again for two (2) years post-impeachment.

The Zetetic Council may not be allowed to, at any time, have fewer than three members.

ARTICLE V: Constitution

Section I: Ratification

In order to take effect, this constitution must be ratified by all five (5) members of the Zetetic Council.

Section II: Amendment

After ratification, this constitution may only be altered by the process of amendment. A Zetetic Council member must put forward the change to the council. Following this, the change must be agreed upon by a four fifths majority. Alternatively, an official member may put forward a proposed amendment to the constitution. Following this, an 80% majority of voting official members must vote in favor of the amendment.

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Suggestions & Concerns / FES Constitution, Second Draft

« on: August 05, 2014, 09:54:42 PM »

There's a new draft of the constitution in the Council forum. Here is a link.

I'll keep making new drafts and putting them up for review until there's a general consensus that the constitution is finished and good. Then I'll put it up for a vote among the Council to ratify it.


Changes in the new draft:

Language giving the Council power to remove administrators has been removed. Administrators can now only be removed from power by their own request.
Official members can now vote to impeach the entire council at once.
Official members can now vote to amend the constitution

These are the changes suggested in the previous thread.  I know a lot of people expressed concerns about the Council's power with regard to elections and the potential for abuse there, which I didn't really address in this new draft. I'm hoping that the changes I made to impeachment are enough to satisfy those concerns, but I'm willing to discuss them further if this is not the case.

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Flat Earth Projects / FES Constitution, Second Draft

« on: August 05, 2014, 09:48:35 PM »

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be The Flat Earth Society. This group may be officially abbreviated as TFES or FES.

ARTICLE II: Purpose

The Flat Earth Society is a society of free thinkers dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the universe and demonstrating the inaccuracy of Round Earth Theory, as well as promoting the acceptance and discussion of Flat Earth Theory.

ARTICLE III: Membership

Society membership is open to any individuals professing a belief, or interest, in Flat Earth Theory. Five tiers of society membership will exist: Administrators, Moderators, Zetetic Council Members, Official Members and Uninitiated Members.

Administrators will be tasked with running the Flat Earth Society website, including the society's forum.

Moderators will be in charge of managing discussion and enforcing rules.

Zetetic Council Members will be in control of the overall direction of the society as well as any aspect of the society not directly related to the website or forum.

Official Members will be general members of the society.

Uninitiated Members will be those who involve themselves in discussions of Flat Earth Theory on the forum but are not members of any other group.

ARTICLE IV: Zetetic Council

The Zetetic Council will be in charge of publicizing the society and FET. It also will be, by default, in charge of any aspect of the Flat Earth Society that isn't part of the forum. It will have the power to delegate authority to other groups at its discretion. It will also be in charge of creating and amending this constitution. Any authority, within reason, which isn't given to another group will be given to the council.

The Zetetic Council will consist of five (5) elected members. Each member may propose topics to be voted on by the council. By default a vote may be decided by a simple majority.

Zetetic Council elections will be once every 6 months. They may also be held in the interim in the case that, for whatever reason, there should be fewer than five members of the council. Whether in not an election will be held in the latter case will be at the discretion of the council. All society members with more than 100 posts will be allowed to vote in the elections, which will be held in a specially created subforum on the website. Nominees may be selected by any member, although the Council holds the right to veto nominations for any reason. The council also has the right to revoke voting privileges from a member.

Zetetic Council Members may be removed from their position at their own request or via the process of impeachment. Impeachment requires that either 1) A 80% majority of voting official members vote in favor of the act or 2) a majority of remaining members vote in favor of the act. Up to two council members may be impeached at one time. Alternatively, a 80% majority of voting official members may vote to replace the entire council at once. In this case, the council will remain in operation until elections are finished. Impeached council members may not run again for two (2) years post-impeachment.

The Zetetic Council may not be allowed to, at any time, have fewer than three members.

ARTICLE V: Website Administration and Moderation

Section I: Administration

Administrators will be society members in charge of the FES website. They will have the responsibility to keep the site running smoothly, make the final decision in forum disputes, select Moderators, and decide upon rules for discussion occurring on the website.

Administrators may be removed by their own request. Replacements will be voted on by all official members.

Section II: Moderation

Moderators will be selected by Administrators. They will be in charge of enforcing the rules of the forum and managing discussion threads. They will have the authority to ban members from the forum at their discretion. Their decisions may be superseded by an Administrator.

Moderators will be removed at their own request or by the authority of an Administrator.

ARTICLE VI: Constitution

Section I: Ratification

In order to take effect, this constitution must be ratified by all five (5) members of the Zetetic Council.

Section II: Amendment

After ratification, this constitution may only be altered by the process of amendment. A Zetetic Council member must put forward the change to the council. Following this, the change must be agreed upon by a four fifths majority. Alternatively, an official member may put forward a proposed amendment to the constitution. Following this, an 80% majority of voting official members must vote in favor of the amendment.

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Flat Earth Projects / Proposal to open official membership

« on: July 20, 2014, 05:11:18 PM »

As discussed in S&C here. I am willing to be in charge of the register. Can we get an official vote on this?

14

Suggestions & Concerns / And now, the moment we've all been waiting for...

« on: July 20, 2014, 02:00:01 AM »

So after 8 months or so the Zetetic Council in its infinite wisdom has seen it fit to produce a first draft of an official FES constitution. Since non-council members can't post in the board (and I'll be surprised if more than one member of the council ever gives an opinion on it), I thought I'd make a thread here.

So feel free to give suggestions and concerns with regard to the first draft. Here's the link:
http://forum.tfes.org/index.php?topic=1725.msg35908#new

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Flat Earth Projects / FES Constitution, First Draft

« on: July 19, 2014, 11:41:46 PM »

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be The Flat Earth Society. This group may be officially abbreviated as TFES or FES.

ARTICLE II: Purpose

The Flat Earth Society is a society of free thinkers dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the universe and demonstrating the inaccuracy of Round Earth Theory, as well as promoting the acceptance and discussion of Flat Earth Theory.

ARTICLE III: Membership

Society membership is open to any individuals professing a belief, or interest, in Flat Earth Theory. Five tiers of society membership will exist: Administrators, Moderators, Zetetic Council Members, Official Members and Uninitiated Members.

Administrators will be tasked with running the Flat Earth Society website, including the society's forum.

Moderators will be in charge of managing discussion and enforcing rules.

Zetetic Council Members will be in control of the overall direction of the society as well as any aspect of the society not directly related to the website or forum.

Official Members will be general members of the society.

Uninitiated Members will be those who involve themselves in discussions of Flat Earth Theory on the forum but are not members of any other group.

ARTICLE IV: Zetetic Council

The Zetetic Council will be in charge of publicizing the society and FET. It will be, by default, in charge of any aspect of the Flat Earth Society that isn't part of the forum. It will have the power to delegate authority to other groups at its discretion. It will also be in charge of creating and amending this constitution. Any authority, within reason, which isn't given to another group will be given to the council.

The Zetetic Council will consist of five (5) elected members. Each member may propose topics to be voted on by the council. By default a vote may be decided by a simple majority.

Zetetic Council elections will be once every 6 months. They may also be held in the interim in the case that, for whatever reason, there should be fewer than five members of the council. Whether in not an election will be held in the latter case will be at the discretion of the council. All society members with more than 100 posts will be allowed to vote in the elections, which will be held in a specially created subforum on the website. Nominees may be selected by any member, although the Council holds the right to veto nominations for any reason. The council also has the right to revoke voting privileges from a member.

Zetetic Council Members may be removed from their position at their own request or via the process of impeachment. Impeachment requires that either 1) An 80% majority of official members vote in favor of the act or 2) a majority of remaining members vote in favor of the act. Up to two council members may be impeached at one time.

The Zetetic Council may not be allowed to, at any time, have fewer than three members.

ARTICLE V: Website Administration and Moderation

Section I: Administration

Administrators will be society members in charge of the FES website. They will have the responsibility to keep the site running smoothly, make the final decision in forum disputes, select Moderators, and decide upon rules for discussion occurring on the website.

Administrators may be removed by their own request or by a four fifths vote of the Zetetic Council. Replacements will be voted on by all official members.

Section II: Moderation

Moderators will be selected by Administrators. They will be in charge of enforcing the rules of the forum and managing discussion threads. They will have the authority to ban members from the forum at their discretion. Their decisions may be superseded by an Administrator.

Moderators will be removed at their own request or by the authority of an Administrator.

ARTICLE VI: Constitution

Section I: Ratification

In order to take effect, this constitution must be ratified by all five (5) members of the Zetetic Council.

Section II: Amendment

After ratification, this constitution may only be altered by the process of amendment. A Zetetic Council member must put forward the change to the council. Following this, the change must be agreed upon by a four fifths majority.

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Flat Earth Community / Flat Earth Brochure

« on: June 07, 2014, 06:59:37 PM »

I found this file while digging through my old Google Docs: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OQzrmco9awPLfgvTky22XArcu3EoJI_NsoJPt_tm-f5tbfHdotGCUtqkFQCN/edit?usp=sharing

Feel free to use it as you wish. Let me know if you want editing privileges to it.

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Flat Earth Community / Five Year Plan for the Improved Status of the Flat Earth Society

« on: January 23, 2014, 02:35:50 AM »

It's all very well to generate publicity, but what is the media going to make of this place? What exactly has been done here to qualify this "society" as a serious contender to the old one? Tintagel is quite right when she suggests some actual work ought to be done first.

I think a nice new annotated edition of Zetetic Astronomy is a cool idea. Or maybe something relatively inexpensive, like a campaign to revamp and really flesh out the wiki, compile Flat Earth literature like Daniel did, release regular (or semi-regular) articles explaining individual aspects of FET in a detailed yet accessible fashion, or maybe addressing the latest NASA press release (NASAwatch - "we watch globularist propaganda so you don't have to"?), pointing out exactly why we know they're full of shit. I'm sure some of us would be more than happy to volunteer in any such projects. The council might even hammer out some kind of distinct manifesto, outlining the precise principles and goals of the society.

A slightly different logo and a well-run forum isn't quite enough to distinguish one organization from another. Of course, it'd be a little easier if there was some variation in the name; the "Universal Zetetic Society" would be good, lending itself to the claim of being the rightful successor to Blount, Carpenter, and Rowbotham, but it just isn't as catchy or recognizable as the "Flat Earth Society". It will have to be entirely the efforts of the members here to set this place apart.

Just moving this conversation to another thread to avoid derailing.

Just a list of ideas:

• Improving the Wiki
• Improving the FAQ
• Regularly updated Flat Earth Society Blog
• Annotated ENaG
• Official summaries/collection of Flat Earth Theory

The Council should take the lead in actually doing these things.

Once the Council is fully fleshed out in its purpose I'll write a blog post about it, and then another when the constitution is finished.

The Wiki and FAQ can be done right now. If you don't already have a account, ask Pizza for one.

Any more ideas? Also, we should start a volunteer list. If you're willing to help with any of these things, or something else entirely, let us know in this thread.

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Flat Earth Projects / Council Elections

« on: January 18, 2014, 11:18:27 PM »

Thork suggested we move this to a separate thread, and I agree. How should we elect council members? We can't do it the way the first election happened: in a larger forum, it would be unmanageable. And we have to have some way of avoiding a democratic tyranny where the angry noobs, who will probably outnumber regulars eventually, could vote themselves into office.

My suggestion is for the council to choose 'official' members, who would be allowed to vote and run for office. Nobody else seems to like this, because it's elitist and uninclusive, which is valid.

Thork suggested that the forum choose members to run and the council decides which of those members actually get to do so. I'm not sure that solves the problem, though. The only way I can think of for the forum to choose members to put forward would be via primary elections, which would have the exact same problem.

Anyone else have ideas?

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Flat Earth Projects / News Release

« on: January 14, 2014, 07:32:18 PM »

I believe this has been discussed elsewhere, but I suggest we create a press release to try to get some publicity for the new site. I'm sure a lot of news agencies would be happy to cover it, at least on a slow news day.

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Suggestions & Concerns / Councillors unable to see most boards.

« on: December 31, 2013, 04:12:46 AM »

Is it just me, or is the rest of the forum gone?