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.
I volunteer as tribute.
I'm actively working on tracts/leaflets/other sort of grassroots promotional paraphernalia. I am happy to help in any other way that I can.
Here are three (tentative) tract topics to begin with:
"Do People Really Believe the Earth Is Flat?" - A sort of introduction to the society, rather than the theory. Explaining the history of the society from Rowbotham to Blount to Shenton, Johnson, and finally the modern incarnation. In short, the crux is "Yes, we do. Come learn why."
"How Does Sunrise Work on a Flat Earth?" - A short-form FAQ explaining sunrise, sunset, the primary geographical details of the two major models, and a very brief explanation of the flat earth cosmos. The call to action: "Have more questions? Come ask us."
"Sailing off the Edge - Is the Earth Really Flat?" - A sort of 'short story' following a round-earth believer's journey from amusement to incredulity to intrigue and, finally, acceptance of the truth about earth's shape. Do we have any illustrators? May be fun to make this one a comic.
Feedback is welcome, particularly from the council, as the messaging here reflects on them more so than the rest of us.