#959 - Mick West
NaN minutesEpisode #959
Mick West is a game programmer, writer, and debunker. Currently runs a few websites including and
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Episode Timestamps
Mick West and the Round Earth Debate: Flat Earth Trolls and True Believers
- Discussion on the influence of Mick West as a prominent figure in debunking flat earth theories.
- Debate on the origin of flat earth beliefs, suggesting they started as a troll on platforms like 4chan.
- Examination of true believers versus trolls, revealing the complexities in distinguishing between genuine convictions and jokes.
CJ Wiley and Max Everly: Professional Pool Players Who Believe in a Flat Earth
- Highlighting CJ Wiley and Max Everly, both professional pool players, as notable flat earth advocates.
- Exploration of the psychological aspects of belief, emphasizing the difficulty in changing someone's firmly held beliefs.
- Investigation into the absurdity of flat earth claims in contrast to evidence from satellites and astronomy.
Samuel Robotham's Flat Earth Theories and Eric DeBay's 21st Century Conspiracies
- Samuel Robotham published influential flat earth theories in 1860, later echoed by Eric DeBay.
- Robotham's writings detail misconceptions about science, similar to DeBay's modern-day claims including the existence of fake astronauts.
- The discussion reveals the absurdity of conspiracy theories about dinosaurs and nuclear bombs and challenges the credibility of these beliefs.
Conspiracy Theories, Anti-Semitism, and the Flat Earth Movement's Cultural Roots
- The flat earth movement intertwines with religious beliefs, asserting a notion of specialness tied to Biblical narratives.
- The speaker notes the troubling links between conspiracy theorists and anti-Semitic sentiments, reflecting historical suspicions against Jewish communities.
- Concern is raised about how misinformation affects young people, exacerbating their struggles with science and education.
Joe Rogan's Exploration of Alleged UFO Sightings and Roswell Rods
- Joe discusses being convinced by a documentary featuring unidentified flying objects.
- He highlights the misconception surrounding 'Roswell Rods,' attributed to misidentified bugs caught on camera.
- A UFO enthusiast confronted him at a Q&A, insisting on the reality of Roswell Rods despite contrary evidence.
Debunking Chilean Navy UFO and the Psychology of Belief
- Joe examines a Chilean Navy UFO sighting later identified as a plane leaving contrails.
- He describes the phenomenon of confirmation bias within UFO enthusiast communities online.
- Joe reflects on personal experiences and the psychological factors behind alien abduction claims, linking them to dreams and hallucinatory episodes.
Joe Rogan Discusses Conspiracy Theories and UFOs: Perceptions of Government Coercion
- Joe Rogan reflects on his past experiences with hallucinations and the impact of confusion during youth on perceptions of reality.
- He discusses accusations of being influenced by the government due to his conversations about UFOs and conspiracy theories, particularly mentioning Area 51 and Hangar 18.
- Rogan critiques the Flat Earth theory, using it to highlight the absurdity of large-scale conspiracy cover-ups involving millions of people.
Exploring Flat Earth and Its Ideological Parallels: Scientology and the Desire for Truth
- The conversation navigates the ideological similarities between Flat Earth theory and Scientology, emphasizing how both create compelling narratives despite being widely debunked.
- Rogan introduces the concept of Zeteticism, where questioning authority leads individuals to downplay established scientific facts, often attracting youth.
- The episode highlights the importance of critical thinking, suggesting that while skepticism of authority is healthy, it can lead to the acceptance of misinformation propagated by figures like Eric DeBay.
Exploring the Flat Earth Theory: Debunking the Myths with Horizon Experiments
- The claim that the horizon rises to eye level is disproven using a carpenter's level and observational experiments.
- Perspective plays a crucial role in understanding Earth's curvature, as demonstrated by the vastness of the planet compared to our small vantage point in a plane.
- Common mistakes in flat earth experiments reveal misconceptions about curve and distance, highlighting the need for proper scientific methodology.
Eric DuPay and the Quest for Hidden Truths: A Journey into the Mind of a Young Idealist
- Inspirational stories about past aspirations, including attempts to promote world peace by reaching out to world leaders.
- Reflections on the natural human inclination to seek hidden truths and the parallels with youthful idealism and curiosity.
- A discussion on the importance of recognizing the pitfalls of conspiracy theories and fostering a genuine interest in the scientific understanding of the world.
Joe Rogan Discovers the Truth Behind Bigfoot Hoaxes and Community Divisions
- Joe Rogan reflects on his childhood fascination with Bigfoot and its roots in Gigantopithecus.
- He discusses a Bigfoot show featuring a notorious hoaxer, revealing the community's skepticism towards such claims.
- Rogan examines the psychological aspects of believing in mythical creatures, noting the fracturing of communities like Scientology and the UFO enthusiasts.
Chemtrail Conspiracy: Joe Rogan Explores the Divide Within Flat Earth and Chemtrail Communities
- Rogan analyzes the contradictions within the Flat Earth movement, highlighting varying beliefs about Earth's structure.
- He shares insights on prominent figures within the chemtrail community, particularly the conflicting views of Dane Wiggington and others.
- The discussion raises questions about the motivations behind these beliefs and the challenges faced in debunking them.
Exploring Conspiracy Theories: The Rothschilds and the Hollow Earth
- Discussion of the Hollow Earth theory and the belief in 'lizard people' living inside the Earth.
- Conspiracy theories regarding 9/11, including extreme claims of nuclear bombs and energy weapons.
- The idea that all conspiracy theories ultimately lead to the concept that reality is an illusion, including links to the Mandela Effect and altered timelines.
The Future of Reality: Elon Musk and the Simulation Theory Debate
- Elon Musk's belief in the possibility of living in a simulated reality and the advancements needed for this technology.
- A philosophical debate on whether future technology could create an indiscernible artificial reality or simulation.
- Exploration of the laws of physics and the idea that our universe may fundamentally operate on a mathematical basis.
Conspiracy and Isolation: The Downfall of UFO Enthusiasts and Chemtrail Believers
- Discussion of how individuals deeply involved in conspiracy theories often lead socially isolated lives.
- Example of former pool players who become obsessed with topics like UFOs over their promising careers.
- The impact of conspiracy theories like Chemtrails and Flat Earth belief on personal relationships and family life.
Historical Conspiracies: The Reality of Operation Northwoods, Gulf of Tonkin, and the Reagan Era
- Examination of real conspiracies in history, including Operation Northwoods and the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
- The tension between debunking unfounded theories and acknowledging actual conspiracies that have occurred.
- Discussion of political figures like Reagan and Trump, and their implications regarding knowledge and belief in conspiracies.
Debunking Flat Earth Theories: The Realities of Space Exploration and International Space Station
- Discussion on the International Space Station and conspiracy theories related to its authenticity.
- The Sky Lab footage is used to challenge the notion that all space visuals are faked.
- Various calculations and methods are described to prove the existence and the path of the ISS above the Earth.
The Cosmic Illusion: Polaris and Southern Cross as Proofs Against Flat Earth Beliefs
- Exploration of constellations visible from different continents, specifically the Southern Cross.
- Explanation of how the fixed position of Polaris supports the spherical Earth model.
- Discussion on how gravity and the characteristics of a vacuum maintain Earth's atmosphere, countering flat earth arguments.
Mick West Challenges Common Myths About Gravity and Flat Earth Beliefs
- Mick West discusses the misconceptions surrounding gravity and how flat earth theories fail to explain basic physics.
- He addresses the belief that gravity is pseudoscience and explains the forces that keep water from flying off a spinning planet.
- West critiques the flat earth perspective and highlights the absurdity of the concept of an ice wall surrounding the earth.
Controversies and Realities of Lyme Disease and Morgellons with Stephen Kotler
- Stephen Kotler shares experiences of individuals suffering from Lyme disease and its potential link to Morgellons.
- The discussion covers the lack of understanding and recognition of Lyme disease within the medical community.
- Both Kotler and West reflect on how deeply personal conditions like Morgellons can alter perceptions and lead to alternative explanations for symptoms.
Debunking UFO Claims: Mick West Explains Roswell and the Science Behind Metabunk
- Mick West discusses the scientific basis for debunking popular UFO claims, including the infamous Roswell incident.
- He argues that the Roswell crash in July 1947 was due to experimental military balloons rather than extraterrestrial activity.
- West emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and demonstrates how many UFO sightings have plausible explanations.
The Cottingley Fairies Hoax: An Example of How Belief Can Spiral Out of Control
- Mick West recounts the story of the Cottingley fairies, where two girls faked photographs that deceived notable figures including Arthur Conan Doyle.
- He highlights how individuals can become celebrities in the UFO community by promoting unfounded claims.
- West urges people to engage in objective research and emphasizes the psychological allure of mystery and conspiracies.
Exploring the Maketa Map: Navigating Earth's Curvature with Historical Accuracy
- Discussion on the distortion of map projections, specifically the Maketa projection.
- Explanation of Rum Line navigation and its historical significance in seafaring.
- Comparative analysis of the globe versus Flat Earth map, highlighting inaccuracies in representation.
Misconceptions in Physics: How Flat Earthers and Gamers Reflect Similar Errors
- Illustration of misconceptions about physics using examples from video game programming.
- Anecdote about a physical experiment intended to clarify misconceptions related to motion.
- Emphasis on the importance of addressing and correcting common misunderstandings in science and physics education.