Its hard to take flat-Earthers seriously — but maybe we should at least acknowledge them. In a hilarious new marketing stunt, the CEO of Columbia pokes fun at those who believe the Earth is not round, but is, in fact, a flat construction with edges.

　　Tim Boyle actually makes a proposition for those who believe in this strange view of the universe: Prove it. Anyone who can reach the edge of the Earth and take a photo will win everything owned by Columbia.

　　And no — metaphorical versions of this proposition wont pass muster.

　　The Edge of the Earth is a visible, physical end to the planet Earth, the vid description states. We’re talking infinite sheer drop, abyssal void, clouds cascading into infinity. What is not The Edge of the Earth: A clifftop in Seattle. A cul-de-sac in Kansas. Or your buddy Dave legally changing his name to The Edge.'

　　Boyle proceeds to make a round of Columbias office spaces, offering up everything from computers to coffee machines to anyone who can reach the fabled edges of the flat Earth.

　　Reality of Flat Earth Theory Its a hilarious trolling of those who believe in this out there theory, but its worth noting that flat-Earthers are more common than many people may realize. A 2021 survey by the University of New Hampshire found that about 10% of Americans believe the Earth is flat, and 12% dont believe that NASA ever landed on the moon. A Flat Earth International Conference was held in Dallas in 2019, though it seems the website hasnt been updated since then.

　　The modern prevalence of the flat Earth conspiracy is often linked to the increased spread of misinformation online. Ironically, YouTube is often cited as a common culprit —the same platform where youll find Columbias clever marketing stunt.

　　Its also the platform where youll find a video that NASA made earlier this year, fittingly titled How Do We Know the Earth Isnt Flat? We Asked a NASA Expert.

　　The video cites lots of evidence, like analysis of the suns movements, marine navigation, and, of course, images from NASAs trip to the moon. When Ive encountered people who questioned that the Earth is round, I simply suggest looking at the curvature of the horizon the next time they take a plane flight.

　　But in the age of the internet, its always possible to find a video to justify your position — no matter how absurd it might be.

　　Runtime: 1 minute

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