I feel like it's been memory holed, but I remember 00's flat earth being genuinely smart people using it to illustrate the ridiculousness of teaching creation beside evolution, which was a push around that time. It was a Church of Satan style mockery, but I guess the arguments were too convincing.

[–] Pan_Ziemniak@midwest.social 56 points 7 months ago

I member... i learned of it from a vsauce video i watched when it first dropped. Was mindblown years later when ppl were touting the flat earth society seriously. Their tagline was literally, "We Have Members Around the Globe!"

[–] Patches@sh.itjust.works 56 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Poe's Law

Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is utterly impossible to parody a Creationist in such a way that someone won't mistake for the genuine article.

[–] sheogorath@lemmy.world 23 points 7 months ago (1 children)

This is what happened at the Donald on reddit. It was a place to meme Trump's idiotic presidential bid. But as soon as he got real chance at the election it was soon overran by the MAGA crowd.

[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

People keep saying this and I think it's bullshit.

If anything, the fascists were so stupid from the get-go that sane people thought they were joking.

[–] JackbyDev@programming.dev 3 points 7 months ago

I think a more accurate retelling is that the memes were fun before Trump was a serious threat.

[–] ganksy@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I love that...and hate it passionately

[–] Patches@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

;)

[–] helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world 26 points 7 months ago

The smart people may have started it, but the dumb people listened and took it as gospel.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 16 points 7 months ago (4 children)

Watch out, there will be a true church of Pastafarianism before we die.

[–] Nacktmull@lemmy.world 9 points 7 months ago

RAMEN BROTHER, PRAISED BE HIS NOODLY APPENDAGE!

[–] unphazed@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'm kinda hoping for a Cthulu Church myself. Can you imagine how cool the aesthetics of the building would be?

[–] Mesophar@lemm.ee 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Only place I could find this

[–] unphazed@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

I need to become an author, create a Cthulu religion, buy lots of boats, and an island with a giant Cthulu statue with no explanation to keep it a mystery. I'll build a church and instruct everyone to stay away from the island. Inside the statue I'll pay a person to sell merchandise...

[–] Jorgelino@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Hopefully they stick to the ~~10~~ 8 condiments

[–] RatBin@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Does the subgenious still exist? That's one deep rabbit hole from what I recall

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago

It was a weird blend of that and true believers. Then the people there for the joke of it all got weirded out by the crazies and left.

[–] Naz@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I recall it being an argument in a high school debate club or someother which made it's way onto 4chan and found supporters, who then proceeded to do what 4chan does best, and troll people/targets of their derision. Basically they assumed no one was stupid enough to believe it and were shockingly surprised.

[–] JargonWagon@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

I remember it being trolls on 4chan.

[–] EdibleFriend@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

It started out as something like that... I could have sworn it was poking holes in Holocaust denialism?