Case in point, when my mom first heard about flat-earthers, she was incredulous and couldn’t believe anyone genuinely believed that. She was convinced it was all a big prank. I had to assure her that sadly it is very very real.
I work in a used bookstore. And a few months ago I ran into an old friend from high school. Hadn’t seen this girl since 2001 when I graduated. She was super cool back then. But when I saw her again 20 years later, she was a) deep into the Evangelical Christian world, and b) started talking to me about flat earth…and imploring me to “look into it” and “do my own research.”
I honestly couldn’t bring myself to tell her I knew ALL about it….and was shocked and saddened that she had succumbed to such an outright delusion. I was genuinely speechless. I had only been on the clock for like 15 minutes when this happened….and literally decided to take my first 10 minute break right then and there….because I just felt shaky and thrown off balance mentally.
There was something truly chilling about talking to someone who I once knew so well….and realizing they were mentally GONE. It made me queasy and sad and angry all at once.
What a weird time we live in….
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