1 In 4 Americans Do Not Know The Earth Goes Round The Sun?

I'll play devil's advocate.

What does it matter what they believe here? What practical impact does this have on their lives or society?

Jeez, I bet half of all integrators installers think that coverage area is determined simply by resolution. That's screwed up and it practically impacts the systems they deploy.

It does? I thought that The Earth orbits The Sun. Silly me!

I know you are not running a science class here but what percentage of your highly technical readership do you think would get the following question correct?

We experience Day and Night because

a. the Sun revolves around the Earth

b. the Earth revolves around the Sun

c. Neither

d. Both

I would hope > 90%, but who knows?

Mine was a "serious" trick question...:)

Here's one with a real world integrator focus:

If a Dahua mini-dome and a pack of Lucky Strikes cost $110 together and the camera costs $100 more than the smokes, how much do the smokes cost alone?

Hint: It's not $10.

Smartass answers welcomed.

Another good question is how someone who believes the earth is flat might explain Day and Night. ;)

Here's one that may require some deep thinking, depending on your knowledge of science:

Why are there seasons, especially summer and winter?

1. The Earth's orbit brings it closer to The Sun in the summer and farther away in the winter.
2. The tilt of The Earth's axis brings hemispheres closer to the North or South Pole during the winter and farther away in the summer.
3. The tilt of The Earth's axis causes The Sun's gravity to bring the hot core closer to the surface in the hemisphere experiencing summer.
4. The tilt of The Earth's axis allows longer hours of daylight in the summer, which warms the surface of the planet.
5. The "tilt" or "wobble" in The Earth's axis causes a change in the direction of ocean currents; bring warm water up from the tropics in the summer and cold water down from the poles in the winter.
6. The "tilt" or "wobble" in The Earth's axis disturbs air currents, bringing cold air down from the poles in the winter and warm air up from the tropics in the summer.
7. Some combination of the above.
8. None of the above.

OK folks, Night and Day? What belief was one taught, by whom and when?

When it comes to Beliefs.

Mine is, "I believe. You believe. What you want to believe". Works with the rehearsed know it all door knockers and their pamphlets. So well that when a group of three showed up and I responed with same. The leader paused, and said. "Touche" and shuffled the rest down the street.

As to the proper English and them trick questions? Bottom line, it's what is in hand that 'counts'.

Most times common sense (sence for non-mainlanders?) trumps proper anything.

Wait. Lemme check with Miss Manners. Welcome - Miss Manners Always good for a chuckle.

Just my dollar $3.98

I have no idea what this post even means. I think you were attempting humor, but I can't be sure.

There is a truism in there somewhere. :-) Take your pick. Beliefs that is.

Cal, beg pardon, but might I ask are these the same three "door knockers that came A calling" the other day, or a new bunch of hooligans?

Maybe you can get a restraining order.

And the bonus question?

"The leading flat-earther theory holds that Earth is a disc with the Arctic Circle in the center and Antarctica, a 150-foot-tall wall of ice, around the rim. NASA employees, they say, guard this ice wall to prevent people from climbing over and falling off the disc."

The theory goes that a collision occured with another smaller planet millions of years ago and caused Earth's axis to tilt.

Brian, I'm not sure why you replied to me, I don't take of a bong, never have, never will (god help me). And were in agreement about the bizarre, thats where I was going... One of the first chats I read when joining up while back was that Onssi architect one where I remembered reading somethin similar that I didn't much ken back then, nor now:

We all have beliefs. And I believe. You believe. What you want to believe.
Well it works when the door knockers come A calling with all the prepared/rehearsed (BS?) answers. Example one Sunday morning three came in force. I offered same after listening to their words. The leader said, 'Touche' and left.

Though I wish I had just been up front right off the bat, 'stead of trying to be all clever. Pride. :(

That looks a lot more like the Kennedy Space Center than it does Antarctica. ;) Must have something to do with be global warming. I wonder what we'll do once that 150-foot-tall wall of ice melts away?

Ah, but that statement "It is a physical thing that can be proven", is a belief system.

One that I share with you, but still a belief system.

Belief System:

"A belief system is a set of mutually supportive beliefs. The beliefs of any such system can be classified as religious, philosophical, ideological, or a combination of these."

I don't see physical listed. :)

To your abstract point, everything that we experience can be construed as a 'belief'- whether physical or not.

And many of our belief systems are so tightly held that we refuse to admit that they are belief systems and insist that they are fact and then go to outrageious length to justify our blind spot. :)

Those are all valid questions, Cal.