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|-
|-
! Invitee !! Status !! Method !! Link
! Invitee !! Status !! Method !! Link
|- style="background-color:pink"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-error-subtle)"
| [[Dave Weiss]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
| [[Dave Weiss]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
|- style="background-color:pink"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-error-subtle)"
| [[Eric Dubay]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
| [[Eric Dubay]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| [[Jeran Campanella]] || '''accepted''' || interview & travel || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg14-Gc9eUk entry]
| [[Jeran Campanella]] || '''accepted''' || interview & travel || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg14-Gc9eUk entry]
|- style="background-color:pink"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-error-subtle)"
| [[Mark Sargent]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
| [[Mark Sargent]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
|-
|-
| [[ODD TV|Matt Procella]] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20240421144401/https://www.junctioncityunion.com/photos/tuesday-october-26-booking-photos/collection_36337586-3662-11ec-8569-8fe04f2d6830.html ''currently in prison''] || ||  
| [[ODD TV|Matt Procella]] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20240421144401/https://www.junctioncityunion.com/photos/tuesday-october-26-booking-photos/collection_36337586-3662-11ec-8569-8fe04f2d6830.html ''currently in prison''] || ||  
|- style="background-color:pink"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-error-subtle)"
| [[Dean Odle]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
| [[Dean Odle]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
|- style="background-color:pink"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-error-subtle)"
| [[Nathan Oakley]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
| [[Nathan Oakley]] || '''rejected''' || ||  
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| [[Austin Witsit]] || '''accepted''' || interview & travel || [https://www.youtube.com/live/xl55OQFSyeM entry]
| [[Austin Witsit]] || '''accepted''' || interview & travel || [https://www.youtube.com/live/xl55OQFSyeM entry]
|-
|-
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|-
|-
| [[Beyond the imaginary curve]] || ''no response'' || ||  
| [[Beyond the imaginary curve]] || ''no response'' || ||  
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| Sean Griffin “Kingdom in Context” || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST5UyUqfZVQ entry]
| Sean Griffin “Kingdom in Context” || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST5UyUqfZVQ entry]
|-
|-
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|-
|-
! Invitee !! Status !! Method !! Link
! Invitee !! Status !! Method !! Link
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| SciManDan || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://youtu.be/jIAo9bONtQY entry]
| SciManDan || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://youtu.be/jIAo9bONtQY entry]
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| Dave Farina “Professor Dave Explains” || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLHTe_ORjLc entry]
| Dave Farina “Professor Dave Explains” || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLHTe_ORjLc entry]
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| Dave McKeegan || '''accepted''' || travel ||  
| Dave McKeegan || '''accepted''' || travel ||  
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| Michael Toon “Conspiracy Toonz” || '''accepted''' || interview & travel || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjPKFQnHm7k entry]
| Michael Toon “Conspiracy Toonz” || '''accepted''' || interview & travel || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjPKFQnHm7k entry]
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| The Creaky Blinder || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xoW49mkLyw entry]
| The Creaky Blinder || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xoW49mkLyw entry]
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| Craig McNeill “FTFE” || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHOetOvbcJg entry]
| Craig McNeill “FTFE” || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHOetOvbcJg entry]
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| Wolfie6020 || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AAz75CVWM8 entry]
| Wolfie6020 || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AAz75CVWM8 entry]
|-
|-
| Red’s Rhetoric || ''no response'' || ||
| Red’s Rhetoric || ''no response'' || ||
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| Globey McGlobeface || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.tiktok.com/@globeyofficial/video/7374928864327306542 entry]
| Globey McGlobeface || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.tiktok.com/@globeyofficial/video/7374928864327306542 entry]
|-
|-
| Globemann || ''no response'' || ||
| Globemann || ''no response'' || ||
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| Bob the Science Guy || '''accepted''' || suggestion || [https://youtu.be/xCc4g0jDhP8 entry]
| Bob the Science Guy || '''accepted''' || suggestion || [https://youtu.be/xCc4g0jDhP8 entry]
|-
|-
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|-
|-
| Dr. Blitz “BlitzPhD” || ''no response'' || ||
| Dr. Blitz “BlitzPhD” || ''no response'' || ||
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| Planarwalk || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/live/ZGOrFL4qgiI entry]
| Planarwalk || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/live/ZGOrFL4qgiI entry]
|-
|-
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|-
|-
| Ruslan Karaoglanov “Ruslan KD” || ''no response'' || ||
| Ruslan Karaoglanov “Ruslan KD” || ''no response'' || ||
|- style="background-color:lightgreen"
|- style="background-color:var(--background-color-success-subtle)"
| WheresWally || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBF_etF2ISg entry]
| WheresWally || '''accepted''' || interview || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBF_etF2ISg entry]
|}
|}
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The Final Experiment was always about exposing [[:Category:Flerf sociology|flerf sociology]], almost more than about earth science. In Will Duffy's original reveal video, he said:<blockquote>Part one of The Final Experiment is to see who from either side is going to change their position now that we are going to actually put it to the test. Now that we are going to actually do this experiment on location in Antarctica, who is going go back on what they've been saying all along? If they do, that means they really don't believe what they've been saying to their followers.<ref>https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxEHu83NqNTXWjdrcYGfzcFben3d1Y9EZJ</ref></blockquote>
The Final Experiment was always about exposing [[:Category:Flerf sociology|flerf sociology]], almost more than about earth science. In Will Duffy's original reveal video, he said:<blockquote>Part one of The Final Experiment is to see who from either side is going to change their position now that we are going to actually put it to the test. Now that we are going to actually do this experiment on location in Antarctica, who is going go back on what they've been saying all along? If they do, that means they really don't believe what they've been saying to their followers.<ref>https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxEHu83NqNTXWjdrcYGfzcFben3d1Y9EZJ</ref></blockquote>


In [[User:PeterMarkley|Peter Markley]]'s interview with Will on June 3, 2024, they discussed this:<ref>https://youtu.be/FXXiFNH9sM4?t=2375</ref><blockquote><p>'''Peter:''' Is [the lack participation from flat earthers] disappointing to you?</p><p>'''Will:''' Yeah, it definitely is. I had more communication with flat earthers prior to my identity being revealed than afterward. So I dunno, I'm still gonna give 'em time. There's still time.</p><p>'''Peter:''' So they all kinda ghosted you once you outed yourself as the guy behind this?</p><p>'''Will:''' Pretty much, yeah.</p><p>'''Peter:''' Wow. I see what you meant about the first part of the experiment, and how we're watching everyone's reactions to the situation develop.</p><p>'''Will:''' Yeah, a lot of people forget there's something called "[[Wikipedia:Social science|social science]]." So check it out. This is a true experiment in many ways.</p></blockquote>
In [[User:PeterMarkley|Peter Markley]]'s interview with Will on June 3, 2024, they discussed this:<ref>https://youtu.be/FXXiFNH9sM4?t=2375</ref><blockquote><p>'''Peter:''' Is [the lack of participation from flat earthers] disappointing to you?</p><p>'''Will:''' Yeah, it definitely is. I had more communication with flat earthers prior to my identity being revealed than afterward. So I dunno, I'm still gonna give 'em time. There's still time.</p><p>'''Peter:''' So they all kinda ghosted you once you outed yourself as the guy behind this?</p><p>'''Will:''' Pretty much, yeah.</p><p>'''Peter:''' Wow. I see what you meant about the first part of the experiment, and how we're watching everyone's reactions to the situation develop.</p><p>'''Will:''' Yeah, a lot of people forget there's something called "[[Wikipedia:Social science|social science]]." So check it out. This is a true experiment in many ways.</p></blockquote>


Although Will's initial intent, described above, was to elicit the telltale reactions ''before'' the trip, the reactions ''after'' the trip snowballed into something almost more magnificent. Flat earthers have invented increasingly more insane conspiracy theories, while their community has erupted into infighting and chaos.
Although Will's initial intent, described above, was to elicit the telltale reactions ''before'' the trip, the reactions ''after'' the trip snowballed into something almost more magnificent. In their desperation to discredit the experiment, flat earthers have invented increasingly more insane conspiracy theories and tactics, while their community has erupted into [[Flerf-on-flerf|infighting]] and chaos.


This includes flat earthers, of both great and small stature, on livestreams telling the TFE flerfs ''to their faces'' that they are liars participating in a hoax. Examples:
== Infighting ==
 
The flat earthers who went to Antarctica have not been safe from the infighting. Flerfs of both great and small notoriety have joined livestreams and told them ''to their faces'' that they are liars participating in a hoax.
 
Here is a list of those and other examples of TFE-related infighting:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Post-TFE [[Flerf-on-flerf|flerf infighting]]
|+ Post-TFE [[Flerf-on-flerf|flerf infighting]]
! Accuser !! Accused !! Venue
! Accuser !! Accused !! Date !! Venue !! Links
|-
|-
| [[Flatzoid]] || [[Austin Witsit]] || Flatzoid's stream [https://www.youtube.com/live/HP8h4LTenbs on Dec 31, 2024]
| [[Nathan Oakley]] || [[Austin Witsit]] || Dec 2024 || Oakley’s “Flat Earth Debate” Discord server
|| Bob the Science Guy review:
 
* [https://youtu.be/aYpcIO9nLcQ Part 1]
* [https://youtu.be/JkvYG3VpglU Part 2]
* [https://youtu.be/iCI8rzi6-tg Part 3]
 
[https://www.youtube.com/live/tyAPsAdPhtk MCToon review]
|-
|-
| [[Steve from England]] || [[Jeran Campanella|Jeran]] and Witsit || TFE's stream [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo4PRhvE_5A on Jan 3, 2025]
| [[Flatzoid]] || [[Austin Witsit]] || Dec 31, 2024 || Flatzoid's YouTube channel || [https://www.youtube.com/live/HP8h4LTenbs livestream recording]
|-
| [[Steve from England]] || [[Jeran Campanella|Jeran]] and Witsit || Jan 3, 2025 || TFE's YouTube channel || [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo4PRhvE_5A livestream recording]
|}
|}
== Hostility to Globers ==
In addition to flerfs cannibalizing their fellows, TFE triggered a marked rise in flerf toxicity, slander, and [[Flerf threats|threats]] toward globers&mdash;particularly toward Will Duffy, and also toward [[Jeran Campanella|Jeran]] after he left flat earth.
Slander toward Will Duffy includes referring to “his true master, Satan”<ref>https://youtu.be/NbDyzBws4XA?t=40</ref> and [[Will Duffy's sermon on deception|the claim that he believes lying is okay]].
[[File:Flerf Threats - HARDHITTINNB83.png|400px]]
[[File:John Munroe flat earth gospel.jpeg]]
= De-converts =
As a cumulative result of TFE and its aftermath, there has been a mass exodus of [[:Category:Ex-flerfs| people leaving the flat earth cult]].
This section moved to [[Escapees]]


= References =
= References =


<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Flerf sociology]]
[[Category:The Final Experiment]]

Latest revision as of 18:32, 11 April 2025

The Final Experiment (or TFE) is an endeavor created by Will Duffy to end the debate by bringing flat earthers and globers together to collaborate on a single experiment with an agreed-upon interpretation.

Description from the website FAQ:

The Final Experiment is a way to settle the shape of the Earth debate. Both the flat earth side and the globe side agree that whether or not there is a 24-hour sun in Antarctica will confirm if we live on a flat plane or on a globe. A 24-hour sun cannot work on a flat plane in the south. And the sun cannot set on a globe during the southern summer.

They traveled to Antarctica near the December solstice in 2024, to observe the 24-hour sun. The trip had four flat earthers and five globers that went.

Official TFE channels:

Participants vs Antarctica-Bound

At the start of TFE, Will chose 24 flat earthers and 24 globers who were invited to participate. Participants from these 48 invitees would be added to a “big scoreboard.”

However, to make entries on the scoreboard as easy as possible for invitees, traveling to Antarctica was not required. (Will only planned to offer 2 free trips anyway.)

Entry on the big scoreboard was possible by any one of three methods:

  1. Traveling to Antarctica, or
  2. Interviewing Will Duffy, or
  3. Suggesting an improvement to the experiment.

Antarctica Team

These are the people who physically traveled to Antarctica. (Those listed here who are not among the 48 original invitees don’t affect the big scoreboard.)

TFE Antarctica Team

Team Globe:

  • Will Duffy (self-funded)
  • Dave McKeegan (paid by Will)
  • CriticalThink (crowdfunded)
  • Michael Toon (crowdfunded)
  • Mark Hermon (paid by donor)

Team Flat Earth:

Invitees

Flat Earthers
Invitee Status Method Link
Dave Weiss rejected
Eric Dubay rejected
Jeran Campanella accepted interview & travel entry
Mark Sargent rejected
Matt Procella currently in prison
Dean Odle rejected
Nathan Oakley rejected
Austin Witsit accepted interview & travel entry
Dave Murphy no response
Tanner Stewart “Flat Earth Millionaire” no response
Matt Long no response
Flatzoid no response
Taboo Conspiracy no response
Eddie Bravo no response
Santos Bonacci no response
Kaleb Davis no response
Beyond the imaginary curve no response
Sean Griffin “Kingdom in Context” accepted interview entry
Ken Heidebrecht “Hanging on His Words” no response
Sean Hibbeler “Hibbeler Productions” no response
Robbie Davidson “Celebrate Truth” no response
Darryle Marble “D. Marble” no response
Bryce Mitchell “Thug Nasty” no response
Globebusters no response
Globers
Invitee Status Method Link
SciManDan accepted interview entry
Dave Farina “Professor Dave Explains” accepted interview entry
Dave McKeegan accepted travel
Michael Toon “Conspiracy Toonz” accepted interview & travel entry
The Creaky Blinder accepted interview entry
Craig McNeill “FTFE” accepted interview entry
Wolfie6020 accepted interview entry
Red’s Rhetoric no response
Globey McGlobeface accepted interview entry
Globemann no response
Bob the Science Guy accepted suggestion entry
Mr Sensible no response
Professor Stick no response
Astrokobi no response
Michael Jones “InspiringPhilosophy” no response
Chuck Nice “Startalk” no response
Mike Winger no response
Scott Manley no response
Mick West no response
Dr. Blitz “BlitzPhD” no response
Planarwalk accepted interview entry
Danny Faulkner “Answers in Genesis” no response
Ruslan Karaoglanov “Ruslan KD” no response
WheresWally accepted interview entry

Results

Dave McKeegan

Dave's Timelapse of the 24 hour Antarctic sun on YT. A panorama stitched from frames of this video results in this image:

Data Collected

See here for data on this wiki that was collected for TFE.


Experimentalizations

The list of experiments the may or may not be performed

Sociology

The Final Experiment was always about exposing flerf sociology, almost more than about earth science. In Will Duffy's original reveal video, he said:

Part one of The Final Experiment is to see who from either side is going to change their position now that we are going to actually put it to the test. Now that we are going to actually do this experiment on location in Antarctica, who is going go back on what they've been saying all along? If they do, that means they really don't believe what they've been saying to their followers.[1]

In Peter Markley's interview with Will on June 3, 2024, they discussed this:[2]

Peter: Is [the lack of participation from flat earthers] disappointing to you?

Will: Yeah, it definitely is. I had more communication with flat earthers prior to my identity being revealed than afterward. So I dunno, I'm still gonna give 'em time. There's still time.

Peter: So they all kinda ghosted you once you outed yourself as the guy behind this?

Will: Pretty much, yeah.

Peter: Wow. I see what you meant about the first part of the experiment, and how we're watching everyone's reactions to the situation develop.

Will: Yeah, a lot of people forget there's something called "social science." So check it out. This is a true experiment in many ways.

Although Will's initial intent, described above, was to elicit the telltale reactions before the trip, the reactions after the trip snowballed into something almost more magnificent. In their desperation to discredit the experiment, flat earthers have invented increasingly more insane conspiracy theories and tactics, while their community has erupted into infighting and chaos.

Infighting

The flat earthers who went to Antarctica have not been safe from the infighting. Flerfs of both great and small notoriety have joined livestreams and told them to their faces that they are liars participating in a hoax.

Here is a list of those and other examples of TFE-related infighting:

Post-TFE flerf infighting
Accuser Accused Date Venue Links
Nathan Oakley Austin Witsit Dec 2024 Oakley’s “Flat Earth Debate” Discord server Bob the Science Guy review:

MCToon review

Flatzoid Austin Witsit Dec 31, 2024 Flatzoid's YouTube channel livestream recording
Steve from England Jeran and Witsit Jan 3, 2025 TFE's YouTube channel livestream recording

Hostility to Globers

In addition to flerfs cannibalizing their fellows, TFE triggered a marked rise in flerf toxicity, slander, and threats toward globers—particularly toward Will Duffy, and also toward Jeran after he left flat earth.

Slander toward Will Duffy includes referring to “his true master, Satan”[3] and the claim that he believes lying is okay.

De-converts

As a cumulative result of TFE and its aftermath, there has been a mass exodus of people leaving the flat earth cult.

This section moved to Escapees

References