The user called samuel posted an attempted debunking of a video on the flat earth.
Here is the video
And here is his post.
Samuel claims admits that 437 feet should not be normally visible. This is against the videos claim that 580 feet. On the difference between these two figures, there can be some discussion.
However there cannot be a discussion with someone who thinks that 437 feet is a mirage.
The reason is that this is clearly not a mirage because of the integrity and steadiness of the image. A simple youtube search or even our own experience shows us that mirages are very shaky, lacking in integrity and frequently (though not always) inverted. Added to this is the fact that they would not be consistently seen. Whereas this moutain would be visible on most days when the air is clear.
We are glad to have cleared up this misunderstanding.
Congratulations on being the first to at least try and think for yourself.
However, you made an embarrassing mistake: According to my observations, about 300 ft of West Anacapa Island IS hidden from view (i.e. based on what we see), while according to my calculations it should have been 437 ft. That only leaves a discrepancy of 137 ft. So your claim about "someone who thinks that 437 feet is a mirage" is proof of your poor reading and comprehension of the matter.
And you make another mistake when you insinuate that there is "clearly not a mirage because of the integrity and steadiness of the image". Anyone looking at the video, and especially at the two snapshots I took of discrepancies (mushroom and cow lick shaped blobs) must realize that the Anacapa Islands are not of that shape. We MUST be looking at a mirage, not the whole image, but a small layer just above the apparent horizon. And if you think those snapshots of the discrepancies are stable, have another look. They went by so fast that most people didn't even see them. Not very stable imho.
Now consider all these facts which we would need to accurately make our calculations, but which we do NOT have :
* The exact elevation the videos were taken from. The author claims they were taken "at sea level" but even a 3 year old can see they were not.
* The exact level of the tide at the time the videos were taken. There was a difference of 7.4 ft between low and high tide on that day.
* The exact reference point that Google uses as it's sea level, so that we can at least guestimate where the videos were taken from.
* The amount of wave run up that day so we can at least guestimate where the actual sea level was that day.
* The exact swell at open sea, or to be precisely, at the point of horizon, so we can calculate how much extra should be hidden from view.
* The temperature of the sea water, as well as the air temperature, so we can judge how much of a mirage we expect to see.
* The honesty of the author in representing his "facts" and videos.
And now, consider that with an "inferior mirage" the true horizon seems lower than it actually is (as explained here:
http://tradidi.com/etc/fe-disappearing-ship), I have no doubt that 137ft is well within the margin of error we expect to see, based on our estimated input data.
And finally, the elephant in the room: on a flat earth we should be able to see ALL of the Islands, even at "sea level". Why can't we?