The thing about the “there’s no way she flew that plane” thing is so annoying is that it’s not even that bold of a claim. They flew her up, she flew for a bit with someone there to take control if something bad happened, then they landed.
Comment on Hard Out There For A Woman
Vespair@lemmy.zip 23 hours ago
I really need people to know that Helen Keller did fly a plane and yes, this fact alone is the crux of a lot of weird Keller-denialism. It’s ironic that the woman in the post is suggesting the man mentioning Keller is ignorant for confusing her with Earhart, because he wasn’t. He is ignorant for thinking the Keller story is unbelievable, however.
britannica.com/…/how-did-helen-keller-fly-a-plane (egregious ad deployment on that site, fair warning)
JackbyDev@programming.dev 23 hours ago
Vespair@lemmy.zip 23 hours ago
Literally. I don’t mean this to diminish Helen Keller, but the sort of “flying” she did was the same as when they let a kid into the cockpit.
Given her conditions, this is still absolutely an accomplishment and worth applauding. But to suggest that there is anything remotely unbelievable about it would require a fundamental misunderstanding of the reality of the situation
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
I think it’s worth mentioning that this was a publicity stunt. Keller wasn’t a pilot by trade.
Vespair@lemmy.zip 22 hours ago
Absolutely. Please do not take the words of me, a literal stranger, as the complete story. Please read the Britannica article.
lama@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
If the guy didn’t know who Emelia Earhart was, I doubt he knew of this conspiracy
Vespair@lemmy.zip 19 hours ago
That’s not how misinformation works. It preys upon the ignorant and fills them with lies before they can be filled with truths. All it takes is mild interest in one tiny slice of the right-wing nutjob conspiracy pie to be immediately pulled down the rabbit hole via algorithms on youtube, tiktok, even reddit.
lama@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
Yeah that’s a good point. I hadn’t thought about that side of things
chewypoops@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
I’m getting whiplash here.
First I’m told there’s a guy who didn’t know the difference between Helen Keller and Emilia Earhart.
Then I’m told that Helen Keller really did fly a plane, and that the guy wasn’t misspeaking.
And now I have to grapple with the fact that the guy wasn’t stupid, but rather a conspiracy theorist, and that “Helen Keller conspiracy theorists” are a real thing.
Vespair@lemmy.zip 22 hours ago
Welcome to the party, my friend. It’s BYOB and nobody brought beer.
Nugscree@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
More of a wine guy here, but I always bring extra.