Friday, February 23, 2007
Stop the nonsense
There was another post over at Blue Oregon about George Taylor, the global climate change denier-slash-"State climatologist".And I get so tired of all the stoopid verbal tricks that deniers use to muddy the debate.
So I had to comment.
Here's my comment. Can you tell I was frustrated?
Sure, greenhouse gases are causing global warming.
Sure, humans produce a large amount of greenhouse gases via industry and combustion.
Sure, it's very simple to demonstrate that the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has risen in frighteningly dramatic fashion in the last 100-200 years.
Sure, carbon is a greenhouse gas.
Sure, the amount of atmospheric carbon directly correlates to global temperature, in the several ways in which we are able to measure historical trends.
Sure, the converging evidence from several differing methodologies points strongly to a future of severe global climate change that can drastically alter geography and human existence.
Sure, an overwhelming number of scientists have looked at the data and have gone on the record as saying that the conclusions are inescapable to any reasonable person.
Sure, even scientists like George Taylor have said that if the global climate change deniers (like himself) are wrong that the consequences will be disastrous for human civilization.
Sure, sometimes, rarely, a global climate change denier may agree with one or even several of the points above.
...still, there's three things deniers can cling to:
1) Any normal level of scientific debate (which, to any reasonable person, does not change the big picture) can be blown up by a denier to mean that "the science isn't in".
2) Abnormal and irrational "up is down" opinions can be purchased in a free market to create "dissent" even if it doesn't exist.
3) And finally, trying to get a denier to admit to the big picture can be unfairly categorized as "stifling dissent".
Do I have that correct, wingnuts? I really grow tired of all their rhetorical tricks and nonsense. They abuse logical thought in ways they don't even understand.
Why don't you just go play in your little fantasy worlds and let the adults worry about the big picture for a while? You've had your chance for the last couple thousand years. Let's let science, rationalism, and logical thought have a chance, eh?
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I found your post interesting - good. I especially like your last sentence, "Let's let science, rationalism, and logical thought have a chance, eh?"
I have no doubt their words, these deniers, really do not make an impact when global warming is discussed at the level where action is discussed.
Even politically speaking...
And yet, like so many, including me in some areas, we all have opinions we need to voice. As though someone like me, merely blogging this information in a samll circle, thinks it may impact others, whereby that thought and feeling will be projected toward the people making the decisions.
Sure, sometimes this grassroots debate is crucial - the support, the rationalization, the feeling and impact it might make on society, is important, and begins in small circles.
Although more often than not, these small circles are only there for people to blow smoke, and continue being deluded with others in like mind. They miss the reality, as you stated. They almost act like the homeless, unwilling to act, do, participate with the rest of the world.
The question is will your comments on the Blue Oregon Blog make an impact?
I have no doubt their words, these deniers, really do not make an impact when global warming is discussed at the level where action is discussed.
Even politically speaking...
And yet, like so many, including me in some areas, we all have opinions we need to voice. As though someone like me, merely blogging this information in a samll circle, thinks it may impact others, whereby that thought and feeling will be projected toward the people making the decisions.
Sure, sometimes this grassroots debate is crucial - the support, the rationalization, the feeling and impact it might make on society, is important, and begins in small circles.
Although more often than not, these small circles are only there for people to blow smoke, and continue being deluded with others in like mind. They miss the reality, as you stated. They almost act like the homeless, unwilling to act, do, participate with the rest of the world.
The question is will your comments on the Blue Oregon Blog make an impact?
"The question is will your comments on the Blue Oregon Blog make an impact?"
Maybe yes. Maybe no.
Does a butterfly flapping its wings in Tokyo have an effect on a hurricane in Lousiana?
Maybe yes. Maybe no.
There are models, both scientific and nonsensical, that predict either a positive or negative correlation between the two events.
However, the butterfly still needs to flap its wings if it wants to get anywhere. It isn't going to get there by walking - have you seen those tiny legs? Much better to fly, especially when one lives as short a life as a butterfly.
And Lousianans and visitors are still dealing with the after-effects of a hurricane (and I may or may not mean the rum-based drink, served in "go-cups", all up and down Bourbon Street and elsewhere).
Maybe yes. Maybe no.
Does a butterfly flapping its wings in Tokyo have an effect on a hurricane in Lousiana?
Maybe yes. Maybe no.
There are models, both scientific and nonsensical, that predict either a positive or negative correlation between the two events.
However, the butterfly still needs to flap its wings if it wants to get anywhere. It isn't going to get there by walking - have you seen those tiny legs? Much better to fly, especially when one lives as short a life as a butterfly.
And Lousianans and visitors are still dealing with the after-effects of a hurricane (and I may or may not mean the rum-based drink, served in "go-cups", all up and down Bourbon Street and elsewhere).
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