Numerous scientists acknowledge that man-made climate change is happening. Sure, there are some scientists that are skeptical—but that is fine. Scientists are supposed to question other scientific theories. However, I don’t understand how a person can rationally believe that man-made global climate change is a flat out lie—having doubts is fine. To speak analogically, if 75 doctors told me that I was going to die if I didn’t have heart surgery and 25 doctors told me that surgery was pointless and a waste of money, I think I would have the surgery. Accordingly, I don’t understand people you reject the need for any degree of restorative or preventative measures. It seems natural to me to want to act preemptively to ward off any potential threat. Americans support preemptive action with regard to wars and military conflicts, but often those same people laugh at any need to take preemptive measures against man-made global climate change. Such a stance seems illogical to me.
I have concluded that people who flatly reject man-made global climate change almost always fit into two categories: (1) those who want to continue their current lifestyle without change and without guilt (e.g. people who want to guiltlessly commute in their Hummer) and (2) people you stand to lose money (e.g. oil companies).
Thoughts?
I have concluded that people who flatly reject man-made global climate change almost always fit into two categories: (1) those who want to continue their current lifestyle without change and without guilt (e.g. people who want to guiltlessly commute in their Hummer) and (2) people you stand to lose money (e.g. oil companies).
Thoughts?
Discuss
John Zawacki on January 19, 2008, 11:39 PM
I don’t think people disagree any longer! most people feel stupid for denying it now.
ted nugent on January 20, 2008, 1:21 AM
If someone flat out rejects the idea of man-made global warming, then there would be no reason for them to feel guilty about their energy consumption.
Matt Hanley on January 22, 2008, 6:41 PM
tobi: I totally agree.
Life Long Learner: I would agree that probably a majority of people do in fact believe it to be true. I, however, keep running into these people that tell me man-made global climate change is a lie, and they always try to remind me that the earth has been warming for some time—like the scientists don’t know that or something. To second, tobu’s point, most of those people drive SUVs.
Neal Kerrigan on February 23, 2008, 10:27 PM
I am one of those skeptics because though I believe human induced climate change is real, I question how much of it we are causing, and what are the true indicators of it. This is actually a very scientific stance to hold because in asking these types of skeptical questions it will help me understand the situation better than taking it as is. Remember we are talking about various complex systems that interact, and humans are capable of interrupting or enhancing these processes. A common misconception put out is that ice caps melting cause significant sealevel rise. The more important issue is the ice caps melting releases cold fresh water into ocean which in turn disrupts thermohaline circulation of the ocean. Another less thought of idea is that rising temperatures and CO2 emissions could cause an Ice Age depending on whether the feedback system is positive or negative.
Being skeptical in pursuit of the goal is actually good science, while being skeptical out of pure laziness is stupidity. Believing blindly in human induced climate change without putting thought into it is also stupidity.
Matt Hanley on February 24, 2008, 4:50 PM
nealberunnin:
I totally agree with everything you said. Well put. I%u2019m generally for conservation and environmentalism, but listening only to media hype doesn%u2019t really help the cause. In my experience it just pushes lazy skeptics further into denial. The media%u2019s hype of the polar bear crisis is an example of this. Currently the polar bear population is thriving. We have the largest population of polar bears we have had in decades. However, I understand the threat to polar bears to be real%u2014it is just 30-60 years down the road. Still, the media hypes the polar bear crisis now, and then skeptics look at statistics that say that the polar bear population is thriving. Then, they said that global warming is having no negative effect in that regard.
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