Posted on 06/10/2013 3:55:03 AM PDT by GreaterSwiss
I was at my coworker's party this weekend. The conversation turned to global warming in which everyone couldn't handle I disagreed with them. I believe climate change happens (it happens 4x a year!) but it's not conclusive that humans are doing it and science is about theory.
They believe it's fact and EVERY scientist agrees. They also said since there was a geologist professor in the room, whatever they say is true. They couldn't handle when I told them that weather measurements were not sterile(put near exhaust fans), manipulated, etc. Or the UN's report which greatly exaggerated it a few years back. They thought that some scientists (especially free of grant money) disagree with humans as a cause is BS. Some coworkers got visibly upset that I wouldn't do everything possible just in case.
I asked them what it would take to change their view, and only if scientists unanimously came forward, since they aren't experts. However my issue is them ganging up on my view. How do I get them to leave me with my view (not change it) as it's obvious they won't change theirs.
I really believe it's a religion for some people.
It isn’t unamous amongst climate scientists. Go to Climatedepot to gather your supporting facts. Or WUWT.
1) Mt. Pinatubo's eruption in the Philippines introduced into our atmosphere more C02, particulates, chemicals and generally all round nasty pollutants than ALL of mankind's industrial existence (they can go Google their NASA friend and see the satellite pictures in all their multicolor splendor), and
2) Will, just one, any of them tell me the optimum temperature for the planet and why that should be the "goal" which drives all other of our endeavors?
No, there’s no such thing as Global Warming.
But the real, and quite pertinent, question is why were you hanging around with this gaggle of dolts?
It will not change their opinion but ask two questions. 1. Which model 15 years ago predicted the decrease in global temperatures for about the last ten years. 2. Describe the Scientific Method steps that were used to arrive at their conclusion.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/04/the_religion_of_global_warming.html
Above is one of the many articles addressing global warming as religion. These people are blinded by their faith. You would be better off seeking friends elsewhere. And, if you work with them you have now proven yourself a non-believer, to be ridiculed and perhaps destroyed. Faith like this can’t take any questions. I have made people spitting, hit-me mad by asking questions they can’t answer. You can’t win the argument as they won’t allow you to. This isn’t about the intellectual ridiculousness of what they’re expousing, it’s about a liberal mindset that has been compared with mental disease. Find another job. And, airing your views at work should be viewed the same as drinking with the boss. Don’t.
If you find somebody who shares your views, then speak in private. I was at too high a level in my last company to get written up, but I was “talked” to by a VP about a conversation I’d had in the cafeteria about concealed carry. The HR manager overheard us discussing what guns we preferred (we have carry concealed licenses) and she was offended. (At work we were not allowed to have conversations where the overhearing parties could be “offended.” Really.)
There are people who are brain washed by group bias, you aren’t going to convince them, they circle the wagons to reassure that they are on the right page without any critical analysis.
Until enough objective people and scientists penetrate this societal group think, some people will just beyond help.
In the future, just stick to asking them if they support the end of the world theories ... what exactly do they believe... do they realize that every prediction that Global Warming Alarmists and the UN have got wrong?
All you can hope to do is inspire them to do some investigation.
Even the still circle the wagons, you can be sure that even if they don’t express it, that at least one of them is going to relook at the issue.
“At work we were not allowed to have conversations where the overhearing parties could be “offended.” Really”
You must work at the same place that I do.
It was warmer during the Medieval Warm Period (a global warm period extending from roughly 1000 to 1200 AD) than it is today.
The only heavy industry taking place during the MWP was cathedral-construction.
Get them to explain that.
Many temperature reconstructions showing the Medieval Warm Period - and it’s global extent - are available from the Medieval Warm Period database at
http://www.co2science.org/data/mwp/mwpp.php
Here are just a very few of them summarized - very briefly - by me in a word document.
http://www.imsaho.com/download/AGW_MWP_EVIDENCE.doc
You now get a sense of what the term witch hunt means.
The “religion” part...
Absolutely correct. People who don’t feel faith still “have” faith, and they have to put it somewhere. Tip off on this subject is the concept that liberals use the word “belief” when they talk about climate. It’s not a matter of belief! The numbers are there and they are inconclusive.
I do believe global warming is a religion. Al gore being the cult leader. Whenever someone bring up the globull climate topic, I roll my eyes, look away and change the topic. I know it’s a lost cause. No point discussing a topic with someone who has been brainwashed. It’s like discussing God with an atheist.
One way to disprove this globull weather stuff is to read the old newspapers and note the weather reported. Read the farming articles from the 1800’s. Compare that to today’s weather. Same conditions. Not much has changed.
Another thing that annoys me is the recycling, go green mantra. In the olden days people reused stuff or fixed/patched them if they broke. Nowadays to recycle, it means to throw out old stuff and replace them with man made processed stuff like vinyl siding, vinyl everything. To be up to code, a porcelain fixture is replaced with a plastic one. Wooden windows are replaced with plastic or metal ones. Old petrified wood is replaced with pressure treated wood. Love those chemicals!
It’s not about recycling, it’s about forcing someone to spend money where it’s not needed to be spent.
Ask them why the hockey stick graph isn’t used anymore..
BTT
“At work we were not allowed to have conversations where the overhearing parties could be “offended.” Really”
You must work at the same place that I do.
The Tyranny of the perpetually offended. You can’t defeat them, so join them, be perpetually offended at what they say and do.
Passive/aggressive warfare, it’s not just for Liberals anymore!
Ask them what became of phrenology and phlogiston. Both had widespread scientific support. Also, what became of the ether through which light was supposed to propagate. Ask them why Wagoner died discredited because of his crazy notion of plate tectonics that all geologist knew was false. Finally ask them if they know the story of Galileo and how he spent his last decade or so.
Science is not a popularity contest and consensus is of little importance.
Sorry to hear that you’ve been ganged up on.
It has happened to me as well.
The people you talked with are very emotional and don’t have any training in science.
Facts are not a good tool in such a case.
It took me a while, but I eventually learned that throwing facts at a factless emotional devotion is pointless. In their simplistic world, you have now been given the label of ‘denier’ (and they do feel that the Holocaust-tinged term is justifiable), and anything that comes from you is motivated by some big oil company, or similar rot.
I don’t have a good solution for you. Walk away from them, if you can, I guess. Any efforts to try to educate them will entail a lot of effort with essentially little change.
Not even close to true. Mount Pinatubo blew out 42Mt of CO2 and mankind creates 7100Mt a year (more now, that's a couple year old number).
Here are a few possible retorts:
1. It was warmer a thousand years ago than it is today, and there were no SUVs then.
2. There was once nearly universal, scientific consensus that the Sun went around the Earth.
3. We’ve had ice ages and hot house periods on Earth before. The changes we see today are mild compared to those extremes.
4. We’re seeing global cooling since the banning of CFCs. So we’re saving the ozone layer and the planet already.
5. Those decrying global warming make a reputation and living off of the study of climate change. They won’t say everything is fine or that they were wrong, because their livelihood depends on it.
Furthermore, sea level was up to 1/2 meter higher than today. There is solid evidence that the Roman Warm Period was even warmer and it was warmer a few thousand years before that. In general we were in a sharp cooling trend until the recent uptick (late 20th century) and we should be thankful for some small amount of warmth before it gets cold again.
You might also point out that the effects of the solar activity slowdown starting in 2008 have yet to be felt. The ocean has thermal intertia and is keeping the atmosphere warm for now. But in all likelihood we are looking at a few decades of cooling and some hardships (late frosts, early fall freezes, etc)
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