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Most of this reads as "this is how it worked for me so it must work like this for everyone". I understand he "enjoys controversy" but it's hard to take someone
by silvester23 7y ago
Most of this reads as "this is how it worked for me so it must work like this for everyone".
I understand he "enjoys controversy" but it's hard to take someone seriously who says things like "Oh, politicians should just ignore the protests and keep their minds straight. It will go away. It always does. They’ll find another big issue after a little while and switch to something else.", as if protests have never effected any substantial change.
Or almost worse, that the protests are inconsequential because they are organized and mostly attended by young people.
- agentultra 7y agoI read it as sarcasm and cynicism. For someone at 100 years of age and having been involved in several environmental movements it can be exhausting to think of another protest failing. I suspect he'd like it to work but seems more interested in folks making the politicians pay attention by other means.
- silvester23 7y agoThat's almost diametrically opposed to "politicians should just ignore the protests", though.
- sulam 7y agoI think his point is that if you just follow protests then you are always going to be onto the next thing. Protests are largely fads. He says they should just get their heads straight -- IOW, fight against climate change simply because it's the right thing to do, whether people are protesting about it this year or not.
- leftyted 7y agoOh I don't know. I think it's refreshing to hear someone call global warming a serious threat while at the same time dismissing activists as noisy children participating in a fad.
- gameswithgo 7y agoI have so much more respect for these noisy children than the serious adults who have spent millions of dollars lying about this issue and bribing officials to ignore it.
- leftyted 7y agoThat's nice but -- in democracies at least -- politics is about persuasion and most people find 100 year old scientists more persuasive than schoolchildren.
- VectorLock 7y agoThe part about cancer was where I stopped reading. I got cancer they just cut it out it isn't that bad! Middle class people don't die of cancer?
- slowhand09 7y agoThat may be his confirmation of ignoring the protest. You stop reading and thinking when you hear a trigger you don't like. Making your commentary sort of ...simplistic. I don't claim to be deep. But he's 100 and lived thru 5 cancers. Maybe he knows more... I'm a boomer, read his stuff, was thrilled with SimEarth 30 yrs ago. I believe in climate change, but have worked with climate data on EOS/NASA projects, also saw the political aspect of no emergency means no funding. Also a big believer in nuclear power. You should read up on thorium reactors. Its a big world to change/save/immolate.
- VectorLock 7y agoThere is plenty to read from people who think nuclear is the best green power without having to wade through nonsense like "cancer isn't that bad."
- pj_mukh 7y agoAnother choice quote: "I've had 10 cancers in the last few years and it hasn't been very bad. They just appear and grow. If you go to a good oncologist nearby, they'll take it out. It's just unfortunate for people who let it happen and it grows and grows until it's inoperable. I mean, nowadays, I think middle class and fairly wealthy people don't die of cancer." What in the world?! I understand he is courting controversy, but to do in the most curmudgeon-y way possibly is new to me.
- herpes 7y ago"So that's a complete reassembly. New vitals. Spit-shine on the old ones. Plus we're scooping out tumors. Frankly, you oughtta be paying us." - Cave Johnson