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Another stunning HN thread where a subset of posters have decided they know more about climate change than people dedicating their lives to the study of climate

by ZenPro 12y ago

Another stunning HN thread where a subset of posters have decided they know more about climate change than people dedicating their lives to the study of climate change. Since so many of you are wagering or believing let me just toss out what I believe. I believe that credible and respected climate change scientists have forgotten more than you could ever know about the subject. Climate Change deniers are a joke and a menace and are tied neck and neck with creationists for the moron awards.

paulhauggis 12y ago
So because I'm not an expert, I should have no opinion on the subject? Experts make mistakes all the time. They are just people, after all. I look at the tech world (which I know very well) and "experts" are wrong all the time. I can't imagine it being much different in other fields. I see people here on HN making comments about the economy. Should all of these opinions be ignored because they aren't experts? Look at the guy that discovered bacteria: The experts of his time shunned him and he died in an insane asylum. Scientists pretty much lose their career overnight if they have any study or research on non man-made climate change. How can we really have an honest debate when this kind of behavior is going on?
- DanBC 12y ago
  People are paid money to sow uncertainty about climate science. These tactics are the same ones used by tobacco companies. The tactics are the same and many of the scientists are the same. That's not an honest debate. The reason people don't engage with you has nothing to do with whether you're an expert or not. It's because people who deny climate change often grab a snippet of science, out of context, and that's been given a spin by deniers. Then, rather than learning why that bit is flawed or what the context is they'll just throw it into a discussion and demand that it is explained. And then they'll grab another bit. And another bit. Eventually it's easier to regard this as trolling (which it is - concern trolling) and treat appropriately (by stopping feeding the trolls).

by ZenPro 12y ago

paulhauggis 12y ago

So because I'm not an expert, I should have no opinion on the subject? Experts make mistakes all the time. They are just people, after all. I look at the tech world (which I know very well) and "experts" are wrong all the time. I can't imagine it being much different in other fields. I see people here on HN making comments about the economy. Should all of these opinions be ignored because they aren't experts? Look at the guy that discovered bacteria: The experts of his time shunned him and he died in an insane asylum. Scientists pretty much lose their career overnight if they have any study or research on non man-made climate change. How can we really have an honest debate when this kind of behavior is going on?

DanBC 12y ago
People are paid money to sow uncertainty about climate science. These tactics are the same ones used by tobacco companies. The tactics are the same and many of the scientists are the same. That's not an honest debate. The reason people don't engage with you has nothing to do with whether you're an expert or not. It's because people who deny climate change often grab a snippet of science, out of context, and that's been given a spin by deniers. Then, rather than learning why that bit is flawed or what the context is they'll just throw it into a discussion and demand that it is explained. And then they'll grab another bit. And another bit. Eventually it's easier to regard this as trolling (which it is - concern trolling) and treat appropriately (by stopping feeding the trolls).