Comments on: How to Debate Climate Change with Conservative Skeptics: Part 2

By: How to Blog Like a Journalist. Or, Bridging the Blogger-Journalist Divide. | Max Gladwell

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:35:35 +0000

[...] across cultures and throughout all of human history. Whether it’s Gone with the Wind or the climate-change debate or a product review about a new type of light bulb, there are always competing forces. It’s [...]

By: Max Gladwell

Max Gladwell — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:17:31 +0000

Barry: every developed nation on the planet, with the exception of the United States, signed the Kyoto Treaty. So it’s not just Al Gore who believes in anthropomorphic climate change and is trying to do something to mitigate it. But, again, you don’t have to believe it in to do something about it.

The leading scientists of the world have concluded the same thing. Those trotted out by oil and coal companies are the only “scientists” who “disagree”. It’s unfortunate that you’ve bought into it, but it’s not surprising b/c Big Oil has a lot of money to spend on trying to convince the public that their products aren’t bad. Big Tobacco did the same thing, and look how that turned out.

The fact that you’d cite that drivel about Gore saying he “inventing the internet” demonstrates our point. Most know he never said that. Even if he did, what does it have to do with anything? Ted Stevens thinks the Internet is a series of tubes, but it’s his indictment for taking bribes from oil companies that really matters, right?

But Gore was smart enough to get involved with Google at an early stage, which netted him north of $100 million. And then there’s his board seat with Apple. So we respect him just as much for his money-making ability as his political and environmental efforts.

By: Barry King

Barry King — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:49:46 +0000

Max, Your wrong about taking sides just because conservatives do not like Al Gore. Al Gore isn’t liked because he “invented the internet” and seems to portray himself as leading a fight against global warming. Global warming is a natural cycle, so Al Gore is finghting global warming? Truth is that conservatives are more environmentally friendly than liberals. Countless examples can be made but there isn’t enough room here. So as your trying to brainwash others on how to argue a point, why not trully wake up and think about the subject matter at hand.

By: Max Gladwell

Max Gladwell — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:30:06 +0000

Druk: The whole point of the post is that you don’t have to believe in climate change or Al Gore to want to solve it. Because the underlying causes of climate change (such as fossil fuels) need to be addressed for reasons of health, national security, and our economy. Regardless of whether climate change exists. We just happen to believe that it does, so we’re that much more compelled to break our dependence on foreign oil and forms of energy that compromise our health and security.

It doesn’t matter what Al Gore says or how many scientists or world leaders agree with him, conservatives will believe the opposite, just because he’s Al Gore. That’s why there is no point in debating climate change with conservative skeptics. But we still agree to take the same actions, just for different reasons.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:19:43 +0000

Nicely stated. There should be greater focus on the pure wisdom of conservation as well as the clear fact that our health is affected by CO2 emissions. If you think of this issue in terms of preserving our health and using more reliable, safer and cleaner fuel sources, Al Gore and the politics of it vanish in the face of what is clearly more urgent; the quality of our current and future life, as well as the stability of our future generations.

Nice post, nice post.

By: Druk

Druk — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:16:19 +0000

“…nothing polarizes [Conservative critics] more than when Vice President Gore is proven right, especially when he earns an Oscar and Nobel Prize for his rightness.”
Funny how in a bit about “How to Debate Climate Change” you use such obvious logical fallacies. Your love affair with him hurts your credibility and makes your “persuasive arguments” fall on deaf ears.

By: The Gas Price Cloud Has a Green Lining, Part 2 | Max Gladwell

The Gas Price Cloud Has a Green Lining, Part 2 | Max Gladwell — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:01:47 +0000

[...] can’t reduce global warming emissions without also reducing their toxic and cancer-causing counterparts. Petroleum diesel is the worst offender, accounting for 70% of all airborne cancer risk according [...]

By: Barry King

Barry King — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:48:19 +0000

Haven’t you heard? We’re going into a global cooling period. It happens every 30 years. We can all agree that politicians cannot be trusted so why believe anything Al Gore says? Many people are profiting off global warming scare tactics just as convincingly as oil companies claiming we have a lower supply of oil thus raising prices, both are bull. We do need to conserve, it’s common sense, but not because of global warming but because it’s healthy. Why not seek the truth about global warming from real scientists?

By: Michelle Riggen-Ransom

Michelle Riggen-Ransom — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:28:00 +0000

Wow Max, great research, great topic, great post. The NASCAR change is interesting, I hadn’t heard about that one.

Will be employing these tips during upcoming visit with conservative, skeptic in-laws next week, so thanks!