Comments on: Words matter

By: ernunnos

ernunnos — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:38:00 +0000

The article is titled, “Words matter”. Not, “It’s just a name.”

By: AP²

AP² — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:40:00 +0000

You do know that Climate Change is just a name, not the actual body of claims, right? Because that argument is ridiculous; there are plenty of falsifiable claims made from the models and projections created by climate researchers.

By: AP²

AP² — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:33:00 +0000

Nonsense. Belief is “a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing”, and it certainly applies here: from the evidence available, we have a belief that anthropogenic climate change is happening. You are confusing belief with Faith, i.e., “belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.”

By: ernunnos

ernunnos — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:58:00 +0000

Yes, unfalsifiable statements are harder to falsify. That’s also what makes religion religion, instead of science. “Climate change” makes global warming unfalsifiable. Colder? It’s climate change! Warmer? Climate change! Storms? Climate change! Calm? Climate change! Perfect for those who have ditched the local church because it’s uncool, but haven’t managed to free themselves from the religious impuse and associated desire to belong to a congregation, and cry damnation on all the heretics, or “climate deniers” as they’re currently known.

By: Tzunun

Tzunun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:32:00 +0000

Words definitely do matter, which is why I’m uncomfortable with the use of “believe” to describe acceptance of scientific concepts such as climate change and evolution.

By: Kevin Pierce

Kevin Pierce — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:55:00 +0000

When you add energy to a system you increase the chances and severity of turbulence. Climate Change better describes this turbulence, even though the net result is Global Warming.

By: Isaac Marx

Isaac Marx — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:08:00 +0000

I would think people who believe man-made climate change is real would prefer the term “climate change.” At the very least, it makes it harder for the deniers to say, “it’s cold, there’s a blizzard, global warming is a scam!”

By: lknope

lknope — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:54:00 +0000

Global warming is not the preferred nomenclature!