I remember my great grandpa claiming, and it was later supported by both sets of grandparents, that the whole cause of our environmental problems was because they shot a rocket into space, and that put a hole in the ozone layer, and every time they launch another rocket it only makes more holes in the atmosphere.
It turns out that a LOT of really old people believe(d) these kinds of myths and insist they are true.
So that means we have a consensus.
From what I've been hearing with the climate change debate, once you have a consensus, the time for debate is over, and the time to act is NOW. And besides, what if they are wrong? Isn't it better to act responsibly on the chance that they are right?
So, does this mean we should end the space program and no longer launch satellites, because OLD PEOPLE believe that it is causing holes in the atmosphere?
I mean, WHAT IF THEY ARE RIGHT? Are we willing to take a chance with our children's future? A consensus warned us!
2007-08-20 12:32:06 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Global Warming
That should be enough for some people. Personally, I prefer objective science. No one argues the Earth revolves around the Sun, because anyone can prove this.
2007-08-20 12:38:33 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Jello 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your grandfather was probably very clever about many things. But sadly, he was obviously no climate scientist. And a general consensus of the world at large means very little when talking about science.
However, there is a marked difference between a consensus among average people who know little about the subject, and a widespread consensus among scientists who are experts in the field. Science is not decided by consensus, it is simply the end result of the science having been done.
2007-08-20 16:43:18 · answer #2 · answered by SomeGuy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The global warming consensus is among climate scientists. The people who know more about climate science than anybody on the planet.
Quite clearly, the old people you know are anything but experts on the ozone layer and atmosphere.
A consensus among the ignorant is slightly different than a consensus among the most expert.
2007-08-20 15:38:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Although I am sure that your grandpa was a fine gentleman, he did not have any scientific expertise in this area.
Essentially he did not know what he was talking about.
I recommend that you get copies of the reports from the intergovernmental panel on Climate Change.
These are reports by scientists with expertise in this area.
2007-08-20 13:04:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋