Arctic ice reaches record low

[Bricks]

Personally, I trust the people educated and active in the field, because this subject is way too complicated for a layman like myself.

 

Question is, whom to believe. ;)

 

And that is exactly my point. As I posted before, I'm all for preserving nature in ANY regard. But I don't trust either side. And this blind witch hunt we see on media and also in this thread on anybody raising a thought about "given facts" quoted from Wikipedia and random sites is the most immediate reason why I feel this way.

 

I know I do what I can, I support anybody working for preserving nature, but I hate these half-true-headlines in mass media and out of principle I will always be more sceptical to the largest headlines.

[EtherealN]

The key is this:

 

1) Don't trust the media.

2) Don't trust politicians.

3) Trust the people who actively work in researching this. (Reports and studies are available to read.)

 

In point three, I would personally say that my impression is that there aren't "two sides" in this anymore than there is "two sides" in the question about evolution through natural selection. When 99% of active scientists (within the relevant field, and of course for climate this does NOT include meteorologists :P ) say one thing, and 1% say another, it is a "better bet" to trust the 99%. Yes, the 1% MIGHT be the ones that are right (at one point, Einstein was the 1%), but with such a preponderance of support for one position we as laymen are better off accepting that view.

 

What is the right way to "fix" the problem though, now THAT is a different thing, and goes too close to politics so I won't talk about that here. (We do not allow political disputes here, and this would inevitably end up in a dispute.)

[ALDEGA]

3) Trust the people who actively work in researching this. (Reports and studies are available to read.)

Researchers have their own intrests too, they're not objective either.

 

Yes, the 1% MIGHT be the ones that are right (at one point, Einstein was the 1%), but with such a preponderance of support for one position we as laymen are better off accepting that view.

If everyone followed that logic, we'd still think the earth was flat and that the sun revolved around it ...

[PeterP]

Researchers have their own intrests too, they're not objective either.

Than you have to ask your self who has sponsored the research and who has interest in a certain outcome - its not so hard sometimes to make up your own opinion - it just needs a little research by your own.

If everyone followed that logic, we'd still think the earth was flat and that the sun revolved around it ...

 

So let us all thank God that the catholic church isn't responsible for the research at CERN!

 

Mixing apples with oranges makes a fruit-salad... but not every time good arguments.

Edited August 29, 2012 by PeterP

[EtherealN]

Researchers have their own intrests too, they're not objective either.

 

Which is why there is this thing called "peer review". Which is part of the process.

 

If everyone followed that logic, we'd still think the earth was flat and that the sun revolved around it ...

 

No. This is entirely incorrect. Because actual scientists showed us what was the best model. I am talking about those of us who are not active in a field of research and thus are not equipped in both education and knowledge to pass a good judgement.

 

Let me put it like this:

 

If you have a problem with your automobile, and you know nothing about automobiles, and you bring it to 100 repair shops for diagnosis. 99 of them say "the starter coil is burnt out", and one of them say "the drive shaft is bent", which one are you - again now as a person with no education in how automobiles work - best placed to believe? It _might_ be that the 1 guy is right, but you cannot say, as a person that does not have the qualification to judge the matter, that it is equal between them.

 

Now, if we were talking about two mechanics having different opinions, they can have a good discussion about the matter and test their theories. But the person that does not know anything about automobiles cannot take part in this.