Climate Change and Metaphor
From
Anthony Watts:
Why climate change communications is like �Shaka, when the walls fell�
With the pending climate pajamafest all-nighter at the U.S. Senate, (powered by the Washington DC coal burning power plant) the release of former NASA scientists and engineers Right Climate Stuff message that there is no need to be worried about CAGW, and Bill McKibben�s empty boxes fiasco, these loosely related events coalesced into a moment of understanding last night after I watched what is probably my favorite episode of Star Trek, The Next Generation titled �Darmok�.
Excellent writing - Anthony provides the plot for the episode and continues with this:
I�m sure readers can see the parallels with climate change debate and its communications problems. One side repeatedly uses metaphors, imagery, and emotional attachments to convey the urgency of fighting the often invisible and fleeting �beast of the planet�, while the other side keeps asking pointed questions, tries to analyze what is being said and the situation, and tries to learn the language of the other side, even though it seems nonsensical. Neither side seems to get much from the other.
Much more at the site. I find this to be true on a personal level when talking with progressives. Their side is always a narrative, not factual. It is how it
should be not how to make this happen.
When they talk about something and you present a fact that contradicts their narrative, they will always change the subject and when you try to return to the point, they will employ an ad hominem logical fallacy -- attacking me as '
I just don't know' or some such...
This is compounded by the fact that all of the talking points of the CAGW crowd come from computer models and not boots-on-the-ground measurements. These models can not hindcast, their forecasts show no bearing with reality yet, these numbers are clung to with desperation.
Time to get some adults in the room.
Posted by DaveH at March 9, 2014 1:18 PM