Piss*in' in the wind ....
By grandpa_lash
@grandpa_lash (5225)
Australia
August 1, 2012 4:24am CST
I am forever bemused by people who claim that their unsupported opinion is worth more than the actual facts of an issue. Global climate change comes to mind. Now I suppose I must concede that everybody has a right to an opinion, but that doesn't mean that any given opinion should be seen as valid unless there is evidence to support it. A belief in a scriptural deity comes to mind. In the normal state of things this is a non-issue, but when politicians, especially those with considerable power, begin believing that their opinions are more valid that evidence and proof that we run into real problems. And in relation to climate change issues, it seems that the majority of powerful conservative politicians prefer opinion over fact. Since they have the potential to cause untold damage as a result of their erroneous opinions, we really have to find some way to stop them.
Unfortunately, the bulk of the population also seems to believe that its various opinions are more valid the facts, so there's no way of motivating them to stop these politicians.
Like the title says, I'm piss*n' in the wind, but what the hell, I've got nothing better to do with my time.
How do you convince someone that the facts are more important than their fondly held opinions?
Lash
3 people like this
9 responses
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
1 Aug 12
Science is a great study unfortunitly it tends to disagree with itself. I am all for good scientific research. When I want to learn about something that is where I head, definitely not politicians. Now what on earth are we referring here to, in regards to climate change? Politicians say? Can you be a little more specific or is this whole discussion about opinion?
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
1 Aug 12
I am talking about politicians who are Climate Change sceptics - their opinion is that climate change is not happening and isn't our fault anyway, and they deny the scientific evidence.
Lash
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
2 Aug 12
The facts are that many people who have vested interest in NOT believing in climate change twist the evidence to suit their opinions. I take the view that, apart from personal observation, there is an extraordinarily long list of people whose scientific credentials are unimpeachable, Nobel Prize winners among them, who all say much the same thing. Who am I, untrained in science, to argue with the brightest minds on the planet? How is my opinion in any way as meaningful as their knowledge? The twisting is rarely done by the believers.
Lash
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
1 Aug 12
Thanks for telling me I wasn’t sure where the discussion was coming from. Thanks for clarifying. One recent thing I’ve fell onto is mercury poisoning. That is such a bad deal. Well, does it effect climate change? Maybe in the long term for if you take out all the life you kill the planets ability to keep proper balance at least for the short term. I question this scientifically though and must say I am not sure about the facts here.
We do hear so much about climate change but then so much information might be tempered to the argument if you know what I mean. Like looking at only one part of the graph. Are facts changeable? Can data be interrupted differently? We know mercury is bad and needs to be addressed but I understand that most of the mercury airborne pollution seems to be coming from volcanoes?
I’m not against cleaning up industry but only questioning the so called facts. How can we know what part of a fact is the correct part when dealing with any specific issue we might be faced with?
3rd rock from the sun, a planet under change but why?
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
2 Aug 12
You can't do anything at all to convince them. It just will never work despite how much evidence you put in front of them. Even IF they agreed that the evidence was worth investigating, they would never admit that. Their reasoning? who knows. With some people I would guess that they don't want to change or maybe they really do believe.
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
4 Aug 12
Unfortunately, it seems that world-wide some politicians are falling for the 'populist" card, and whenever that happens, bad things get put in place which can be the Devil to late remove.
Lash
@freqspaz (220)
• United States
4 Aug 12
Grandpa Lash it's not that they prefer the opinion they prefer what fattens their bank account over fact. If it makes money for them now and doesn't hurt their business ventures in the near future they don't care. Actually let me correct myself, that is one side of the house. The other side is the willfully ignorant people whom don't want to see the facts because it will rock their little world, and little basket where they have put all of their hopes and dreams. Like Young Earth Creationists for example, or Flat Earthers or Geo-centrists.
There is so much in the news right now that makes me fear for the next 15 years. I know I will still be alive, and I am terrified because of these closed minded buffoons I fear for what I will witness and have to endure just to survive.
I believe that Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert had the right idea with their Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. But then again any 'rally' brings people, most just to be on tv...
Great discussion.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
1 Aug 12
Facts are facts and cannot be changed. They are what they are and no amount of opinions against them or for them are going to change that fact. Opinions on the other hand are very changeable.
I was listening to ABC radio at some stage yesterday about climate change. I missed the start of the piece, but from what I caught, I understood that a prolific scientist who had always debated the actual existence of global warming had now completely changed his mind after actually doing a scientific study on the matter. What he found was hard facts that yes, the earth is warming up and yes, we humans are contributing to the speed of that. His opinion had completely reversed due to his own study.
But that is just my opinion of what I believe I heard! 
@riyauro (6421)
• India
1 Aug 12
It is very hard to convince people about the facts. They are a mob which sways to whatever is told by bigger authority with power. They ignore the fact because their mind is so so fickle. I really don't know how to convince them. i wish there was a formula to it,. have a wonderful day.
