It's the Sun, stupid!

[darrelx]

More recent observations indicate that Mars' south pole is continuing to melt. "It's evaporating right now at a prodigious rate," says Michael Malin, principal investigator for the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC). The pits in the ice are growing by about 3 meters per year. Malin states that conditions on Mars are not currently conductive to the

Comments

[darrelx]

There is no doubt that this is a highly debated issue, with not enough evidence to PROVE either side. However, your cites to articles are ridiculous...

The first two articles you cited have headlines that don't even apply to the topic covered in the article. The headlines themselves are biased commentary on the article... and the meat of the article doesn't really support your opinion. All the articles refer to is that NASA's primary mission has changed to be more in line with the president's policy of space exploration... the headlines are B.S. spin-doctoring from a biased editor.

The third article you cited says that Griffin's position is that global warming may not be a bad thing -- who are we to say that the current climate is the best climate for humans? (paraphrased) Then it cites a few people criticizing him for that position.

So... how does any of that prove your point?

As for whose data to trust, do you trust a college professor who relies on private grant money that he will stop receiving if he doesn't prove his sponsor's point, or do you rely on data that is collected without bias?

[jbriggs]

"However, your cites to articles are ridiculous..."

No more ridiculous than your references. I trust data that is collected by thousands of scientists, regardless of their funding, that jives with data from other thousands of scientists.

Regardless, I wonder why I bother to even read your journal anymore. You clearly are trolling for conflict and I don't need the agitation these days. HAND

[darrelx]

A troll is someone who posts inflammatory comments to someone else's opinion to elicit a response.

I've been posting my own frustration with current political situations in my own journal, which you may choose to read or not... that's not trolling.

You, however, fit the very definition of a troll, posting in *my* journal a response designed to illicit conflicting opinion.

You don't need the agitation and you are free to leave. Buh-bye... don't let the virtual door hit you in the ass.

[esprix]

Darrel, I find it specious of you to say you don't post politically charged entries and then expect no one to disagree with you.

[roycalbeck]

Darrel has a point in that his opponent hasn't been supporting his position with any actual facts. Seriously, read the article...there AREN'T "thousands of scientists" on jbriggs' side. There are "several researchers" who took issue with renaming the NASA mission statement, period.

Quoting someone else's opinions to reinforce one's own doesn't prove validity.

[esprix]

Regardless of validity, Darrel enjoys the arguments. We know this. It amuses us. :)

[darrelx]

I didn't say anything of the sort. I was responding to being accused of trolling, when in fact I was posting in my own journal... You can't be a troll in your own journal.

If I was posting off-topic in another forum, that'd be trolling. If I was spouting anti-muslim rhetoric in C.A.I.R.'s community, that'd be trolling. (and sounds like fun, actually...) But posting one's opinion in their OWN journal is not "trolling for conflict" as Jim put it.

I also never said I don't expect people to disagree with me, but when they disagree with me in my own journal, I respond. That's not trolling.

What happened last week in Patgund's journal is another matter... I disagreed with his opinion in his journal, and he started screening my posts as a result. I'd expect no less (and in fact have done that to people in my journal in the past) and don't blame him a bit for it.

;)

[esprix]

Oh, come on, Darrel - you love arguing, and that's one of the reasons you post these posts in your LJ the way you do. I know you better than that. :P

[darrelx]

Quite right.

I enjoy intelligent argument and thoughtful debate. It promotes thinking and awareness. Listening to opposing views (unless they are simply riddled with snipes and sarcasm) is always entertaining, not to mention educational.

Trolling, however, is not looking for argument as much as it is looking to anger. I don't do that.