How do you tell the difference between an environmentalist and an inconsiderate jerk?

[timmymac1978]

Today was my first day back on my "normal" schedule at work, which basically means it's the first day this year that we've had a program specialist in the room. The program specialist basically supervises the room and teaches lessons and runs activities as well as helping to write and run the IEP goals. Mine's a guy younger than me named Zack, and

Comments

[timmymac1978]

Actually, I guess that's not adequate.

Yes, I am aware that global warming is not about the seasons. I did, in fact, take 7th grade science and even absorb some of it. This was intended to be a funny post, so I'm sorry if it offended. I fully acknowledge that I'm engaging in reductio ad absurdum in the interest of a cheap laugh. I admit that I had not realized that you equated your faith in global warming with a religious faith, but if that is the case I will try to be sensitive to your sensibilities.

For whatever it's worth I do, believe it or not, make some effort to at least not be wasteful, but I find some of the measures which are suggested in all seriousness a bit absurd when they see the light of day. I am also quite willing to have a serious conversation about these issues, as I hope I have communicated, but I find the fervor over them a bit over the top at times.

For my own part, if we're using religious terminology, I would call myself a global warming agnostic. I'm not really sure I believe it's happening and, if it is, I'm not at all sure I beleive that we are the primary cause of it and/or that our activities can and will have an impact upon it at this stage.

If you would like a serious conversation about this, I would actually ask that we include my friend John, who does not read this journal. John is an analytical chemist and full professor, has taught courses on environmental chemistry at the undergraduate and (I believe) graduate level, and has done some work at the Department of Energy in this field. I acknowledge that I am not an expert, but he is and could almost certainly give us both perspective. For all I know he may even take your side.

In any case, as I said, this post was not intended to be offensive. I'm sorry that it was. I hope that you can accept it in the light of its stated intent.

[mousse]

Science and faith have nothing to do with one another. I accept the validity of global warming as an environmental theory based on the collective scientific reasoning of people who study it for a living. I don't worship global warming or science in general as some sort of religion - I was merely attempting to provide a comparison that would be meaningful for you on a personal level. I have an entirely separate rant about how religion and science have nothing to say about each other and are best considered separately, but I don't really have time to post that here.

Specifically, quoted from a previous conversation of mine

[mousse]

Here's the "science and religion are different things" rant:

Science and religion specifically set out to define two very different realms of knowledge. Trying to work with both at the same time doesn't really jive, IMO. Religion is based on a set of assumptions (beliefs, if you prefer) that science has no way of testing, verifying, or making any meaningful comments upon. Likewise, science demands the presence of observable and repeatable phenomena, which doesn't work well with the concept of personal faith as this is more of an emotion or inner revelation that must be experienced. This is, of course, not to say that the two are irreconcilible, but it does mean that it's probably for the best to consider them separately in the search for the types of knowledge and enlightenment each is attempting to pursue.

Of course, this spins off into a whole new discussion that I don't feel ever really goes anywhere productive, but as I referenced it, I thought it'd be appropriate to post it so you could see what I was getting at.

[mousse]

And yeah, I know this was in large part intended to be humorous. The off-hand dig at global warming is what set me off more than the rest of it, due in large part to my irritation with the attitude I described in my complaint above. Armchair science and all that. I feel it cheapens the accomplishments of people who do this for a living. As usual, I certainly don't think our differing views here will drive a permanent wedge between us as friends, but I did want to express my annoyance at the time.