I’m dismayed to see this, but not at all surprised. People (like Jeff, like me) who own businesses and are self employed while trying to raise family have it tough in this economy. If I didn’t have guest posters, and help with moderation, I couldn’t keep WUWT alive. I also understand Jeff’s frustrations with unruly posters. My only saving grace is that I had 25 years experience in TV news dealing with the public and the inevitable emotional BS that comes with highly charged debate.
Jeff has made a powerful contribution to the climate discussion, the most important of which is the publishing of a solid rebuttal of the Steig et al paper which used mangled Mannian math to smear warming on the Antarctic peninsula all over the continent, giving a false impression of continent wide warming. Even Steig himself agrees with the rebuttal.
Let’s not forget the pivotal role TAV played in Climategate as well.
Please take a moment to wish Jeff well, and to thank him for his contribution here.
Jeff, the door at WUWT is always open to you. I give my sincerest wishes for health, happiness, and success to you and to your family. Enjoy your retirement.
– Anthony Watts
Here is his post:
Posted by Jeff Id on January 21, 2011
Update:
There is a lot more I could say about this group of people who have read and commented here. I know of very few unmoderated blogs which have been able to maintain such a civil tone through such controversial subjects. That says a lot about the quality of this group. Of all things, I think that is what makes tAV special. The world is a rough place and when I sat down one sunny Saturday morning to start this blog just over two years ago, I expected very little. In the end, tAV contributed more to the discussion on a truly global scale than I had ever imagined.
I may be back after some time off but it is better to let readers know where I’m at.
Best regards to all.
============================================
On the SOP thread we got into too heated a discussion. I’ve had more than my fair share of the public lately and don’t know when tAV will be back.
Of all the elements of the periodic table stupididium is the most abundant. The idiots pushed me over the edge tonight. I’ve had well enough of people who think they know — well anything — yet don’t have a clue. The blog has been very much entertaining and I’ve appreciated the technical contributors very thoroughly. I may continue someday in coming years but at this point… I’m done.
I’ve spent two years of my life in climate science, digging fairly deeply – I think you’ll agree. My conclusion is that those who believe they know believe for unknowable reasons. This includes BOTH sides. In what I believe is the rarest of cases, the middle ground is the correct ground and that is where the climate battle lies.
I don’t know if I will post again here, it has been fun though. Thanks to all who have been supportive and thanks to the guests.
Jeff Condon
Discover more from Watts Up With That?
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
You’ll be missed . . . .
A shame, but understandable if the blogosphere is intruding too much into the rest of Jeff’s life.
As for the site, one word: Archive.
Well said, Sir.
Jeff, your mastery of statistics, programming, etc, leaves me in awe. I wish you well in your life’s endeavours.
I’ve never spent much time at tAV, after catching up here, I don’t have enough time for much else. However, I’ve certainly been influenced and affected by tAV so it’s sad to see it shutdown/go on hiatus.
Many thanks to Jeff and his (more sensible) readership. His contributions will have a lasting effect. I think the AGW “crisis maximum” is passed, so this is a good time to step down for now.
You know Jeff, I work in a field that is also filled with ‘enthusiasts’ where enthusiasm is often the main qualification. I really, truly, feel empathy for you and support your decision. It is hard to know how great a contribution you can make until you try and you not only tried, you succeeded well. Good on ya!
You are welcome back as you know. Anytime. I look forward to your considered participation in things climatic.
If you want to save the world you have to leave home and leave it you did. You had a good innings and you have been beaned enough for one season.
Thanks for your efforts to shine light into dark places. We all see better now.
– Crispin
I’ve only been a lurker there, but I’m gonna miss the place.
Even though most of the technical subjects were waaaaaaay over my head, I enjoyed paging through the discussions and seeing how civil people were – and how quickly they helped one another refine (or reject!) their theories and hypotheses. It was being privy to seeing science, REAL science, in action. And I liked it.
The lesson is pretty clear. There are a few blogs where the bloggers have actually made a difference.
1. AirVent. ( jeffid– the steig paper)
2 RankExploits ( Lucia–paper in progress with Annan)
3 ClimateAudit , nuff said.
4. WUWT. surface stations
In all those cases you have a private individual, unfunded, working or overworking on their own time.
More and more of their time is getting eaten up by tangential stupid fights. It doesn’t really matter whether the fight comes from alarmists or contrarians. People with less skin in the game can drive the dedicated few out of the business.
Long ago at CA I used to get into fights just because it was fun. Until I realized that every minute Steve spent on feuds between commenters was a minute he could not spend with data. So Moshpit took a time out and I adopted a rule for myself that others might consider. Don’t comment if you haven’t read the science. Don’t comment
if you haven’t looked at the data. Now I don’t follow that perfectly, but I do pretty good.
Something for folks to think about. Put as much effort (timewise) into researching on your own ( primary sources) as you do into commenting. Writing a good blog post can take a few hours, even days. Put at least 30 minutes of good research in before you make a comment. try that for a couple weeks. Then you might be adding to the conversation rather than derailing it
You can be sure that RC will be there when the dust settles. They will be there if blogging nonsense drives Lucia out or Steve out or Anthony out.
Agree that it should be archived, but it would be nice if the thread in question (“SOP”) were restored first.
Any indication of why that entire thread was deleted as opposed to simply closing comments?
Steven
May I tentatively add Bishop Hill to the list as a populiser. This is not in any way to play down the original contributions of others.
And why? Because they have your (I’m UK) tax dollars to keep them going! (Sorry if I sound bitter …)
Wow, thanks Anthony. Steve Mosher listed the blogs which were most influential to my own experience.
I’ll be around in the threads but again as Steve pointed out, a good technical post can take hours or even days of time.
You can be sure that RC will be there when the dust settles. They will be there if blogging nonsense drives Lucia out or Steve out or Anthony out.
================================================
Mosh, that was my first thought too………….
Jeff, thanks for all you have done. I have never commented on your excellent mathematical/statistical work because I don’t have the proper background to do so, but I have done my best to follow it using the skills that I do have. You have been a voice of solidarity and moderation in this no rules global warming game. Before the game is over there is going to be need for level headed individuals such as yourself to lead the technical fight in the court cases that are coming.
Tot ziens and au avoir
Sarah Palin would call you a coward, since this is what she must live with each and every day.
However, fully understand that people like me have learned to respect you and your choices. You must do what is best for your family.
Jeff, you’ll be missed but you are the third blogger I know who has called it quits for a while. Best wishes to you and your family.
Once again, I have to compliment Anthony. WUWT has the best moderation on the web.
Jeff, thank you for your solid contributions, especially in relation to Climategate. Your contribution to the key climate debate of our time is secure.
Jeff,
You’ve helped move the online climate discussion forward as much as anyone. A job well done if you quit now. But I hope you’ll come back.
I always thought The Air Vent was an early model of what the scientific discussion would look like in the future. Experts with an interest in the subject being civil with one another, no need for PHD’s or gate-keepers because the data speaks for itself.
Now I’m unsure. Perhaps that system can work, but only if it is not resting on the shoulders of one individual.
It’s a shame, because despite the occasional heated conversation over there, I felt they stayed on topic better than most climate science blogs. Perhaps I’m wrong and just didn’t visit there enough.
Indeed some of the best science discussions went on the Air Vent.
Sadly missed indeed.
Take care Jeff, I hope you get things sorted out and hope to see you return with tAV again even though you snip me, a skeptic there. Any way good luck and hope to see you back, ps. I didn’t post much there but liked to read your articles. Thanks!
Jeff,
Good luck to you. Your blog really showed that there are some brilliant people out there; an excellent counterpoint to the usual mindlessness that goes on in other echo chambers. You managed to contribute to a field whose gatekeepers would have us believe only certified “climate scientists” can understand. To me, your discussions exemplified what science was supposed to be about, back when I was first attracted to it.
Even if you don’t return to your blog, I know this isn’t the end of your contribution to this topic.
Enjoy the time with your family.
There is little sanity left in the climate debate, with both sides now firmly entrenched and polarised by the politics of the situation.
I’m sorry you’ve come to the end of your road Jeff, and had to pack it in – there are far to few voices of common sense left in climate science and yours will be missed. Hope to see you posting here a bit more, now the pressure is off.
In the mean time climate will continue to change as it has done for millions of year; making a mockery the both the CAGW prophets and genuine scientists alike. Due to the deterministic chaos inherent in the system it’s future direction can never be known.
Take care, Jeff. Thanks for your contribution and tAV.
Jeff Id is one of the big people in climate blog land and has made historic contributions to the science and to the debate. I read tAV daily most of the time several times a day. I miss him already.
Jeff, chill out, chillax and come back real soon!
Jeff, as one unregenerate blogger to another, my profound thanks for all of your work. Hope you move your contribution over here or the CA.
My very best to you,
w.