Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Greta has accused Andrew Bolt of being part of a hate and conspiracy campaign, for suggesting her climate certainty might be a symptom of her mental disorders.
Naturally Greta’s supporters have joined her condemnation of Andrew Bolt’s article.
What did Andrew Bolt say to draw such a response?
BOLT: WE MUST DOUBT DISTURBED TEEN’S CLIMATE DOGMA
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I have never seen a girl so young and with so many mental disorders treated by so many adults as a guru
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What is so fascinating about this Thunberg cult is not just that she’s believed so fervently even though she’s wrong.
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But Thunberg has something very rare as well — a sense of absolute certainty. She shows not the slightest doubt and forgives not the slightest compromise. This allows followers who are tormented with doubt and burden of freedom to relax into her totalitarian certainty.
And in Thunberg’s case, that certainty comes from what normally would be seen as a disability.
If we can believe a book by her mother, opera soprano and Eurovision contestant Malena Ernman, Thunberg went two months without eating when she was 11.
She suffered years of depression and anxiety attacks and was finally diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, high-functioning autism, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her intense fear of the climate is not surprising from someone with disorders which intensify fears.
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Read more (paywalled): https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-bolt/andrew-bolt-greta-has-no-doubts-but-we-should/news-story/bbc290f5c0e468505bd21bf2a6ec19c7
Why do greens find Greta so fascinating? I think Andrew Bolt hit the nail on the head, the certainty is the key.
Certainty is alluring to people who are tormented by their own unacknowledged doubts.
That doubt must be there; if the millions of people who claim to be worried about climate change wholeheartedly believed the world was about to end, the way Greta does, they would abandon their normal lives and march until the world changed.
Greta’s certainty is a taste of the freedom from doubt they yearn for. Greta’s apparent purity of purpose, her refusal to fly, her innocence, is an inspiration to climate believers who feel shame for their personal weakness, for all the carbon compromises they make in their daily lives.
This in my opinion is why any suggestion that Greta’s certainty might be a product of her mental condition draws such a furious response; if Greta’s certainty is unfounded, if her certainty is a symptom of her mental disorders, then Greta’s certainty is false. The magic is broken.
Note: My thanks to Andrew Bolt and Newscorp for providing the text of his article.
I know of a couple of people with Asbergers. Once they latch on to something, they are like a dog with a bone! Will not give it up easily, if at all!
Once Greta started down this path, it would be very easy to keep on ‘feeding’ her! And the monster grows!
Prone to religious indoctrination and zealotry in general, so if she encounters a brew like an ‘approved’ planetary doom CAGW freak-out, then it’s going to press all of her buttons at once. A compulsive and obsessive response is practically assured. Add chumming by mass-media and geeking-out on the PlayStation or being hall-monitor at school is just not going to cut-it any longer. Her inner narcissist and authoritarian excuse-maker has now fully taken over. She can do no wrong in her view.
The climate alarmists, like their communist fellow travelers, like people like Greta because it gives them a certain amount of insulation from criticism. If you are some victim group then any criticism can be brushed aside with name calling such as racism or sexism of, in this case, ableism. This means they can avoid actually dealing with the substance of the critic.
Greta’s and her parent’s climate crusade is the norm here in Sweden. Greta may just be a bit more extreme than most. It is mostly farmers who have an opinion different from the accepted state viewpoint, due the fact that farmers are milked by the EU and the Swedish state, and they dependend on the “real” world.
Greta’s viewpoint is not a new concept in Sweden. Back in the 60’s I saw a small film on TV, where the Swedes suggested we made cars with sail instead of ICE. It was obviously meant funny – and then again.
I know how to shut those farmers up: same way they do everywhere else, exercise eminent domain and erect wind turbines all over their land. Screw the food supply, the state needs to show them who’s boss!
The more I learn, the more libertarian I become.
Bolt’s comments this week hit the mark squarely. If Greta wants to talk to adults in the way she insists she must then she better be ready for a lot more strong criticism to come. Retreating back to childish bluster and empty claims when challenged is not good enough.
Got honesty Greta?
Every time I see this girl, it reminds me of Carrie, as portrayed by Cissy Spacek.
The belief she can actually see CO2 simply adds to the uncomfortable feelings she invokes. If Greta is allowed to continue her crusade to destroy civilised society, I think her achievement and consequent casualty score, will be way beyond anything even Steven King could imagine.
If she really makes that claim, then obviously she is wrong, crazy, etc. However, her publisher claims that it was a metaphor as described in the article below. I am inclined to believe the publisher.
https://www.afrinik.com/my-daughter-can-see-co2-with-the-naked-eye/
The publisher is doing what they call “damage control” because of the commotion the statement caused, which could hurt sales.
“The publisher of the book in Sweden said: “I was shocked by the commotion in Germany, Belgium and now also in Italy”.”
If it was a metaphor, the mom wouldn’t have said “naked eye”. The phrase would be something more like “She sees what other’s can’t or won’t. She can see CO2 flowing out of the smokestacks and affecting the earth, ” When you use a very precise term, it means very precise things.
She must be a sick little girl. How else can one explain why she thinks she knows more about the global warming scam at the immature age of 16 years,than thousands of grown up scientists who have studied the subject all their lives. Why on earth do mature adults follow her mis-guided beliefs is a mystery. But then all these people who follow the cult are themselves something of a mystery.
Listening to a child as if she has all the answers is just plain weird. She simply parrots what she has been told without any new or original ideas or solutions. I hope this lunacy marks the high water point of climate nonsense, because if gets stupider than this, heaven help us.
Mass crusades can get wildly stupid; stupid on steroids. I see the hysteria ramping up seemingly daily with the climate crusaders.
That you have to attack the person rather than the idea, shows just how desperate you are.
A gifted 16 year old can be articulate, show empathy, and understand the long-term implications of continuing greenhouse gas emissions. Suggesting that her opinions are due to her ‘disabilities’ is disgusting. Autism is not a disability, it is simply a different mode of thinking that many of us have to some degree. Accusing her parents of brain-washing with zero evidence is also a new low.
She does claim to see CO2 molecules, so…
That appears to be a false statement. It seems that it was a metaphor.
https://www.firstorderhistorians.com/2019/05/03/can-greta-thunberg-really-co2/
“Can Greta Thunberg really CO2?”
You get your info from a rag that kinda forgot the word “SEE” ? D’OH !
It is direct quote from her mothers book…
“She can see carbon dioxide with the naked eye. She sees how it flows out of chimneys and changes the atmosphere in a landfill.”
Read the whole translated section. The explanation seems plausible.
Even if it is backpedaling, her mother and publisher do not NOW say that Greta can literally see CO2 and Greta never made such a statement. I accept their explanation.
@R Shearer
Her mother said she can see it with the naked eye. If you need extra explanation to understand what that means then i suggest you have a comprehension problem.
Her publicist is quite obviously covering up this insanity to restore her credibility. You normally sound like a smart man. You’ve got a brain – use it.
I don’t think so. I think it’s backpedaling. They got caught making an irrational statement and are now doing damage control.
Exactly!
The hypocrisy of your first paragraph is very telling. The behaviour you described is by far more common from warmists. Anyone who DARES utter a different opinion when it comes to climate change is viciously attacked, their character besmirched and harassed. The ad hominem is the last bastion of the desperate and the warmists are very desperate.
As for Greta. She has stepped onto the world stage proclaiming that we need to make very serious changes and laying down baseless accusations. She clearly wants to be taken seriously, as do you, so therefore she must be held to account and answer serious questions. Hiding behind her “disabilities” or she’s a child to avoid criticism is just plain cowardice. Remember we are not the ones using a child – disabilities or not – to push a ideological point of view that will have far reaching consequences for all of us. Only dictatorships and cults do that.
Furthermore even with autism – which is a disability in some cases – she has not uttered a single sentence that could be described as constructive or sensible. I don’t see why we should be silenced and bullied simply because the warmists have no moral integrity and are utterly spineless in their contempt for free thinkers who will no bow to their every whim.
@Simon
Do let us know when the planet and deserts stop greening and the world stops producing record and bumper harvests year in year.
Here to help you-
Agriculture yields are up- https://ourworldindata.org/yields-and-land-use-in-agriculture#yields-since-1960.
Poverty has decreased- https://ourworldindata.org/a-history-of-global-living-conditions-in-5-charts.
Life expectancy has increased- https://ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy.
Deaths from weather related disasters have declined- https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/natural-disaster-death-rates?time=1900..2018.
It’s worse than I thought.
It’s simple, Simon…..
Simon.
It is a “different mode of thinking” that can lead us into gross error, as it obviously has in this case.
Nor is “empathy” a distinguishing characteristic of Aspergers… in fact it is something with which we have particular difficulty.
Nor is articulation, another distinctive weakness we share.
She may be gifted intellectually – that is not uncommon – but the frequent corollary is a bad case egotism, the belief that you are too smart to have to listen to anyone else.
Sound familiar?
We bring data to the fight. They can attack it, but won’t. They bring a delusional, emotional sixteen-year old. It is difficult to fight her facts when she has none. Her delusions and emotions are the only targets offered
It’s a bit like opponents who hide behind children. You do not want to harm to the children, but can not let the opponents win. That shameful situation was created by the immorality of the opponents.
So let’s take the higher ground, and be completely extremist in attacking her pseudonymously
There are really only two groups that use children like this – dictatorships or cults.
I just feel pity for her, she is a victim of child abuse, I mean being brought up with the constant fear inflicted upon her by her parents that she will die horribly by the age of thirty because of CC is just plain evil. However her being bandied around like she’s the second coming seems to have further reinforced a set of pathological behaviours pushed upon an impressionable girl by adults, and what we see is the culmination of a life time of abuse. I admire her conviction, but it’s deeply misplaced and we should call the adults that manipulate her for what they are – evil.
Buuurrrrrrn them!
Why doesn’t she hold her breath? Since she is able to see the vast amount of CO2 she exhales, the solution is simple.
Boy, you really showed us she was wrong about her critics!
That worked well in Africa.
The case of Greta might very well be a demonstration of the ability of parents to “act out” through their children, not by verbal instructions or coercion, but by nonverbal clues, projection and off-loading.
Now the field of clinical psychology is a minefield with many half theories and unproven therapies, some of them becoming religious in their nature (with regards to organizing mind and matter, goal and meaning). But the idea that children can act out whatever is moving inside the minds of parents or parental figures, that they could act as “sponge” and spit our some poison when the mental sponge is being saturated: I don’t think is being disputed across the board.
It’s in that light that the picture of Greta and all the information about her and her parents becomes rather coherent. The shocking thing then is that so many people, like all the supporters, made the decision not to question this setup. They should know better! This is not how life works. Are people now start abandoning the wisdom of their own life experiences and their critical mind when Climate is the topic? I guess they do.
Greta doesn’t know that it’s the alarmists who are the climate bullies.
Always.
Right – let’s git ‘er!
the tantrum when she realises its been a con and she wont be famous for any bar reasons of ridicule…
will be epic
Amazing this girl and her mother can see CO2 but can’t see that the planet and deserts are greening and the tropical forests are greening more due to the increase in CO2.
Seeing is actually a conversion of energy. Lightwave converted to electrical impulses within the optic nerve and off to the brain. Seeing is the act of creation and invention within the brain. As this article points out once your’e in there, who know’s what crap is added into the mix.
tropical forests are flowering…
I’ve written a few things about Greta over the last few months. Even about Ingmar Rentzhog, the PR man behind her and a henchman for Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. She started protesting the same week the so called “family” book was published.
I came across this quote a few months ago which is completely delusional unless she’s the second coming.
“Greta is able to see what other people cannot see, She can see carbon dioxide with the naked eye. She sees how it flows out of chimneys and changes the atmosphere in a landfill.”
That said, if anyone knows anything about the occult and the all seeing eye used by the elite you will recognise this for what it is. Just like all the other pawns who use the exact same symbolism. Doesn’t matter if you believe in it or not, its those that do that should be of concern with as it’s all over the world. It’s a message to the world and acknowledges who really is behind her.
As a historian there feels more than a few similarities to Joan of Arc here. And once Joan’s usefulness was over she was abandoned as I fear that dupe Greta will.
I’m waiting for her to offer the Piltdown Mann a crown.
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“I am indeed ”deeply disturbed” about the fact that these hate and conspiracy campaigns are allowed to go on and on and on just because we children communicate and act on the science. Where are the adults?”
That’s remarkably mature and fluent English for a “child” whose first language is not English, and who has been brought up in a non-English speaking country. One might almost wonder if she actually wrote it herself.
Greta has very good language skills. Dr. Nils-Axel Mörner (sea level) is Swedish and has the most wonderful boarding school English. My own spoken English is said not to be too bad either, although I am born Denmark. Greta’s English may very well be her own – I believe it is.
“…just because we children communicate and act on the science. Where are the adults?”
Just when and what “science” has she communicated? That CO2 is not an invisible gas? It’s been claimed that she was speaking metaphorically and not literally. That sounds more like a cover for something stupid she had said. But even if true then the poor kid has added CO2-phobia and/or a type of paranoia triggered by the thought of CO2 to her other mental issues.
Because if there’s one thing that inspires suspicion, it’s a precocious Scandinavian kid with good English.
Hmm.
I made a comment here about an hour ago. It was awaiting moderation for a while, but has now disappeared. It was not controversial – no more so than some of the comments above. My email address was correct – I have been receiving email updates to this post ever since.
Is there some reason why my post has been deleted?
“I have never seen a girl so young and with so many mental disorders treated by so many adults as a guru” Check history. As I recall, most “gurus” were mentally ill people. As the article states, the mentally ill have a certainty that a rational person does not and should not. That’s what draws people to them. People hate reality and will follow fantasy to the death, literally.
The “Asperger’s” BS. What a politically correct farce using a fake “illness” to allow the people to be worshipped. The girl’s diagnoses seems politically motivated (I immediately despise anyone who flaunts “my Aspergers” as a badge of their idiocy in believing in political lies and unscientific garbage.) However, you can’t criticize her now because just like race, NO ONE can ever question an Asperberger’s person, with their free plane rides (not Greta, of course), extra money from the government and saint-like position in society. Honestly, no matter what she says, I stopped caring at “Asperbergers” and will NEVER listen to her. EVER.
And yet here you are, fixated on what she’s saying.
Referenced in a twitter reply to Thunberg:
Falsification Of The Atmospheric CO2 Greenhouse Effects Within The Frame Of Physics
https://arxiv.org/pdf/0707.1161.pdf
Comments, analysis??
That’s a good paper – rather long but seems correct.
Search “CO2 pollution” in Google Images and you will find hundreds of shots of….water vapour billowing out of cooling towers. Usually backlit, (or photoshopped) to make the white cloud appear black, more in keeping with the “carbon emissions” meme, (by itself a subtley racist strategy?) it is not surprising that Greta would think she can see it.
If the 8th grade Swedish science teacher who scared her speechless for a year, was following the elementary school curriculum guides from NOAA to describe CO2 as “an invisible gas produced by dead animals and rotting plants” this could be described as “triggering” abuse? https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46347453
I don’t know maybe she is right. When you look at her post graduate education, the amount of research she has done and all the published papers she has written……..oh, wrong Greta.
Do you mean Dr. Judith Curry, Tom?
Expect to see more articles pointing out Greta’s ‘Frailties ? Its normal operating procedure for the media, build em up, to knock em down. The real surprise, or wonder here, must be that the parents of this unfortunate child lacked the guile to see they were placing their daughter in a position whereby whatever psychological problems she has, stand to be greatly enhanced by her rise and inevitable fall.