On this traditional day of reflection and thanks, it is only fitting that I give thanks to the many many people who have made WUWT what it is today, and helped me personally.
From memory (which is of course imperfect, so I have likely missed dozens if not hundreds) I offer my thanks to these people.
Charles Rotter aka CTM or Charles the Moderator Charles gets a special place all by himself at the top, for reasons to numerous to mention, but also because he has kept WUWT going over the last year after I went into survival mode after the disastrous camp fire in Paradise. I’m about to come out of that, read on.
Mark Steyn, Melissa Howe, Andrew Lawton, Steve McIntyre, Ross McKitrick, Richard Lindzen, Willis Eschenbach, Christopher Monckton, Roger Pielke Sr., Roy Spencer, John Christy, Patrick Moore, Judith Curry, Evan Jones, Eric Worrall, Harold Ambler, David Middleton, Bob Tisdale, Chris Horner, Joseph Bast, Sterling Burnett, Robert E. Phelan (REP) (deceased), Thomas P., Mike L., Mike J., Andy C., Verity J., Lee K., Robert C., Keith B., James Taylor, Jim Lakely, Keely Drukala, Andrew Singer, Nikki Comerford, Frank Lasee, Malon W., Kennneth P., Jennifer Marohasy, Peter Ridd, Andrew Bolt, Jo Nova, David Archibald, Malcolm Roberts, Andrew Montford, Josh Gifford, Benny Peiser, Marc Morano, Pierre Gosselin, Ryan Maue, Paul Matthews, Tom Nelson, Chris Martz, Mike Smith, Marcel Crok, Mike Bastasch, Barry Woods, Richard Drake, Nic Lewis, David Rose, John Coleman (deceased), Joe D’Aleo, Chris Bortz, Mike Jonas, Jimmy Haigh, David Little, Mike Wolcott, Dino Corbin, and Rick Anderson.
I’m sure I’ve missed several people. Apologies.
Last, and most certainly least, is Michael Mann, who has done more to create readers and climate skeptics than anyone I know.
Now, the news:
After a year of mostly being on Hiatus, I’m coming back to regular daily operations in January 2020. There will be an announcement forthcoming related to that and to the larger news that enables me to spend much more time at WUWT than ever before. This will include some plans for expansion, as well as some significant changes about how we operate.
One change will affect our readers, and make for a better reading and commenting experience overall.
One of the biggest problems we’ve had is with trolls that use fake names, fake emails, and fake connections (proxys) to threadbomb. One in particular in Oregon has bragged about it, one in Canada made threats, and I called the police on him.
And, it keeps happening; some people who are narcissistic mann-equins think they are entitled to do it, because they are holier-than-thou defenders of the planet or something. Some of these same people also impersonate other commenters here. We’ve stopped them all (at least we think we have). But, we need better tools to detect and stop this.
So, around the first of the year, WUWT will no longer be an open commenting system, it will require registration to comment. Many, many, websites that allow comments require this, and it has become clear to me, that we need to go that direction too. Doing so will help keep the quality of conversation elevated, and will only require a one-time registration that will take about two minutes to complete. It will stop the trolls, the impersonators, and the drive-bys and give us a tool for enforcing our commenting policy. It will also ease moderation duties. Reading content will still be publicly available as I abhor paywalls.
And there will be other changes, including better search, better commenting tools, and an expanded reference section drawing from the WUWT archives that will be suitable for sharing.
The plan is simple: A rising tide lifts all boats, where the “boats” is climate skepticism worldwide.
Thank you, all of you. My sincerest best wishes.
P.S. If you are so inclined, you can support WUWT by shopping on Amazon during Black Friday Deals. Simply follow this link:
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Thanks to you Anthony!
Best regards.
Thank YOU and “The ModSquad” for what you started and the … attitude (?) … in moderation that has prevailed over the years. That is, stay within site policy and even if what you say is idiotic, your comment will be allowed.
A “snip” may appear, but not to censor an opposing opinion.
It might take awhile, but I hope that those who often disagree (Nick Stokes, Mosh, even Griff) won’t take registration as an attempt at censorship.
I don’t mean to speak for you but, those who disagree are invited and encouraged to comment and/or post. Just do it honestly. Same for those who generally agree.
Except for an occasional typo, I’ve only commented here using two names. I used my real first name for my first few comments back in 2012 or so. When I realized I was going to comment more and that my job could be at risk if I said something that might identify me to the Green Goon/PC Squad at work (I have a government job), I contacted Anthony and told him I was going to go by “Gunga Din” and why.
Also, Outside of a, group, club, I’d never run into it. I hate needing to register to make a comment. I first noticed it a couple of years ago at JunkScience.com. If there was an explanation for it, I missed it. The idea was new to me. I haven’t commented there since.
I never went far enough to find out why.
You explained that and it makes sense. Weed out the bots and those attacking the site rather than those just disagreeing with an idea.
Guess I’ll go register at JunkScience.com. 😎
(But maybe in the morning. It’s after midnight here. “Thanksgiving Day” here ended at midnight. But there’s lots to be thankful for everyday. )
Many thanks, Anthony.
Like all the other, I wish to thank you for all your incredible efforts.
Without you and those on the list at the start of your post we’d be in even more trouble than we already.
The climate alarmism juggernaut will just keep going.
Welcome back Anthony – great things to come!
Thank you Anthony for everything you’ve done already – and everything you will be doing in the future. What a bastion of hope and truth WUWT has been all these years. It’s great news that you have made such a good recovery. We all need to be on our best form to fight against the unbelievable world climate hysteria that is currently raging.
A very happy Thanksgiving to you and ALL the great team there (from one of your many admirers and followers in the UK).
Luc
“We all need to be on our best form to fight against the unbelievable world climate hysteria that is currently raging.”
Yes, we do. It’s a tough public relations fight we are in and we have to be up to the task. That’s one of the beauties of WUWT: The alarmists try to overwhelm people with details but WUWT commentary sorts all those details out and gives perspective to the wild, unsupportable claims of the alarmists.
Although I know nothing of these things, I’m surprised there isn’t software which recognises email addresses (as being legitimate and acceptable) and doesn’t put those that are, in the Awaiting Moderation or Trash bin. Some sites I’ve visited actually tell you that (“Awaiting moderation”) which is useful because at least you know your comment hasn’t disappeared into a black hole. I’ve been posting here for upwards of ten years yet I still don’t know if my comment has been lost, until some time later.
It’s already been said by the many posters above but it bears repeating, anyway! Thanks for your site, Anthony, and thanks to the many contributors who have improved my own knowledge on so many topics over the years I’ve been visiting here. Keep up the good work & let’s hope for some “wins” on the side of real science in 2020 & beyond.
Funny – I have followed this site for years, but never commented as I didn’t want the hassle of registering.
Keep up the great work Anthony.
You have informed, inspired, encouraged. These are inadequate words, but will have to do for now. Thank you for your heart, your brain and your guts.
You guys keep my sanity. Really glad to hear you are back into things Anthony.
You’re welcome Anthony. Happy Thanksgiving!
Good to hear you’ll be back in action.
Congratulations on this outstanding WUWT site.
Thank you Anthony for allowing this ignorant layman to learn a little bit from the amazing people on here. More than just about our wonderful planet, but also about the scientific method.
Registration is a great policy and I’m happy to go under my real name if required. I mean, I’m ‘out’ now on my Facebook page, in fact I’ve been blocked by a number of alarmists, which is surprisingly satisfying after countering every argument they can come up with.
Lang may yer lum reek!
Well done!
I find myself yet again, to be unable to donate to this great resources and the immense efforts of you and your moderators and contributors.
I am not a political fan by any means however, Trump is right. Fake news is rife through out the world!
It’s good to see you back. I hope you’ve been well and look forward to hearing more from you.
Thank you for years of reading and learning at your site Anthony. I am very glad I discovered it years ago, along with Jo Nova’s site. All good wishes to you and all the team, keep up the good work and, not least, I’m very glad to hear that you are coming out of the firestorm big shock to your health.
Thank you, Mr Watts ! You are warming my brain and my heart failing the climate, because, here in France, the propaganda is everywhere and it’s unbearable. We have to endure green stupidities at each minute of the day !
Bravo bravo bravo. Can’t wait to register
Anthony, many thanks for what you have done. I will be registering.
Best wishes.
Anthony, thank you for all your efforts, it’s good to hear you’ll soon be back in the saddle. Could I suggest that your reference pages get an update? When I first started visiting wuwt, I soon made the solar, ice and El Niño pages a regular stopping spot. Unfortunately, many of the links on those pages no longer appear to update, which is especially frustrating when tracking things like the onset of Arctic sea ice freeze up.
Thank you Antony for the all work you have put in over the years to make this channel the success that it is. Appreciation as well goes to all the contributors, which includes commentators, I have learnt a huge amount coming here over the years. While at it, if a bit early, may I wish all those who celebrate Christmas a happy time and to everyone, all the best for 2020.
THank You Anthony for many years of understanding “Climate”
This is terrific news. WUWT is a great credit to you, Anthony, and all you have named.
Thank you for such a valuable and enduring resource. I came to WUWT in fairly early days, pointed here by the late Christopher Booker; I was already a ‘skeptic’, but was bewildered by the turn that the public argument seemed to be taking. I was only beginning to realize how big and nasty the Green Blob had grown. When I discovered WUWT, I found that I was in the company of like minds, many of whom knew much more than I did about all the relevant issues. So, thank you! When the pay cheque from the oil industry finally arrives, I hope your share is a big one. (does that need a ‘sarc’? Sad, that it might)