Guest “Good fracking grief!” by David Middleton
I do a lot of networking on LinkedIn. The vast majority of it is with oil & gas and other energy industry professionals and a broad range of geoscientists from multiple industries and academia. Generally, I try to avoid political debates on LinkedIn, because that’s not why I’m there… But, sometimes I just can’t resist.
This popped up in my news feed because a friend of mine commented on it:
Sarah XXXX 2nd
It seems this post is triggering the #climatedeniers. Whatever your views on Obama as a politician, it’s fascinating to see this flush out the anti-climate tropes – invariably delivered with sarcasm, whataboutery and as a defence mechanism by those in the sectors most affected by transition.
#climatecrisis#climateemergency#climateaction#sustainabledevelopmentgoals#SDGs#COP26
LinkedIn
It was accompanied by this narcissistic poster:
I’m redacting most of the names and only providing a direct link to the original post because I don’t know how accessible this is to those who aren’t on LinkedIn.
I just couldn’t resist reposting the image, with this comment:
“Just when you think things couldn’t get anymore moronic…”
Pretty well every civilization in human history felt the effect of climate change. Elements, the really stupid elements of our generation(s), are the first to be so narcissistic that they believe they “can do something about it.”
David Middleton
The first response was from a professor at University College London:
Dear David
It is clear that you have not had time to study the science or busy trying to justify fossil fuels – hence I wrote an article to cover all those denier arguments about the science.
https://theconversation.com/five-climate-change-science-misconceptions-debunked-122570
Mark XXXXXX (He/Him) 3rd
The article on The Conversation reads like a very weak Skeptical Science canned argument. This was my reply to Dr. Mark XXXXXX…
Dr. XXXXXX… Exactly what did I deny?
David Middleton
There was no response. But, Sarah, the author of the original post soon chimed in:
This quote should have mentioned the Anthropocene to be more accurate.
Sarah XXXX 2nd
Sarah’s comment was accompanied by this:
At this point, I was rolling on the floor, laughing my fracking @$$ off. I replied to her comment with this:
The Anthropocene does not exist as a geological time period. Periods ending with the syllable “-cene” are, by definition, epochs of the Cenozoic Era.
https://stratigraphy.org/chart
David Middleton
I accompanied the comment with this:
Undaunted by science, Sarah invoked Dr. Mark XXXXXX and his sidekick:
I think Prof Mark XXXXXX and Prof Simon L. XXXXX may beg to differ ….
https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Human_Planet.html?hl=fr&idrRNCDwAAQBAJ
Sarah XXXXX 2nd
My rebuttal…
The International Commission on Stratigraphy is the sole authority on the geological time scale. They don’t rely on science fiction and fantasy novels.
The Anthropocene Working Group has spent the past 12 years not coming up with a geologically coherent rationale for an Anthropocene Epoch.
David Middleton
Then… Dr. Mark XXXXXX popped in again…
Dear Sarah
Oh no here we go classic climate change denier arguments and this is when the Canada is under going the worst heat wave recorded and people are dying – and they will say it is all weather and nothing to do with pumping huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
And before you ‘fossil fuel’ guys reply please read this article just to make sure you come up with an original denier argument
https://theconversation.com/the-five-corrupt-pillars-of-climate-change-denial-122893
Mark XXXXXX (He/Him) 3rd
Surprise! Surprise! Another SkepSciBot canned argument!
I closed out the discussion with this pithy reply:
Send this to the International Commission on Stratigraphy… I’m certain they’ll fast track approval of an Anthropocene Epoch… 🙄
David Middleton
As of this morning, the International Commission on Stratigraphy has still not ratified the Anthropocene Epoch. Considering the fact that the Anthropocene Working Group hasn’t come up with a geologically coherent rationale for an Anthropocene Epoch in the 12 years they have been publishing newsletters, it’s a fairly safe bet that we will be living in the Holocene Epoch for the foreseeable future. Simon Turner, co-author of Sarah’s Science Fiction novel is actually a member of the AWG. As of August 2019, they expected to have a proposal ready by 2021. The new target is 2024.
Technically, the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) would have to approve it and it would have to be ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
The utility of the Anthropocene requires careful consideration by its various potential users. Its concept is fundamentally different from the chronostratigraphic units that are established by ICS in that the documentation and study of the human impact on the Earth system are based more on direct human observation than on a stratigraphic record. The drive to officially recognize the Anthropocene may, in fact, be political rather than scientific.
Finney & Edwards, 2016
Finney, Stanley C. & Lucy E. Edwards. “The “Anthropocene” epoch: Scientific decision or political statement?” GSA Today, 2016; 26 (3): 4 DOI: 10.1130/GSATG270A.1
Dr. Stanley Finney is the Secretary General of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), which would have to ratify any formal changes to the geologic time scale.
Conclusions
Apparently, the following are “classic climate change denier arguments”:
- The fact that many, if not all, previous human generations have felt the effects of climate change.
- The fact that this is the first generation, narcissistic enough to think they can halt climate change.
- The fact that the Anthropocene doesn’t exist as a geological time period.
But none of these are the funniest part of this story. I wanted to verify that Obama actually said something that narcissistic; so I Googled the phrase: “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change, and the last generation that can do something about it.” He did utter those exact words in 2015… Such eloquence! (/SARC)
As one of America’s governors has said, “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change, and the last generation that can do something about it.”
Barrack Hussein Obama, November 30, 2015
Barry-O was actually quoting the only person in government dumber than Joe Biden, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee…
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Unfortunately, the stuff that is being done about climate change; pan-propaganda and Carbon Taxing, has many benefactors and I am sure I am not one of them. Fortunately, the pan-propaganda and climate tax (carbon tax) are transparent enough that many kids I talk to 16-25 are fully aware of the the immense hypocrisy. I think the young kids coming up now refuse to be vilified and devalued simply because they are (Anthropos) human by fringe carpet baggers and scallywags and megalomaniacal global elites. They are going to do what makes sense with their dollars and they are going to keep having babies. Until we have “The Battery”…. all this harangue about climate change and fossil fuel just needs to shut tight. “The Battery”, if it is truly, “The Battery” will not need bad science, bad propaganda and bad taxes to sell it. It will sell like hotcakes, if it is economically viable and beneficial to people in their local economies. It “the Battery” happens, then the demand for fossil fuel drops like a rock. As a consumer, I do not have any loyalty to fossil fuel or the grid. I am going to vote with my dollars for the best deal… the one that financially empowers me…and my local community. Give me “the Battery” that works, and there might come a time soon after that I might never give fossil fuel or the grid another dollar unless forced to by bought politicians. Until then, I will be happy to buy all the fossil fuel I need enjoying every minute of it. So let’s get back to the fun stuff…. climate science. Where is long range winter forecast?
True Believers are always happy to Climatesplain things to you, aren’t they? They are so very helpful that way.
Here’s actually another angle now that I think about it:
if we are “the first generation to experience climate change” does that mean that mankind officially didn’t exist during the last Ice Age ? Did they really just truncate human history to the last oooh …. say 9500 years (or less) ?
Please let them keep their “climate change solutions” to their world, safely hidden away in their computer models and fertile, if hallucinogenic fueled minds ….
Many human generations have experienced climate change faster and more dangerous than now.
It’s also unclear what if anything humans can do to stop climate change.
Plus, this generation is far better equipped to deal with any observable change in climate.
Unfortunately our enemies are eliminating these tools as fast as possible to create a self-fulfilling prophecy. (though I’m pretty sure I can handle a worst case 1.5C change in an entire lifetime)
The way the Warmunists tell us to fear Climate Change(TM) (though they don’t themselves reflect such fear) they make it sound like Climate Change(TM) will do to the whole World what Vesuvius did to Pompeii, instead of “changes” that would take instruments of mythical sensitivity to detect spread over decades or even centuries.
Looks like geologists operate on a “consensus” when it comes to naming things.
That’s how communication works. If every geologist used their own personal geological time scales, communication wouldn’t work very well.
Do the ICS and the UGS arrive at their decisions by voting?
Deciding what to call something, is not science. It’s nomenclature.
Are you really this desperate to make a fool of yourself?
Geologists also operate on undisputable, observed physical realities, Joe.
No “consensus” needed.
We do actually have to agree on what to call things.
If I say, “Dude, hand me the Brunton Compass”, and she throws me an Estwing rock hammer, we have a few problems… Particularly if it hits me in the head and I was wearing a hairnet instead of the hardhat, I was told to wear… ⛏️⚒️😎
Yeah but what do you geologists agree to call conjectures or ooga-booga doomsday speculations, David?
Are there mechanisms for arriving at “consensus” for such developments?
We don’t have an International Commission on ooga-booga doomsday speculations… Yet.
…but there will be a vote on establishing such a committee in the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting.
You mean a hairnet can’t “identify” as a hard hat? Fancy that!
And one of the great ironies of life is that ‘woke’ progressives aren’t happy about anything that happened in the past and want to re-name everything, eliminate capitalization, change spellings, and forbid what they call “trigger words.” What’s worse, they make the changes frequently.
Take the example of how the descendants of former African slaves want to be referred to. Originally they were referred to with a corruption of one of the major countries of origin, Niger, which means black in Portuguese. They now complain loudly if anyone of non-African heritage uses the “N-word.” After emancipation, they were frequently referred to with derogatory names such as “spades” and worse, most commonly the hated “N-word.” As they began to gain more political power, an organization was formed called the National Association of Colored People; it still exists. However, some object to the term “Colored People.” About the time of the Black Panther party, “Black” was popular, which is Niger in Portuguese. They often sported a hair style called an Afro. They then wanted to be called African-American, which is redundant. Except for the native Americans, who came here from Siberia, the rest of us of more recent arrival are “[region of origin] hyphenated Americans,” as in Irish-American or Asian-American. As of late it seems that the general membership has been broadened and the preferred term is “People of Color,” as though European-Americans lack pigment in their skin. “Brother,” “Bro,” and various other terms are used among themselves. The point being, that the acceptable names keep changing, and will probably continue to do so to the consternation of those outside the liberal/progressive circle. Thus, we are often on the defensive if we use a term of reference that is no longer acceptable. I’m reminded of the line by Shakespeare: “A rose by any other name is just as sweet.” Certainly, the habit of changing things frequently does not improve communication
Amazing that, when they decide what to name something, they all agree on what the name should be. I guess in your world everyone gets to decide on their own what words mean,
This is completely different from using “consensus” to dictate what the correct results of any study are supposed to be.
“When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less”
And when it falls from your lips, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men can’t put it back where it came from.
We live during the Obcene; The way the Climate Liars and their toadies have foisted their CAGW ideology onto humanity is disgusting.
looking at extinction rebellion it’s more Makacene
Climate debate on LinkedIn might be career suicide for some.
That’s why I’m not on any of what I call “Anti-Social Media.”
Thank you David. One of the most excruciating aspects of all of this is the appalling IGNORANCE of these alarmists. These people are so passionate – and so DUMB. There is a direct read across to the ‘woke’ youngsters; both are communities where actual facts have little or no relevance.
Maybe not dumb per se, but just deluded. I know plenty of otherwise intelligent individuals who gobble up the climate bullshit hook, line and sinker.
“It isn’t so much that liberals are stupid. It’s just that they know so many things that aren’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
Professor Mark Maslin was on BBC Radio last month plugging his new book and putting forward classic climate alarmist arguments.
It seems to be a self flagellation exercise to try and debate the believers of CAGW. It isn’t a science discussion, but a mixture of anecdotes such as a heat wave (they would rightly criticize any one on the other side who claimed a cold wave as evidence against global warming, diversionary smears (trying to support oil and gas) and personal attacks. No matter how much objective evidence is presented to show the holes in this theory there will be an unscientific response akin to reciting their end-of-times mantra. In the public realm where this really matters the voters are not making decisions based on reason and fact but on emotional appeal. Trump knew that better than anyone and used it to his advantage and to the disadvantage of those who underestimated his intellect. Those who want to restructure our entire society using imaginary CAWG as a motivation also know this. If only people learned critical thinking in school.
Critical thinking occurs at the ballot box when taxpayers are asked to fund the fraudsters. Yellow vests always win in the long run.
Since 1585, perihelion has always occurred after the austral summer solstice in the present precession cycle. That means the northern hemisphere is in a warming phase that will persist for the next 12,000 years. Warmth will be most noticeable in the higher northern latitudes.
The Mediterranean Sea will reach the upper ocean limit of 30C in this cycle and will experience monsoon conditions, bringing more rain to the bordering land masses.
Earth’s orbit is always changing and it follows that there is always changing climate.
Southern Hemisphere has been in a cooling phase since 1585.
I’m not even saying I agree, but it’s far more plausible than, “CO2 done it!”
May I suggest Dumb-@ur momisugly$$-ian as the name of the new Epoch? That’s one that we Climate Realists and Climate Chicken Littles can agree upon. If it must be Greek or Latin, how about ParaLogos-ian.
Bloggocene
“We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change…”
Tell that to the Dust Bowl Okies of the 1930s!
Tell that to the people in the 1600s depth of the Little Ice Age, when the weather went nuts and the human population was reduced by one third!
Tell that to the Greenland Vikings, who all died out (or possibly fled to warmer climes)!
I survived the great heatwave of 21 in Vancouver – wow! Really didn’t seem like a great big deal – in the old days we called it summer, but things change for the dumber…
How dare you try to disparage our wonderful Governor!
{Poe’s Law}
I do wonder what he is full of.
I looked at the article. It starts with an ad-hominem fallacy accusing denialists of getting massive paychecks from oil companies. (where’s mine?)
The next argument is that it would take a conspiracy of thousands of scientists for it to be incorrect. The proper response to this is as follows: why did bloodletting remain a phsysician-approved therapy for so long? There was complete concensus by every medical organisation that it worked..yet it did not. Was it a conspiracy? No, its just that they were all in on the gravy train.
It isn’t necessary to be cynical about the motivation behind the longevity of blood letting. As long as there is a culture of obsequience to authority, and suppression of skepticism, such practices will continue.
Your interlocutor Professor Mark Maslin has 45 articles up at the Conversation. Besides his full time job as a professor warning about climate change, he’s also a founder director of Rezatec, a company that sells satellite data to people who are worried about climate change. I reviewed his new book here
https://cliscep.com/2021/05/20/mark-maslins-mein-kampf/
The human race, to the earth, is but like a flea on an elephant; it basely notices. The human race will, like most animals that have ever existed, go extinct but the earth will carry on un-noticing and uncaring.
A lot of our “leaders” are trying to play King Canute but he only got wet: I dread to think what will happen to us as our “leaders” try to “turn back the tide”.
Oops! Typo. It barely notices.
I really appreciate the logic in David Middleton’s head posting here, including his implication (in the Conclusions) that basically only narcissicists would assume that they have the power to adjust the earth’s climate or to strategize that way. However, I wonder if this particular psychology term, “narcissicism” is really strong enough for this. For instance, maybe “megalomania” would really cover it, for the exaggerated self regard implied, or for the unrealistic assumption of the relevance of our schemes to planet Earth?
As George Carlin indicated in his brilliantly rude and funny way, the Earth is far too large — with far too good a track record of persisting through all sorts of natural extremes — for reasonable people to assume that what they try to plan will really change much of anything, climate wise. Narcissists, megalomanics, and/or their followers or hangers on, all trying to “save the Earth”, indeed!
Narcissism might not be exactly the right word… But it fits.
ABC downunder also keep raving the anthropocene meme
between the climate covid lgbtqwhatsit and aboriginal content theres little room for any truth or sanity there anymore
oh and yeah they DO push the conversation webpages
In light of the desire by climate alarmists to claim the hot three days and subsequent deaths experienced in North America’s North West last week was an example of man made global warming.
Can I offer them, an aid to exaggeration that has been tried and well tested over the past year here in the UK.
Why not rope in all those who die within 28 days of the heat event? That way you can include everyone who may have had a bit of heatstroke or lack of hydration or any of the other myriad of conditions associated with warm weather. Plus you can include all those who would have died due to nature deciding the time to pass on had arrived, anyway.
The alarmists just need to get imaginative…..
If it weren’t for David Middleton, and others of his ilk, this wouldn’t be any fun.
I think I’m going to term this Particular Period In History as the Butthead Epoch.
I truly do wish occasionally that I could borrow the Tardis from the Doctor and drop these Buttheads off in a semi-dry spot in the Carboniferous period, and watch them squeal in horror at the swarms of Meganeura and those 6 foot long centipedes.
Just in case anyone is wondering if the giant centipedes have dies out, well, not really. I’ve seen photos, from the time we had troops in South Vietnam, of guys holding up 3++ foot long centipedes. Some things really never go away.
The whole argument is about controlling something they can’t control and are too vainglorious to admit to that failure.
I think that’s called hubris…..