When Climate Communication Studies Start Sounding Like Self-Help Manuals for Technocrats

Every so often, Nature Climate Change publishes something that reads less like a scientific analysis and more like a frustrated internal memo from technocrats who can’t believe the general population hasn’t fallen in line yet. The latest installment, “Negative verbal probabilities undermine communication of climate science,” belongs to an increasingly familiar genre: studies attempting to psychoanalyze the public for failing to respond properly to elite messaging.

The central premise of this particular paper is as follows:

“We suggest that the negative verbal probabilities ...

This post is for VIP and Premium Subscribers Only. To sign up, click here.

28 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
davidlavi55
November 28, 2025 2:31 pm

This involves abandoning statements such as “a high temperature increase is unlikely” and replacing them with “a lower increase is likely.“ Would it be too much to ask for objective measures so that we can make a determination of how likely something is to occur? Maybe I ask for too much!

Decaf
Reply to  davidlavi55
November 28, 2025 2:59 pm

Yes, because they’re trying so hard to think for you.

Dale Mullen
November 28, 2025 2:51 pm

This post is for VIP and Premium Subscribers Only.”

This is strike number 1 in the decision whether or not to stay with and support WUWT?
Three strikes and you are out.

Reply to  Dale Mullen
November 28, 2025 3:16 pm

You get a strike too. Running a site cost money

Reply to  Duker
November 28, 2025 3:40 pm

I guess the last check from “Big Oil” must have bounced. /sarc

Jeff Alberts
Reply to  Charles Rotter
November 28, 2025 4:42 pm

Manuel? Is that you?

Reply to  Dale Mullen
November 28, 2025 3:51 pm

Just leave now.
Maybe you’ve commented before but I don’t remember ever seeing your name.
At the moment, the best I can do for WUWT is disable my Ad blocker.
What have you done?
“Money. Mouth.” Simple.

Reply to  Gunga Din
November 28, 2025 4:18 pm

Back in the day before I installed an Ad blocker, I used to get a lot of ads featuring a girl in her underwear selling work boots.
I blocked ads for a few years then I unblocked ads for WUWT.
She hasn’t shown up again. Pity.

Reply to  Gunga Din
November 28, 2025 4:45 pm

I get to learn about all the gorgeous young female millionaires in the local main town and how much they earn a week…….

Only one way I can think of them getting that sort of money 😉

KevinM
Reply to  bnice2000
November 28, 2025 8:03 pm

Yes but do you know how much it cost to get solar panels installed in (your town here)?

rhs
Reply to  Dale Mullen
November 28, 2025 3:57 pm

And your opinion is of sufficient importance that you’ll be missed?

David Goeden
Reply to  Dale Mullen
November 28, 2025 4:14 pm

There are many sites using this approach to stay on the internet.

Scarecrow Repair
Reply to  Dale Mullen
November 28, 2025 4:15 pm

Buh-bye. I hope the door hits you hard on the way out.

Jeff Alberts
Reply to  Scarecrow Repair
November 28, 2025 4:43 pm

Yeah. See ya, wouldn’t want to be ya,

Reply to  Dale Mullen
November 28, 2025 4:34 pm

Do not be absurd. All web sites cost money to run. They experiment with different methods of generating revenue, the most common being advertising and subscriptions.

I’ve been coming to this site from very nearly the beginning. I visit often, don’t use an ad blocker, so I drive a few pennies. Despite not being a VIP or Premium user, I learn and share a great deal on this site. If you choose to forego this site because some articles are pay walled, the loss is yours. The free articles are frequent and loaded with good content, and are far superior to the free articles from pretty much all the other climate centric sites combined.

Good luck with your journey.

Rud Istvan
Reply to  davidmhoffer
November 28, 2025 5:37 pm

DH, very similar. Been here since first accepted post 2011. No ad blocker, and main contribution until personal circumstances changed May 2024 (significant other unexpectedly passed away from double pneumonia) was deep research articles, many directly requested by CtM.

Reply to  Rud Istvan
November 29, 2025 12:12 am

You’re one of the people I’ve learned a lot from Rud. Thank you and condolences re your wife. I frequently refer people actually interested in learning to your e-book Blowing Smoke,

Dave Fair
Reply to  Rud Istvan
November 29, 2025 8:48 am

Condolences for your significant other’s passing, Rud. I always recommend your excellent “Blowing Smoke” ebook.

Jeff Alberts
Reply to  Dale Mullen
November 28, 2025 4:41 pm

I’d say it’s more like three strikes and YOU are out. No one will even know you’re gone.

November 28, 2025 3:32 pm

 “Negative verbal probabilities undermine communication of climate science,” belongs to an increasingly familiar genre: studies attempting to psychoanalyze the public for failing to respond properly to elite messaging.”

Sounds like the Ad campaign to sell widgets to the public has failed.
The public isn’t buying what they’re selling anymore.
Rather than fire the Ad agency (and those producing the snake-oil), they blame the public.

Jeff Alberts
November 28, 2025 4:46 pm

So, was the guy in the pic trying to put on a second shirt? “AI” sure has a lot to learn.

Reply to  Jeff Alberts
November 29, 2025 5:55 am

The guy in the picture is clearly demented- a common behavior, unfortunately for people with that problem. Maybe AI was trying to say that people who believe in the climate Satan are so damaged. 🙂

John Hultquist
November 28, 2025 5:31 pm

Marie Juanchich claims to be a behavioural scientist with a PhD in socio-cognitive psychology. Apparently, such folks have never read how real science is supposed to work. A good start would be Richard Feynman’s comments regarding experts, skepticism, and consensus.

Jeff Alberts
Reply to  John Hultquist
November 28, 2025 5:44 pm

PhD in socio-cognitive psychology”

That’s her entire problem right there.

Mr.
Reply to  Jeff Alberts
November 28, 2025 5:59 pm

Where would anyone taking such a course expect to get a proper job in the productive economy?

observa
Reply to  Mr.
November 28, 2025 6:11 pm

I suspect rational young men are working it out with the Great Feminisation of the sheltered workshops-
‘Years of instability’: WA students doubt ‘benefits’ of university merger plans

observa
November 28, 2025 5:50 pm
Verified by MonsterInsights