Letters to the Editor
-
Xrandadu Hutman
You'll find most of [the] politicization comes from the right wing, largely because to admit it's happening would imply responsibility for doing something about it.
I'm not sure that I agree with that; and even if it were true, it'd be a mistake to be allow ourselves to get too smug about it. It seems obvious to me that there's rampant politization on the left here, as well - the proof is the sheer number of laypeople who are willing to weigh in with absolute certainty on such a massively complex and technical matter.
While it's undeniable that there has been shameless and repugnant disingenuity on the half of the right wing on this issue (and it doesn't take the Shell Answer Man to discern a motive), it's equally undeniable that well meaning folks with honest concerns have been frequently shouted down by angry masses of folks who really should just STFU and let the scientists handle it. Regardless of where you sit on the issue of Global Warning, that's something that we all should abhor.
-
Cults
"Sam, or whatever your name is, could you please detail again what you feel to be the many "terrifying" holes in the human-caused climate change theory? The one that you offered, "some believers seem hateful and cultish," is irrelevant to the actual science."
No it's not, it's my point: cults don't allow outside ideas to intrude on their beliefs. And they won't let little things, like facts, get in the way of their beliefs. They will press on, no matter what. And there ARE science cults. (Scientology anyone?) Cults - around homeopathy. Therapeutic Touch. Global Warming and the Environment. Accupuncture. Chiropractic. Organic Foods. Qigong. Yoga. The list goes on.
And I'm sick of it.
-
The Swiftboating of Camille Paglia
A few people have asked in this thread, "Did Camille Paglia write the letters that she then answers?"
I think this is a fair question. In fact, it's more than fair, I think it demands a response from the Salon editors and/or Paglia herself.
I would recommend not pursuing a career in textual analysis.
http://letters.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2007/01/23/state_of_parties/view/index2.html?show=all Daniel Helming
http://archive.salon.com/tech/letters/2002/05/31/fat_asses/index2.html Ted ("T.") DiSante
http://archive.salon.com/people/col/pagl/2000/06/09/education/index1.html Hugh Greentree
http://letters.salon.com/c1f435a178c392170e28f29fcb0a5d60/author/index.html Connor Ryan
-
Please make her go away
Dear Editor Walsh,
I just let my Premium membership expire and I'm not going to renew as long as you publish this bloviating egomaniac. If I want to read another skeptical opinion on global warming I'll check in with one of the many Exxon-Mobil-funded think tanks instead of paying for the privilege on Salon.
-
RESULTS OF THE “BEST CAMILLE TAKEDOWN CONTEST”!!!
On page 2 of these letters, ガガ ガガ ガガ proposed the idea for a Best Camille Takedown contest. Since then, several others and myself have agreed that this’d be a satisfyingly awesome endeavor. Unfortunately, the Editor’s Choices were pretty tame. Thus, I elected myself Arbiter of Ceremonies and hereby dispatch my own awards.
In no particular order, these awards go to:
dthuleen, for stripping away the fluff very early on and laying out the meat of Camille's “argument” for analysis:
http://letters.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2007/04/11/global_warming/permalink/e64dade9debed8041bf92bbacdd0f4d3.html
Mike_in_NM,for simply being levelheaded and frank:
http://letters.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2007/04/11/global_warming/permalink/aa30f163559b22089855ec530c0b2bf2.html
Greg in FL, for pointing us to an excellent article on past and present cause and effect (lead vs lag) relationships between global temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentrations
http://letters.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2007/04/11/global_warming/permalink/173544c5c3ad4c1566d456194f994030.html
Yossarian earns The Lifetime Achievement Award. He was the first to call Camille a “right wing toady”, and he has shown incredible stamina and persistence pertaining to knocking all things Camille.
http://letters.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/10/27/paglia/permalink/17d9acb8f4ea3064c6717640e2f31b4e.html
AND he was the first to notice her “Democrat Party” slip:
http://letters.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2007/04/11/global_warming/permalink/50d1cad37c3b164cb899862438626bc8.html
Finally... for the thoroughest line-by-line commentary and BEST OVERALL TAKEDOWN, the award goes to:
Xrandadu Hutman, for his essay in two parts:
http://letters.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2007/04/11/global_warming/permalink/1e2a258991b94319ec7f5b9c8f5938cf.html
http://letters.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2007/04/11/global_warming/permalink/88592270fd4751f5982e6901024d2e50.html
Damn you, Salon. When I feel like reading trash and studying the tactics of dishonest rhetorical combat, I give Matt Drudge a visit. I have been a subscriber to and addict of Salon Premium since March of 2002, and I have never read an article that has come remotely close to being as bad as this one. By “bad”, I mean it in the Jon-Stewart-goes-on-Crossfire-and-tells-Tucker-Carlson-he’s-hurting-America-kind-of-way. Bad.
There needs to be some official response, and not some candy-coated wishy washy “but lookit all the great debate this prompted!” These letters from readers don’t represent debate. They represent disgust. I want to see one of your editors rhetorically body-slam Camille. Or, just make a link from the Salon homepage to these here results from ガガ ガガ ガガ’s contest. You gave a very loud megaphone to a blathering troll of an idiot; now give us a turn.
-
OH, BTW - Camille wrote about cults on the Left before:
http://www.bu.edu/arion/paglia_cults00.htm
Look at the history - and yourselves - and try to understand what's going on.
-
OH, BTW - S.H.A.M. stands for Self-Help And Actualization Movement (Oprah's Cult)
http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/Sham/
-
The truth is out there
Watch this video on YouTube:
The great global warming swindle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XttV2C6B8pU
-
Well, not it's not equally undeniable at all
"While it's undeniable that there has been shameless and repugnant disingenuity on the half of the right wing on this issue (and it doesn't take the Shell Answer Man to discern a motive), it's equally undeniable that well meaning folks with honest concerns have been frequently shouted down by angry masses of folks who really should just STFU and let the scientists handle it. Regardless of where you sit on the issue of Global Warning, that's something that we all should abhor."
For the most part, laypeople here are not "weighing in" in the maaner you're trying to ascribe to them. They are simply repeating what the vast majority of the scientific community is reporting. Where are all these well meaning folks who blah, blah, blah? Seems like they're mostly a ruse you're using to construct an argument. Btw, the scientists are handling and have come to some basic conclusions so trying to play like it's an open question is somewhat disingenuous.