Letters to the Editor
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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Majorajam makes an excellent point about skepticism. If a scientist with training in my field wants to challenge the conclusions I’ve drawn based on my data analysis, I’ll take on that debate any day. If someone who knows nothing about my field (and has no training in science to boot) wants to insist that I’m wrong, well… whatever.
About fossil fuels: the problem is that combustion of fossil fuels is a very recent (on a geologic timescale) source of CO2—the carbon sequestered in fossil fuels has not been part of the atmospheric carbon cycle for millions and millions (and millions…) of years. There is a natural background level of CO2 emissions from volcanic activity, cellular respiration by living organisms, naturally caused forest fires, etc. So although burning fossil fuels is not the biggest source of CO2, it’s the biggest contributor to the increasing levels of it in the atmosphere.
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Come on with the unreasoned 'global warming doubtful' nonsense.
Ms. Paglia writes:
"However, I am a skeptic about what is currently called global warming. I have been highly suspicious for years about the political agenda that has slowly accrued around this issue."
Fine - but what about the *scientists* whose research backs the trend of human-caused global warming?
Ms. Paglia doesn't offer any reasons why the research of the vast overwhelming majority of scientists are wrong, why their conclusions are wrong, or what other factors have any real likelihood of causing the same results.
She doesn't even bother to show what the "distortions and manipulations" she accuses Al Gore of, actually are.
All she expresses here is doubt and suspicion without reason - which is obviously as unreliable as faith and credulity without reason.
Ms. Paglia is a lively and skilful writer. I hope to see her correct this lack of application of logic and reason to her arguments.
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Anybody Read 'Spiked'?
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/1782/
http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/0000000CA6CC.htm
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/1019/
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/2045/
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/1291/
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/2948/
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/2898/
http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/2999/
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Good God, SHAM, lighten up
"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."
Well, I don't want to point out the overly obvious, but I'm not sure where you stand on this. Cults based on pseudo-science are different from real science. I actually agree that the majority of that list above is a pretty good list of modern day superstitions--but to include global warming and environmentalism? Please.
So don't blame science for being the seed of New Age cults.
You can say that maybe some global warming activists might jump the gun a little on the exact causation of climate change. But even Richard Lindzen is admitting that, yes, there is climate change. His Newsweek musings are one scientist's opinion, and we won't know who's right until enough time and evidence accumulates. He's already stating something a little different than his WSJ piece a year ago.
About cults, though. Ever hear about the Left Behind series? Bush sure has. I'd say the apocalyptic evangelicals are more powerful than the nutritional supplements industry, or at least comparable in influece. Why aren't you including them on your list?
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Camille Paglia is Salon's Paid Troll
And maybe if I sign my name, you won't delete this one? Hmmm...criticism of Salon's page-view inflating monetizing policies not permitted?
It's clear that the sole purpose in running this bloviating drivel is to drive page views.
How cynical can you get, Salon?
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Where's your evidence, Camille?
So...a non-scientist rejects the idea of a concensus among real scientists about man-made global warming, for reasons that have nothing to do with the science. And she expects her opinion to outweigh that of more knowledgeable parties...why?
You called Gore all kinds of names and called his movie "emotional," Ms. Paglia, but you made no attempt, either to refute his claims, or to point us to any evidence that might support your counterclaims. All you privided, in fact, was some pretty emotional rejection of your own. Your assertion that us humans are too puny to affect the Earth's climate may make you feel less responsible for your actions, but it is flatly contrary to a lot of well-documented observations.
You were right on one thing, though: we environmentalists do indeed have a political agenda: we'd like to keep our planet habitable, and leave our kids a world that's at least as beautiful and hospitable as the one we inherited from our parents. You got a problem with that?
Of course, since you now seem to be pandering to an audience of Ann Coulter fans, I guess we can't expect anything of substance from you...
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Is Man co2 emission the biggest contributer to global warming?
If the total co2 emissions by man are no more than 10% of all co2 emissions on earth then how can we be certain that the over all rise in co2 is from man's contribution and not nature? Even if it is man's contribution of co2 is the cause, we need to ask the questions very carefully and not jump to conclusions. I am sorry
the global warming argument has taken on a religios status with all of the zealotry of a full blown belief.
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She's a shit-stirrer! Duh!
That's why there's THIRTY-THREE PAGES of letters on her latest column. So stop asking Joan Walsh why she publishes this stuff. It's the intellectual equivalent of Combos.
You hate them, you know they're garbage, and if your roommate doesn't pass you that fucking bag, you will leap over the coffee table and pummel him unconscious just to get them.
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Blather on
There's a lot of letters. Too many to read them all.
I think it's funny that Camille rankles readers so much.
Too bad she "Jumped the Shark" at least a decade ago.
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Liberals celebrating honor killings?
I missed any reports about "liberals" celebrating honor killings in Detroit. Given the lack of attribution to any identifiable figure and the self-evident illiberality of homicide in general, let alone to uphold such "conservative" values as "honor", Ms. Paglia's allegation does not inspire confidence in her integrity.