I've (officially) lost all hope

[wrath of medusa]

Our species may be doomed. That's my assessment after a discussion with coworkers about climate change and general science. These are not dumb people I'm dealing with, but average Americans in a liberal state. But the lack of knowledge... the flat denial of fact is astonishing and saddening. Part of me has died inside because I've lost large amounts of respect for these individuals.

How do the rest of you deal with this sort of thing? One person brought up the debunked email fraud and I told him it wasn't true, but he kept insisting. Another said we "can't know anything for sure" as if that's an answer. I just don't get it. Our entire modern civilisation is based on science but these guys deny the scientific method works. How do we tackle climate change in the face of such willful ignorance?

[JaneyVee]

1. By listening to the experts, who OVERWHELMINGLY agree on reality of climate change.

[wrath of medusa]

4. How does that convince

people who deny the experts are experts? Half the country thinks the world is 6000 years old. Tell me a plan to change that. Mandatory critical thought classes? Classes in high school specifically for debunking religious dogma? What's the answer? Our current system is failing badly.

[TrogL]

16. Critical thinking in high school would be an idea

Assuming it isn't banned

[Auntie Bush]

24. Some congress critter actually requested the schools don't teach Critical thinking.

I was horrified with disbelief when I heard that. Don't think the idea was well received.

[cantbeserious]

2. Willful Ignorance, TV Ignoramuses and Low Information Citizens - My Expectations Are Very Low

eom

[a geek named Bob]

3. By getting together with people who want to solve the problem...

collaborate with them, using what loop-holes are needed to avoid the idiot parade on either side, and solve said problem.

How about a secret conspiracy, harboring the intent to:
1.) Solve Global Warming.
2.) provide cheap, clean alternative power to regular people.
3.) up-cycle pollution to ameliorate resource depletion.
4.) develop resource swap networks, to avoid scarcity waves.
5.) Give the above with truly awe-inspiring dance gatherings.

[Drew Richards]

5. Its really simple and makes even MORONS think about it...

all you have to do is say this...

Look, before you go any longer telling me about your climate religious beliefs...I want you to watch this 3 minute video and then explain it to all of us...

http://www.break.com/index/tough-to-argue.html

[Curmudgeoness]

6. You have two options.

You can hope that the people who are capable of making the decisions that will protect this planet are not as ignorant as these ordinary people.

You can stop trying to have rational discussions with anyone.

I am getting close to option two myself. How do I deal with this???? I refuse to have second discussions with anyone who infuriates me or makes me think I will go nuts.

I guess you have a third option----make yourself crazy.

[wrath of medusa]

12. It sucks

I had a good friend at work who I'd have incredible, detailed discussions with on science. Everything from evolution to physics. He switched jobs and now it's like talking to a wall. All anyone seems to talk about is pop culture- tv, movies, video games and sports. It's depressing.

[Curmudgeoness]

20. Yes, it is depressing.

I don't have the answers, but I do know that I have friends who are Fundies, Faux News junkies with the opinions to go with it, apathetics who don't even vote, etc. The only way I can deal with them is to enjoy the things about them that I like and refuse to get into the topics that will frustrate and infuriate all parties. None of these people are close to me, but I do spend time with all sorts of people.

And yes, it is hard to have respect for these people if I think about it.

[catbyte]

7. The only way I can deal with it personally is knowing I will be dead & gone by the time

the shit really hits the fan and I never had children. I see pregnant women and little toddlers playing and my heart aches for them. What will Earth be like when they are in their mid-50's like I am now? I hope I'm wrong.

[brewens]

8. I had a guy at my house that just won't care. "Don't tell me to stop driving!" He's convinced we

can't do anything about it so we may as well not be inconvenienced. China and the other countries aren't going to slow down polluting so we may as well enjoy the ride while we can.

He's also convinced Obama made a call right after the election to the secretary of the U.N. affirming he was ready to go along the the gun (small arms treaty) ban. I told him not a chance! He was doing what anyone would do and having a little "quality time" with the first lady!

[MinneapolisMatt]

9. Lead by example.

I know it's totally frustrating, but really it's all you can do!

[Jim__]

10. It's very difficult to accomplish anything when you are one against many.

It sounds like that's the type of discussion that you were having. Even if the discussion is rational and people take turns speaking, there are many turns against your one.

One thing I've tried with people who disagree with me is try to have one-on-one discussions. When I have these discussions, we often agree to look into each others points further and get back. This has helped me to convince some people on various issues.

[Leopolds Ghost]

11. Just look at DU. Just look at people who listen to NPR, or believe that Obama's election makes a

Difference to the subject of climate change, given the likelihood that the White House will approve the Keystone Pipeline. Anyone who supports the pipeline supports the end of our civilization.

U.S. Poised To Be World's Top Oil Producer, Part of the 'New Middle East'

[underpants]

13. You are new here. You will be embolded and informed here.

You will develop a thick skin here.
and you will take that out into the news bubble.


DU - wise and otherwise....but enjoy

[wrath of medusa]

18. I'm a new poster

but longtime lurker. I've been visiting DU since 2004.

[JanetLovesObama]

14. You read

"Hope for the Flowers". An older book that helps all of us understand that we are simply tiny beings here for a nanosecond. I am a non-church going Christian and I have seen "karma' come around to those who deserve it so many times I need to write a book. The only reason I don't is that I cannot stand the "religious right's" bullshit and I do not want to ever come across as one of those lunatics. It saddens me so much that they "the religious right" preach so many lies.

Find true faith in something or someone and turn it over and just KNOW that their "karma" will come around. Takes longer than we like some time but it does come around.

[wrath of medusa]

21. I'm a non-believer

The concept of karma or just desserts seems silly to me.

[bluestate10]

15. Ignore such people, the arc of events is proving them wrong.

I have talked to a couple that became red faced and started screaming out their views, constantly cutting me off. I stopped talking to them, if they can't have an intelligent discussion about issues that impact us all, then they aren't worth talking to.

[ananda]

17. Carpe diem.

Seize the day. Live and enjoy life to the fullest.
Make every day count as though it were your last.

Today is a good day to die so live it welll!

[Iggy]

19. It's Been a Good Run....

"Ahh, America... we saw it, we tipped it over, and then.... we sold it".

Laurie Anderson

[Michigan Alum]

22. I tell people that 98% climate scientists agree that it exists and is man made & ask if they are pt.

Of the "earth is flat club". It doesn't always work but hopefully if they hear about it again and from others maybe it laid a seed within them. I also tell them that the polluters and oil companies have been running a campaign to make people doubt it.

I agree it is very frustrating. I'm so used to knuckle headed Repubs being around me I have very low expectations for people.

[man4allcats]

23. Our species MAY in fact be doomed because of climate change, but

I don't personally see that as a negative. Maybe the planet would be better off without us. Extinction is not an uncommon event, and who's to say we as humans have any special place in the earth's biosphere? Not that I'm advocating mass human extinction, but if we make a mess, especially knowingly, and it kills us (and unfortunately, a bunch of innocent species who themselves had no part in it), then maybe what's left of the planet will be better off without us. Anthropocentric thinking is, after all, just another form of bias.

As for people who deny the scientific method, ignore those people. I am scientifically trained in the life sciences (biology), and no, I don't have a PhD, but I do have lots of graduate work and many years of experience in world class research centers to my credit. The only people I ever worked with who didn't adhere rigorously to the scientific method were a group of engineering graduates who ran and still run a small biotech start-up. In my view, they were awful. I used to think scientists and engineers were essentially the same thing. I no longer think that. In fairness, there are probably many fine engineers, but I know I've certainly never met any of them. I stayed at that company for four years. That was a mistake. I'd have been better off professionally not to mention emotionally if I had left after the first year.

[xfundy]

25. Research further. Develop existing resources.

Humans produce waste that has been proven to be an energy source. I read a couple of years ago about a town in Europe, maybe England, that is run entirely by energy produced by burning human waste and the methane it produces. Sorry, too tired/late to find a link, but as I understand it, methane was also used to power gas stoves for efficient cooking, as well as heating.

This is, I believe, among the most underreported stories, all because the Gas Oil Petroleum GOPiggies will do anything to keep us hooked.

You can make a difference in the world. Even the bible talks about using dung to make fires for cooking. In spite of that, the idea appears to actually be TRUE.

[wrath of medusa]

26. My point

was more about the disdain for science as a discipline than the global warming denialism. I find the former far more troubling.

[Prophet 451]

27. I deal with it through drugs

Yes, I'm serious. I suffer from a selection of mental illnesses and take about half a dozen pills daily to cope. Better living through chemistry.

Honestly, I think we're past the tipping point now. All that we can do at this stage is to try and slow it down and manage our downfall. But nothing is going to get done while corporations hold such power.

[liberal_at_heart]

28. I'm sorry to be a gloomy gus

but we are doomed as a species. We have something like 8 billion people on the Earth. Unless a plague wipes half of us out we will not be able to sustain our population. We are in the middle of a mass extinction. I do support alternative energy. We should be using more sustainable energies, but I just don't think it will prevent the inevitable.