Sigh. Drinking with Republicans.

[Bluzmann57]

Boy can it be either infuriating or exasaperating. To give a bit of background, earlier today, I was sitting here at home and got a bit bored. So I decided to go over to a local sports bar to watch football and have a couple of beers. The weather was, and is a huge topic around here because we had snow, sleet, and rain all in one day yesterday and today the temp is plummeting. So naturally, a guy was talking about the best way to keep heat in his house. He mentioned insulation and a few other usual sources, but then said, "Well with global warming, we won't have to worry about heating our houses." Well, me being the "inquisitive" (nosy) person I am, I had to ask him what the hell he meant by that, as if I didn't already know. He said exactly what I expected by mentioning how damn cold it's getting.
So I pointed out to him that it's December, it always gets cold here, and it's Global Climate Change and it's real. I tried to explain to him about the melting polar ice caps, all the typhoons and tidal waves, how Katrina would not have done as much damage had it not been for destruction of the surrounding wetlands, the rise in average global temps, and so on. Of course, he would have none of that. So I offered to bring him written evidence by around 10,000 scientists. The guy sorta backed down after that and told me I didn't have to. He started in on illegal immigrants shortly thereafter, I think it may have had something with how an African-American football player looked, but by this time, I just said, "screw this guy. He ain't worth my time". I will say that the lady tending bar ran for Alderman, lost, but is one hell of a good Democrat and she was talking to the guy and telling him I was correct and to lay off people of color. It may have had an effect, I don't know.
But sometimes I just don't whether to laugh or cry. I honestly believe that most people are not stupid, but then I run across this type of stuff. I am most certainly not the wisest man in the world, but I can still think and reason things out most of the time. It amazes me how some either can't or won't. Even allegedly educated people.

[MindPilot]

1. One of my favorite lines on a cold day is "looks like we got that global warming licked!"

amazing how many think I'm serious.

I feel your discomfort.

[Harper_is_Bush]

3. That's hillareous. I'm going to use it.

And then call people on it.

Beautiful, thx.

[Harper_is_Bush]

2. Don't be so amazed. He probably watches Glenn Beck and reads your local rag...

..which I'm somehow sure is also full of global warming denial rhetoric.

With most people you put shit in, you get shit out.

[gratuitous]

4. Well, don't give up, because you're real close to the solution

And that is to engage someone when he's mindlessly parroting some talking point. Of course you know the answer before you've even asked the question. If you have the information at hand (and it sounds like you did), it's easy to add a little information to their bucket. You don't have to "win" the argument right there on the spot, but if you get the guy's mind clicked on, it's entirely possible that he's lost to Limbaugh forever.

[wtmusic]

5. You always have an effect

IMO always confront, 'cause people get tired of defending the indefensible.

[UTUSN]

6. Wouldn't it be more --------BORING?!1 n/t