Would a climate change discussion forum be a worthwhile endeavor?

looks good. i like the drop down 'related links' bit on the right too.

i have joined up as gerda.

townclown, i dont think i shall abandon here, too many youngsters to leave them to the tender clutches of the professional deniers. just nice to have somewhere else as well, where we can have more in depth stuff without constant sniping.

It would be worthwhile if there was actual discussion going on, not just "weeding out the deniers." True discussion means that both sides should keep within the bounds of the evidence, and admit it when they are driven in a corner.

A reminder to everyone: AGW is not a "scientific fact," only a theory. Before you start spouting off against me, please listen to my next few sentences. The definition of a "scientific fact" is something that is inherently true. "An apple falls to earth when dropped," is an example of a scientific fact. No arguments are necessary, the proof is there to see. AGW on the other hand, is not a "scientific fact," because it is not "inherently true." No scientist in his right mind would argue that gravity has no effect on an apple, but there are many prominent scientists who argue that the evidence is against AGW. Remember, it is not the majority who decides truth: If 2,000 scientists say "an apple will not be acted upon by gravity," and only 1 says "Yes, gravity can make that apple fall," are the 2,000 "right" simply because there are "more scientists on their point of view?" Of course not. It is the same with AGW, just because a majority of scientists is on one side does not make either side "right."

Congratulations to you if you actually read all of my answer, and didn't just storm off after the first few sentences.

Actually, I think a world wide climate sentiment wiki would be great to discern how the world is viewing their weather. A simple question with a scale of 1 - 10, is it hotter or colder this year than you remember previous years? With 5 as neutral, 1 much colder, 10 much hotter. Overlay that on a map in real time with red to blue images, and you get a world view, albeit subjective, but that would be great to see what people think.

i have a Yahoo group that has been setup for almost 10 years now for general discussion of how to lower your cost of keeping your house heated and cooled without breaking the bank. I have been planing to open it for climate discussion as long as it was kept polite. But that is hard to do with be livers or other forms of liberals unfortunately.

Yeah. why not. It will not lead to any conclusions but i think it would be good. Just a centralised place for us all to debate our beliefs and thoughts on and around the topic. instead of always debating over the same question which comes up ''is AGW real''

Yes. It would be a good way to herd liberals into their own little world so they would leave decent people alone to enjoy our lives without having to listen to all the insane whining about AlGore's imaginary inferno .

Dana, why would you want a forum when you already believe there is no need for a discussion? Seems kinda pointless to me.

Absolutely! Although, as you stated in another question, it might end up leaving YA in the dominant hands of the sceptics/deniers... deniers being a more appropriate term in a lot of cases.

I do hope though, that the serious and indeed passionate of those who portray themselves as sceptics follow us there. If they do, the discussion will hopefully elevate from childish snide remarks and sophistry to serious scientific debate.... fingers crossed :)

I'd like to see Jim Z there, I actually like his input in some responses...

edit: littlerobbergirl, absolutely with you 100%

Yes, but I think that the admins would have to be scientists. If I were running forums, some of the obvious abuse that happens here would never happen. People want to be blindly deniers of scientific evidence, fine. But science is NOT a democratic process. You're wrong, then you're wrong. You don't have equal say in the matter if the evidence isn't on your side.

If you wish to promote group-think, sure. My impression is that you would wish to "weed out" the "deniers." If you wish to have the opportunity to exchange error for truth, then probably not. I always seek out opinions that oppose my own, just so that I have the opportunity to become right about whatever issue it might be.

This is one of my favorite quotes...

".... the peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error."

-- John Stuart Mill