What is the human reaction to an unpleasant reality?

http://changingminds.org/explanations/behaviors/co...

Read away. Some basic defence mechanisms, denial included.

Some more thoughts:

Like ants, we are part of a giant social network that creates something called collective intelligence. This collective intelligence drives humanity. Now how is this created? By individual decisions and interaction. What this basically means is that by doing little things, you can create enough momentum collectively to solve the problem. It's harder than I make it sound, but easier than people think. Remember we have mometic behavior: what you do others will do without you saying a thing.

And remember, if you are in a Democracy never refer to your government as "they". Always say "we". You voted for them so it's your problem. Not voting is supporting whatever happens. When you refer to something as we, the problem is solvable. If you refer to it as they, the problem will not be solved properly.

It is denial and thanks to modern technology people don't have to get past that. They can open a web browser and cherry pick the information that suits their argument. This allows them to justify their denial in their own minds. Then they can join up a Q&A site where they can rant on about how they're right and the thousands of experts are wrong, and can have it proven to them by the amount of like minded people are on said site. Deep down they know that they would be ripped apart if they tried throwing their arguments at people well versed on the topics, which is why invites to debate the matter or suggestions to look up their nearest university staff listings and email the relevant scientists are ignored in favour of the rock solid theory that 'the number of thumbs up or down is directly proportionate to the accuracy of the information contained within the answer'.

The first step is denial, which I find strange because denying a problem doesn't solve it. In fact, usually it allows the problem to get worse and take a serious toll. It's very strange that we evolved with denial as a defense mechanism.

I believe the next steps are anger, fear, resignation, and acceptance. I'm not sure AGW deniers will ever get past the denial stage. They're in some sort of extreme über denial about the subject.

Most people seem not to have ever denied the reality of AGW. For example in the USA which is a hotbed for denial, the country's official position has generally been to acknowledge that it's a problem, but with an unwillingness to do anything about it. During the early Bush years there was some denial, but even his administration eventually came to accept the problem and simply refuse to do anything about it. And politicians tend to be a pretty accurate reflection of the populace as a whole.

1. Denial & Ignore the issue - the stage we are leaving

2. Blame someone else - eg government once symptoms are OBVIOUS - the stage we are entering

3 Realisation

4 Blame someone Else - eg Government

5. Panic (once it starts)

6 Regret

As for Global Climate Change (most places get WETTER rather than warmer, some get drier and warmer)... It is PROVEN.. people DONT want to acknowledge this because it means they will have the change their life.

I'vee seen changes in the 1970's winters were always cold dry and snowy averaging -3C now they are grey and wet and average +2C.

I refuse to live anywhere lower than 40m above sea level or 10m above nearest river or lake!! remember temperature has already risen 2C on average worldwide..

one big danger is flooding from increased rainfall (warm air hold much more water) and melting Ice. (Ice is old it melts slowly at 0C but very fast at 1C the extra 1C can make catastrophic changes to sea level)

They react publicly against it because of the fact they're so incredibly tempted. whilst somebody gets an erection interior the showers all of them get it - as I say they're incredibly aroused. and that they are scared to dying that in the event that they tried it they might like it and that they are stupid because of the fact they could understand that one's sexuality isn't a decision. yet there are a number of circumstances that instruct what I say to be authentic. connect the army and notice how youthful adult men behave whilst they're weeks or perhaps months removed from women people. i replaced into shocked what number have been prepared to have intercourse with me! and a few of them have been prepared after an afternoon! It replaced into only an excuse, i think of.

I will proabably get alot of thumbs down for this and yes i might be slightly ignorant to the facts, but i dont think its as bad as the media is making it out to be. Fill me in if iam wrong and i will be more than happy to read the facts. :)

Hi Linlyons, and thanks for all the information i shall definately take a closer look. I dont want you to think i dont care its just that i havent really done any research on the matter.

More like the reality that people have been taken in by a hoax created to tax nations through "Carbon Footprint" which is as bad as the "Enemy Combatant" term that Bush created.

Reading the emails, one realizes that "global warming" has been done through bad and twisted science to get the numbers that they created out of thin air to show that the change is by man...The "Hockey Stick" conclusion will be the same out of ANY numbers that they put into that algorithm.

People need to wake up before it is too late.

anger may be,

this reaction isnt happening with golbal warming

First is to get unbiased info to find the truth and scientists have been proven for many reasons that they can't be trusted with there way of getting there info.

more like when the hell did this start happening damn we really fucked up this time