Do we have any reason to choose one over the other?

Question

Global warming is either

a- a natural warming and cooling period the earth is going through or

b- man's making the planet unlivable for future generations with all the greenhouse gasses and stuff we're releasing.

Since the jury's still out, why are people so quick to take sides?

Answer 1

because the jury's still out on whether the jury's still out. People are quick to take sides because of where information is coming from and whether that information is coming at a convenient time or not. It doesn't really matter since it's a problem and we have to fix it regardless of its cause - but since every information released from any source is a bid for power - people are deciding mainly on where that power should go.

Answer 2

There are five questions to answer:

Is the planet even warming?

If it IS warming, are we causing it?

If we ARE causing it, what is it we're doing to cause it?

Is global warming even a bad thing?

Even IF we are causing it, can policy change have any real effect?

Answer 3

The jury is not "still out".  That's what the deniers want people to think.  But just because they weren't on the jury (they missed over 100 years of scientific debate), and didn't hear the evidence, they want a retrial.  That's ludicrous.

There are still unknowns (side issues), but the major charge has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt and the jury (i.e. actual climate scientist who've been studying this for decades) have given their verdict.

Here's a brief report of the trial:

http://www.aip.org/history/climate/summa...

Answer 4

In response, I 'd choose option b) . Whether or not the Jury's still out does not matter, People are quick to take sides as this is a pressing matter of grave importance. While global warming has always been present on plant Earth, we human beings have worsened the condition and made global warming a much bigger problem. GLOBAL WARMING IS DEFINETLY NOT THE COOLING PERIOD THAT THE EARTH IS GOING THROUGH. It is when the Earth is heating up, causing temperature rises and bringing along much catastrophes.

You said that "But we don't even know if it's a problem we have to fix yet.... it may be unfixable and it may not be a problem at all. From all these reports and recent researches, all those TV programs and environment group protests, isn't it obvious that global warming is a PROBLEM WE NEED TO TACKLE NOW? In fact, it is the undeniable truth that it is a serious problem and that it must be fixed. Even if the solution is not clear now, we must find one within the next 20 years, or Earth will be full of man-made disasters.

Answer 5

I think the reason is not enough evidence. I like the reason "But just because they weren't on the jury (they missed over 100 years of scientific debate)..." given above. Wow, 100 years of scientific debate? Two things I can think of that's wrong with that. They were not debating global warming 100, 50, or even 20 years ago. It was a natural occurance up until then. Second, the planet is how old? And you're taking a 100 year sample? That's like us deniers taking a 2 month sample, right?

Answer 6

Because its all a matter of intelligence, common sense,  and sticking up for what is right!!! Many may have been brainwashed by the scientist that come up with the theory that their is no such thing as global warming. But, of course anything can sound good when you are receiving money from the polluting companies for your report to cover their damage controll. Most all companies that pollute want to keep doing so, and unbelievably there are idiots dumb enough to believe their propaganda. The people that dont share the belief that global warming is real don't really have a leg to stand on. What are they so afraid of that we would accomplish??? Other than having a cleaner earth, we would also be saving money in many ways!!! WHAT??? Saving money?? People are dismissing global warming all together when they could be saving money doing it??? With that being said, I rest my case!!!! So, all the bashers can keep riding the magic blue bus, and hopefully they dont forget their helmets this time!!! Global warming is like not believing that your girlfriend is cheating on you even though all your friends tell you its happening yet, you not believing it till you discover one day that what they was telling you was true!!! Paying high prices for everything because of the fuel prices staying at a all time high is your girlfriend that is cheating you, and people trying to reduce her consumption is your friends trying to save you money and the environment. Now, maybe thats on a level that all the nay sayers can understand!!!

Answer 7

Sure (although global warming won't make the world unlivable, just unpleasant and costly).  The scientific data proves a is flat wrong.  You shouldn't trust me (or anyone else here), but you can trust:

The National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Physics, the American Chemical Society, the American Geophysical Union, the American Meteorological Association, etc.

They all say this is mostly caused by us.  Reason enough.  Looking at the data yourself is more reason:

"I wasn’t convinced by a person or any interest group—it was the data that got me. I was utterly convinced of this connection between the burning of fossil fuels and climate change. And I was convinced that if we didn’t do something about this, we would be in deep trouble.”

Vice Admiral Richard H. Truly, USN (Ret.)

Former NASA Administrator, Shuttle Astronaut

So, there are massive reasons to reject a.