Do you think oil companies pay people to post misinformation in this forum?

Question

I don't think it's a crazy idea. Think tanks are set up to go about just this sort of thing. Imagine all the thousands of people who have typed "global warming" into yahoo answers for book reports or personal "research" and found a forum where nearly every other question is "OMG do you *actually* believe this GW scam?".

Seriously, if I were a think tank, I'd lay out a handful of shekels to get someone in here to post this sort of stuff every day.

Answer 1

It could never be that some people are intelligent enough to see the AGW science for what it is, huh?  You people are all the same.  You have a million and one ludicrous excuses.

Answer 2

There's a mole among us, in guise of an alarmist(s).

Answer 3

No.

Yahoo answers is not important enough.  And the quality of the "skeptics" posts here pretty much refute the idea.

Answer 4

No, I hope they're not stupid enough to waste money on most of these people, such as the top answerer in their category.  They could find much more effective spokesmen.

Answer 5

I'll not succumb to that kind of paranoia.  Supposedly Exxon and others had a fund and have paid people to publicly deny facts and/or spread misinformation about global climate change.  I think more likely the people on this site heard some of that drivel.

I think it's just a hot potato, and some people  feel compelled to run at the mouth in a rather irrational way.  This they do for free, although it costs them their time and their Yahoo reputation.  The latter doesn't mean much, overall, so you just take it all for what it's worth.

Answer 6

Yeah I have heard that, but I still haven't gotten my fat paycheck. That would be a nice little conspiracy theory like the plot to kill JFK, the moon landing was fake, or that there are aliens in area 51. It could be that we just don't believe the hype.

Answer 7

You and your CONspiracies.

Answer 8

I doubt it. I think most people here are just killing time or have nothing better to do.

Answer 9

Instead of grasping at straws, dreaming up conspiracy theories to explain the fact that your side is losing the debate on this site, you could just accept that it's not that you're up against "ringers" but simply the fact that our side is right and yours wrong.

Answer 10

One person's misinformation is another person's truth.  Society is full with such examples.  That is why philosophers study the question "what is the truth".

Personally, I think most of the skeptics on this board are motivated by two things.  Too much time on our hands, and a disdain for  yet another example of liberal fear mongering.

Answer 11

I don't think so.  Really I think if the oil companies did want to use their money that way, they would find someone who could at least make a semi-intelligent argument.  Oil companies are aware of the science, but the deniers on YA clearly are not.  Frankly I could make a better argument against AGW than any of them have been able to.

With the massive funds at their disposal I just don't think the oil companies would settle for such incompetence.  If they had, I think somebody would have come forward and revealed it to get 15 minutes of fame.

Answer 12

Nope, most of us who disagree with the climate of fear we're supposed to live under, can and do think for themselves.  We do not need Hollywood or Uncle Al to take care of us.

Answer 13

I would say yes, but I have to go with Amy - I will not succumb to that kind of paranoia.  

Bob answered this for me already a while back.  They don't have to pay people outright.  They definitely pay to have the misinformation created.  All they have to do is publish and there are a bazillion ditto-knuckleheads in the world who are eager to retransmit.  

The reactionary forces of the world know that the average person doesn't want to hear bad news, doesn't want to change.  All they have to do is prime the pump.

Answer 14

i didn't used to think so.

but am not as sure any more.

this site does get a lot of attention.

and it wouldn't hurt them to pay someone to monitor it.

and (A) block folks that post counter arguments, and (B) complain about them whenever possible.

clearly they can afford to do that.

Answer 15

And, if so, where do we sign up to get that pay?

Answer 16

Why would oil companies pay pro-AGW alarmists to post their rediculous misinformation?

I could see Al Gore doing so, however.

Answer 17

I wish I could find out for sure.  It certainly is possible.  How many times a day do you see the question "mommy wants to work from home"?

Answer 18

I seriously doubt oil companies are paying people to spread the man-made global warming scare, here or anywhere else.  What would be their motive??

Edit:  Apparently, I'm not the only one with the correct answer.  Tough decision, but davem said it first...give the points to him.

Answer 19

they are powerful and have access to all the means necessary to achieve its goals. that includes all the means of communications from churches to TV and Internet. the end justifies the means. if one thinks any different he or she is out of reality!  peace