What similarities can you see between the arguments of evolution deniers and global warming deniers?

Question

I'm thinking along the lines of:

Stage 1:

Anti-evolution: “pfft, if evolution is true, then why aren’t monkeys turning in to people today!”

Anti-AGW: “pfft, if global warming is true, then why is it cold today!”

Stage 2:

Anti-evolution: “There is no evidence of evolution. It’s just a fraud by scientists for money, and because they hate God. Don’t forget Nebraska man!”

Anti-AGW: “There is no evidence of global warming. It’s just a fraud by scientists for money, and because they hate capitalism. Don’t forget the 70’s global cooling scare!”

Stage 3:

Anti-evolution: “Ok scientists aren’t corrupt idiots and Nebraska man was just unfounded senstationalism by a couple of journalists. But you know what? I heard most scientists don’t believe in evolution.”

Anti-AGW: “Ok scientists aren’t corrupt idiots and 70’s global cooling was just unfounded senstationalism by a couple of journalists. But you know what? I heard most scientists don’t believe in AGW.”

Answer 1

"The less justified a man is in claiming excellence for his own self, the more ready he is to claim all excellence for his nation, his religion, his race or his holy cause...."

"A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business...."

"The fanatic is perpetually incomplete and insecure. He cannot generate self-assurance out of his individual resources -- out of his rejected self -- but finds it only by clinging passionately to whatever support he happens to embrace. This passionate attachment is the essence of his blind devotion and religiosity, and he sees in it the source of all virtue and strength.... He easily sees himself as the supporter and defender of the holy cause to which he clings. And he is ready to sacrifice his life."

-- Eric Hoffer, The True Believer

http://skepdic.com/truebeliever.html

Answer 2

they are all republicans.

Answer 3

In both cases people are offering reasonable questions about theories that are claimed by some as fact.

Answer 4

Some people believe what they want to believe and don't base their beliefs on evidence or reason.

Answer 5

The contributor is the Sacred Cow of education, we have this bias system creating brainwashed idiots who claim to be intelligent.

Answer 6

What about "carbon credits"?  I will pay you so I can pollute the h**l out of everything, but I gave you money, so it's ok.  Even the people promoting global warming have their loopholes.

Answer 7

If you can give me adequate evidence in support of GW, I will believe it.  I have yet to see any indisputable evidence.

Answer 8

How about this one:

Anti-evolution: "Ken Ham is a scientist (he has a BS in Applied Science) who doesn't believe in evolution, so it's not true"

Anti-AGW: "Tim Ball is a scientist who doesn't believe in AGW, so it's not true"

Answer 9

You have certainly hit the nail on the head!  My favorites are the silly ideas they come up with to explain how to deal with GW. One 'denier' even suggested that a huge foil reflector be put in orbit to block the Sun from shinning on the Arctic.  I guess no one told him that the Sun doesn't even shine there for 6 months of the year! That's about the extent of their brain power!

Answer 10

Maybe you have a point.

I see the opposite also true.  The majority of believers buy products like Enzyte because 4 out of 5 doctors say the product works.  After all, the consensus of doctors agree, right?

Answer 11

Yeah, this is gonna go well...

Answer 12

Please do civilization a favor and check into the nearest bug house. Thank you.

nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah

da da da da, da da da da

da da da da, da da da da

da da da da, da da da da

I work at burger king

making flame broiled whoppers

I wear paper hats

Would you like an apple pie with that?

Would you like an apple pie with that?

Ding fries are done

Ding fries are done

Ding fries are done

Ding fries are done

I gotta run

I gotta run

I gotta run

I gotta run

Don't bob for fries in hot fat

it really hurts bad

and so do skin grafts

Would you like an apple pie with that?

Would you like an apple pie with that?

Where is the bell?

Wait for the bell

Can't hear the bell

Where is the bell?

Ding fries are done

Ding fries are done

Ding fries are done

Ding fries are done

I work at burger king

making flame broiled whoppers

I wear paper hats

Would you like an apple pie with that?

Would you like an apple pie with that?

Ding fries are done

Ding fries are done

Ding fries are done

Diiiing friiiiies aaaaare dooooooone

Answer 13

I don't think you are interested in finding out the reasons why people don't accept AGW or evolution.

If your mind is closed, no one can tell you anything.  Your beliefs seem to be based on what you have seen in the media, rather than thinking for yourself.

Answer 14

true, but i think you are being a little harsh in grouping all AGW skeptics together. still this would probably apply for most of the ones ive seen here on Y/A.

Answer 15

lol....ya we all know scientist are always 100% correct, right?

pfft....evolve your brain!!!

Answer 16

I think this is a brilliant distillation. You should publish this somewhere. I've posted on the similarities too. The phenomenon is documented in other areas of denialism and it goes along these stages:

1.- outright denial, you're an idiot for believing that

2.- It may be true but the effect is small and irrelevent

3.- It's probably true, but I was never wrong about what I said

4.- Of course it's true idiot, I knew it all along.

What I notice when I have long phone conversations with friends who are denialists, they never focus long about the science. They want to focus on Al Gore, politics, the fact that China and India can't be stopped, the fact that we can do nothing about it. So we are pretty close to stage 4 I think. They know in their hearts it's true and they are trying to save face. Remember all the WMD and Al-Queda ties with Iraq defenders. They are still out there after all this time. Nothing could change their mind,anbd their primary goals is to save face.

Answer 17

Have you stopped beating your Mum yet?