Why does people's opinions substitute for scientific fact?

Question

Drop an object for anywhere and anyone would be able to tell you how far it traveled, how fast it's going, and the rate of acceleration at any given point in time. We know gravity is real, unarguable, calculable, and proven.

No one can tell you if it will be warmer or colder next year, or 5 years, or 10 years from now. The only "proof" that's offered to show global warming is real is the testimonies of CEO's, Politicians (former and present), and Preachers. Scientist who disagree with these CEO's, Politicians, and Preachers are verbally attacked, their credentials are impugned, and otherwise maligned, like the thugs have more knowledge and education than the scientist they attack.

Has opinion become the new standard of science? Why can't the believers offer proof that global warming is real by telling us if it will be warmer or cooler 1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now, and show us their work on how they came to their conclusion?

Answer 1

it does not - you sound paranoid - science is not politics, no ones credentials are impugned,skeptical scientists are doing just fine keeping their credentials and continuing their work and still recieving government grants.

Answer 2

When I was a little kid I was watching my dad with some electric work one time and I asked him

"Dad, How many volts are in an amp"?

He didn't answer me.  I kept bugging him.  

"Daaaaddddd!  How many volts are in a amp"?

His way was not to make it easy for me, I had to figure it out for myself.

You have to want to understand.

Answer 3

The short answer is that the believers don't actually KNOW, they can just make a best guess.  As you said, climatology is not a hard science, it is at best a series of theories and estimations.  

Unfortunately, those who truly believe fall into the fanatic category, and those of us who dare to question their religion are impugned as heretics and luddites, destined to burn in fiery depths of h**l (or LA, should circumstances turn out as they claim).

Answer 4

Yes, you are correct that science sometimes is set aside for opinion.  However, we must remember that all scientific theories start with a hypothesis, which is of course, opinion until proven as fact.  It has occurred and been proven so, that some scientific theories have been proven false or reversed.  Some theories have been reversed because what we thought was once true turned out not to be true after better technology came along and proved that it wasn't.  

When it comes to global warming... there is not enough scientific proof to say that it exists to the degree that we are in a crisis as some would believe.  Evolution is being whittled away at more and more it seems.

Opinion is more prevalent only because of the unreliability of certain theories that we can't depend on or trust as we once thought we could.  (I'm not talking about the theories that have stood the test of time... like gravity, etc.)

Answer 5

It's scary, if you go to the religion section you will see the religious and anti-religious zealots use the same tones and name calling as they do in the global warming section. Global Warming has almost become religion because lay people say things like "I know it's true." Many on here will use data to back up arguments, but many others just know because it's what they were told. People get angry when you tell them you don't buy into the hype. I saw an interview with a climatologist that was a skeptic. He has received hate emails and even death threats from people for his position on this theory. This reminds me of the anti-communist sentiments of the McCarthy era. I always thought science was up for debate. Lately physicists are even questioning if their theories on gravity work differently than they thought. I amazed that people can be so sure of global warming which is still a young theory. It is like a mob mentality. it the best answer I can think of.  You snow the masses with huge amounts of misinformation and get them all riled up and set them free with their torches and pitchforks.

Answer 6

Magic Eightball sez "Check back later"