Why is it that a lot people who ask a question in this section already know the answers they want to read?

Question

Are you just trying to stroke your own egos? Is this why you get so annoyed when people don't agree with your view point? Science has been wrong in the past. It will be wrong again in the future. It has recently been pointed out that the sum total of human knowledge doubles every 18 months. That is not an indication of how clever we are, just an affirmation of how little we really do know. I thought science was supposed to be open minded, enquiring and open to the examination of different views. If some of the contributors on this site are really scientists, then we are truly still in the dark ages of arrogance and ignorance. Or is this just a p***ing contest between pseudo intellectuals?

Answer 1

Hey, it's an on going debate; and your points are as valid and interesting as those you're slagging off.  If any one person knew the answers would we be having this p***ing contest? Would we? I think you should try to read more blogs in this area. Loads of people have so many interesting and valid experiences. Including scientists. Just try to take them onboard, and  frankly as a character said in the film  "Shortbus" try to leave the room in dignity. That's all we can do.

Answer 2

I couldn't agree more.  Half the questions make a point rather than request information or opinions.  My main problem with much of the GW alarmism is their assumption of knowledge that they don't in fact have.   I don't know it won't warm but I am convinced that those that predict gloom and doom also don't know and have a tendency to exaggerate potential harm.

Answer 3

Because they just want to spread propaganda.  They are standing firm with their emotive argument and don't want to be wrong, so they try to influence others to follow them.  Its a shame too, people really come here to learn things.  But all they see is propaganda.

Answer 4

I think you hit the nail on the head they need their egos stroked.  People love to be told they are right.

Answer 5

They are more interested in making a point than finding an answer.

Answer 6

Hah I thought this question was going to be about all the people who say "today was a record cold day in Timbuktu, so where did global warming go?".  Then you explain to them that weather is different from climate, but they give the best answer to somebody who says "yeah, Al Gore is stupid and global warming is a liberal commie scam!".

That represents about 50% of the questions in the global warming section.  I agree that it's a waste of Yahoo Answers, which is supposed to be about asking sincere questions, not looking for people to confirm your predispositions.

Only I think you're accusing the wrong side of this misuse of YA.

Answer 7

Environment and global warming has become very much a political issue, at least as much now as an environmental science issue.

In the political realm, all argument has ceased for all sides. Each side is about rallying the troops to win the ballot box battle. Politicians are all about causing voters to discredit, not a scientific theory, but those who oppose themself.

We do not hold people speaking politically to the standard of respect for peers that science tries to retain. In politics it is OK to call a very erudite scholar an ignorant SOB. Why? Because the erudite person is choosing to ignore the leadership of the political group. The very term ignorant was coined to describe one who is ignoring, choosing to ignore the official line.

Ignorant and heretical then are nearly synonyms, except that there is held open the hope that the ignorant may simply not know.

In a political sense, ignorant and heretical mean the same thing, the enemy to be silenced.

Our problem is that we are not all able to evaluate scientific writings, and we have not all encountered all of the scientific writings, often as well we have really chosen to ignore a lot of political environmentalism on all sides.

Answer 8

Hah, You should check out the Christian Fundie's questions in R&S.

Answer 9

Huh?

Answer 10

.......

Answer 11

It is natural human instinct to search for verification.  They just want to see if other people feel the same way so they feel better about their decision or whatever they are asking about.

Answer 12

Observing a few post I see some are still trying to get the last word in.As for myself I like rebuttal,one can learn from it.I don't find it demeaning and may be the reason I like this topic...very controversial.

Answer 13

Feel better now?

because people r stupid.

Answer 14

I do agree with you. You try an intelligent question and you don't receive one back. People are suffering from cranial, rectal, inversion.

Answer 15

because they're all really being asked by Al Gore.

Answer 16

Scientists are very open-minded.  But that doesn't mean they never come to a tentative conclusion about anything.  It also doesn't mean they should repeatedly consider the same previously demonstrated false information to be potentially valid over and over and over again.  On the topic of Global Warming, scientists have been studying and debating this topic for over 100 years.  After all that time, it makes perfect sense that they will eventually get annoyed with non-scientists who repeatedly bring up things that have already been scrutinized and concluded as invalid.

The problem around here, is too many people who never read scientific literature (so they are ignorant of what scientists have already debated over and over again) keep posting the same nonsensical questions over and over again.  We probably get 2 or 3 ignorant posts daily around here about how cold it is someplace in the world.  That type of ignorance doesn't deserve a patient response, at least not when it's presented with an assertive arrogance.  Ignorance is OK, but bumptious ignorance isn't.