[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

In many ways, the argument for me is the philosophical one. I tend to adhere to Crichton's view that only by looking at the big picture in proper perspective can you properly understand a current phenomenon. To be quite frank, I am more interested in climate change for the human reaction and human behavior than the actual environment. I don't know why it is that way for me, perhaps it is my heavy bias against what I have seen as a historically demonstrated truth about human nature - manias, fads, religions, conspiracy theories, doomsday theories (supernatural or natural via environmental destruction, technological destruction, overpopulation, war, etc.), all have the same root in human nature and to me, it's more destructive and misleading than anything because people are always madly concerned that the present is the critical age (again, for the supernatural or natural)...when history shows that the present will pass and the earth will march on. It's part of the self-preservation instinct in an age with over-abundant security and information so it kicks into overdrive or seeks out other avenues to exercise itself. Then these critical issues become the enlightened man's religion...and people start getting belligerent about it.

But as Crichton says, encouraging an issue can help to avoid it's consequences (even if the efficacy of human action on the phenonmenon is marginal) so I really have no problem with efforts to stem climate change. Without "Silent Spring" being published back in the 60s, we might still be using DDT and causing the extinction of most bird species today. In the end, I suppose my issue is people getting rabidly up in arms about it without considering the big picture, I have had many friends and others outright attack me when I voiced my doubts regarding the efficacy of changing human behavior to prevent climate change and my thoughts on how the socio-political reaction to it has many trademarks of being a fad or fear for a momentary concern, very much like those that Crichton mentions. I have a nagging feeling people are grossly oversimplying the issue and it's much more complex than it seems.

well said, and my thoughts exactly!