Except, my dear Sky, vast swaths of private citizens deserve to be branded and ridiculed. Of course, which swath may depend on whose ox is gored....
Yes, well I do accept Sky's point to some degree. While at the same time thinking that perhaps NWP also has raised a valid issue.
Consider for the moment the issue of climate change. And issue that is always good for a spirited debate.
Among those who dispute human induced climate change, I have sen the following augments proposed:
There is no clear evidence that atmospheric CO2 is increasing.
Further, there is clear evidence that atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have been increasing for more than 2 centuries and therefore current changes are non relevant to what ever may or may not be happening with the climate.
Also....
There is no clear evidence that sea levels are rising....
Further, there are records that show sea levels have been rising for more than 2 centuries and therefore current sea level change is not related to our activities.
Also
The earth's climate is not warming...
And further, the climate has been warming for more than two centuries so current human activities are not causing this change.
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I could go on and on an on about this topic (or others) where apparently intelligent people make arguments that are facile to the point of idiocy. And, they will never stay on point long enough to rationally dispute any of their assertions.
Sadly, it seems true that no amount of rational discussion will have any significant impact on the views of most people.... and certainly not anyone who starts with a firm allegiance to a political bias.
I personally prefer rational discussion of issues. It is why I come to this forum.
At the same time I recognize and respect that others will have different values. Perhaps they just want to socialize, chat, etc. And that also is fine.
And yet others offer only the pretense rational discussion as a form of partisan gamesmanship. I am skeptical that the views of such people can be altered by even the most patient and rigorous rational discussion.
When rational discussion has been discarded, I feel no obligation to avoid ridicule of pseudo rational discussion that is consistently misrepresented as something other than it is.
