Which group has more members, Alarmists or Deniers?

Sheldon Walker

Which group has more members, Alarmists or Deniers?

Contrail Chook

By "alarmists" I assume you mean those people who freak out at the prospect of doing anything about climate change, because they're convinced (and alarmed) that taking positive action will result in the destruction of all they hold dear.

Poor things.

Meanwhile, the reality-based community realises it's a very challenging prospect, but one we can handle if we really put our minds to it, so we'd better just bloody well get on with it.

Surveys indicate that the latter are the larger group, if that's any help to you.

Sou

Groups? Are they the names of a band? (Should this be in the Latte forum  )

VictorVenema

But let's say WUWT champion Trump would be the only world leader to reject the science of climate change. The people who spread misinformation on the internet is a tiny and pathetic group on this Earth.

FlyingDutchman

I'd have to guess the 'Alarmists' are probably more numerous, but the 'Deniers' are, or at least were, the most vocal about it all.

tadaaa

deniers are more amusing that IS for sure

just the other week I saw one still posting about CO2 being a "trace gas"

I sh1t you not

I genuinely thought this strand of blog science was binned even by the most committed blog scientist 

but it seems deniers are the gift that keeps on giving

Ken Fabian

I think the "denier" category doesn't encompass the full range of reluctance and resistance to addressing the climate/emissions/energy problem. When it comes to reluctance and resistance I think more of the most influential people fit that than otherwise. I think when it comes to genuine, high priority commitment rather than weak commitment to inadequate policy backed by statements of wanting strong action in principle, the larger part of the more influential sectors of our societies and economies fit into the reluctant and resistant category.

citizenschallenge

Perhaps we, as in humanity, are simply running on instinct, worried about getting through today, let the greater world take care of itself.  When it all goes to hell, what-da-hey I've got but one life to live.

I'm watching the campaign for president and watching Republicans abandon all their principles in order accept Trump who's as sleazy and cheating as they come, that's not just hyperbole, 

Journalist Says Trump Foundation May Have Engaged In 'Self-Dealing'
September 28, 20161:56 PM ET
Heard on  Fresh Air
http://www.npr.org/2016/09/28/495782978/journalist-says-trump-foundation-may-have-engaged-in-self-dealing

I mean the race is neck and neck and I'm wondering how can that be.  It's genuinely horrifying. 

citizenschallenge

Ah but we are going to have an incredibly detailed running damage report of our sinking Earth ship.

I keep wondering why in 1970, ... 1980s, ... 1990s, ... 2000s no one could ever convincingly and emotionally connect with the down to Earth reality - A)  climate science basics were well understood and settled.   There were questions about details and uncertainties.  C) Those uncertainties were directly related to the speed of changes on Earth.  Nothing more.  The direction was settled by simple inescapable physics.  Oceans ARE going to rise by feet, then meters.  The atmosphere IS going to contain more heat and moisture and greater tendency towards chaotic and extreme behavior.  Rain storms WERE going to become torrential events - along with a shifting of global rain patterns.  Melting of the Arctic was going to create who knows what all havoc with ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns, not to mention biological mingling.  All these things were certain.  It was the speed that was in question.   If we acted and cut back, we would by ourselves time to learn, adapt and mitigate.  But, we as a society chose the fast lane.

Then still, even with the tempo of current weather events and their impacts, they cling to nonsense.  Willful ignorance.  

BaerbelW

Judging from surveys and studies conducted by Yale and George Mason University (The Six Americas), there are some more who are alarmed than who are in denial (aka dismissive). But, this minority group thinks that it's much larger than it actually is and is also thought to be larger by other groups.

John Cook explains what's going on in this video from our Denial101x MOOC:

Vocal Minority
https://youtu.be/uKWDGlBKIGc