Every so often, you’ll see a post on WUWT that starts with something like “People send me stuff...” By and large, this is code for content that is so totally devoid of reality that Watts can’t be bothered to do the least bit of fact-checking before posting.
The latest example is a post alleging a “stealth adjustment” of RSS data. A reader sent Watts an email with new satellite data that show more warming than the old set, and therefore must be all hoaxed up. Watts ran with it in a post heavy on opinionated innuendo but, true to form, light on facts.
Sou at HotWhopper underwent the herculean task of emailing Carl Mears of RSS, and of course got a simple explanation about the minor monthly updates to account for well-known issues with the satellites which she explains in-depth. Watts, on the other hand, dredged up his own old posts to accuse Mears of lacking objectivity for paraphrasing people who asked him about the perversions of his data on “denialists” blogs. According to Watts, anyone who uses the d-word has no objectivity and apparently can’t be trusted to answer simple questions about their data.
For the second time in two weeks, WUWT chased imagined white rabbits down conspiracy holes. (Which is why denial is the accurate term, not skepticism.)
And for those who object to denial as an unfair comparison to Holocaust deniers and not a long-existing psychological term coined by Freud…we have news for you. There’s a new film called “Denial” out in select theaters now and everywhere Oct 21st. Starring Rachel Wiesz as Professor Deborah Lipstadt, it tells the story the defamation case brought against Lipstadt for calling out a Holocaust denier on his lies.
In a rare instance of high quality and informative sponsored content, the Washington Post carries a beautiful look at the movie and the larger issue of denial in America. With a discussion of the psychology, sociology and impacts, a historical timeline of denial going back to Galileo and by-the-numbers looks at present day issues, it’s well worth checking out.
If nothing else, do yourself the favor of watching the short featurette with Professor Lipstadt, Rachel Wiesz and the rest of the top-notch cast. Many of the lines spoken by the Holocaust denier can also be found on climate denial blogs, from catchy but false slogans to accusations of avoiding debate. And some of the lines Wiesz delivers are also oft-heard in the climate conversation, for example describing how deniers “often have an agenda, which they won’t admit to.” She goes as far as to say: “The Earth is round, the ice caps are melting and Elvis is not alive.”
The real Professor Lipstadt, in the interview, cuts to the bottom line: “You can lie, and be held accountable. But you can’t say ‘My opinion is equal to fact.’”
Not that they’ll stop trying.
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