Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

There is unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming (2024)

science.nasa.gov

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 311 posts

Re: There is unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming (2024)

#11

Post by webdood90 »

I've shifted my mindset to abandon this idea that humanity will survive forever, or that we should strive to live as long as we can.

Intelligence is a scarcity and it cannot overcome the majority of people that are incredibly stupid or ignorant. So accepting that we are doomed relieves some of the stress. I won't have children to worry about their future, either.

I still live my life in such a way that minimizes my impact on the world as much as possible. I still surround myself with folks that want a better world. But there is no stopping the impending doom and I'm trying not to be miserable with the time I have.

Re: There is unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming (2024)

#12

Post by izzydata »

mr_mitm wrote: post #8
tim-tday wrote: post #6

Everyone who can hear this has already heard it. Those who continue to pretend it is not happening are either deliberately deceptive so they can continue to make money from fossil fuels or unable to change their minds when faced by evidence due to identity politics.

My impression is that almost no one denies the warming itself, just the link to greenhouse gasses. That link is unfortunately much harder to prove than rising temperatures by itself. The proof is there nonetheless, but it's easier to cast doubt on it, and that's what certain groups have been doing.

There are people that believe the warming, but don't believe it matters because the Earth used to be much hotter at some point in the past so it is a natural cycle. Yet they fail to realize that humans didn't exist then so there is no good reason to believe an Earth that hot can support human life.

Re: There is unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming (2024)

#14

Post by mattgrice »

mr_mitm wrote: post #8
tim-tday wrote: post #6

Everyone who can hear this has already heard it. Those who continue to pretend it is not happening are either deliberately deceptive so they can continue to make money from fossil fuels or unable to change their minds when faced by evidence due to identity politics.

My impression is that almost no one denies the warming itself, just the link to greenhouse gasses. That link is unfortunately much harder to prove than rising temperatures by itself. The proof is there nonetheless, but it's easier to cast doubt on it, and that's what certain groups have been doing.

I didn't even think the link to greenhouse gases is denied any more.

The merchants of doubt ran out the clock and what I hear from the former deniers I know is that it is too expensive and too late to do anything now, being warmer will be nicer, and CO2 is a fertilizer.

Re: There is unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming (2024)

#15

Post by tencentshill »

Windchaser wrote: post #10
mr_mitm wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My impression is that almost no one denies the warming itself, just the link to greenhouse gasses. That link is unfortunately much harder to prove than rising temperatures by itself. The proof is there nonetheless, but it's easier to cast doubt on it, and that's what certain groups have been doing.

I've seen the full-court denial: - it's not warming, or not significantly - if it's warming, it's not because of humans, (or) - if it's warming, it's beneficial - if it's warming because of humans and that's bad, there's nothing we can do about it ETA: honorary mention for "what about China?" People I've argued about this with will switch interchangeably between these. Press them hard enough on one issue, and they'll…

Or "Why does 2 degrees matter?"

Because when were 4 degrees cooler, NYC was under 1000 feet of ice. We really don't want to find out what 4 degrees hotter is like.

Re: There is unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming (2024)

#19

Post by wat10000 »

Windchaser wrote: post #10
mr_mitm wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My impression is that almost no one denies the warming itself, just the link to greenhouse gasses. That link is unfortunately much harder to prove than rising temperatures by itself. The proof is there nonetheless, but it's easier to cast doubt on it, and that's what certain groups have been doing.

I've seen the full-court denial: - it's not warming, or not significantly - if it's warming, it's not because of humans, (or) - if it's warming, it's beneficial - if it's warming because of humans and that's bad, there's nothing we can do about it ETA: honorary mention for "what about China?" People I've argued about this with will switch interchangeably between these. Press them hard enough on one issue, and they'll…

Same here. I'd also add "It's warming, caused by humans, harmful, but mitigating it would be even more harmful."

Basically, anyone capable of thinking about it logically has at this point reached the conclusion that it's real. Anyone arguing otherwise is therefore necessarily not thinking about it logically, and you have to expect things like shifting claims.

Re: There is unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming (2024)

#20

Post by izzydata »

webdood90 wrote: post #11

I've shifted my mindset to abandon this idea that humanity will survive forever, or that we should strive to live as long as we can. Intelligence is a scarcity and it cannot overcome the majority of people that are incredibly stupid or ignorant. So accepting that we are doomed relieves some of the stress. I won't have children to worry about their future, either. I still live my life in such a way that minimizes my i…

Ultimately I think it will be a self correcting problem, but there is going to be an extremely long period of absolute hell. Global warming is eventually going to cause food and water scarcity on a level that will wipe out a huge percentage of the Earths population. Then the Earth will recover from there being fewer humans.

If in 3000 years we discover humans were completely wiped out to the last person I would be pretty surprised.

Post reply on HN