It's a good thing...

[renowiggum]

There's no such thing as global warming. Otherwise, this storm might be raining out all the snow at the higher elevations and causing flooding down here in the valleys!

[backsthepack]

It's only 7* out here on the Western Slopes of CO right now, wish it would do a little more warming maybe!

[renowiggum]

It's only 7* out here on the Western Slopes of CO right now, wish it would do a little more warming maybe!

Lows in the mid 40's in Reno right now.

[Stuck in Seattle]

There's no such thing as global warming. Otherwise, this storm might be raining out all the snow at the higher elevations and causing flooding down here in the valleys!
Ah yes, it's only "weather" when it's colder than normal (see much of the nation and Europe) but global warming when a warm spell comes through. Anyway, it's certainly been getting warmer going all the way back to the last ice age and farther. All the way back to people walking across the Bering Straight and across the English channel. It's been warmer in the past and colder in the past and had nothing to do with humans. Certainly human behavior is part of the equation. But I don't trust the guys at East Anglia to be objective any more than I trust the head of a union or a corporation. Their e-mails certainly show a desire to hide info, punish those that disagree, manipulate peer review processes, cherry pick data, dodge Freedom in Information requirements and more. Now some in the IPCC are predicting a 30 year cold snap. Heretics! Burn them! I remember when being skeptical was a good thing in science. Now it's a sign of apostasy.

[student4ever]

Bastards trying to suck me in.

[renowiggum]

Bastards trying to suck me in.

Actually, I'm aiming for satire.

[student4ever]

Actually, I'm aiming for satire.

I think you hit your target appropriately.

[Stuck in Seattle]

Actually, I'm aiming for satire.
Ah, but who is being satirized? For several years every natural disaster that occurred has been blamed on AGW. When we point out opposite climate events we get characterized as ignorant about the difference between weather and climate. Actually, I'm quite aware of the difference and when I point out instances of cooling I'm being satirical as well. What's good for the goose is obviously not good for the gander.

[renowiggum]

Ah yes, it's only "weather" when it's colder than normal (see much of the nation and Europe) but global warming when a warm spell comes through.

Honestly, I think people on both sides of the debate get it wrong when they point to a single data point (like a cold or warm spell) and declare the concept of warming over time to be either proven or disproven conclusively. When the warming in question is on the order of a few degrees Celsius over the course of decades (off the top of my head - it's not something I follow much these days), normal weather fluctuations will more than sufficiently mask any underlying trends in the data.

So of course my original post is silly, but it's intentionally silly.

[renowiggum]

Ah, but who is being satirized? For several years every natural disaster that occurred has been blamed on AGW. When we point out opposite climate events we get characterized as ignorant about the difference between weather and climate. Actually, I'm quite aware of the difference and when I point out instances of cooling I'm being satirical as well. What's good for the goose is obviously not good for the gander.

If it wasn't for the fact that there's people who will make that same argument (it's cold! global warming is clearly dumb!) in utter seriousness then I wouldn't bother to point it out. The warm weather is just a convenient foil.

Edit: Who? Everyone who's eager to label every hurricane or cold snap as proof of their evidence of global warming or the lack thereof. But in this case, I'll go with whoever started the "it's cold, thank goodness for global warming" thread above. That was my model.

[student4ever]

Honestly, I think people on both sides of the debate get it wrong when they point to a single data point (like a cold or warm spell) and declare the concept of warming over time to be either proven or disproven conclusively.

Ding, Ding, Ding...We have a winner.

[Posturedoc]

Honestly, I think people on both sides of the debate get it wrong when they point to a single data point (like a cold or warm spell) and declare the concept of warming over time to be either proven or disproven conclusively.

Ding, Ding, Ding...We have a winner.


Which is why I, like S4E, have chosen to stay out of most of these global warming debates. I find the "it's cold outside right now at this very moment, global warming is disproven" argument, or it's inverse, to be so simplistic as to make it unworthy of a response. The data must be looked at over a relatively lengthy span of time to be meaningful. It's mind boggling to me that this sort of argument has any traction at all with some of the better minds on this board.

BTW, wiggum, I understood immediately what you were getting at when I read your post earlier today - made me chuckle in anticipation of those who would take it seriously and launch into a serious reply.

Sorry if I'm throwing you under the bus here, SiS. I expected you to recognize wiggum's intent. Sometimes the blood gets up and we simply miss what should be obvious.

[Stuck in Seattle]

If it wasn't for the fact that there's people who will make that same argument (it's cold! global warming is clearly dumb!) in utter seriousness then I wouldn't bother to point it out. The warm weather is just a convenient foil.

Edit: Who? Everyone who's eager to label every hurricane or cold snap as proof of their evidence of global warming or the lack thereof. But in this case, I'll go with whoever started the "it's cold, thank goodness for global warming" thread above. That was my model.
Oh, I do enjoy posting the occasional flippant comment. I can't deny that.

I don't know how someone can pick one short period in recent history and declare it optimal or normal for the climate, the planet or humanity. It's just human nature to think our time is somehow pivotal in the great scheme of things. So it's only to be expected that people look for evidence that this is so. That goes for people on the left and the right.