[Coral-List] La Nina and global warming (dfenner dfenner) (Eugene Shinn)

[Steve Mussman]

Gene has got to be citing that Scientific American poll
for comic relief or else he is simply attempting to
playfully irritate his numerous adversaries. For one would
be hard pressed to find a less credible survey. 

Here is an interesting assessment of the online poll
referred to in Gene’s post:
http://climateprogress.org/2010/10/26/scientific-american-jumps-the-shark-online-polls-judith-curry/

Stating that “Possibly it just comes down to whose numbers you want to believe ”
is a classic example of trying to create false balancing. It seems to be the tactic 
of choice deployed by those attempting to discredit established climate science. 

It should also stand as an example of why it remains imperative that concerned members
of the scientific community continue to explore ways to more effectively communicate 
with the public at large. 

Anyone distressed by the anti-science juggernaut that is about to be 
reinvigorated would be well advised to examine this article by Chris Mooney, 
co-author of Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens America. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2010/11/08/okay-climate-scientists-time-to-fight-smart/