Why "global warming" is still controversial:

In this Washington Post article, Stan Cox supposes that we ought to all give up our air conditioning so as to help save the world from global warming. And of course when I say global warming, I mean the sort caused by the actions and machines of humanity.

This article is a pretty good example of why a lot of people are still ambivalent towards climate change and taking action to help protect our planet. People like Al Gore have spear-headed an extremist movement that ostracizes anyone who dares to doubt, doesn't welcome dialogue and debate, and is constantly pushing the doomsday scenario.

No matter how true this message may or may not be, a lot of people just won't buy into it when its crammed down their throats in such a ridiculous fashion. Calling on the average North American to give up our air conditioning is exactly the wrong way to go about achieving meaningful change in the world.

This is emblematic of the incredible miscalculation that was made by people like Mr. Gore who wanted to tell the world to change their ways, while he and the other elites are still flying around in their private jets and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.

If you really want to help encourage societal change, then here's a few simple steps:

1) Stop ostracizing anyone that has doubt. I constantly see people get called all sorts of dirty names for not instantly and whole-heartedly believing in man-made global warming. What the fuck? Its like an aggressive religious belief, and that further scares people away. Just say something like "I can understand your doubt, but you should check out the arguments for it. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to try and be more eco-friendly in our lifestyles, right?"

2) Come up with practical solutions, not these pie-in-the-sky ridiculous notions that would completely transform society overnight. We're not going to give up air conditioning, and we're not going to transform our economy to alternative energy sources without a lot of baby-steps. Propose something plausible and you'll get a lot more support.

3) Drop the extremism do-or-die mentality. It doesn't work. You tried it, and I can't fault you for it. We've only got one planet, and there's plenty of examples of past societies going extinct due to lack of environmental management. This is serious shit, admittedly, and precisely because of that we can't afford to lose our cool; if one strategy (the bat-shit crazy religious-like fundamentalist approach) fails to win enough support, let's have the wherewithal to adopt a new strategy with a better likelihood of success.

I apologize if any of this sounds too reasonable to hardcore environmentalists, but really I just want humanity to take better care of our "island" and not go the way of Easter.