Comments on: Science as a contact sport http://hot-topic.co.nz/science-as-a-contact-sport/ Global warming and the future of New Zealand Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:27:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Bryan Walker http://hot-topic.co.nz/science-as-a-contact-sport/#comment-8513 Bryan Walker Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:47:04 +0000 http://hot-topic.co.nz/?p=3582#comment-8513 Mikh, exactly the quote that has done the denialist rounds for 20 years. Like all the other deniers you leave out the final sentence "I hope that means being both." The <i>Discover</i> article by journalist Jonathan Schnell followed an interview with Schneider. Schneider says in his book: "I tried to explain to Schell how to be <i>both</i> effective and honest: by using metaphors that simultaneously convey both urgency and uncertainty, and also by producing supporting documents of all types and lengths, from op-eds to full-length books. Unfortunately, this clarification is absent from the <i>Discover</i> article, and this omission opened the door for 20 years of subsequent distortions and attacks. Ironically, this is the consumate example of my grievance about problems arising from abbreviated versions of long interviews." Mikh, exactly the quote that has done the denialist rounds for 20 years. Like all the other deniers you leave out the final sentence “I hope that means being both.”

The Discover article by journalist Jonathan Schnell followed an interview with Schneider. Schneider says in his book:
“I tried to explain to Schell how to be both effective and honest: by using metaphors that simultaneously convey both urgency and uncertainty, and also by producing supporting documents of all types and lengths, from op-eds to full-length books. Unfortunately, this clarification is absent from the Discover article, and this omission opened the door for 20 years of subsequent distortions and attacks. Ironically, this is the consumate example of my grievance about problems arising from abbreviated versions of long interviews.”

]]> By: mikh http://hot-topic.co.nz/science-as-a-contact-sport/#comment-8511 mikh Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:27:24 +0000 http://hot-topic.co.nz/?p=3582#comment-8511 Yes, you'd have to say he can roll with the punches. And of course has a good way with words. Warming or cooling, it's got to be an emergency, and fear is a good propaganda weapon. His most telling comment ? "We need to get some broad based support, to capture the public imagination,we have to offer up some scary scenarios,make simplified dramatic statements and little mention of any doubts one might have.Each of us has to decide the right balance between being effective,and being honest." Dr Stephen Schneider ("Discover" Magagzine, Oct 1989)... Yes, you’d have to say he can roll with the punches. And of course has a good way with words. Warming or cooling, it’s got to be an emergency, and fear is a good propaganda weapon. His most telling comment ?

“We need to get some broad based support, to capture the public imagination,we have to offer up some scary scenarios,make simplified dramatic statements and little mention of any doubts one might have.Each of us has to decide the right balance between being effective,and being honest.”
Dr Stephen Schneider (“Discover” Magagzine, Oct 1989)…

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