tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203077889905915553.post8925457616143382315..comments2023-10-30T04:06:45.798-07:00Comments on arduous blog: Thoughts on ClimateGateruchihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17043512641324366469noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203077889905915553.post-28921974645376222322009-12-03T15:59:45.796-08:002009-12-03T15:59:45.796-08:00Abbie, I see that, though if someone didn't be...Abbie, I see that, though if someone didn't believe in climate change in the first place, would this really discredit climate change? I dunno. I do wonder how many people were sort of on the fence and now are more skeptical as a result of this mess.<br /><br />Crunchy, two votes for Mismeasure of Man! All right. I gotta read it. Also, I want you to pull your head out of the sand just because I have a feeling you'd have some fascinating things to say. ;)ruchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17043512641324366469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203077889905915553.post-82613520239764088492009-12-03T13:44:15.396-08:002009-12-03T13:44:15.396-08:00I loved "The Mismeasure of Man" and I...I loved "The Mismeasure of Man" and I'm fairly sure it's by Stephen Jay Gould. I read it in my Genetic Anthro class and I still have it, all those years later.<br /><br />Anyway, I haven't been following Climategate at all because I'm afraid to :) I suppose I should pull my head out of the sand sooner or later.Crunchy Chickenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10612320939936593420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203077889905915553.post-32241206002897994692009-12-03T12:19:51.421-08:002009-12-03T12:19:51.421-08:00I think it will discredit the whole field when int...I think it will discredit the whole field when interpreted by people who are looking to discredit the field (again with the preconceived notions...).<br /><br />I have to admit though, when I heard about this I thought, well wouldn't it be nice if it was made up??? Wouldn't that mean life would be so much easier for us in the future? A nice thought, but unrealistic.Farmer's Daughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04993260095409544097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203077889905915553.post-9151304152761085672009-12-03T12:15:18.119-08:002009-12-03T12:15:18.119-08:00Bean mom, I think that's the main thing. As lo...Bean mom, I think that's the main thing. As long as science is conducted by humans, it's never going to be completely depoliticized. And that's really okay. But we shouldn't pretend it's not.<br /><br />Abbie, sounds like a great book! I'll have to check it out. Yes, it's really problematic. I don't believe that the emails are so bad as to completely discredit the entire field, but they certainly damage the reputation of many in the field. And they cast doubt on the whole process of "consensus science," which frankly, in my mind, is not such a bad thing.ruchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17043512641324366469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203077889905915553.post-61843867378254999862009-12-03T11:55:03.512-08:002009-12-03T11:55:03.512-08:00There's a fantastic book called "The Mism...There's a fantastic book called "The Mismeasure of Man." I read it in college an am blanking on the author right now... Gould possibly?<br /><br />Anyway, it's all about how scientists who start out with a preconceived notion can subconsciously fudge the data. This can happen through flaws in design as well as in how the data is analyzed. Sometimes it's not subconscious, and sometimes it truly is. We all know that data can be manipulated to represent what we want it to represent. And yes, when you need to compete with other scientists for funding, it will become political. <br /><br />Unfortunatley, what this has done is discredit climate change research. It will forever be used as an argument by global warming naysayers. "They made up the global warming data!" will become a rally cry, that's my prediction.Farmer's Daughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04993260095409544097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9203077889905915553.post-33465344944417488932009-12-03T11:45:39.514-08:002009-12-03T11:45:39.514-08:00I am not a climate scientist. And truth to tell, I...I am not a climate scientist. And truth to tell, I have not followed "Climategate" closely. But yes, you're right.<br /><br />Science is political. Scientists are human. Science, ideally, is the search for truth. A lovely and abstract notion.<br /><br />In practice, it can get ugly indeed.The bean-momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00411250616280191525noreply@blogger.com