By: Pandango
The article I've summarized below comes from
scienceblogs.com. The blog gives clear and informative insight into how a Professional Denialist tries to sway public opinion. The Professional Denier does an excellent job convincing a person, legislator, or the public, to believe in, or not to believe in- a particular issue. This is their job. This is what they do, and they do it very well.
Sometimes, the best way to fight against this kind of denialism, is to understand how they are manipulating you. Knowing their tricks is a good way to defend yourself from being fooled. In many ways it's like being in a verbally abusive relationship. The words of the abuser tears you down in such a subtle and clever way, that eventually you succumb to their methods and give up a large part of who you are. It is dehumanizing. Knowing how they attack will help you protect yourself.
Denialists Methods:
1.
It's not a problem: You know that extreme weather we're having? It's no problem! You can always go inside, right? If it gets too hot - turn on the air conditioner for Pete's sake! Those floods...they'll go away. It was just a 500 year event - that's all. It won't happen again. All that CO2 is good for us! Besides, if it does get too bad, we will just build better bridges and dams and homes to withstand the weather...NO PROBLEM... Tuvalu is disappearing under the Ocean? No Problem, they don't have that many people. They can just move to New Zealand...NO PROBLEM.
2.
Bad Apples: Did you see the report of those scientists doctoring photos of Polar Bears dying out in the Arctic Ocean?! See!! I told you those scientist can't be trusted. They are so radical, that they would do anything to support their own loopy agenda. They are all in on it! From NASA to the IPCC...Bad Apples, all of them...
3.
Mere Inconvenience: Goes back to the "Not a Problem" trick. Listen, I know it gets hot in the summer and there may be record temperatures, but Fall is just right around the corner, right? Wildfires? That's why we have a fire department. Look at it this way, if there weren't wildfires, there would be no need for firefighters (they would be out of a job) and in this economy, you wouldn't want that, would you? It's just a Mere Inconvenience.
4.
No Harm: Did you lose your house in the fire? OK then, why are you complaining about the hot weather and dry conditions. It's not happening to you, just a small number, and they were very very unlucky - poor souls. And all those acres that were burned in Texas was really very good for the environment...natures way of cleaning house...makes the soil more fertile. And those ranchers that lost their cows and land...they sold off their cattle for a lot of money...beef is at a premium right now! No harm.
5.
Do Little and Delay: OK, so there might be a problem, but with the way the economy is right now, we are just going to have to wait a while and get our fiscal house in order. Besides, I saw some houses with solar panels on them. People are trying to make a difference, and that's all we can ask for right now. Journey of a thousand miles begins with one step...or something like that.
6.
Consumer Education: Well, the problem might exist, but consumers can educate themselves on this issue. Buy those long lasting light bulbs. Turn off your damn TV when you leave the house. Buy yourself a high mileage vehicle. Lengthen Daylight Savings Time (my favorite). Fixing the problem all starts with Consumer Education.
7.
Consumer Freedom: If we all go green energy, what kind of freedom will consumers have to choose? I mean, who wants to have to drive an electric automobile with 12 inch wheels that only goes 30 mph? How will I be able to transport my kids back and forth from school? All that stuff is expensive too. Where's my choice to choose?!
8.
Our Rights: Businesses and corporations are people too - right? So where are our rights to exist? If clean energy and green energy take over, what will happen to us? Do you know what that will mean for jobs! For profits! For our shareholders! We helped make America great, and now all you want to do is make us obsolete!?
9.
Spread Confusion: Is it getting colder or warmer? Climate Change or Global Warming? These scientists say it's not happening, and have papers and data and charts to prove it...Ice is increasing or decreasing? CO2 follows temperatures or the other way around? Watts Up With That?!!
10.
State or Federal Issue: Hey! The states can't tell me to do that; it's a federal issue! Or... Hey! The federal government can't tell me what to do; that's a states issue. Tie it up in the courts. Put legislators against each other...
11.
Nit Pick or Muddy the Waters: Bring up any information (it doesn't have to be right) that will distort or confuse the issue, and publicize it. Say it over and over again until people think it's a fact. Say the info came from an "expert".
12.
Poison the Well: Attack the source with irrelevant and untrue name calling i.e. You can't believe any scientists! They are all pinko-commie, socialists, evolutionists believing pigs that wanna get rich off of government grants.
13.
Exploit Ignorance: Give the policy makers and people incomplete information. They are very busy and don't have time to fact check. Give them half-truths or true lies. It's even better if the information is short and easy to remember (but false) because it makes it easier to spread the lie.
14.
Tempertantrum
15.
False Experts: Put PhD. in front of their name or Dr. and you have a true fake expert. Even better, put them in a white lab coat...looks even better.
16.
Big Government: The government stepping in to help reduce the effects of climate change is just another example of our socialist/communist (whatever works best for you) president trying to regulate us and tax us to death. Our president is a Big Government President!
17.
Give Money: Give millions to the government leadership. Nothing can happen if the government leaders refuse to even hear the issue.
18.
Danger: Our national security will be at risk if we stop drilling for oil, or if we switch to clean energy!
Source:
Denialists' Deck of Cards
