I am generally a fun guy to be around, but you do NOT want to invite me to your Christmas party this year.
Excerpts from conversations at an event last weekend will make this abundantly clear …
(I have changed the names of my conversation counterparts to Partygoer (PG) in order to protect the gullible.)
PG1: “Pretty cold out there tonight. I guess this is what happens with global warming.”
RD: “Did you hear what you just said – it’s cold because of global warming??”
PG1: “Yes – that’s how it works with climate change. What – are you a climate denier?”
RD: “Of course not. Would you deny that there is such a thing as climate?”
PG1: “You know what I mean – are you one of the crazies who deny that climate change is real?”
RD: “Of course not. Thank goodness for climate change; I would hate to have a kilometres-thick sheet of ice covering most of North America the way it used to. Can you imagine how long it would take you to shovel your walk? Do you mind if I send you a link to an article that will give you important context for this discussion?” Climate change and energy: context for the great debate
(PG1 awkwardly puts his arm around his date, and they walk away … like far away.)
PG2: “I couldn’t help but overhear your discussion with PG1. Are you trying to say that humans are not having an impact on climate change?”
RD: “I was not saying that at all. Humans are certainly pumping too many toxic emissions into the atmosphere, but anthropogenic contribution to climate change is being grossly overstated by bad actors (and good actors including Leonardo DiCaprio) who profit in various ways from climate alarmism.”
PG2: “Well, as long as we move quickly away from using oil and gas, we can get to net-zero and save the planet.”
RD: “Are you prepared to live without electricity? The net-zero-emissions narrative conveniently ignores fundamental facts about global energy supply and demand. Do you mind if I send you a couple of articles that will help you understand that it is a terrible idea to introduce unrealistic policies that shift energy supply away from oil and gas produced by ethically run companies, thereby undermining western energy security?”
Policies that took energy security for granted have put much of the world in a tough spot
Examining the real meaning of ‘energy transition’ in the face of undeniable historic trends
PG2: “Actually, I need to go to the bathroom.”
RD: “While you are at it, please be sure to flush your ill-founded theories down the toilet. Merry Christmas!”
PG3: “I couldn’t help but overhear PG2’s last comment. Do you think he has COVID?”
RD: “Probably not – he seemed fine, physically.”
PG3: “Well, I hear the hospitals are being stretched to the limit again. It’s probably time to bring back the mandates.”
RD: “No offence, PG3, but that would be a terrible idea. Our high-level data analysis indicates that we likely killed more young people by stifling lifestyles than we ever would have saved generally unhealthy elderly people from dying from COVID. Do you mind if I send you a link to a very important article on excess deaths during the pandemic?” Analysis of excess deaths in 2020 reveals surprising deviations
PG3: “Well, I better be heading home. I need to take my dog for a walk.”
RD: “Great plan – it’s the leash you could do.”
PG4: “I couldn’t help but overhear your discussion with PG3. Do you not trust the science? It is no secret that there is scientific consensus on COVID.”
RD: “I am not a scientist, but do you mind if I share links to articles that will help you better understand science?”
Science – there is method to the madness
Manipulating science – activism and advocacy
Science and morality – ethics and judgment
PG5: “I couldn’t help overhearing your discussion with PG4. You seem to think that you have all the answers.”
RD: “My fellow members at BIG Media and I are curious enough to tackle the biggest issues, and I am smart enough to recognize that I needed to recruit people a lot smarter than me – mostly accomplished data scientists – to provide important context regarding these matters.”
PG5: “I am a voracious reader/viewer of the Globe & Mail, CNN, the New York Times, and CBC – so I think it’s safe to say that I know what is going on.”
RD: “I would argue that following such media organizations is precisely why you do NOT know what is going on. Do you mind if I send you a couple of links to articles that will help you understand how you are being misled, and how the unique brand of journalism at BIG Media empowers people with practical knowledge?”
Top 5 Ways Mainstream Media Pull The Wool Over Our Eyes
The truth is out there – and this is how we do it
PG5: “Actually, I have to hit the road.”
RD: “But it is only 7:30 p.m., and you are the only person left besides me at this party. Oh well, Merry Christmas!”
