What are YOUR thoughts...

[garnet13aj]

I think it would be really interesting to see what people think on this site (a site not directly connected to environmental conservation and awareness) have to say on the subject of global warming. I hope people will atleast answer the poll questions and if they have an opinion will put in their two cents on the subject.
Some questions/topics:
How often do you think about global warming.
Do you think it's a legitimate concern?
Do you do anything to actively combat it?
Do you think it is a product of human activities?
If it doesn't bother you:
Why not?
What would convince you it is a legitimate concern?
I also encourage people to say what things they do to combat it, big or small.
I want to hear what a few other people think and then I'll put my thoughts out there.

 

[lion_crazz]

Though I am not expert on the matter, I will contribute to your polling.
How often do you think about global warming.
Much too often. I need some type of closure or relief on the issue, I think.
Do you think it's a legitimate concern?
Yes, certainly.
Do you do anything to actively combat it?
Definitely. Things I do to help include: driving a car that gets great gas milage (36 miles per gallon), turn off all electrical appliances upon leaving a room or when done with them, walk
to places whenever possible, and of course, spread the word to anyone who would care to listen.
Do you think it is a product of human activities?
I am not really sure. At first, I want to say yes. But then I look at things like the increasing temp on Mars and Jupiter, as well as the fact that this happened in the earth's history already. I am not really sure and like I said, I really need some closure on the issue.

 

[lovethesea]

I believe this is an issue for the WORLD to address. Not just us (as usual)
I also believe it is a cyclical thing. BUT with that said, so was the formation of our ice caps. The dinosaur was wiped out due to the ice age and if we are not careful the warming coud wipe our major food sources for us all.
I don't know really.......I do know that in the 70's we were worried about "global cooling"............

it is a responsibility that we do need to address to a degree.

 

[garnet13aj]

Lion_Crazz I like the way you think! I haven't heard about warming on other planets, but I think I'll check it out.
and
lovethesea I also agree that it's a problem that the world needs to address, but I would qualify that by saying that if we are creating the most greenhouse gas emmissions (which we are) we should also be a leader in cleaning up the mess we have made.

 

[zman1]

Originally Posted by lovethesea
I believe this is an issue for the WORLD to address. Not just us (as usual)

Ditto. One other thing, we could do is stop exporting our manufacturing jobs to third world counties for cheap labor and no EPA. The US companies stay headquarter in the US and then outsource jobs, because they can't be completive with clean air restrictions and the above a buck an hour wages. How about China, maybe after the human right's issues are resolved we can work on the environment there with them. The EU was able to get everyone to retool for RoHS. If a country (or US company) wants to import product to the US they must meet the same EPA standards at least that the few remaining manufactures that haven't chosen the international sell-out doctrine. Dang that global economy....

 

[windmill]

I am of the impression that the vast majority of human beings are stupid creatures that care little about the world existing outside their little "social bubble".
In other words, if it doesn't directly affect them, their friends, or their family in some visible, negative way, they don't notice and don't care.
I've heard some people call global warming a myth, that it's elementary to think we can change the earth noticably. I've heard others say at the current rate, the earth will be inhospitable within a few hundred years.
I can't seriously agree with either of those statements. But I heard an analogy a while back that seemed so precise and accurate I had to memorize it. "Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet...."
(edit: reread question and answers)
An actual answer though; global warming is a human thing. If it werent for humans, it probably wouldn't exist, even if it did it wouldn't be nearly as noticable. Imagine all the pollution caused by all the locomotives, all the ocean liners, coal and gas power plants, space travel, not to mention commercial airlines and military jets taking off and landing all day everyday all over the world. How many millions of pounds of soot and carbon and pollution do you think are ejected from jet engines on a daily basis? You'd have to be the epitome of ignorance and idiocy to think humans haven't polluted the earth enough to screw up the environment.

 

[ruaround]

how is no (not sure) a vote... they are 2 entirely different things... the yes vote should then have a (maybe) after it...

 

[zman1]

It would be nice if SWF would let you use more than two choices for polls.
Just like this:
1. Yes -True
2. No -False
3. Not sure - Don't know - Don't care

 

[poniegirl]

The solar system is, after all, an enclosed (we guess) system that requires balance in its components.
We all know very well what happens with too much (or not enough) heat, light..
Unfortunately, there is no test kit with nicely printed instructions and color coded cards to help direct us.
It is a definite concern.
I think about it daily.
I have lived in Southern Oregon for 30 years and I know our climate and range of seasons has shifted greatly.

 

[hagfish]

Originally Posted by windmill
I can't seriously agree with either of those statements. But I heard an analogy a while back that seemed so precise and accurate I had to memorize it. "Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet...."
Thank you, Agent Smith, for this contribution. I understand why you would post the quote even though I don't think it's entirely realistic. But I just can't handle seeing a quote from the Matrix used in such an apparently serious fashion. The planet is a resource, not a life form. Other animals use it as a resource as well. Of course, not nearly to the extent we do. But that is only because they don't have the thought capacity to do so. Pick any animal in a dry season in Africa and tell me they wouldn't use the earth's resources to ensure survival through that dry period if they understood how to do it. If they could drive a Hummer accross Africa until they found water I'm quite sure they would do it.
And as for the poll, I rarely think about global warming. I think the problem will be solved in time. We are just beginning to break into realistic, alternative power sources for cars and such. As technologies improve, I think most power sources will become more efficient and give off less pollution.
The thing that drives me nuts is when I am stopping at just about any exit ramp on the highway and I see 253,684 cigarette butts on the road along with 18,425 soda cups, cans, and food wrappers on the ground. Is it really that difficult to keep that crap in the car for 5 more minutes and then throw it away at home?

 

[garnet13aj]

The reason I put the answer as either yes or no (not sure) is
1: I can only have 2 options
2: In the scientific world there is no debate over whether or not global warming exists and is human induced, but in the average population it is still a controversial subject and to me no and not sure say a lot about what information people are reading/hearing/being subjected to becuase there should be no debate, but there still is and just wanted to see how it would come out in a poll.
For those of you that are unsure I would still like to know what would convince you.

 

[garnet13aj]

And as for the problem fixing itself I do believe that it will, the question is whether we, as human beings, want to live in that world. Our earth is retaliating against the abuses we are throwing its way and we can either choose to listen to it and correct our actions by reducing harmful emissions, reusing, recycling and generally having more respect for our homes, or we can wait it out until we are wiped out like other invasive species are when the use up all the resources we need to live.
I would seriously encourage people to read some literature on the subject if they are not convinced that humans are the cause of global warming and that it is a serious problem. One book I would suggest would be an Inconvenient Truth (or see the movie if you dont want to read it--it is a quick read w/lots of pictures thouhg). If your excuse for not reading it/seeing it is that you dont want to buy it send me an email, I would be willing to buy it if you would be willing to read it. I'm sure there are other good books out there, I found this one approachable and intersting and that is why I suggest that other people use it as a source.

 

[reefreak29]

sorry no such thing as global warming

 

[squidd]

It's snowing today...
It snowed last year too...
In fact..I remember it snowing when I was a little kid too...!!!
So there must not be any global warming...
On the other hand...
When I was a little kid...
The snowbanks were as tall as I was...!!! (of corse so were the weeds out in the field)
Now the snowbanks hardly come up to my waist...
So there must be global warming...
(voted-not sure)

 

[garnet13aj]

Squid, I would encourage you to look into the matter a little deeper by reading articles in a scientific journal or other reputable literature on the subject because the name "global warming" is a bit misleading and there is a little more to it. It also helps to take into consideration the fact that it is global warming. What is happening in a specific town, state, or nation, is not necessarily representative of the world trend of increasing temperature. But I'm glad to hear that you haven't given up completely on the idea that it is possible that global warming exists.
I would also like to hear specifically what people think about whether or not it is a human induced problem or simply a natural cycle.

 

[reefreak29]

Originally Posted by garnet13aj
Squid, I would encourage you to look into the matter a little deeper by reading articles in a scientific journal or other reputable literature on the subject because the name "global warming" is a bit misleading and there is a little more to it. It also helps to take into consideration the fact that it is global warming. What is happening in a specific town, state, or nation, is not necessarily representative of the world trend of increasing temperature. But I'm glad to hear that you haven't given up completely on the idea that it is possible that global warming exists.
I would also like to hear specifically what people think about whether or not it is a human induced problem or simply a natural cycle.
well there is scientific proof of warming on other planets as well , and i doubt theres suvs up there so , they concluded the sun is just naturally getting warmer

 

[garnet13aj]

How much actual reading have you done on the subject and where are you getting your information (who's the source behind it)? I'd like to read some of it.

 

[schneidts]

Originally Posted by reefreak29
well there is scientific proof of warming on other planets as well , and i doubt theres suvs up there so , they concluded the sun is just naturally getting warmer
You're right, we've had no negative impact on our planet.

 

[beth]

While this issue is, unfortunately, polluted with political overtures, as is most everything these days, I believe the scientists. While there are some scientists who deny this, most no long consider "global warming" a theory anymore. There just is way too many things happening that have confirmed that it is occurring.
Obviously, there is science that documents that warming trends happen naturally. I don't think anyone can refute that. But, most recent studies show such a tremendous increase in the trend over just the past 50 years, it is foolhardy to deny its occurring. It is just common sense that the pollution generated by human activity must effect on our environment.
We need to take the politics out of the equation and deal with the problem. Whether we caused this, or it is occurring naturally, its a fact and we need to do something about it, or we will be the next species appearing on the "went extinct list".
I'm not a liberal democrat, BTW.

 

[garnet13aj]

schneidts
You're right, we've had no negative impact on our planet.
I'm just wondering where you are getting your information and I'm not trying to sound like a know everything I'm just really interested in where people are getting their information and how this shapes their opinions. I obviously beleive that global warming exists and that it is produced (or atleast augmented) by humans but if your belief in the oposite is so strong I would expect that you have a sound reason for that argument and for me to trust my own opinions they need to be able to stand up to the counter arguement, so if someone out there that has the oposite opinion of me could tell me where they got their information so I could look into it I would greatly appreciate it.
I also would like people to tell me what would make them change their minds.