HIS greatest claim to fame is that he co-founded Greenpeace. Not something I would be proud of. Of course, I’m referring to Patrick Moore. He is touring Australia at the moment and every other day I get a request from someone asking I promote the tour here, at this web blog.
Steve Kates heard Moore speak last night and wrote at Catallaxyfiles.com today that it was very “rewarding”. Kates also wrote that you may have heard it all before.
People generally have favourite stories that they like to hear repeated. These tend to be stories that give comfort, provide an escape – even make us feel smug.
Image from The Barnes & Noble Book Blog at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/10-reasons-we-reread-our-favorite-books/
I suspect that’s why people on our side of the global warming divide like to hear Moore: he cleverly articulates their prejudices even if he doesn’t actually say anything particularly new, or provide any real solutions.
If this was the extent of the experience I may have been inclined to provide some free advertising here, but Moore actually optimises everything that I find increasingly frustrating about being a sceptic who is trying to achieve something positive.
In my opinion very little progress has been made towards a new theory of climate, an alternative to anthropogenic global warming, because most sceptics, and also the institutions that support scepticism of anthropogenic global warming, won’t invest in the same. They prefer to claim we are dealing with an essentially chaotic system, rather than consider what a new theory of climate might actually include. Indeed at the recent Heartland Institute climate change conference, Moore went as far as to suggest that it was impossible to forecast rainfall and always would be. The inference is that there is no scientific answer to the big questions in climate science. I disagree.
Of course John Abbot and I have spent much of the last three years showing that it is possible to make skilful monthly rainfall forecasts, and we are beginning to document how and why in the peer-reviewed literature. But there is no interest in this research by those who are promoting Moore’s tour of Australia – perhaps because it’s about science, while their interest is essentially in the politics.
What is missed in all of this, and was missed by Moore in his answer to one of Steve Kates' question last night, is that there is a way to defeat “green policies” that are not scientifically-based, including policies derived from the theory of anthropogenic global warming. The answer is in promoting and supporting alternatives, because, as I wrote in the IPA Review last year, history shows that failed scientific paradigms are only ever replaced, they are never disproven until there is a replacement theory. [last six words added Sunday morning, following a comment from Pat Frank]
Neville,
You expect Ken to keep an eye on the process? But there has been no fundraising to support this effort.
Indeed, Ken lacks a profile, and I can't sing. Yet you have expectations of us?
Jo Nova has a post about the almost incestuous nature of the alarmist crowd and where the funding comes from and where it goes.
http://joannenova.com.au/2014/10/billionaires-club-fund-green-blob-climate-works/#more-39160 Yes the billionaires club funding seems to include most govts, political parties, big business, banks, all sorts of green groups, ex pollies etc
I wonder how long before we find out who will be appointed to carry out the audit of the BOM? And will they be genuine and independent people or not? Only time will tell I suppose. Let's hope that Jennifer and Ken etc are keeping an eye on the process.
Hey Deb,
Seems you have a pretty good handle on it.
How about penning a song for our SUPERGROUP.
Am thinking of something catchy, sing-a-long, like Van Morrison's GLORIA.
G....L....O......R.......IIIII...A.
Not sure of Jen's vocal style?
Check with her!
Cheers,,,, Slowlurnr.
Successful mass marketing is usually based on the AIDA approach and it's all about 'selling' to targeted audiences and demographics via well surveyed emotional attachments,emotional opinions, status symbols and the emotional desires of those targeted audiences. The selling in this instance has targeted the 'urban elite'.
Attention: Use a catchy emotional phrase or catchy jingle or some other clever catchy creative audio/visual/language device to gain ATTENTION via appealing to emotions.
Interest: Tell a story that creates INTEREST via appeals to emotional attachments and targeted human vanities.
Desire : Build on and develop the emotional DESIRE that has been created in the interesting story
Address: To fulfil this desire. . .send money to this ADDRESS
It doesn't have anything much to do with logic or evidence.
The more urbanised we become, the more successful this approach.
It is also probably why it is the people who travel to work in their climate controlled transport, from their climate controlled homes to their climate controlled offices who have been so easily sold on the concept of CAGW and/or Alarming Climate Change.
Or as Daryl commented earlier:
"The highly urbanized nature of the Australian population, living in their air conditioned McMansion cages, relying on a junk food diet from McMedia, driving their air conditioned McSUV to their air conditioned, politically correct workplace,,,"
But despite that, there are plenty of people who reside in our towns and cities who actually run their own businesses, who are often well educated (and even if not by conventional educational standards they are natural, talented problem solvers) and, by necessity, do recognise the difference between airy fairy marketing and common sense.
Nick Cater's book examines the rise of the 'urban elite' and it's inherent weaknesses.
The marketing of Patrick Moore probably won't hurt those who are trying to argue for some common sense too much, although I share an inherent mistrust of this type of marketing for the reasons that Jen has highlighted. . . but it is probably messing with the heads of those 'urban elites'.
I would have a bit more respect for Patrick Moore if after articulating his epiphany, he started actually promoting people like Jen and then stepped out of their way. . .rather than just beating up on Greenpeace and the likes of Flannery and Suzuki.
Unfortunately by doing this, it is still Greenpeace and the likes of Flannery and Suzuki who get the publicity and therefore the ATTENTION.
SD, my mother's family were from out Forbes, Goolagong etc and I was raised to hate the spring, regard it as "treacherous" etc. Considering what it was like out west in the '30s I can see why they felt that way. I try to like the Oz spring in the hope it will like me back. Can't do it. Whenever anyone talks of a beautiful spring day I attack them with a bamboo pole. Figuratively, of course. It's a modelled emulation of a an attack with a bamboo pole.
We live THROUGH August/September...but we are born FOR April/May.
Good stuff, D McD.
My eldest writes and records for the industry. Hafta get him onto some sceptic disco or rap.
Robert, these tinder-springs do upset one's plans. I'm in the process of filling all the tanks to help it rain this arv. I'd better wash the car too.
While I said in my last post, that most marketing is a bit of a con job,
I realise the strength of music in selling a message.
Remember the Minister of Rock, trumpeting the nonsense from the
Green Gospel. He ended up Minister for the Environment?
What we need is a new Supergroup.
I have already registered the name,.....'GET REAL'.
I have a son, 6ft 2, dark, hansome, fancies himself on the Guitar
Anyone know a good Bassist, Drummer, Ivory Tinkler?
Jen, hows your vocal skills?
Maybe there's a Rock Chic outfit hiding in the cupboard?
Some words for the first hit single come to mind,...
"Well, I,m drivin' in my car
and a man comes on the radio
He's telling me more and more
'Bout some useless information
supposed to buy ma imagination.
I can't get no,.........."
Speaking of converts, I figure P Garret will be under-employed at the momnet.
Sign him up as our musical director.
Sorry guys. Been doing the long hours involved in food production.
It has some perverse effects.
Cheers, Slowlurnr.