Tactics of Denial

Colby Beck at Grist magazine has made a helpful start in defining the stages many of us have had to go through in coming to accept the stark reality of the degree humanity has contributed to the current climate crisis. Colby says, "My efforts are directed at getting us past the "it's not happening" stage, past the "its not our fault" stage, past the "it's not bad" stage and then past the "there's nothing we can do about it" stage." (for more of Beck's thoughts click on this article's title)

I would add one more stage in the journey, "It all just a big political hoax." Although that is more a tactic within the "it's not happening" stage.

Or how about the, "Don't worry technology got us into this and technology will get us out" tactic.

Or the unreferenced statistic tactic, "I was just reading the other day that the polar ice caps are actually 10% larger than they were twenty years ago, what have you got to say about that."

Or the "Scientists don't know what they're talking about" tactic. "Last year scientists were telling us coffee was killing us, now it cures Alzheimer's. You can't trust anything scientists say."

So I thought it would be fun to document some of the typical tactical twists and turns climate change deniers make on the road to acceptance. Check back to this article periodically to watch the list grow.