Terms that mislead.
The English language is constantly evolving. New works are being added. Old words take in new meaning. Meanwhile, we all share it, young and old, rich and poor, black and white, male and female.
Climate Confusion
Today, I asked BINGchat to answer the following question: “How are the terms ‘climate change’ and ‘anthropogenic global warming’ related?” The reply…
Climate change is a term that refers to any long-term alteration in the Earth’s climate, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns. Anthropogenic global warming is a specific type of climate change that is caused by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. The term “anthropogenic” means “caused by humans.”
In other words, anthropogenic global warming is a subset of climate change that is caused by human activities. While climate change can occur naturally over long periods of time, anthropogenic global warming is a relatively recent phenomenon that has been caused by human activities over the past few centuries.
It’s important to note that while climate change and anthropogenic global warming are related, they are not interchangeable terms. Climate change refers to any long-term alteration in the Earth’s climate, while anthropogenic global warming specifically refers to the warming of the planet caused by human activities.
Definitions matter.
Climate change alarmists, and their co-conspirators in government and media, have successfully transmogrified the terms they use to denote their original fears concerning anthropogenic global warming to mean the same thing as climate change. Was this intentional? Did they do it to amplify the shrill pitch of their expressed fears in order to get noticed?
Cheerleading
Cheerleading was a popular activity that I had only associated with high school basketball and football games, but now it is common at political rallies. Instead of pompoms and sexy outfits, however, the rally version features placards and face painting (and/or masks and other kinds of outfits). Like sports events, the audience is divided into supporters of the “home team” - government authorities - and the “visiting team” - protestors of public policy. Cheerleaders at sports events are usually young, fit, and having fun. Those at rallies come in all ages and shapes, and are very serious about their reasons for participating.
The words and phrases posted on placards tell us something about rally cheerleaders. Those words and phrases often mean something different to each person who reads them.
Was there ever a time that we could trust our language to effectively convey messages and their meaning between us? Were the terms “misinformation’, ‘hate speech’, ‘fake news’ and ‘disinformation’ invented to signal a warning from authorities concerning messages that are considered threatening to certain “protected” groups of people?
About snowflakes
They word ‘snowflake’ took on a new meaning since I was a boy. Strange that something as unique and beautiful as an actual snowflake can now refer to a person afflicted with a delicate temperament requiring government policies to supply public safe spaces.
Climate change cheerleaders seem afflicted with the same ‘snowflake’ temperament. They insist on politicians and government officials to throw a safety blanket over all of humanity just so that they may “feel protected” from their own fears. Meanwhile, the majority of humanity does not share their fears and feels no need for the safety blanket or any interest in paying for it.
Freedom of Informed Choice is a better option.
As I advised in What to do about Climate Change, A Libertarian Proposal (a Kindle eBook on Amazon), get the government entirely out of the business of Climate Change. Expect citizens to fight their own battles against their Climate fears by using their own time, money and efforts. Instead of rallying for government aid, their rallies can focus on obtaining voluntary donations from like-minded citizens. They can then fund real solutions like The BIGFOOT SHOW rather than more taxes, laws and regulations which have failed spectacularly to ‘move the needle’ on progress.
I too am a ‘snowflake’.
When it comes to feeling the crushing force of too much government on my person, property, rights and freedoms, I am not alone. Unfortunately, I am pessimistic about my chances to find safety from this oppressive force.
I chalk it up to the nature of humanity.
We are apparently a very vulnerable species that is always seeking a higher power to save us from our fears, real or imagined.
Our preferred individual choice of a “saviour” can come in many possible forms. People are know to place their faith and hope in God, government, wealth, power and fame. Anything that leads one to believe that our “tomorrows will be better than our todays” may qualify.
Some parting words of advice that still mean what they say (I think LOL)
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
Oprah Winfrey
