Tales From The Travels

I recently responded to some individuals that commented on one of my postings concerning a simple experiment to prove the greenhouse effect. These postings culminated in the third response to my global warming skeptic challenge. I was a bit rough on this guy, even to the point of violating the Wiccan Rede (As you harm none, do as ye will). It could be said that it was rather un-Wiccan of me to say some of the things I said.

Yes, and it bothers me some. Not because I feel bad about what I said, but because there is a bigger issue here, the issue that some people are working hard to advance civilization, while others are working hard to drag us down. As a scientist, I find myself tied up with trying to convince these people they are wrong. I will give them the scientific evidence. I will show them how experiments have been done and the results support the scientific theories. I will show them how their theories are flawed and why. I will direct them to references to support everything I say. They, on the other hand, are unable to do any of that (see my $1000 challenge to global warming skeptics as an example). Then, after that, they are unfazed in their beliefs.

The only thing I accomplish is to waste my time on them when I could spend it on more productive issues. The reason I do is to try and keep other people from falling in the same trap.

That is why I am so rough on these guys and why I feel it would actually be un-Wiccan for me to do otherwise. These believers are afflicted with an incurable disease. The only thing I can do is to try and reduce the number of people that get that disease. If being rough on them will help, then that’s what I’m willing to do.

We have very serious problems that must be dealt with. Dealing with these people is hurting that effort. Worse, this small community has the effect of causing the scientific community to spend its time fighting this bunk instead of the real problems. We are fighting a fight to keep us from falling backwards instead of working to move us forwards.

And that is why I call these people Al-Qaida in America (AQA).

AQA is simply, all of those people that subscribe to some impossible belief and insist on dragging the rest of down with them. Its OK if you want to believe in something weird, that’s your business. But, when you start believing in something that cannot be supported by any science or logic and insist that everyone else must conform to you, then there’s a problem. These people all have one thing in common – they are trying to drag us back to the 12th century before there was any modern science. Hence the name.

Example of people that are in AQA are creationists, global warming skeptics, face on Mars advocates, alien abduction advocates, Nostradamus fans and 2012 believers. I came across another one last night that I had almost forgotten about – people that believe ancient astronauts were responsible for basically everything.

I watched part of this show on the History Channel about the claims by some people that we were visited by ancient aliens. This show illustrated perfectly why I call this whole group of people Al-Qaida in America. Several statements just stood out.

For instance, this one guy that publishes a magazine devoted to the idea stated that if you look at all the evidence the only conclusion you can reach is that there were ancient astronauts. The real truth is, if you look at all the evidence you cannot possibly reach that conclusion.

I read Chariots of the Gods in the early 70s when it first came out and several other related books. They were very fascinating and I really enjoyed them. However, the more I learned the more I realized they are complete bunk. They, and other similar books, make these claims that amount to “I don’t know how it was done, therefore it had to have been done by aliens.”

In the show last night they were talking about the carvings on Easter Island. These carvings have been positively proven to have been done by the islanders. There are even unfinished carvings in the quarry and remnants of the tools they used have been identified. The show made a big deal about how similar they are to carvings in Bolivia. Well, duh! It has been shown that the islanders in Easter Island came from South America. Thor Hyerdahl showed without doubt that you could take the kind of boats they used back then and drift westward to the islands. Modern genetics has shown the people there originated in South America. So, the reason they look so similar isn’t because they are modeled after the same aliens, but because the same group of people made both.

The topic of pyramids is another perfect example of this line of reasoning. It has long been claimed that the great pyramids were made by aliens. This is despite the fact that there are copious records concerning the construction of the pyramids, there are hundreds of pyramids (not just three), and we find examples showing how they had to adjust their construction techniques. There is an extensive history of the pyramids and there is no doubt at all that the pyramids were constructed by hired workers (not slaves).

The list just keeps going on and every one of their claims have been conclusively shown to be false. But, they really don’t care about that. They have decided aliens were responsible for just about everything in the ancient world and no amount of evidence will ever alter that opinion.

This illustrates the whole problem. They will look at the evidence and totally disregard anything that does not fit their preconceived notions. No possible amount of scientific evidence can ever convince these people that they are wrong. Worse than that, it is not even possible to convince them that they are not considering all of the evidence. This is the true hallmark of some kind of psychosis. There is certainly something wrong with someone when you can show them, without question, that their conclusion is wrong on a topic, yet they insist on just going their merry way as if nothing ever happened without even addressing what you showed them.

Then, they aren’t happy in their delusions by themselves. It is their mission to convince everyone else. In this way, they drag down the gullible and tie-up the scientific community. Instead of working on advancing science, we are stuck with the task to keeping us from falling back into the pre-Renaissance state of civilization.

The History Channel really has become the Crackpot Channel.

Besides, it is both arrogant and demeaning to suggest all of these things were done by aliens.

First, they suggest we are never clever enough to figure out anything for ourselves. This is kind of like the parent that always does everything for their kids because they don’t think the kids are smart enough.

At the same time, its rather arrogant to think the aliens are traveling vast distances to come and do things for a bunch of dumb cavemen. What’s their motive for that? (Hey, Galactic Congress! I would like you to give me a cazillion quonots so that I can fly across the cosmos and carve stone figures on the shore of a little island!)

So, I enjoyed the book and still enjoy the discussion. But, now I enjoy it because it causes me to think objectively. Its a good mental exercise to hear this arguments and to find the flaw (or usually, flaws) in their logic.

So, if you believe in one of the beliefs I cited above and are feeling offended that I classify you as an enemy of modern society, too bad. And, if you are offended that I have bunched your belief in with other beliefs that you find offensive, then I suggest you take a critical look at your beliefs. Maybe the reason you are being bunched with the others is because you have so much in common with them.

As both a Wiccan and a scientist, I cannot, in good conscience, sit by while this group of people work to undermine modern society and not do something about it.

I have, over the years, made it a point to stand up to the various kinds of non-reasoning people that claim to have some enormous insight beyond what science tells us. Among these claims that I’ve stood up to are: cigarette smoking isn’t hazardous to your health; astrology; a face on Mars; psychic powers; global warming skeptics; anti-nuclear activists; 9/11 conspiracy nuts; Holocaust deniers; endless government conspiracies (there are so many you would need a Department of Government Conspiracies to manage them all); and my two favorites, creationism and the moon landings hoax theory.

If you find your particular belief in this list and are offended because I’ve lumped you in with these others – Good! You should be offended because you are yourself offensive. The fact is, all of these are different manifestations of the same malady. What the cause of this illness is, I’m not sure. But I sure do recognize it when I see it. And, the important thing is to make sure these people understand they can’t spew their nonsense unopposed.

What happens is they come out and make unfounded and unsupported claims, but these claims then become accepted as fact and people base their beliefs on them. Let me give you an example.

I saw a news article quoting a number of scientist as being critical of a prior news report on global warming, even calling it ‘hysteria.’ The critical article quoted David Deming, a geology professor at the University of Oklahoma. Among the things Demming said was:

“The mean global temperature, at least as measured by satellite, is now the same as it was in the year 1980. In the last couple of years sea level has stopped rising. Hurricane and cyclone activity in the northern hemisphere is at a 24-year low and sea ice globally is also the same as it was in 1980.”

This is a pretty definite statement and sounds very convincing. But, let’s look at the facts for ourselves.

He says that the ‘mean global temperature, at least as measured by satellite, is now the same as it was in the year 1980.” Well, we can check this here and here. Even the most casual inspection of the data shows Demmings statement is false.

He also said, ‘In the last couple of years sea level has stopped rising.’ The data shows this is simply not true.

Then, he said, ’sea ice globally is also the same as it was in 1980.’ Again, there is no basis in truth for his statement.

What about, ‘Hurricane and cyclone activity in the northern hemisphere is at a 24-year low’? Check out the data or read this article for yourself and you decide.

So, when we make the effort to actually verify statements like this, we see they are completely false.

As for the creationists, well they sure do have all sorts of problems. Of course, if you’re going to believe in creationism and reject evolution, then you can’t believe in DNA evidence because without evolution, we would all have the same DNA. Why bother getting a flu shot? Without evolution there is only one strain of flu. Nothing to worry about. You must believe the Sun is the center of the solar system and the Earth revolves around it. The Bible says so!

Talking to a creationist runs something like this:

Creationist: “Well 2 plus 2 is five and that proves creationism.”

Evolutionist: “But, 2 plus 2 doesn’t add up to five. It adds up to four.”

Creationist: “Exactly! And, since we know that two plus two is five, we now know that evolution is false!”

Evolutionist: “But, wait a minute! Two plus two doesn’t add up to five. Your argument is false!”

Creationist: “See? Its so simple. Two plus two adding up to five proves it!”

Now, you may think I’m making fun of creationists. I’ve been known to do that and its certainly fun and worthwhile, but I’m not doing that here. I have had conversations with creationists that have gone almost exactly like this. They will pull out some false argument and cite it as proof. Then, no amount of evidence or logic will ever persuade them that there is no substance to that argument.

Things just keep getting worse for creationists. Like this news story about a find of 9000-year old human bones with tuberculosis. Unfortunately, creationists believe the universe (and man) was created about 6000 years ago. But, this really isn’t a problem for creationists. They simply ignore evidence like this.

And, that is why I feel the need to stand up to them and speak up. As an educator, I am constantly confronted with students that are sucked in by statements like this and then its my job to convince them that there is no truth to them. Unfortunately, all too many people buy into this. For instance, I saw a survey recently that said 40% of Americans believe in creationism. What a national shame that is.

But why do people buy into things that are so clearly wrong? Why would someone believe in something that is proven to be false by mountains of evidence and not supported by any logic or documented evidence? I really don’t know. The only thing I can think of is that it is some deep-seated psychological flaw in our personalities that demands we reject reality and find refuge in a fantasy world that provides us comfort. I can imagine it is something like retreating to the womb. A place where you can feel warm and secure, a way to not have to deal with the real world.

Personally, I revel in dealing with the real world, but I’ve known lots of people that are just overwhelmed by it. I enjoy the obstacles, the challenges, the opportunities, the uncertainties, the twists. I love to wonder about what’s around the next bend in the road. I love even more going around the bend and finding out. I can’t look at a hill without wanting to go over it and see what’s on the other side. Sit me down in a field and I’ll be turning stones over to see what’s underneath. Isn’t life grand?

But, not everyone sees it that way. So, they deny the Nazis liquidated millions because it is too horrible to contemplate. They believe there is a face on Mars because that would mean there is a great civilization out there that put it there and they may provide us with answers. They deny we landed on the Moon because the concept is just so big to them they can’t deal with it, so they simply deny it ever happened. These are people that look at the bend in the road as a threat, something to worry about. Hills not only hide what’s on the other side from them, but hides them from what ever may lie on the other side. And, these people will never, ever, turn a rock over just for the fun of it. The world is a threat and they are looking for a safe haven.

Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s the way I see it. There’s not much you can do for these people, they have rejected all logic and all science and nothing you can do or say will ever change their minds. So, why do I bother? Because, maybe I can prevent someone else from sinking into this disease. Maybe, I can get through to someone that has yet to become infected and convince them to check the facts and to think for themselves.

Some people say I’m wasting my time. To quote Thomas Paine “To argue with those who have renounced the use and authority of reason is as futile as to administer medicine to the dead.”

As usual, Thomas Paine was correct. But, it misses the point of how much fun it is.

So, keep your facts straight, check the story for yourself, and don’t buy into the nutcake arguments.

Pass it on.