What if global warming was made up to gain money and power?

[FreethinkingSceptic]

Similary to how the Catholic Church allegedly made up their religion to gain money and power, what if scientists and politicians made up global warming as a conspiracy to gain money and power over superstitious people who believe that the end of the world is near?

[Mr.Obvious]

Do you have any evidence to show this is the case?

If not, and evidence shows their claims to be right... then isn't it more pertinent to ask what if it isn't made up?

[FreethinkingSceptic]

Do you have any evidence to show this is the case?

If not, and evidence shows their claims to be right... then isn't it more pertinent to ask what if it isn't made up?

There's plenty of historical evidence showing that people do things motivated by money and power, and that uninformed people have often believed that the end of the world was near (people as far back as 1,000 AD believed it was ending). As far as specific evidence about a specific scientist or politician, I haven't researched that.

[Mr.Obvious]

There's plenty of historical evidence showing that people do things motivated by money and power, and that uninformed people have often believed that the end of the world was near (people as far back as 1,000 AD believed it was ending). As far as specific evidence about a specific scientist or politician, I haven't researched that.

Yeah, and go investigate that, and report back to us. Please do.
And, more importantly, examine the claims made by said scientists and see if they can be debunked.

Up to that point, concider your question an equivalent of:
What if 'globe earth' was made up to gain money and power?

Is it conceivable? I suppose. Is it likely? No. Is there evidence? No. Is the abscence of said evidence for what would be a global conspiracy, which would need to involve hundreds of thousands of people, damning? Yes.

[FreethinkingSceptic]

Yeah, and go investigate that, and report back to us. Please do.
And, more importantly, examine the claims made by said scientists and see if they can be debunked.

Up to that point, concider your question an equivalent of:
What if 'globe earth' was made up to gain money and power?

Is it conceivable? I suppose. Is it likely? No. Is there evidence? No. Is the abscence of said evidence for what would be a global conspiracy, which would need to involve hundreds of thousands of people, damning? Yes.

Well, how many people were involved in creating and mantaining the Catholic Church during the middle ages, presuming that it was an institution designed to gain money and power, akin to a "megacorporation"? Church authorities were considered "experts" on matters such as cosmology during their day and age.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

This is a forum, not a litter box.

[Mr.Obvious]

Well, how many people were involved in creating and mantaining the Catholic Church during the middle ages, presuming that it was an institution designed to gain money and power, akin to a "megacorporation"? Church authorities were considered "experts" on matters such as cosmology during their day and age.

I'm sorry fts... but is the catholic church and their practices, what you initially asked about?
No? Then why would we concider that evidence of GW being a deliberate lie to gain power?

[FreethinkingSceptic]

I'm sorry fts... but is the catholic church and their practices, what you initially asked about?
No? Then why would we concider that evidence of GW being a deliberate lie to gain power?

Basically, if people believe the world is ending soon, they can be scared into handing over their money.

In 2012, Harold Camping scared people into handing over their life savings by convincing them the world was ending. This doesn't prove that it's "true" that GW is a scam, it merely points out the possibility that money-hungry individuals could take advantage of people who believe that GW will bring about the end of the world. And people who are primarily fearful don't make good future predictions.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

A fool and his money are soon parted. Nothing new about that.

[Unbeliever]

Basically, if people believe the world is ending soon, they can be scared into handing over their money.

In 2012, Harold Camping scared people into handing over their life savings by convincing them the world was ending. This doesn't prove that it's "true" that GW is a scam, it merely points out the possibility that money-hungry individuals could take advantage of people who believe that GW will bring about the end of the world. And people who are primarily fearful don't make good future predictions.

You've got a point. Just grow your hair long enough and no one will notice.

[Sargon The Grape]

Then it's the shittiest money grab I've ever seen. The transition cost to green energy has been tremendous, and is only becoming profitable in more recent years. Pretty much the opposite of what the stock market wants: quick returns on investments.

In fact, letting the world warm up might be more profitable for the fossil fuel-loving old guard, since the melting of the ice caps would open up direct trade routes in the Arctic Ocean. Canada, America, Greenland, the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, and Russia all stand to gain a lot from that.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Similary to how the Catholic Church allegedly made up their religion to gain money and power, what if scientists and politicians made up global warming as a conspiracy to gain money and power over superstitious people who believe that the end of the world is near?

I've seen you elsewhere. Not significant enough to remember your nick, just your "screams and inane babble."

[FreethinkingSceptic]

I've seen you elsewhere. Not significant enough to remember your nick, just your "screams and inane babble."

Who's screaming? I'm just making arguments.

[Mr.Obvious]

Basically, if people believe the world is ending soon, they can be scared into handing over their money.

In 2012, Harold Camping scared people into handing over their life savings by convincing them the world was ending. This doesn't prove that it's "true" that GW is a scam, it merely points out the possibility that money-hungry individuals could take advantage of people who believe that GW will bring about the end of the world. And people who are primarily fearful don't make good future predictions.

People scamming people isn't proof for GW being likely a scam. That much is true.

The fact that you can repeat the experiments and readings that prove GW is happening, is proof that it isn't a scam.

So no proof that it is a scam. And proof that it isn't a scam.
So why even poison the well by sowing doubt?

I mean, you call yourself a sceptic? Could you take a sceptical look at ho, much this kind of international, intergenerational scam would require of those fooling the population? How many millions upon millions of people around the world would need to be in on it?
It would be more likely that the moonlandings were fake, rather than GW. And no, those weren't fake either.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Who's screaming? I'm just making arguments.

Comic book versions of arguments, granted.