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  • Scientists are bearing the brunt of this, but it is very much everyone's problem. The people being harassed are doing things we urgently need them to do. That includes things like warning us about about immediate dangers, telling us what precautions we need to take, and doing research that could lead to workarounds and solutions to the problems themselves.

    We need to speak against this. We need to act against this. And we need to change the system to provide protections and remedies. Otherwise we are all going to suffer.

    • Speaking does not stop those who are willing to harass and intimidate those who are working to improve our world. They cannot be reasoned with because they are categorically unreasonable.

      I will leave what actually DOES work to your imagination. Cowards are cowardly.

      • I think you underestimate the degree to which they are cowardly. They gain confidence from superior numbers, but one-on-one, or crowd vs crowd, a lot of them can be put off by speech or other non-violent means. I think that deep down a lot of them know what they are doing is wrong, even though they tell themselves otherwise.

        Non-violent resistance has a long history and has often been effective. As an example, the fight for civil rights was not won because the progressives usually managed to beat up the racists. The progressives were largely non-violent. The racists were routinely violent, but they still lost.

        It takes a lot of bravery to oppose someone who may try to hurt you. Some of us will get hurt. It shouldn't be necessary, but if we want this to stop we will have to take some risks. (There's nothing wrong with avoiding high-risk situations, but some risk is necessary.)

        Personally, I am also okay with defending yourself if you are attacked. Non-violence is always better, but I doubt I could remain passive if faced with physical violence.

  • The oil industry is facing its own extinction, so of course this well-funded hate-fest is just getting escalated. Their desperation is frankly pathetic and obvious.

  • I would blame this on the anonymity of the internet but people are doing it with their real names and faces. What a strange time

  • I feel like we'll see the same thing with AI soon: people in denial about its capabilities and impacts

  • Beware of anger.
    Conspiracy theorists intimidate scientists with anger, but their anger is a bluff to overcome the fear that lies deep within them.
    Likewise, defenders of scientists need to stop reacting with fear-based anger against conspiracy theorists.
    We need to put aside our anger and just discuss the facts in a straightforward manner to advance science.

    • the issue here is that the 'opposition', for lack of a better word, is thoroughly disinterested in facts. any discussion of the facts is reasonable, don't get me wrong. but most people advocating against climate change- or anything else, for that matter- are not on about the science or the facts.

      in those cases, the only real way to 'get through' to them is find somebody who has some close relationship that holds their respect, and have them talk with them. Beyond that... they're pretty much goners.

35 comments