A little feedback from the current members & those who will join up here in the future.

The situation: you're a global warming skeptic. You feel compelled to start your own website as a means to dispute the current opinion on this issue, knowing the implications may adversely affect the economy, you, your family...all of us.

This issue encompasses virtually everything: science, politics, religion, economics, freedom, culture, societal norms.

The die-hards? Forget about them. I made that mistake once before. You can't reason with them. They aren't the target audience. The target audience are the majority.

And who are the majority? Independents. They don't follow this stuff day by day because they're too busy gossiping, watching "Lost" and talking about the latest rumors at work. They browse the headlines, but don't read the words. They tune in two weeks before a presidential election and decide who to vote for 24 hours before they go to the polls.

Right now, the target audience believes that human beings are causing climate change. Yet, they aren't willing to sacrifice much....yet. Everyday exposure to higher gas prices are effective in changing their minds.

So the question: how would you combat this? What are your short-term and long-term objectives? What do you feel would be most effective? It's difficult putting yourself in the shoes of the average independent, because you aren't average. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here.

Feel free to elaborate. I'm interested in what you have to offer.

I hope I'm answering your answer appropriately

For me, it would boil down to economics. I'm sure that most normal people (I stress normal as I consider green hippies, especially the die hard ones, to be very abnormal) hate paying extra for things. You made the point about high gas prices. Yes there are other factors like opec and the value of the currency, but I can't help but think that somewhere somehow environmentalists has their foot in the industry to force us consumers to go green by jacking up the cost of gas.

My next item is the hypocrisy (sp ?), these green hippies exclaim how they've become green, yet their income and their wealth is based directly or indirectly on an industry that supposedly is not eco friendly. For example, in Alberta, the main source of revenue is the petroleum industry. Alot of wealth is generated by oil. Yet I wouldn't be surprised if those working in the industry proclaim to be green yet their wealth is riding on the backs of an industry that supposedly pollutes the earth the most. Ironic isn't it ?

I think this website is a good start, it helps those that have been questioning this global warming fad to discuss their concerns with others that share the same point of view. With so much talk about going green and being green, no one will have the guts (yet) to stand up and proclaim to dispute global warming, I consider these people closet global warming skeptics. Lisa and yourself have posted links to scientists that have started to question global warming, and I think those people are off to a good start. We just have to pass the word onto them about this forum.

I'm such an idiot.

You're right. It does boil down to economics and unnecessarily paying extra for goods & services.

Sometimes it takes someone to state the obvious for me to get it.

I like the forum part of this website. I don't see any need to change it. And I'll keep adding links to the science page as I find them or someone else brings them to my attention.

I just didn't know what angle to go with on the blog page, and it's been bothering me over the last week. Anyone can have a forum on their webpage. Anyone can have a blog linking to other news articles. I've been beating myself up trying to think of another reason to bring people here.

I have an accounting degree and an MBA. And I just found out yesterday that I passed my first part of the CPA exam (which I refused to take years ago because of the old format) on my first try. There's no reason I can't focus on what the economic impacts of going green mean to the average citizen, as well as bring to their attention why they're paying more for things when they don't have to. That should be a good niche.

Now I just have to knock out the other 3 parts of this exam so I can free up some time. Guess I'll have to do some easier analysis between now & then.

I guess another way of looking at it is, what attracts people to go green in the first place ? Obviously they decided to go green because of being misinformed or lack of information. If somehow you can find out why people are attracted to go green in the first place we can come up with arguments as to why going green is unnecessary, and a needless waste of energy (and cash ??).

I guess i hear the same reasons, I want to help save the environment for future generations. However, is the environment in such dire straits that it needs to be saved in the first place ? Is someone out there sounding the alarm and causing needless panic ?

I think the links we find about people who are skeptical about climate change is proof that there are more people out there that are beginning to question this fad.

The main reason why I joined up here is I know for a fact that going green costs money. Let's face it, electric cars are a pipe dream, while hybrids cost an arm and a leg. solar energy is nice, but again, cost is very prohibitive, same with geothermal (plus geothermal needs to be installed correctly or else you just spent $25000 minimum on nothing). Wind power is nice too, but again cost prohibitive. And how many of your neighbours would appreciate seeing this windmill on your backyard ?

Another reason why I joined is I find green hippies very hypocritical. Don't tell me they ride horseback as that isn't feasible. Don't tell me they don't fly from place to place either. And don't tell me they live in mud huts, I'm sure given half the chance they would live in a nice house heated with natural gas or in the summer cooled with traditional a/c (ie. electricity). They tell you to go green yet I bet their livelihood/income is based on an industry that is supposed to be environmentally unfriendly.

BTW, congrats on passing your CPA exam !!