Comment by 0xbadc0de5 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by 0xbadc0de5 | Hacker News Reader

SciAm posting such obvious click-bait really only seems to confirm that they've joined the likes of PopSci in terms of chasing sensationalism. If you're whining into the ether about how humanity is doomed, I have good news for you! People just like you have been predicting the end of days since the dawn of time - and they've all been wrong. Every time. If you believe that climate change is the most serious problem humanity has ever faced, then you should pursue a career that helps move us toward a more desirable future. I'm not talking about politics or activism (or any other form of coercion) either. Pursue a career in energy or material science or agriculture - something genuinely challenging and genuinely meaningful - and make a difference. Have kids. Teach them what you know about how to innovate. Teach them how to be better stewards of the planet than you have been. Teach them to be the change they would like to see in the world.

People weren't saying we are doomed, but were saying are doomed if we don't do anything about an issue. For example, if the birds are dying out because of ddt, we eliminate ddt. If the ozone layer is disappearing from the atmosphere, then we try to eliminate certain gases that destroy the the ozone layer. If we find out certain chemicals cause cancer then we try to clean up the chemicals and reduce the creation of those chemicals. And there are always people that say these obvious issues aren't a problem even with overwhelming evidence to the contrary. People don't want to understand science.

But we are still here because there are enough people that can recognize and fix out mistakes.

And global climate change is one of the biggest mistakes humankind has made.

As a side note, do people think Russian trolls have invaded this site to foster dissension? If any group of people could figure this out the people on this site could.

And everyone who has played Russian roulette will tell you that it's perfectly harmless. Every time.

Strange that you consider advocacy to be both "whining into the ether" and also "coercion". Do you outsource all your personal decisions to whoever happens to be waving a sign outside city hall? If you don't have the strength to make your own choices in the face of a few eco-friendly Chevron commercials or people sharing memes on Facebook, then they aren't your real problem.

Many of the people "whining into the ether" are already doing those "genuinely meaningful" things. They're calling for you to come join them.

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