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Bad Memes: This meme makes me sad.




This meme makes me sad. It takes a cheap shot at both climate scientists and meteorologists. I call it out here because of the mockery. It bypasses rational thought. It discounts science without having to engage in any reasoning. The laugh-till-you-cry faces emphasize the attitude you should have toward 'those people'.


It’s important to note the impact these memes have on social interactions. They discourage actual discussion on these topics. Someone posts a meme that mocks a person, position, or party, and any friend who disagrees knows what topics to avoid.


I'm offended by a cheap shot at meteorologists.


Meteorologists have an immensely difficult job, and the predictions they make about events like hurricanes are amazing by any measure. Fifty years ago, people found out about hurricanes when the hurricane showed up. Now we have days to prepare, to board up windows, and to evacuate entire areas. Meteorologists save lives.


Have you ever tracked a hurricane projection in the news over the course of a week? I have, and I find the predictions impressive.


I have an analogy for weather prediction: If someone fills your hands with sand and makes you walk around your house, it’s easy to predict that much of the sand will fall from your hands (There is, let's say, a 90% chance of sandfall). It’s really difficult, however, to predict how much will fall on any one square inch of your floor. That’s what people seem to expect meteorologists to do, and it’s just not reasonable.


Likewise, climatologists have done quite well at predicting climate change and its impacts. They have not said that in ten years we will die from global warming. Someone might be confusing climate science with the movies.


Climate scientists have said that glaciers will melt, sea levels will rise, extremes will be more common, and coral reefs will die off. How accurate do you think that's been? They've said that eventually, global food supplies will be threatened. Hopefully their accuracy stops there.


I don’t mind if you chuckle at the occasional meme. I certainly do. But I hope your chuckle is followed up with a little objective review. Is this respectful? Is this polite? Is it a fair representation of what other reasonable people think?


Memes can be funny. Memes can be cute. But they can also be mean-spirited and misleading. Be careful.

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