From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Thu Jun 28 2001 - 08:51:59 MDT
Damien Broderick wrote,
> >The parents were particularly upset about
> > Stossel asking the children for a show of
> > hands on how many of them believed
> > scientists were unanimous on the dangers
> > of global warming. A preview of the
> > special asserts that children are often given
> > one-sided information about
> > environmental dangers.
> >
> > "I am concerned that these kids are being
> > portrayed as if they were brainwashed or
> > not being told the truth," said Michael
> > Scott, whose children Rachel, 10, and
> > Zachary, 8, were interviewed.
>
> Um, yes, and...?
No offense, but I would almost be tempted to raise my hand. I know that
this is politically incorrect sentiment on this group, but most scientists
do believe in the dangers of global warming. Although scientists are never
"unanimous" on any issue, this one is clearly divided between the majority
and minority. Although there is a very vocal minority of scientists that
discount global warming, most of these are funded by business to fight
global warming. In any case, there is not enough evidence to claim global
warming is such a fraud that it is brainwashing to teach it to children.
This method of pulling children into the debate is a blatant attempt to tug
on our heart strings and evoke pity. This is poor journalism whether it is
on "our" side or "their" side. There also is the questionable tactic of
interviewing children with permission of parents who think the interview
will be sympathetic, and then showing these children as brainwashed dupes on
national TV. These kids probably feel ambushed and embarrassed. They will
probably never trust a journalist to interview them again. The parents
probably feel that they gave their permission under false pretenses, and
that the purpose of the show was other than what they were lead to believe.
I think we would feel the same if somebody interviewed Extropian children
for a show on science education, and then put it on TV as an exposes of a
new cult that is brainwashing kids with a pseudoscientific religion. We
would be angry. I don't see why children are in this debate anyway. The
debate is about technology, not childrearing methods.
-- Harvey Newstrom <http://HarveyNewstrom.com> <http://Newstaff.com>
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