I recently downloaded a new iPhone app called Skeptical Science. The app (and its website) is designed to give easy access to science-based arguments regarding global warming. Overall, the usability is great and information within appears to be top-notch, but I think this concept needs to be taken further.
First of all, the app’s (and website’s) tagline reads, “Getting skeptical about global warming skepticism.” I feel that this is misleading. I’m not the first in the skeptical community to say that we all need to stick together and own the term Skeptic/skepticism/skeptical. Those opposing the mainstream scientific assessment of global warming are often being called “global warming skeptics”. Although it may seem intuitive to many, this is not a productive description as these people could be mistaken as being part of the skeptical movement, or the skeptical movement could be confused as opposing science-based knowledge. A better term is “global warming deniers”, and I think this app would be a great place to get the ball moving on the conversion of the term. continue reading…
