Global warming a tough sell for the human psyche (It's not in people's faces say psychologist)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/17/09 | Malcolm Ritter - ap

[NormsRevenge]

NEW YORK – The Copenhagen talks on climate change were convened with a sense of urgency that many ordinary folks don't share. Why is that? One big reason: It's hard for people to get excited about a threat that seems far away in space and time, psychologists say.

"It's not in people's faces," said psychologist Robert Gifford of the University of Victoria in British Columbia. "It is in the media, but not in their everyday experience. That's quite a different thing."

The consequences of global warming are seen as occurring in far-off places, he said: "It's happening up in the Arctic or it's happening in Bangladesh, and it's not happening in my backyard." And the slow changes are not as attention-grabbing as a "fast disaster" like an earthquake, he said.

As it happens, those urgent-seeming U.N. talks have bogged down over political differences. But recent surveys suggest that Americans are not exactly consumed by concern over climate change.

[NormsRevenge]

Pew Poll..

Climate Change is like so,, totally yesterday Man.

[Adder]

The consequences of global warming are seen as occurring in far-off places,

Yeah, like in the imaginations of leftists.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[BenLurkin]

Could be that people realize that AGW is a bunch of malarkey.

[NormsRevenge]

Awww, what the heck? We already paid for the booze and hookers.

Shame for it to go to waste. Bon Appetit!

Denmark's Queen Margrethe (C) gives a toast to German Chancellor Angela Merkel (3rd L), U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (L), China's Premier Wen Jiabao (3rd R), South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (2nd R), Mexico's President Felipe Calderon (R) and other guests during a dinner at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen December 17, 2009. REUTERS/Bob Strong (DENMARK - Tags: ENVIRONMENT ROYALS)

[samtheman]

Great photo!

[DeusExMachina05]

The 10 degree temps hit me in the face first thing this morning in Maine. So I think I get the scam thats going on in Copenhagen.

[VR-21]

Perhaps a few “ordinary people” might know the difference between chicken sh*t and chicken salad.

[dila813]

Maybe this guy should be discussing Mass Hysteria instead of Realist Denial?

[NormsRevenge]

Hey I'm FREnch. What did you expect?

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives at Christiansborg Palace prior to a state dinner in Copenhagen December 17, 2009. Copenhagen is the host city for the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009, which lasts from December 7 until December 18. REUTERS/Bob Strong (DENMARK - Tags: ENVIRONMENT POLITICS)

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I am Hugo Chavez and I am here to Rock the House tonight!

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Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks during a meeting in Valby Hallen in Copenhagen December 17, 2009. Copenhagen is hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009. This picture was taken with a pocket camera from the rows of spectators, as professional cameras were banned for security reasons. REUTERS/Mads Nissen/Scanpix (DENMARK - Tags: POLITICS ENVIRONMENT) DENMARK OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN DENMARK. QUALITY FROM SOURCE

[Juan Medén]

Not only is it not in our faces, it’s not in the data either.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I'm aware that many if not most of the drivers for AGW have an agenda, and that they are using AGW to further their quest for global socialism.

I will suspect and doubt absolutely ANY claim they make.

[thinking]

to the progressives, their something mental about folks that don't follow the gospel of climate-whatever...hence they go seeking a professional’s advice as to why no one is listening....

[profit_guy]

“It’s not in people’s faces say psychologist”

...the exploding debt isn’t in people’s faces either, and that is REAL...the vast majority of people out there couldn’t tell you what $1 Trillion is...try asking people sometime, you’ll be amazed at how few can describe what a $1 Trillion is, but they’ll be able to tell you plenty about American Idol

...the dumbing down of America continues...over the last few weeks the msm has totally ignored Climategate, but they saturated us with Tiger and Whitehouse party crashers...disgusting

[profit_guy]

“to the progressives, their something mental about folks that don’t follow the gospel of climate-whatever...hence they go seeking a professional’s advice as to why no one is listening”

...they are probably just asking at their regular appointment

[freedomfiter2]

Well maybe if global warming was actually occuring,

[SoldierDad]

"It is in the media, but not in their everyday experience. That's quite a different thing."

Yes, Robert Gillford, something that is in the media only, and has no basis in reality, is something that we will not buy.