Anthony Watts, owner of the climate conspiracy blog WUWT, doesn't get much mail from people who like science. I doubt he gets too many from researchers at universities, for example. Over the past few weeks he's posted a couple of emails and comments that he calls "hate mail". (Never mind that Anthony himself sends hate mail.) He was going to do it more often, but he probably doesn't get enough to make an article worthwhile. This latest one he's posted (archived here) is very mild. It's asking Anthony how he sleeps at night. If that's the worst he gets, then he gets off very lightly, compared to climate scientists.Today he wrote:
You know what astounds me in this world? That there are people with so little moral character that they have to hurl insults about scientific integrity from behind faux names.Not Anthony. He hurls insults about scientific integrity in public and in private. Though he only does it when he's safely ensconced behind his computer screen.
You'll also notice that Anthony can't bring himself to write in English, he has to use the word "faux". Also, as you know, his own blog is dedicated to hurling insults against climate scientists, impugning their integrity. He and his followers hurl insults daily. And not just insults. They make a habit of accusing scientists of fraud and fakery and scams.
When you are a science denier, hypocrisy is your middle name. Anthony often uses articles from HockeySchtick ("faux" name) and has drawn extensively on Steve Goddard ("faux" name) and various other people, like Scottish Sceptic ("faux" name), who use pseudonyms.
From the WUWT comments
Here is a sample of comments from people hiding behind "faux" names, hurling insults, among other things. At least I'm guessing these are "faux" names. It could be denier parents, or names that I'm not familiar with.
co2isnotevil <-- "faux" name - is the first cab off the rank
August 18, 2015 at 12:52 pm
This just echos the political meme that when you can’t support your case with objective truth, you resort to denigrating your opponent. More evidence that as it relates to climate science, the scientific method was long ago replaced by conformance to a political narrative. Consider the insults a badge of honor. It means that the opponents have run out of truth.
Dawtgtomis <-- "faux" name?
August 18, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Lysenkoism fell quite quickly, if I’m not mistaken, once the right man (khrushchev) became aware of the political masqueradeing of nature/reality-falsified science under his jurisdiction. I think most people will see the failure of the predictions eventually (solar cycles 25 and 26) but will it be soon enough to stop a “global governing body” from forming?
Dawtgtomis <-- "faux" name?
August 18, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Farce crimes are something that WW2 Germany accused the three stooges of…
aneipris <-- "faux" name?
August 18, 2015 at 3:29 pm
I think memes are the biggest meme of all.
Meme me up, Scotty.
(aka pokerguy) <-- "faux" name
Kenji <-- "faux" name?
August 18, 2015 at 12:56 pm
Despite claims to the contrary, I find most leftists and eco-extremists to be a poorly educated lot. This letter simply endorses the results of my “unscientific” poll.
Eyal Porat <-- real name
August 18, 2015 at 1:07 pm
What I liked in your post is the word “dreck”.
It summarizes these characters beautifully.
usurbrain <-- "faux" name
August 18, 2015 at 1:37 pm
@Faux Name:
If 97% 0f the scientists support the theory that the majority of the Global warming is caused by CO2, then why have they had such a hard time convincing the other 3% for the past 50 Years? Think about that for a moment. 50 years ago a respectable astrophysicist would have been laughed out of the conference hall if he suggested that Black holes exist or that there was a black hole at the center of every galaxy. Now the person that refutes that opinion is laughed out. So, like the little old lady asked “Where is the beef?”
Graphite <-- "faux" name
August 18, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Hah! Who does this Shol Vadi think he is? His mother was a hamster and his father smelled of elderberries. I fart in his general direction.
Dahlquist <-- "faux" name?
August 18, 2015 at 2:15 pm
I am with you Graphite, I am “Loosing” a fart now in his general direction as well…NNE.
Scottish Sceptic <-- "faux" name
August 18, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Veni vidi risi
Mark from the Midwest <-- "faux" name
August 18, 2015 at 2:12 pm
“How do you sleep at night knowing … ?” … Probably better than most …
“Do you get sleep at night?” … Is this question from the Department of Redundancy Department?
“Leave the science to the scientist, will you?” … OK, then that means that Hansen, Mann, and Karl are out.
John Coleman <-- real name, noticed what I did. But what he doesn't appreciate is that, unlike him and Anthony, some people earn a living outside of weather and climate, and prefer to keep the two apart. Blogging and commenting on climate can cost you a job. Known names are a magnet for utter nutter cranks, too, as any scientist who's experienced cyber-stalking and harassment will tell you. (And there are quite a few of those.)
August 18, 2015 at 4:12 pm
While reading all these comments something I have overlooked for years suddenly came strongly into focus. The vast majority of commenters on this website hide their identity behind false names. Why is this? Is it cool and style-ish to be “cute” or sophisticated and make up a name? Or are you afraid of something or someone? I think the discussion would be far stronger and more meaningful if everyone used their real names. In a way you who hide with fake identification are no better than the person who sent the “hate mail”. And, I find this email no big deal. In my years of TV I received an non-ending flood of emails from viewers. While most were very supportive, interesting and positive, there were emails like this piece of “hate mail” almost everyday. I considered the points of criticism and disregarded the personal attacks and discarded these emails without concern. They are pure and simple proof you are having an impact. No big deal.
There were also some comments that scoffed at Anthony and what he regards as "hate mail".
Bevan asks why Anthony totally flouted internet convention, even for so-called "hate mail". Everyone was too polite to say that it's because Anthony has a well-earned reputation as a bully and a person who doesn't know the meaning of the words "manners" and "etiquette".
August 18, 2015 at 2:15 pm
why publish the ip address??
Wagen
August 18, 2015 at 2:17 pm
Hate mail????
Did the sender threaten to kill or rape you?
Martin Clark
August 18, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Hate mail for this site is anything that exposes the owner as ignorant.
Anthony;
ReplyDeleteYou know what astounds me in this world? That there are people with so little moral character that they have to hurl insults about scientific integrity from behind faux names.
I must say that Anthony is very harsh on the commenters at his blog.
And dbstealey has returned to the septic tank to attack coward anonymity.
ReplyDeleteI used my full name on WUWT but 12 months ago both Stealey and Watts published pictures of me that were intended to embarrass.
There were about 10 images tracing my life from age 25-ish to late 60s but none of them were mine. They belonged to a namesake (and fellow Australian)
Willis demands that those opposing WUWT's line use their real names but when we do he misuses them in wildly unethical ways.
Same happened to caerbannog, where they picked up some pictures of (I think) a Brazilian who used the same monniker on Twitter. Much abusive language about the looks of this person followed, no embarrassment was expressed when they slowly realized this might not be the same guy.
DeleteOh, I remember that -- here's the link: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/07/13/friday-funny-dr-michael-mann-keeps-interesting-company/
DeleteI was so flattered by Tony's attention that I decided to include the above link in my twitter profile. :)
"You know what astounds me in this world? That there are people with so little moral character that they have to hurl insults about scientific integrity from behind faux names."
ReplyDeleteBlatant hypocrisy from Anthony Watts, the man who published fake photos of people wearing SS uniforms. As to his faux name policy, I wonder how Steve Goddard and Bob Tisdale are doing these days?
Is Bob Tisdale a pseudonym? You have to be kidding...
DeleteIt seems to be his real name - via some digging by William Connolley.
DeleteIf that is the case, then I retract what I said about it being a pseudonym.
DeleteFull name Bob Drivel Tisdale. Sure.
DeleteHe loves to try and out people. He tried it with me (in a roundabout way) and got it all wrong too.
ReplyDeletedbstealey/smokey/dbs/dboehm/whatever other aliases he has thinks he could work in the secret service! Possibly to uncover the communist take over of the catholic church.
As someone else who has had the fall wrath of the WUWT bullies, I nearly wet myself laughing at how big a baby Anthony is.
ReplyDeleteHardly surprising. As we all know, when you break through a bully's front you get to what little is left inside.
DeleteI didn't realise Anthony had any sort of scientific reputation that could be impugned.
ReplyDeleteOn a wider note, I think we are lucky (so far) that those few nutcases who adhere to the green side seem to attach themselves to 'animal rights' where some pretty appalling behaviour has occurred. But, given the gravity of the situation, I do wonder when some fruitcase will commit the first ghastly act of ecoterrorism directed against carbon criminals of one sort or another.
Hi Millicent. Today in Bali I finished Richard Flanagan's The Unknown Terrorist. Please don't give the Abbot Government any ideas.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe Abbott government already has ideas:
Deletehttp://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/19/farm-groups-fear-coalition-move-to-restrict-environment-challenges?CMP=share_btn_tw
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/18/coalition-to-remove-green-groups-right-to-challenge-after-carmichael-setback
It's not just Australia...
DeleteThe Canadian government has always been closely tied with reeource extraction. The Canadian intelligence agency (CSIS) has been found to give industrial information to resource companies in the past. They meet officially every 6 months.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/why-would-canada-spy-on-brazil-mining-and-energy-officials-1.1931465
Now they are infiltrating groups that oppose pipeline project under "terror" legislation.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/bc-lawyer-gagged-from-discussing-hearing-into-alleged-csis-spying-on-pipeline-protesters/article25964858/
This is how it's panned out in parliament when the execrable Greg Hunt tabled the bill:
Deletehttp://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2015/s4296820.htm
But, given the gravity of the situation, I do wonder when some fruitcase will commit the first ghastly act of ecoterrorism directed against carbon criminals of one sort or another.
DeleteIt is indeed surprising (and fortunate!) that no violence has occurred from either side (except for Anders Behring Breivik who cited Monckton disinformation, but didn't do what he did because of climate risk denial per se). I hope it stays that way. The act itself will be horrible, but the subsequent martyrizing will be even more nauseating.
That's not hate mail, it's a gentle piece of exasperation that completely misidentifies Watts as part of a 'sophisticated group' of deniers....any cursory reading of the blog shows Watts and his fellow ranters as barely coherent bumblers. So Watts needs better hate mail.
ReplyDeleteClearly Watts is pathetically proud of drawing, and advertising, any reaction no matter how genteel.
The campaign is going so well.
The smear tactics and constant badgering remind me of another organization that uses these same techniques to abuse people, steal their money, and attempt to corrupt people in power. Scientologists. perhaps that is where the popularity of the faux names comes from, as many who have used their real names are now coerced/brainwashed into towing the "party line". Those with enough of their own mind to speak out are ridiculed, ostracized, publicly shamed... Yet those who are able to stand up for themselves can go on to be great advocates for uncovering the deceptions.
ReplyDeleteNot trying to give Watts credit for being some kind of cult leader mastermind, its more of a groupthink effect in my opinion, rather than being led by a charismatic individual. People like watts and smokey simply perpetuate the culture.
Now if only we could see the skeptics secret documents, i bet there's something in there about lord xenu and body thetans that explains away any circumstantial warming effect. "When the Lord Xenu escapes his Galactic Prison, the exhaust from his invisible DC10-Rocket Ships floating in the Stratosphere will cause Great Warming, and we will know of his return." From the yet to be written OT9...
In Anthony's world the definition of "hate mail" is any email he opens and says to himself, "I hate this."
ReplyDeleteYou forgot to include a quote from Watts:
ReplyDelete"Warren and I have the courage to put our names to our opinion. Not worth a bucket of warm spit otherwise."
Context here.
Faux 'Usurbrain' does pose an interesting question about that pathetic 3%.
ReplyDeleteQuick heads up. It's now 30 days since the announcement of the OAS board election. This is going to be interesting.... For a real laugh have a look at the application form. Scientific acumen isn't quite at the top of the list by the looks.
ReplyDeleteR the Anon.