I don't know how WUWT readers can put up with this. Today Anthony Watts has posted yet another article trying to justify his atrocious behaviour following Typhoon Haiyan / Typhoon Yolanda (archived here and updated here). This latest one follows a series of appalling articles which I've summarised here.
Anthony Watts refuses quiche
Anthony starts off singling out Greg Laden again. Then Greenpeace. He cannot abide anyone who knows that global warming is harmful. And I expect he's wanting to prove that he doesn't "eat quiche" and he won't give in to social pressure to behave as a responsible human being in modern society is expected to behave.
Typhoon Haiyan was no big deal, blurts Anthony Watts
Anthony is arguing that the recent few dozen typhoons to hit the region don't count for anything because the trend (as at 2005 or 2009) didn't go up. He is arguing that because Typhoon Haiyan might have "only" killed 10,000 and more people, it's not the worst ever. The fact that it flattened a city of 200,000 and killed maybe one in every twenty of its residents is no big deal.
And anyway, Anthony argues, it's only in the top ten worst cyclone/typhoon disasters in terms of fatalities since the 1960s. And that's despite the stupendous improvements in tracking cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons. And despite the huge advances in advance warnings, communication, transport and shelter over the past few decades. And despite the fact that thousands evacuated to safer territory before the typhoon hit. I doubt the people in the Philippines and Vietnam are consoled.
I thought I'd run out of words last time. I was sure with all the flack he's been getting both at WUWT and elsewhere (including admonition from his some among his band of fake sceptics, but not on this particular thread), Anthony would realise just how awful he appears.
What can motivate someone to behave so badly - and repeat that behaviour over and over again? Even when he's been told by so many people how bad it makes him look. Is he oblivious to what he's doing? Is Anthony Watts unaware that he comes across as a thug, an insensitive oaf, a person totally devoid of ethics, a person insensitive to human suffering, a person who will do anything, no matter how vile, to reject the science of climate change?
Anthony's behaviour is extreme, even for climate blog wars. It is about as far removed from common decency as it could be. And the really awful part is that Anthony is arguing a phantom of his own creation. He's making up stuff just to shoot it down. Which makes his behaviour all the worse. (I've not read of any climate scientist, nor anyone in the media arguing that Typhoon Haiyan was "caused by" global warming. The closest is people reporting what the latest science shows, that while tropical storms may not increase, they will probably get fiercer in coming decades as the world warms. And even if we don't get more super storms, then rising sea levels will create worse storm surges than we see today.)
I don't normally delve too far into psychology to try to fathom people's behaviour. In this case I'm starting to think there something fundamentally wrong. Is this too strong a description?
From the WUWT comments
Here are some of the worst comments, following the lead that Anthony Watts set (archived here).
The WUWT comments are aimed at the Philippines delegate at the Warsaw Climate Change Conference, who is shown speaking below. Watch the video and then see if you can bear to read the comments.
Richard Sharpe says:
November 11, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Typhoon Haiyan: Philippines climate chief Yeb Sano makes emotional plea for climate change action
The last desperate stand of ratbags
hunter says:
November 11, 2013 at 8:18 pm
The frustrating thing when a high level insider like Yeb Sano makes a plea like this is that he is diverting attention from his failure to help prepare his nation for the inevitability of storms. This is not the worst storm to have ever hit the Philippines. It will not be the last.
If he is as educated as he claims, he should know this.
Why did he not help prepare people in vulnerable areas better?
Why is he pursuing this course instead of actually helping his nation?
Why is he making statements that are not supported by history or fact?
Jquip says:
November 11, 2013 at 10:28 pm
Tad: “In the meantime, the “Climate Change Commissioner” for the Philippines is saying things like, “To climate change doubters, visit PH”, and “We refuse to accept typhoons as way of life”.”
Frankly, I’d rather they dissemble in the face of cruelty than that they turned their incompetence loose on relief efforts.
nevket240 says (excerpt):
November 12, 2013 at 3:09 am
What this venal jerk is posturing for is $$$$$$. and big bundles at that.
Without a doubt the biggest cause of the number of deaths is the 3rd world infrastucture of the area and the topography. With decent construction standards and a competent Government many deaths could have been avoided. But, I can virtually guarantee that any funds spent on redeveloping the area will be rorted by corrupt officials and the same thing will happen again in time.
Sad but true.
regards
