on Adams doesn’t believe in global warming.

I have to say, when it’s 3 degrees below zero outside in Joplin and we’re headed for our third week without a thaw, global warming theory is a tough concept to wrap my head around.

Using fewer than 50 words, the Nevada resident ignited a heated debate in our story forum last Wednesday that kept comments cookin’ all week. In his letter to the editor, Adams ask: “Anybody hear about global warming lately?” More than a dozen Globe commentors answered his call in the comments forum at joplinglobe.com.

“When it comes to global warming denialists, probably the most common and aggravatingly stupid argument goes like this: ‘Global warming is false because it’s currently cold outside, somewhere. Hyuck Hyuck.’ The argument is similar to the creationists: ‘If we evolved from monkeys, then why are there still monkeys’ question in its ability to mark its originator as someone who doesn’t know anything about anything relating to the topic at hand. Someone whipped this out at our Christmas Eve party, as we watched news coverage on the blizzard. Now, any halfway literate goofball can fire up Google and instantly see how utterly irrelevant this argument is. However, I prefer to beat the layman at his own game. I can whip out observations about local weather to fit my world view, too! You know what the weather was like the day before Christmas Eve? It was warm enough to bring the snakes out. I found a big black snake poking out of some abandoned farm equipment when I was out walking my dog. It’s December the freakin’ 23 and there’s black snakes mucking about thinking it’s spring because the poor dopes detected temperatures above 60 degrees. Global warming denialism is false because it’s currently warm outside, somewhere. Hyuck Hyuck. I guess at this point, me and the layman climate change denialists are at a draw. Well, except that I have actual, relevant evidence to fall back on when I’m done playing ‘Real American Everyman That Trumps Snooty Book Learning with Homespun Common Sense.’”

— kaje

‘The Wizard Of Fraud’

Adams suggested the reason global warming discussion has been on the back burner for a while is because its chief proponent, former Vice President Al Gore is hibernating in his 9,000 square foot mansion — there’s a carbon footprint for you — waiting for the thaw and Groundhog Day to reappear.

“Al Gore is not hibernating with his millions. Sheesh! Everyone knows that Al Gore is currently on the campus of University of East Anglia (in England) helping them to destroy any data they accidentally left in existence which contradicts their preconceived notions regarding man-caused global warming. There’s a lot of e-mail still to be deleted and a lot of data to be purged, so they needed the help. It’s very difficult to continue to lie through your teeth and make tons of cash from speaking fees about man-made warming if you leave data around that unquestionably proves your own assertions wrong. Be sure to look for Al’s new books ‘Credibility (and bank account) In The Balance: A Shyster’s Worst Nightmare’ and ‘The Wizard Of Fraud: Pay No Attention To The Data Behind The Firewall,’ both available on virgin old growth paper from East Anglia Press, once the weather warms up enough to allow for delivery.”

— anonymous

“Don, don’t get into a discussion that you are unable to understand. Global climate change is a bit more complicated and you need to do a little more fact checking than sticking your elbow out the window. There is more than 40 years of research out there, it’s easy to find.”

— Paul

“Lol ... was waiting for this one. I was mowing my lawn a few days before Christmas, Don ... and it actually needed it. There! Now, as Kaje pointed out, we’re at a draw as far as a layman’s debate might go. But there is much more to global warming than stepping outside and observing what the day’s weather is.”

— Scott

“I will spare trying to talk science with you, since nothing I can say could possibly get you to change your mind. But ... come out every winter when it gets the coldest and announce that global warming is bunk, based on nothing besides the fact it got cold in the winter. Completely ignoring, or too lazy to learn the science behind any of it. For every instance where someone like Don can say, ‘see thar ain’t no global warmin’,’ a hundred other facts can be stacked to show it is true. It’s like saying your house isn’t burning down, just because the bathroom is not on fire yet. Anyway, whatever you believe Don, it must be true.”

— AbleToThinkForMyself

Google it

“Look it up, folks. East Anglia. Look it up. You’ll not hear it from those drunk on Al Gore’s Kool-Aid, or those who want to do anything at all to punish business and ruin the economy. Look it up. Man-made global warming is bunk, the disgraced ‘scientists’ who were lying about it all along and covering up data that contradicted them know it’s bunk, and anyone who puts common sense above ideology knows it’s bunk. They’ll resort to calling you ‘deniers,’ a term commonly reserved for idiots who refuse to believe the Holocaust ever happened, since they want you to believe that not buying into their chicken little garbage is somehow akin to a second Holocaust. Yet it’s all hogwash. Google ‘East Anglia e-mails.’ Google ‘hide the decline.’ See what they’ve been hiding. See how you’ve been lied to about man-caused global warming for years, and how they’ll continue to lie to your face today.”

— anonymous

“If global warming does happen, none of us, our kids or grandkids, will be around.”

— Ron

“Ah! I have just been waiting for this letter. The heading should have been ‘Local Yokel Disses 90 percent of world scientists’.”

— anonymous

Dave Woods is new media editor at The Joplin Globe.