How to handle death threats related to the global warming issue
July 8, 2009 by Jennifer
So, I’m not sure if you’re aware, since this is a nice family-minded blog, but whenever I post about global warming, the hate mail / comments start.
I get three basic kinds of hate mail or comments related to global warming:
Good hate mail: Nice smart hate mail or comments with decent arguments and respectful comments (these folks just don’t agree with me). I post these comments and try to respond to the emails.
Stupid hate mail: Idiot hate mail or comments that make no sense and offer no back up, “YOU SUCK!” or “You know why the ice is melting – the sun dumb ass…” or “This guy says you’re wrong” then there’s a link back to some joke website by Joe Blow the unpublished scientific mind who rambles on and on about nothing. Um, ok. I don’t respond to these because it’s a waste of my time.
The people who want me dead hate mail: To be honest it’s a little startling to get an email from someone who says they’ll find me where I live and get me or that they want to hold my brain in their hands, but oddly, they don’t freak me out like the stupid hate mailers. Sometimes, low and behold the crazies actually offer up some facts to support their violence mind set. NOT that I condone violence but well, at least they’re thinking.
I find all of the above strange because one, I don’t write about global warming all that often, and two, while I do believe in global warming, my whole stance is going green for other reasons too, not just because of global warming. Lastly, hello, nice family blog! I’m not out to get anyone. Oddly, in my real world offline life, people argue with me about global warming, but not to such extremes. I’m guessing hiding behind the Internet makes one braver. Or maybe the people I know in real life just don’t care. I’m not really sure.
That said, maybe you’re not getting death threats, maybe you’re just arguing with people nicely. Still, if you have these global warming issues with folks online or in real life I know a guide that can help you out.
Grist put together an amazing guide called: How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic: Responses to the most common skeptical arguments on global warming, that covers so many arguments and issues related to global warming it boggles the mind about how they found the time to pull this together. The guide is divided into common skeptical arguments on global warming, which include; Stages of Denial, Scientific Topics, Types of Argument, and Levels of Sophistication.
This Grist guide handles the easy – there is no proof that CO2 is causing global warming, to the misinformed – natural emissions dwarf human emissions, to non-scientific – global warming is a hoax, to naive – It’s the sun, stupid, and everything in-between. With over a hundred pieces to this guide so far (it appears to be growing) you’re sure to find one good way to debate with your questioning neighbor, mean MIL, crackpot co-worker and anyone else who comes your way.
Grist rocks all the time, and this guide just makes me love them more. Take a look today.
I’m having a hard time coming up with a reason someone would want you dead for posting about global warming. Is this somehow a threat to them?
Yeah I’m a huge threat
I have no idea. People get passionate I guess about what they believe and what they don’t (or they’re just bored and need an issue maybe). But this is kind of an extreme – plus luckily I’ve had way fewer people say stuff like, “Die” than people who send uninformed emails. Like I said, I think the internet makes people brave and more willing to say crazy stuff. For example, I also write for a thrifty blog for a client, and once I wrote about how I don’t like coupons. TONS of people flipped out. No threats there, but so many people were super mean and telling me to get out. The same thing happens at a lot of blogs. I’m betting the folks at Grist get a ton more hate mail.
I’m curious how many replies fall into the different hate-mail types? I would expect a lot of the death threats to be trolls – internet people out for a laugh at someone else’s expense. If they have thoughtful points, that would bother me a little more ( ie it seems less likely to be a prank ) but it might just be copied from some Wikipedia article.
You had linked to a list of talking points about climate change. Have you read Collapse, by Jared Diamond? I think you would enjoy it.
@Forrest – The emails I get the most of fall into that middle category – non-supported dumb emails, and they seem trollish to me, as if, as you noted they’re getting info from some wiki. Also, while people threaten at times, I’m not all that concerned. The brain comment unsettled me some, but mainly I think people get mad because they believe one thing and one thing only and lash out without any real intent. Frankly the mad people are cooler than the middle comments to me, because I’d rather see some points (even if I don’t agree) and anger than unsupported kooky nonsense that makes me cringe.
I’ve read about Diamond’s book, but no one I know has recommended it personally (how I tend to base my reading time lately). BUT now that someone has, I’ll see if I can find it at the library.
Wow, I find it surprising that people are that passionate about global warming! Are there a lot of people who send want-you-dead mail? That surprises me
That guide is very interesting, thanks for sharing! I really enjoy your blog. Keep writing and check out my site if you can (vertverdegreen.org) 
@Gabriella – the we’ll get you emails are a surprise, but I guess people want to make their beliefs clear or something.
I’ll give your site a whirl sometime soon