# 'If science gives you a result you don't like, pass a law making the result illegal' **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 2, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229 "2012-08-02T22:56:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/41 "2012-08-03T17:48:32Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Cancer, if it even exists to any degree (and there is evidence that big pharma just invented it in order to secure government contracts), is caused by purely natural phenomena. \ WHAT? Please explain that comment. **CAPT** ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/42 "2012-08-03T19:03:23Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > WHAT? Please explain that comment. > > **CAPT** I suspect it contains something known as “sarcasm.” ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/43 "2012-08-03T19:04:53Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I suspect it contains something known as “sarcasm.” I hope so, but I am not counting on it **CAPT** ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/44 "2012-08-03T19:06:33Z")
Well, that’s just tearing down without building up! Won’t be hearing any such “sarcasm” from me, nosiree Bob! Well, except for that. And this. Shit… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/45 "2012-08-03T23:52:58Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I sometimes suspect the Canadians of **wanting** global warming. > > So that the [Northwest Passage](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage) will become navigable. 😉 They’re also doing their part by pushing that gas pipeline to be built from Canada down to the Gulf. If it goes through, they get to sell shale oil to the Chinese, we get the pipeline leaks and everybody gets the climate change. Win-win-win. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/46 "2012-08-03T23:58:53Z")
Oh, don’t forget fracking! North Carolina is home to the genius who “accidentally” voted to [allow fracking](http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/07/03/lawmaker-hits-wrong-button-approves-n-c-fracking/). ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/47 "2012-08-03T23:59:10Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > I hope so, but I am not counting on it > > **CAPT** If you watch the linked stand up comedy act (which was hilarious), you can be assured. Five people died of _Teeth._ ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/48 "2012-08-04T00:00:41Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Oh, don’t forget fracking! North Carolina is home to the genius who “accidentally” voted to [allow fracking](http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/07/03/lawmaker-hits-wrong-button-approves-n-c-fracking/). The use of fracking was unanimous, and wholly intentional, on the SyFy channel. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/49 "2012-08-04T00:10:26Z")
After reading the title, I thought this tread would be about No Child Left Behind. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/50 "2012-08-04T01:27:00Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > After reading the title, I thought this tread would be about No Child Left Behind. Well, I’m sure we’ll get a chance to discuss _all_ the Republican fuckups by and by. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/51 "2012-08-04T05:43:54Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Ah, the wonderful state of North Carolina. I blame the public schools…there was little to no emphasis on science at the one I attended. American school children don’t need to learn science, they just need to know how to breed & work & enough Chinese to follow commands. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/52 "2012-08-04T17:43:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I sometimes suspect the Canadians of **wanting** global warming. > > So that the [Northwest Passage](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage) will become navigable. 😉 You jest, but I have seen some lukewarmers seriously proposing that it is goig to be good for us, even I mentioned before that it depends on where you are that global warming will be nice or so-so or a disaster. What many deniers and lukewarmers ignore is the contradiction of claiming first that there is not going to be a big problem and then right away to say that the changes coming are going to be beneficial. As science reporter Peter Hadfield tell us, many deniers are ignoring that the benefit for some will be ruin for others and it will be worse when our leaders tell the rank and file that we should not even prepare for the costly adaptations that will be needed. [http://climatecrocks.com/2012/07/28/new-from-potholer-the-medieval-warming-period/](http://climatecrocks.com/2012/07/28/new-from-potholer-the-medieval-warming-period/) Video showing how research is telling scientists that while the medieval warm period was good for Greenland and Northern Europe, The American West and many areas in Asia and the Amazon dried. And the problem for us now is that most of humanity does not live in Greenland. (Bonus: It has also a review of the mendacity deniers used against the temperature reconstructions) “Well, at least Greenland will be lovely!” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/53 "2012-08-04T19:13:57Z")
Truly, the lichen harvest will be abundant in the coming years. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/54 "2012-08-07T03:21:04Z")
Damn, it was so quiet on this little lichen farm. Now, we’ve got corporations and politicians buying up the really good ones around us. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/55 "2012-08-07T04:23:27Z")
This worked _so_ well for King Canute. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/56 "2012-08-07T04:29:50Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229/57 "2012-08-07T14:41:02Z")
BTW: [James Hansen says this summer’s heat waves are “almost certainly” caused by global warming.](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/08/120803-global-warming-hansen-nasa-heat-waves-science/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-science-gives-you-a-result-you-dont-like-pass-a-law-making-the-result-illegal/630229.md?page=2)