[...] First, I readily admit that in my absence, a great deal of history occurred and that may have a great deal to do with the replies I saw that followed, but I am dismayed because I so badly seek mature, healthy discourse and nothing that followed appeared to be anything remotely resembling such.
I remember the days on this forum where the rules were adjusted to deter ad hominems and yet what followed the OP seemed nothing but.
Let's look at just
the first comment - "Jesus H. Christ...who is paying you to say things that any decent human would find completely shameful."
First there's the use of
an expression which "...is typically uttered in anger, surprise or frustration..."
Then there is an insinuation which borders in being an accusation.
And then there is the last resort of "shaming."
There is so many options for a far more productive a response. I was very surprised to see this here. Again, I may be missing history, but I am wondering if "having doubts about the commonly purported (and believed) truth about a.)
the degree to which "man's activities" increase the rate of a climate change transition, b.) what that transition is headed towards and c.) what might that future look like is automatically something that could be labeled "alt-right" which by so doing doesn't exactly nail down what may actually be the premise(s) for such a statement and thus then, makes it real hard to counter. [...]