Prominent group of scientists asks journalists to learn the difference between a "skeptic" and a "denier"

The group was responding to a New York Times article dated Nov. 10, 2014, in which Republican Sen. James Inhofe, a longstanding advocate of the energy industry and climate change denier, was described as “a prominent skeptic of climate change.”

“As Fellows of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, we are concerned that the words ‘skeptic’ and ‘denier’ have been conflated by the popular media,” said the scientists’ open letter.

“Proper skepticism promotes scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims,” the statement continued. “It is foundational to the scientific method. Denial, on the other hand, is the a priori rejection of ideas without objective consideration.”

The committee took particular aim in Inhofe, saying, “Real skepticism is summed up by a quote popularized by Carl Sagan, ‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.’ Inhofe’s belief that global warming is ‘the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people’ is an extraordinary claim indeed. He has never been able to provide evidence for this vast alleged conspiracy. That alone should disqualify him from using the title ‘skeptic.’”

The letter concluded, “We are skeptics who have devoted much of our careers to practicing and promoting scientific skepticism. We ask that journalists use more care when reporting on those who reject climate science, and hold to the principles of truth in labeling. Please stop using the word ‘skeptic to describe deniers.”

Brasidas wrote:Ben you know they will also be in denial of this also.

Ben_Reilly wrote:

The group was responding to a New York Times article dated Nov. 10, 2014, in which Republican Sen. James Inhofe, a longstanding advocate of the energy industry and climate change denier, was described as “a prominent skeptic of climate change.”

“As Fellows of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, we are concerned that the words ‘skeptic’ and ‘denier’ have been conflated by the popular media,” said the scientists’ open letter.
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The problem is that many people are completely ignorant about how scientists perform their work.