Time for a rant.

Why can’t people in today environment have a civilized discussion?  Not just on the boards here, but in general.  So many things we discuss these days create anger and harsh words.  What does that accomplish?  Any issue that has any importance soon results in people calling names, yelling, and not understanding.  Try discussing abortion, global warming, taxes, health care, global trade, evolution, etc.   People have a hard and fast opinion and they stick to it.  They seek to convince the other side that they are wrong.  Do they get anywhere?  Hell no.  The motto “Seek first to understand then to be understood” seems lost these days.  Never let facts get in the way of what you know. 

While I am ranting, when did people start confusing a scientific theory with fact?  A fact is something that is proven, with no doubt.  A theory may be widely accepted, debated or whatever, but it’s not a fact.  Global warming, evolution, relativity are all theory’s that will most likely never be proven.  Then you here people using computer models or forecasts to prove something.  A computer model is a forecast.  It is only proof that someone can write a program.  The other day the weather forecast before I left for work was 0%, yet on the way to work it was raining.  Think about it, that’s a 2 hour time gap, and the forecast was wrong.  That forecast uses computer models, forecasters with years of experience, yet is wrong.  No model or forecast is proof of anything. 

Ok, rant over.  Be respectful, not close-minded, remember the difference between fact and theory, and for Pete's sake a forecast is not proof.  Now…  Everyone go back to arguing or sleeping, whichever.