A Place to Stand

      I have regularly run across "green" bloggers saying "that has been rebutted" when confronted by the facts. Of course they never attempt to repeat this alleged achievement so it is simply a variant of argument from non-existent authority.

      The point here is the meaning of the term rebut: 

1. to refute by evidence or argument.


2. to oppose by contrary proof.

Refute in turn means

1. to prove to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge.

2. to prove (a person) to be in error.

   So any way you look at it it is only rebutted if solid, undisputed proof is presented. Obviously no part of the sceptics case about alleged catastrophic global warming has been disproven by undisputed proof.

    The one thing one can say about any alarmist  using that line is that they are lying. And i think it reasonable that that should be said & they be asked to correct it.

     To argue against, let alone merely denounce using ad homs, the normal practice of alarmists, is no more to rebut than climbing half way up Ben Lomond, is bagging the Monroes.

   Any way you look at it anybody who says it is is hardly to be trusted  on anything else. As every honest  "green" will be happy to meet as soon 1 is found.