{"id":7572,"date":"2018-09-13T19:44:48","date_gmt":"2018-09-14T02:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gelbspanfiles.com\/?p=7572"},"modified":"2018-09-13T19:44:48","modified_gmt":"2018-09-14T02:44:48","slug":"truth-tellers-vs-arctic-area-refrigerator-salesmen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/gelbspanfiles.com\/?p=7572","title":{"rendered":"Truth Tellers vs Arctic-area Refrigerator Salesmen"},"content":{"rendered":"

While today\u2019s blog post – which also serves as an entry into a writing contest titled \u201cYou are Enough<\/a>\u201d – is not my usual focus on particular details which implode the notion that the fossil fuel industry ‘pays skeptic climate scientists inject misleading lies into the settled science certainty of man-caused catastrophic global warming<\/em>,’ it will nevertheless illustrate one of the core problems with that particular political angle of the issue. Specifically, writers who believe in themselves and their ability to write effectively enough\u2026 or the lack thereof … to successfully promulgate Al Gore\u2019s side of the issue.<\/p>\n

The contest has a simple goal of prompting entrants<\/a> to \u201cwrite a blog post with the single purpose of getting those who read it to believe in themselves and their writing abilities<\/em>.\u201d I was inadvertently alerted to the contest by a writer who demonstratively does not<\/em> believe in himself while apparently believing in delusional form that he has the ability to write \u2018devastating\u2019 expos\u00e9s that can ruin the credibility of particular public figures. But that\u2019s another story.<\/p>\n

Arguably, there are two types of writers, those who write fiction for pure entertainment purposes or to illustrate lessons to learn, and writers who describe and disseminate facts, in technical papers, brochures, history pages, blogs, pundit opinion, and news reports. Here, I speak from the viewpoint of what some people term a \u201ccitizen journalist<\/a>;\u201d I actually dispute the term<\/a>, but since prominent policymakers say otherwise<\/a> about people in my position, I\u2019ll proceed as such.<\/p>\n

How would I prompt non-fiction writers to believe in themselves and their ability to get their points across? Simple.<\/p>\n

Discard the word \u201cbelieve.\u201d Know yourself.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The bit about knowing your writing abilities naturally follows. You either know you have good writing skills or you are oblivious that you don\u2019t, as comically illustrated by Steve Martin<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Some people have a way with words, other people \u2026. uh ……………\u2026 oh \u2026. not have way \u2026 I guess.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Seriously, incoherence will never advance your position. But the Al Gore side of the global warming issue is replete with exceptionally skilled writers who have no doubt about their writing ability and how influential it can be.<\/p>\n

They count on that. The main focus of my blog, Ross Gelbspan, is a very good writer and editor, his 1997 book \u201cThe Heat is On<\/a>\u201d is very<\/em> compelling \u2026 so long as you never<\/em><\/strong> dispute its main thrust. Therein lies the problem, because he doesn\u2019t ultimately believe<\/strong> in himself.<\/p>\n

Think about it: if he believed he really was an investigative reporter who reveals how skeptic climate scientists are in a conspiracy arrangement with \u2018Big Coal and Oil\u2019 executives to mislead the public, why would he …<\/p>\n