Let's consider two types of debate.
One is between scientists (or people dealing with real life challenges) who have a collective goal of achieving the greatest understanding available.
The other is between contenders in a bitter political battle, who's collective goal is to achieve their stated agenda.
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These two different types of dialogue follow very different rules and dynamics.
For instance, in the first making mistakes is OK, because it's those "mistakes" that open up new perspectives and it's through recognizing and resolving our mistakes that we learn. In other words, mistakes are a part of life and the building blocks of learning.
In the power-politic dialogue, it's different. Admitting mistakes is seen as a defeat and mistakes are often morphed out of all reason into bludgeons to damage and reject all the other is trying to convey. The object of such a dialogue is to marginalize and defeat an opponent, not to learn anything from them.
And such are the different rule-sets that govern the two sides of this Manmade Climate Change dialogue.
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But, the situation is even worse.
If you have a huge group of people who believe Earth is six thousand years old and put here in a magical six day fit of creation - all intended to provide humans with a larder for the raiding and nothing more... how does one communicate with that mind-set?
How do we get through to people who believe faith is more powerful than down to Earth reality?
How do we get people to listen, when disbelieve is an Article of Faith?
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Here's an interesting lecture for those who want to learn more: