Comment from lancellot

Exceptional

This is very good. I like the scientific explanations and examples. For those with a logical or scientific understanding of diminishing returns, as it the number of workers to production efficiency, we get it. I am surprised that Ira would listen, but that is needed to inform to the readers. Let's move on to part two and see if emotional denial and feelings block logic as it does in the human world.

 Comment Written 17-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 18-Dec-2023

Thanks, Lance, and for the 6 as well. This is something people just don't hear much about in the debate on global warming. The alarmists certainly try to hide and diminish it because they can't deny it. Once I read this, I became convinced the world was not in any danger of overheating.

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

I saw #2 and I was puzzled - Where's #1? And I see that you published it last year! Okay, I didn't miss one!
I loved this! Thanks for writing this and giving us such a rational view from Arthur. Of course, people who have been educated with a one-sided view like Ira who is taught by some "irate" profs like the statue-toppling history profs, won't want to listen. Great dialogue as I could sense the age difference in the speech.

 Comment Written 17-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 18-Dec-2023

Actually, the whole thing was posted last year. It was my second posting ever on FanStory, but it was too long. Only about 4 or 5 people read it then. So I rewrote and updated it and split it into 3 parts to make it more readable.

reply by lyenochka on 18-Dec-2023

That's great! Oh and this would have been great for one of those First Chapter contests because that one requires a minimum of 2,000 words.

Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell

Excellent

I've read this back to front. This makes perfect sense to me. It's like that with any rumour, it starts our as one thing, and by the time a few hundred have heard it, we are about to explode. I feel a lot better after reading your two parts. I am still looking forward to reading Tuesday's part. :)) Sandra xx

 Comment Written 17-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 17-Dec-2023

I'm so glad about that, Sandra. As much as the alarmists try to bury that fact and diminish its importance, they can't deny it. For me it was the key argument that made my mind up that we are not in grave danger of runaway warming.

Comment from tfawcus

Excellent

Presenting this as a Socratic dialogue is a clever way of lightening the subject matter and setting the scientific facts clearly against the media hype.
Very nicely done.

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 16-Dec-2023

Thank you very much, Tony.

Comment from Debbie D'Arcy

Excellent

Well, this is another interesting story, Jim, this time refuting the potentially catastrophic results of global warning by appreciating the law of diminishing returns. It's well explained in very readable dialogue and is certainly a new perspective for me on this whole, obsessively covered subject. Thanks for sharing. Debbie

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 16-Dec-2023

Thank you Debbie. That's what I was hoping with this story--to shed some light on a very un-publicized fact that, for me, was the turning point in the debate over global warming. I learned quite a bit about it from those sources I mentioned in the Author Notes. The alarmists wish this fact would just go away because it really puts the kibosh on their catastrophic predictions.

We talk some about computer models and how inaccurate they have been in the next part.

Comment from Thesis

Excellent

An interesting conversation between the two. It sounds to me that these two people were both late for the interview and that Ira is actually being interviewed for the job in the elevator.

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 16-Dec-2023

A couple others have mentioned that as well. It's not the case, but that would have been a neat twist.

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

And here I thought you have been on FS
For a Decade or more

This is rather different than our golf outings

Are you expecting support in this address or kickback
How Do we allow govt to cry the sky is falling
We are gullible

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 16-Dec-2023

I expect and have received both, and I welcome both. My only wish for this was to spur thinking about it and to present a fact that is seldom talked about.

We are indeed gullible and the media is complicit. They much prefer to put out stories of doom and disaster because how exciting is it to say, "There's nothing to worry about, folks. The Earth is doing just fine?" That doesn't sell many copies or get people to watch.

It only seems to be one particular party in the government that is leading the charge. There's an obvious solution to that.

Comment from JSD

Excellent

Blimey! Fascinating stuff. A bit baffling at times but I get the basic gist. But then we are told that a 1.5 degree increase is the aim for the world? Do you not agree with that? Asking for a friend. Lol.

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 16-Dec-2023

A 1.5 degree increase would be very beneficial to the world, especially to the colder climates. I think, though, that the majority of climate alarmists think the temperature will keep rising much higher than that and will eventually become catastrophically warm, which just isn't so.

Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill

Excellent

Then, why is the weather changing so fast lately?
Flouracarbons? Gas fumes? Space junk? Chemicals thrown up in the air? Let me know when you do. Have a good weekend. Karen

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 16-Dec-2023

Is it really? I grew up in New York during the 50s and 60s, and I can remember many very warm days living there and many severe hurricanes too, like hurricane Donna. Many climate scientists disagree with those claims of increasing numbers and intensities of storms, drought conditions, etc.

You can't trust everything you read in the media and have to do some of your own research. I can refer you to some very good sources which refute these claims if you are interested.

BTW, I'm thrilled this story is sparking some discussion of this subject. That was my goal, and I'm delighted to be able to discuss it with people.

Comment from Janis M.

Exceptional

Well freaking done sir, both on artistic story telling, a compelling argument, and literary writing. My favorite thing to ask people who obsess and I mean obsess (to the point they berate others) about global warming is to ask them how much they think they are harming the planet with their blue hair dye chemicals....

I'm in the camp of, "at least do no harm" or try not to. I'm definitely not perfect. I've made more than my fair share of waste and I'm not proud of it. But that's more so just me being contentious of the earth and wanting to do my fair share.

You know what would make a great ending to this story? (Although it is a little cliche) what if the old man was the person who was supposed to be interviewing him?

Or maybe it will be? I forgot there is a next part! Can't wait!!

 Comment Written 16-Dec-2023

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reply by the author on 16-Dec-2023

It's amazing how obsessed people get with their fear. It's almost like a religion with them. They just believe without having any real understanding of the science. They want to rush into eliminating fossil fuels as fast as possible without thinking through the ramifications of that, not realizing what a devastating impact it would have on their standard of living. I'll get into that more in parts 2 and 3.