@plainoldme,
The Global Warming "hockey stick" is a kind of derogatory paper by Soon (and oft quoted by the GW "deniers") this paper was an attempt to show that the statistics in drawing the conclusion that humans were the source of Global WArming , was wrong. The Hockey stick was the pattern of temperature rise from 1000AD to about 2000. .For some reason it became a celebrity cause to focus global warming denialism into the mainstream. Now , I think everyone can see that global warming IS occuring(and the hockey stick is actually correct) but there still is a wide chasm of "believers and non-believers" that its anthropogenic.
I feel that the paleoclimatologicl data is compelling to draw the conclusion that this climate change we are now experiencing is a "cyclic and oft occuring "phenomenon. Humans are amazingly vain and unable to imagine that earths cycles like drought, tempereature, ICE AGes and sea level rise are things that may be beyond our control.
When it comes to science, data is "compelling" or "not cpompelling" Theories are the highest form of correlation to a phenomenon and its cause and effect. (A theory is a xlustered explanation for a phenomenon where ALL the data to dat, supports the xplanation and NO data refutes it).
I dont think that we are yet at a theory status for global warming (either side) but I find the data compelling that states that things like "greenhouse gases" are not leading indicators but are following indicators.
NOW, When it comes to AIDs/HIV, it HAS risen to the level of a theory . ALL the medical treatment today (There are a couple of whackys one out there like peach pits etc) is based upon the relationship of HIV/AIDS. So far, all the data is in support of the theory and no data has been shown to refute it. The "Perth group " (and a few other HIV/AIDs denialists)has been active in spreading a lot of crap that many yokels will buy. ( They originally claimed evidence that HIV wasnt even in semen so how could it be a causitive agent?) This was a waste of time just like evolution deniers waste our time on claiming that there are no intermediate fossils. Well, HIV has been shown to be present in semen since the adoption of host specific testing in the late 1990's. Even so, the argument and the claim is brought forth by the yokels as a"provable truth"
The relationship that HIV causes AIDs is "scientifically compelling" as would any series of data and evidence for any theory. Those who demand "proof" should either become mathematicians or philosophers. In science noone demands proof, we demand evidence and compelling evidence at that. Proof is an arithmetical means to check the correctness of a calculation. The only way we "prove" a theory is by not disproving it (its been said)
Ive been very specific to have discussed "compelling evidence" , or "I support yadda yadda". Ive never used the word "proof" nor have I accepted "proof" as even valid as a scientific tenet.
We can always take components of a theory and try to falsify them. This is routine. But the results are still evidence , not ever are they proof. Demanding proof, until you turn blue is a fools demand and several of our members are either impaired or know that such outcomes are impossible in science . Even our mathematical LAWs are derived from empirical evidence or "Thought experiments".
SImple minded demands and simple mimded conclusions are derivd from reading tabloids and watching TV news not engaging in science.
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Hers an article from Wikipedia about the "Hockey stick" paper. I accept Wiki in this one cause I reviewed it and didnt see any major flaws from my following the event
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_stick_controversy