fish-rides-bike t1_iuhx56d wrote on October 31, 2022 at 1:49 PM

Reply to comment by jaceapoc in Antarctica's emperor penguins at risk of extinction due to the climate crisis by mossadnik

“At risk of extinction” implies their number is dropping and soon to hit zero. The story does not say this — in fact if reports the population is stable. It’s a story about habitat decline. “Habitat of emperor penguins at risk” is the accurate title.

I’m the dude that wants accuracy and precision in reporting.

Tech_Philosophy t1_iuijb36 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 4:23 PM

> At risk of extinction” implies their number is dropping and soon to hit zero.

That's already extinct because it's too late to do anything about it at that point. We can accurately predict how long their habitat can hold out, and we barely have time left to do anything about it. We are steering an ocean-liner here, not a jet-ski.

fish-rides-bike t1_iuip2i1 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 5:01 PM

Remember the polar bear extinction prediction in 2006 or so? Today, 16 years on, there are more polar bears than ever. Remember that emaciated bear photograph? It wasn’t unusual — they typically look like that in spring, and they only really ever die of starvation because they aren’t predated.

I’m not saying climate change isn’t real. I’m saying shrill alarmism causes worry fatigue and misdirection of energies.

To use your metaphor, yes it’s an ocean-liner not a jet-ski, and it’s an ocean, not a lake.

Accurate and precise reporting leads to accurate and precise solutions. Hair on fire alarmism at the helm leads to capsized ships