Subject: Climate Change

Posted by Sharon Villines on 12/5/2009
In Reply To:Climate Change Posted by Jay Forrester on 12/4/2009

Message:

On Dec 4, 2009, at 9:40 PM, Jay Forrester wrote:

> However, the symptoms are more visible; it is easier to rally people
> behind fighting symptoms; and, in this situation, calling attention to
> the real underlying causes is politically incorrect.


Along with visibility and the ease of attracting attention to them, I would suggest a third reason for addressing symptoms: emotional release. When addressing the real problem is perceived as self- destructive. Ranting, holding hearings, carrying banners, passing legislation, etc., brings immediate satisfaction.

For example, aside from signs that warn people of danger, "poison," or give directions, "Parking ->," I've yet to meet a sign that changed anyone's behavior. At my college, one Assistant to the Dean would regularly put up signs in the women's toilet stalls saying "Do Not Pee on Seats." She put them up for 12 years and I took them down for at least 6. She never complained that I removed them because her satisfaction was in slapping them up -- ever larger, and ultimately in color. For 12 years. There was no change in wet seats but she felt better.

Without really bringing it into consciousness, I was wondering the other day what happened to the Zero Population Growth movement. On reading this email, I consulted Wikipedia to find that its name was changed in 2003 to Population Connection. A more indirect and ineffectual name I can't imagine.

Sharon

Follow Ups:

Climate Change - Sharon Villines 12/5/2009 
Climate Change - Gene Bellinger 12/5/2009