Climate Quote by Michael E. Mann
“The trouble is that the hockey stick graph become an icon and deniers reckoned if they could smash the icon, the whole concept of global warming would be destroyed with it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Climate Change Lecture, 2015
Iconic graphs become symbols; attacking the symbol is seen as attacking the science behind it.
In simple terms: Symbols can be targeted to undermine ideas.
Key Takeaway
Focus on data, not just symbols.
Themes
science
communication
misinformation
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
educational
advocacy
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- media coverage
- education campaigns
Key Concepts
visual rhetoric
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we strengthen scientific literacy?
- What alternatives to iconic images can convey urgency?
A Different Perspective
People may dismiss the underlying evidence if they focus only on the image.
![“Keith's [Briffa] series...differs in large part in exactly the opposite direction that Phil's [Jones] does from ours. This is the problem we all picked up on (everyone in the room at IPCC was in agreement that this was a problem and a potential distraction/detraction from the reasonably consensus…” quote by Michael E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/60e/michael-e-mann-42026_agreement_keith-s-briffa-series-differs-in-large-p_1092652.jpg)
