To think that even this horrendous tragedy won't change America's stance on climate change?

[AnnaQuayInTheUk]

I'm just reading about the dreadful flash flood in Texas and all those poor little girls who have drowned. So sad.

But, just as endless school shootings make no difference to America's attitude towards guns, I don't think this will change many people's minds - and especially Trump's - on climate change. Deniers will continue to argue that flash floods have always happened, as have wildfires, without any recognition that the frequency and intensity of these weather events are affected by human driven climate change.

So
YABU. - this will be a wake up call for the US government
YANBU - the US will still refuse to work towards carbon reduction/net zero

I'm so sad for the girls and for their families, it's hideous. We lived in Texas for a few years. As a Brit, the weather was quite terrifying. Hailstorms with hailstones the size of large marbles, seemingly out of nowhere, in 35+ degree heat. Biblical rain storms. The thunder and lightning - it was ferocious, it literally shook the house and went on for hours. Tornadoes, ice storms that covered the roads overnight making them unable to be driven on, the blistering, endless heat.

Human decency would put the discussion aside until people have grieved. But ya know do what you think is best.

I suspect that for some people, there would never be a time to discuss the impact of climate change on the likelihood of such events happening.

Those families will be grieving for the rest of their lives. A discussion here won't affect them at all.

Then go for it. Not sure why you are bothering to convince me you’re not being ghoulish.

Personally I would hold the discussion until all the bodies were found 🤷‍♀️ but you do you.

So tell me your thoughts… was it their fault because they were religious… or did they use one too many plastic forks… maybe they just needed to pay for all the sins of their fellow Americans… exactly what did one of those campers do to deserve this?

Oh sorry didn’t mean to not respond to you… same comment above ⬆️

WTF is wrong with you?

Read my posts in this thread. Show me where I have said anything close to what you are saying about deserving it.

Girl, you're being unreasonable. Texas has some incredibly horrific weather. People die in it all the time. I'm wondering, a long with some others, if the recent Trump cuts to the NWS and NOAA influenced how many people died here and how can that be prevented in the future

People are discussing the warning system

Do you have a problem with that discussion as well?

They went out but not received?

Some areas just flood, I doubt this has anything to do with climate change, poor kids.

Early warning systems… gosh I must have missed that in the comments such as these.

My bad

“But, just as endless school shootings make no difference to America's attitude towards guns, I don't think this will change many people's minds - and especially Trump's - on climate change. Deniers will continue to argue that flash floods have always happened, as have wildfires, without any recognition that the frequency and intensity of these weather events are affected by human driven climate change.”

”Indeed it is a much more extreme climate in most parts of the US but that's why compounding such borderline hostile weather with the devastating effects of climate chaos caused by humans is nothing short of criminal.”

“Instead of burying our heads in the sand and waiting for the ecosystem to collapse around us, we should start voting for people with a sense of duty for a change, not for narcissistic idiots who want to hoard the maximum amount of money (at our expense).”

“It does not mean that this event was caused by climate change
However, climate change does increase the chances of such events happening.”

“The US, with its massive energy consumption, pollution, use of plastic throwaway plates, roasting dishes, cups, glasses and cutlery and much more as the norm, is a world leader in doing nothing about it. Similar for China, Africa, India and elsewhere, so I'm sceptical about the global approach TBH. It seems lacklustre at best, and lip service at worst. But I live in hope.
We on the other hand are recycling tin cans, plastic and cardboard boxes. Hope that helps turn the ship around.”

“But they are! I don’t buy the ‘most Americans are sweetness and light’ mullarkey - it’s YOUR political system/vile culture that has got you into this so YOUR job to sort it out!”

“All the more so considering the girls were at a Christian camp. The Christian Right in the US have been taken over by Trump and MAGA; I wonder if a disaster like this will make them question whether they've been following a false idol. The same community that blamed Hurricane Katrina on New Orleaners' sinful lifestyle must surely wonder if there's a message in this tragedy?”

“It does not mean that this event was caused by climate change
However, climate change does increase the chances of such events happening.”

Well - that's my comment

To what extent do you agree with that statement?

@cakeorwine your comments were really not the ones I was targeting with my comments. But as you can see there have been some doozies in this thread so far.

I think I was pretty clear… don’t use a tragedy to get on your soapbox. But as I said you’ve been one of the more reasonable here, but clearly a chord was struck as you felt the need to reply to me.

Was it you who said this?

"Oh sorry didn’t mean to not respond to you… same comment above"

Yup… that was me… was just wondering if you wanted to answer the question I asked @outerspacepotato

So tell me your thoughts… was it their fault because they were religious… or did they use one too many plastic forks… maybe they just needed to pay for all the sins of their fellow Americans… exactly what did one of those campers do to deserve this?

If you don’t feel like this applies to you feel free not to answer.

You seem to now be saying that people shouldn't use such events to highlight issues such as the possibility that climate change makes such events more likely?

Climate change makes extreme weather events more likely. I am sure there are some people who really don't agree with that statement, those who absolutely agree with it and some who aren't sure. But surely people should be able to highlight this - but there are people who say that it is wrong to use such events to make the point that we will see more events like this, more flooding, more wildfires, more heatwaves that kill people because of climate change.

No one deserves this.

I hope that it makes some people, especially those in power, reflect on climate change and ask themselves, are we having an effect on the climate and is there a link between climate change and extreme weather events.

You can do whatever you want…

I’ve been saying that using tragedies like this to push an agenda (and to be clear…I mean any agenda) is absolutely disgusting and disturbing.

What I haven’t done is tell anyone to stop. Can’t say it any other way. Keep at it if that’s your thing. Remember you replied to me. I didn’t call you out specifically (aside from grabbing your quote…but in fairness I wasn’t looking at usernames).

So if there is a school shooting, then you would have an issue with someone talking about gun control?

Yup…

No lessons learnt then from tragedies in your world then, is there?

Learn lessons or make changes on your own back not on those who have died.

What does that even mean?

When tragic events happen, it's essential to look at what happened and learn from them to reduce the risk of them happening again.

You can't prevent them, but you can reduce the risk of them happening.

You didn’t know climate change before this flood? Nobody in this thread knew?

I find that a little hard to believe. But ok I’ll take your word for it.