The Romm Treatment

https://municion.org/kk2cb8r Ben Hale, a philosopher who teaches environmental ethics at the University of Colorado, in Boulder, is “disheartened” by Joe Romm’s body slam of a fellow environmental ethicist. Presumably Hale is well acquainted with Romm’s rhetorical style so I’m not sure why he seems so taken aback.

https://www.salernoformazione.com/29qo4ourd In fact, Hale seems utterly puzzled that Romm can’t see the value in a legitimate exchange of views. Ben, have you read Romm’s slash & burn attacks on journalists (Andy Revkin is a favorite whipping boy), Roger Pielke Jr., the Breakthrough Institute, among others?  His modus operandi is nothing if not consistent: first he distorts your position (or article), then he builds his criticism of you on that artifice. I happen to think a part of Romm knows just how unstable that foundation is, which may explain why he lards these attacks with ad hominems and guilt-by-association smears. It’s ugly stuff. And for this, he gets wet kisses from the likes of Thomas Friedman and Time magazine. Now that is disheartening.