How to Win Climate Arguments Without Converting a Single Denier
There is almost no strategic value in trying to convert a hardened climate denier on social media. The odds of a dramatic public “conversion moment” are vanishingly small; the odds of a time‑sucking argument that leaves everyone entrenched are almost guaranteed. But that does not mean those exchanges are pointless. It just means the denier is not your real audience. Every time a denial comment appears under a climate post, there are usually 100+ people reading silently. They are curious, mostly‑convinced, or quietly worried. They are not typing, but they are watching. The question is: what are you showing them? If the thread becomes a shouting match, the silent majority see climate as “just another online fight.” If, instead, they see calm, good‑humoured responses that make the science (and the silliness of denial arguments) obvious, then maybe we get them to edge closer to action. The conversion myth - the idea that “if I just find the right fact, I’ll convert this denier” is tempting. It feels like a heroic one‑on‑one battle for truth. In reality, most committed deniers are not arguing from ...
