I'm pretty sure (99% sure) it was tongue-in-cheek.
A lot of the posters here would have us believe that the science behind human induced climate change has not been settled.
They believe that they know all about the science and are more than happy to distrust career scientific professionals (nevermind the fact that I could slap a year 12 atmospheric science test in front of them and three quarters would FAIL miserably!)
BUT!....
Despite having no real civil engineering training, they COMPLETELY trust civil engineers when they drive over bridges (in cars that are packed with more technology than they can fathom... eg, the chemistry/materials-science behind new lightweight steel used in car manufacturing)
Despite having no real chemistry/pharmacy training, they completely trust the scientific pharmaceutical industry when they take codral cold and flu.
Despite having no IT/security training, they completely trust internet banking, paypal etc. when they complete transactions online.
There are literally dozens of areas of our lives where they trust the complex work of professionals that is completely beyond their training.
BUT!!! .... you mention one thing about climate change and they are the first to question the scientists on, 1/ their credentials 2/ their results 3/ their motives 4/ their professionalism
the list goes on..... frankly - it's bloody pathetic.
just imagine if some idiot walked into YOUR workplace with ZERO training and started claiming that you were doing it all wrong... that you had no idea what you were doing... that you clearly had sinister motives because of the way you were working etc etc...
