Imagine scrolling through your Facebook feed and stumbling upon this image:

It makes you think, truly. “Hmm if scientists were really wrong about all these things, how could they possibly be right about global warming?” To further, “how can we be sure about global warming if they’re so unsure that they have now changed it to ‘climate change’?”

And if you squint and look at it from 500 feet away, this argument actually does make sense; it sets up this scenario in which scientists have an awful track record, (let’s give this meme maker the benefit of the doubt and say they are insinuating climate scientists have an awful track record).

It is not out-rightly absurd, so we accept it. Until you actually take the time to research these claims, only then will you discover the statements made in those photos are not as sound as they pretend to be.

The 70's Ice Age was not supported by many scientists.

80's Acid rain was not "completely wrong".

Neither was ozone depletion.

Global warming and climate change are two terms describing two phenomena, neither of which substitute the other.

The environmental issues (presented as hoaxes in this photo) are very real, with more than enough scientific research behind them. They pose a serious threat to our well being, and this threat stretches further than party lines.

The effect of pretending these issues do not exist has the same effect as me ignoring the check engine light and the funny noise my car is making. I know damn well that the longer I ignore it, the worse it is going to get. I know that to fix a problem you must first acknowledge it.

The difference is if I ignore my check engine light, and I don’t acknowledge the sound I theoretically only hurt myself. Sharing this post, and others similar to it affects more than just yourself. Whether its influencing someone without the proper facts, or just perpetuating the lie; passing on incorrect information can hurt everyone it reaches, regardless of whether they subscribe to the claims or not.

It is so easy to spread things like this, we live in a world of a constant consumer news cycle, we can choose what we see and we can choose what we share, and do so instantly, creating viral posts such as this one.

On the other hand, we live in a world of constant consumer news cycle. We can choose what we see, however, the moral responsibility of fact checking what we choose to share lies with us. We have the open internet to research and fact check any post we want.

These aren’t the days in which you need to drag yourself uphill one mile with no shoes on in the snow to the library. We can instantly access multiple sources of credible information, completely capable of confirming or denying scientific claims.

There is simply no excuse to continue to spread this ignorance, do your research.