tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post8560984129491144559..comments2024-03-22T01:00:38.320-04:00Comments on I.N.K.: Avoiding AlarmismLinda Salzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217322360480267856noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-68743199956637952112010-10-24T09:10:37.428-04:002010-10-24T09:10:37.428-04:00I included a spread in The Shocking Truth about En...I included a spread in <i>The Shocking Truth about Energy</i> about global warming because kids have heard about it already and need good information. It’s a daunting topic but there are many positive actions kids can take.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02783236322334230920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-12413474319719122052010-10-18T11:07:03.617-04:002010-10-18T11:07:03.617-04:00Hi, this is the author who had the "effronter...Hi, this is the author who had the "effrontery" to claim that summer sea ice in the Arctic is melting. Marfe, thank you for your able defense. I AM sorry that the child Gurdon encountered was having such upsetting feelings; I know that conscientious kids can get very worked up about such issues. That's part of why I included a section in the book of actions kids could take (yep, stuff just like turning off the lights) to help. It's my belief that the best way to help keep children from worrying about real, big issues like global warming is to give them something concrete to do--not to pat them on the head and tell them to go play since the grownups will take care of it. (If the grownups really were taking care of it, we'd be in much better shape!)<br /><br />I hope that girl keeps turning out the lights when she leaves a room--and maybe, as she grows up, she'll find more and more things she can do to make her world better.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00185995953046217879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-51718927506218751652010-10-16T09:34:18.500-04:002010-10-16T09:34:18.500-04:00So interesting. As a school librarian and mother w...So interesting. As a school librarian and mother who tended to turn the tv news off when my now adult daughters were young, I do understand the worries about alarming young folks. Yet I do view my job in part as developing their social sensitivities so they can make a difference. And I am so thankful for superb science writers like Marfe and all who've chimed in who can distill very complex subjects for young (and old) readers. Keep up the good work!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04307450122573043265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-54806701658877300762010-10-15T17:32:37.868-04:002010-10-15T17:32:37.868-04:00Thanks so much for your post (I've not read th...Thanks so much for your post (I've not read the original article). I write about global warming often on my blog and also talk about the ways that adults can bring kids into the conversation without alarming them. It seems as if the words "global warming" have become so much of a litmus test for politics that the reality of what's happening no longer is the point of their protests.Seymour Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11529781459002762089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-12751005715943062222010-10-15T14:17:49.275-04:002010-10-15T14:17:49.275-04:00Linda and Vicki, right on!Linda and Vicki, right on!Marfe Ferguson Delanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07586102699193346265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-83067133977305723432010-10-15T14:14:58.842-04:002010-10-15T14:14:58.842-04:00Deb and Roz, thanks for chiming in. I thought of b...Deb and Roz, thanks for chiming in. I thought of both of you as I wrote the blog, since you've also tackled topics that some people still consider a matter of debate, i.e. evolution.Marfe Ferguson Delanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07586102699193346265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-73901203214091103582010-10-15T13:23:37.357-04:002010-10-15T13:23:37.357-04:00"These are adult matters, or at least they sh..."These are adult matters, or at least they should be."<br /><br />I totally disagree with the above statement. Kids are going to inherit this problem. As one scientist I spoke to said, "they are going to inherit a holy mess."<br /><br />It is definitely a challenging controversial subject (but I like a challenge).Linda Zajachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11930130216892471502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-65859060844760853282010-10-15T13:09:44.815-04:002010-10-15T13:09:44.815-04:00Interesting that this columnist calls us authors &...Interesting that this columnist calls us authors "iniquitious" for discussing an issue that could create problems down-the-road when there are the more immediate iniquities of bullying, over-exposure to violence on TV news, over-exposure to sexy ads and fashion for ever younger girls that impact our children on a daily basis.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07214356318088069618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-81940447431604707662010-10-15T11:33:49.087-04:002010-10-15T11:33:49.087-04:00I agree with Marfe and Deb a thousand percent. Ki...I agree with Marfe and Deb a thousand percent. Kids are much smarter than certain folks think, and there are plenty of age-appropriate ways to write books that tell the honest truth. In fact, the consequences can be dire if we do any less. <br /><br />As an author, I have gotten into hot water by writing about several subjects that are verboten in some circles, but I don't plan to stop any time soon. Being honest is imperative. Hiding or diluting important information is dishonest - and downright dangerous. Global warming is a great example of a topic that HAS to be covered honestly and not swept under the rug, and Marfe has done an outstanding job in this regard. No wonder she posted her blog at 4:30 AM. It was worth the effort.Rosalyn Schanzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11605814379256096903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1337206901491734394.post-36022382833783999392010-10-15T10:42:17.020-04:002010-10-15T10:42:17.020-04:00I am so glad I read your post instead of reading t...I am so glad I read your post instead of reading the original article because I think my blood pressure would have shot sky high. Thank you for taking this on, Marfe. <br />Of course you're right that serious children's book authors work very hard not only at explaining serious subjects to children (without being condescending) but also at presenting said serious subjects in such a way that are age-appropriate and non-threatening. I am a firm believer that you can write about anything for kids as long as you do it clearly and age-appropriately. And both of those authors, and you too, of course, do so with beautiful language, lyricism, and humor when appropriate.<br />And, um, global warming? It's real. And serious. And we need the upcoming leaders of the world to take it seriously. Those upcoming leaders are our readers.Deborah Heiligmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02894150394598699172noreply@blogger.com