The Daily Background

Let me make it clear: I love YouTube. I think it’s the cat’s pajamas, and probably one of my favorite websites ever. But some of the people on the site are incredibly, incredibly dumb. And not just dumb, but dumb to the point of being hilarious. Check out the following exchange I had with some people, attached to a video related to global warming. Said one user, who was apparently not a fan of China:

Both Canada and the United States have strict environment regulations placed on industries and auto exhaust. The same cannot be said for China. Everybody is just flustered that we haven’t followed the extreme guidelines as set forth by Kyoto which would have a devastating economical impact.

Really? Fact-check time. Here’s what I posted in reply:

Actually, Chinese auto emission regulations are more strict than those here in the United States. Many American car companies like Ford and GM are unable to sell their autos in China because they do not meet emissions regulations.

To supplement (or in case you totally don’t trust me), here’s a bit more info from a website called AutoSpies.com, which is run by automobile experts:

The United States has been mentioned on this site as “the best”, “the most powerful” and “the most advanced”, but it is also one other thing, something that people might prefer you to forget. It is unequivocally the most polluting country in the world, which led me to ask, why? If we refer solely to automobiles, the answer is simple: pollution and economy standards and the US desire for bigger is better. Out of all developed countries (the EU, China, Japan etc), the US has the lowest fuel economy standards. Even California, the most actively “green” state, has lower standards than China.

Somebody else responded to my comment, saying:

You may be retarded..China is THE BIGGEST polluter in the WORLD!! stop being a dumbass.

Obviously a veritable a beacon of intelligence. Here was my reply:

This is flat-out not true. The United States is the largest polluter in the world (Google for “Scientists condemn US as emissions of greenhouse gases hit record level” it will lead you to an article).

China is not expected to overtake the US in terms of pollution until 2009 (Google for “China to Pass U.S. in 2009 in Emissions”).

Unfortunately, since YouTube doesn’t allow the posting of links, I had to suggest the person Google those phrases, in order to come up with the articles I referenced. Perhaps I was assuming too much intelligence on their part when I assumed they would be able to use Google, or as the President calls it “the Google,” and find the articles referred to. (You however, can read the first one, from The Independent here, and the second, from the New York Times here.)

Filed under: Environment Related, Z-TDB Blog