Mouse Wizard,
re: “My concern is that the conservative echo chamber is so rapidly developing on this forum. I’ll switch to lurker mode and see how things develop here.”
If those who disagree with the majority all “switch to lurker mode,” then of course the “conservative echo chamber” is going to rapidly take control. We’d all be better off if instead of going silent you spoke up and explained where and why we are wrong.
Nobody here, so far as I can tell, wants to shut you down.
I’m actually very surprised at the direction the forum is leaning. I am used to holding the minority view on this subject – usually badly outnumbered. To find so many “climate change skeptics” in a place that is ostensibly about prepping, gardening and sustaining our environment is unexpected and refreshing, to say the least.