In 2007, Greg Craven, a high school science teacher from Oregon, posted a YouTube video titled, “The Most Terrifying Video You’ll Ever See,” debating the science behind global warming, according to The Guardian. The video went viral and after millions of views, thousands of comments, and 78 additional YouTube videos, Craven has followed up with a book, What’s the Worst That Could Happen?: A Rational Response to the Climate Change Debate.
The homemade videos (complete with “horns and brimstone”) and the book attempt to deconstruct the global warming argument, although Craven claims he hasn’t been completely successful on that front. “The main criticism I got from both sides was — I went too easy on the other side!..No one likes me,” he said.
Craven takes a cost-benefit analysis to getting to the truth (or fiction) behind global warming by weighing the risks of inaction versus action. Craven may try to be impartial, but he clearly comes down on the side of the grave threat that global warming poses to humanity.
In spite of the dark message, the videos are not without humor. Be sure to check out minute seven in Part 2 when Craven presents the world’s greatest problems as a stack of labeled soda cans. It’s funnier than it sounds.