Why do people not call Global Warming a Theory?

It's a political issue and some people are selling it as reality when it's only a speculative theory. Got to love Dewei's answer - he's obviously never refered to a scientific dictionary. Why bother doing something like that? If left wing nut jobs tell him something, obviously that's proof enough for him. He's also right into the junk science mentality. If you can't find a source that supports your claim, just misquote one that doesn't. "Scientists .. refer to definition 1." (edit) Dewi, there's nothing left wing about making up your own definitions of words - or as you call it "using common sense" to derive you own definition. McCarthy redefined the word "communist" to suit his own purposes. It's purely political though. Are you seriously asking me if the unsourced claim in Wikipedia that a scientific theory is considered likely true, also naming human made climate change as an example of this concept was written by a liberal. I think so - What do you think? (edit) Dewei, As usual, claiming I said something I didn't. No established dictionary (scientific or otherwise) is going to tell you that there is only one definition of a scientific theory and that a theory has to be accepted or considered probable to be classed as a theory. If you got your information from dictionaries, rather than left wing rants, you would know that.

Actually it IS a theory. What these people are believing is what they're eating at the mass media trough as fact. It's not fact. It is theory. They are, in fact, naive, and wrong.

Because the people in charge want everyone to believe it so that they can get more power with energy taxes and the like and can have excuses that enough people will buy.

Global warming is fact based on empirical evidence. It is no theory. The mechanisms behind the warming are where the theories come into play. It's like saying that flying airplanes are a theory. Airplanes are not a theory, they are fact, but how that airplane stays in the in the air, the "theory of flight", is the theory. So, since how airplanes are able to fly is based on a theory, are you going to bet your life on that theory next time you need to book a flight?

In science, theory is basically fact. eg Theory of Evolution, Theory of gravity and Theory of relativity.

Because it is a fact, not a theory.

Well its interesting that people don't understand the difference between a fact and a theory, or even a hypothesis for that matter.... Though as much attention as GW is getting it is probably a theory... But it is differently not a Fact or a Law like the law of gravity is a perfect example of a fact because you can't disprove it where as Global Warming is more hear say between two groups of people... As for who is right I would have to say those against GW though the other side would have to disagree with me....

Some people say the 'theory of evolution' other just say 'evolution' it doesn't effect the science one little bit or make the nonsense of intelligent design any more credible. I think it is quite hard to take deniers seriously when they start an answer with a straight out lie "It is a theory and FAKE. 90% of the worlds glaciers are growing." When the state of the worlds glaciers are quite well known and documented http://www.usgs.gov/global_change/glaciers/repeat_photography.asp http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/repeatphoto/download_info.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retreat_of_glaciers_since_1850#Glacier_mass_balance

Global warming is real, just not what you have been told. Its happened in the past long before humans and will continue to happen with or without them.