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A comment on We Have Four Years to Save Ourselves from Climate Change, Harvard Scientist Says. Parent comment

Re:We Have Four Years to Save Ourselves from Climate Change,... by stubish on Wednesday June 12, 2019 @10:02AM (#20164712)
Could, not would. Like smoking can kill you, not smoking will kill you. It is a common and fundamental English language pattern, clearly indicating doubt and should never be misinterpreted as certainty.
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Re:We Have Four Years to Save Ourselves from Climate Change,... by WillPostForFood on Wednesday June 12, 2019 @12:15PM (#20166220)
Fair enough, but could is enough to play on people's fears. Immigrant X could be a terrorist. Food additive Y could cause cancer. You can't then claim you didn't say "would".

Note that things like tobacco cancer warnings use use can/could not will/would, and the intent of the message is still clear.

"SURGEON GENERAL WARNING: Cigar Smoking Can Cause Lung Cancer And Heart Disease."

"WARNING: This product can cause mouth cancer."

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