Atheism Plus/Free Thought Blogs (FTB)

[westprog]

Yup. Myers gets bent out of shape over incidents that most sane people would shrug off as trivial or amusing even when other people are telling him to calm down.

Take Gelato Guy for instance which caused him to launch attacks of his fellow atheists for not being as irrational as he was branding them as fair weather atheists and sunshine skeptics. (Mountain, meet molehill.) Even his co-bloggers were advising a chill pill on that one.

He has an attitude that you have to be on one side or the other, and if you're on the wrong side, you're an enemy - a personal enemy, and a bad person. And anyone who doesn't agree with this viewpoint is an enemy as well. Hence the bad feeling associated with A+.

 

[Verklagekasper]

In the meantime, I call everyone now to pick sides (not in comments here, but publicly, via Facebook or other social media): are you with us, or with them; are you now a part of the Atheism+ movement, or are you going to stick with Atheism Less? Then at least we’ll know who to work with. And who to avoid.

I miss the option "I don't care, but if I did, I'd rather stick with a bunch of flesh-eating zombies than be on the same side as this clown".

 

[Humes fork]

Yup. Myers gets bent out of shape over incidents that most sane people would shrug off even when other people are telling him to calm down.

Take Gelato Guy for instance which caused him to launch attacks of his fellow atheists for not being as irrational as he was branding them as fair weather atheists and sunshine skeptics. (Mountain, meet molehill.) Even his co-bloggers were advising a chill pill on that one.

Uhm did you read the post you quoted?

I think Myers is trying to be the next Dawkins. The thing is, Dawkins isn't really an ass for the sake of it. He is often blunt and honest, and he might be rude at times, but he is so with a class and eloquence Myers will probably never reach.

 

[Humes fork]

How about A#?

Because atheists are sharper than others...

I prefer combined with the bacon symbol. It would be #Atheism≈.

Atheists who use sharp knives when cutting up bacon.

 

[WillyWonka]

So, the next question is, with regard to JREF and TAM, now what?

It is clear that, whether we want it or not, A+ has a certain following, and I wish them good luck, but their interest is more on promoting social justice and all it entails, and not so much on addressing the paranormal, the scam, the CAM, and promoting science.

In many ways, it may make things easier unless they try to influence TAM to become more an atheist conference. My view is that they are not that interested in skeptic conferences but more interested in humanist ones. For example, Rebecca was at a Canadian humanist conference just a while ago.

 

[qayak]

For example, Rebecca was at a Canadian humanist conference just a while ago.

No, no, no! How many times do we have to tell you? She was at a Canadian humourist conference but only as the butt of their jokes. (BaaaaDumpBump)

 

[Marquis de Carabas]

Plussers sharing how their lack of privilege harms them, in which we learn that "gifted" people are an oppressed class: http://atheismplus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=740

 

[Axiom_Blade]

Plussers sharing how their lack of privilege harms them, in which we learn that "gifted" people are an oppressed class: http://atheismplus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=740

(Trigger Warning: Oppression)

 

[squealpiggy]

Plussers sharing how their lack of privilege harms them, in which we learn that "gifted" people are an oppressed class: http://atheismplus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=740

Good grief. I think I have an undiagnosed social anxiety disorder after reading all of that.

I think the most important thing to achieve with disenfranchised people, whatever ever the reason, is empowerment. These lists on that forum are not empowerment. It's excuse making.

Especially the "gifted" one.

"Because I was "gifted", my family expected me to be an academic robot who would blindly soldier on through school, magically getting opportunities and becoming successful"

Just because you're gifted doesn't mean you don't have to try. By definition "gifted" means you have an advantage over your peers.

Maybe that's just my privilege talking. I had the privilege of not being gifted or something.

 

[Piscivore]

Good grief. I think I have an undiagnosed social anxiety disorder after reading all of that.

I think the most important thing to achieve with disenfranchised people, whatever ever the reason, is empowerment. These lists on that forum are not empowerment. It's excuse making.

It's the opposite of empowerment; they are victimizing themselves before anyone else can. I guess for them that's better somehow.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Google "The Atheist Experience" and watch some of the numerous videos. Dillahunty, besides being very articulate knowledgeable, can be quite amusing on the show especially when he gets irritated with the callers.

Thanks.

I'll pass though, because atheism bores me, to be honest. This A+ thing was entertaining for a while, but I'm starting to lose interest.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

So, the next question is, with regard to JREF and TAM, now what?

It is clear that, whether we want it or not, A+ has a certain following, and I wish them good luck, but their interest is more on promoting social justice and all it entails, and not so much on addressing the paranormal, the scam, the CAM, and promoting science.

In many ways, it may make things easier unless they try to influence TAM to become more an atheist conference. My view is that they are not that interested in skeptic conferences but more interested in humanist ones. For example, Rebecca was at a Canadian humanist conference just a while ago.

I'm guessing that around June of next year, most of them will be updating their blogs on why they are boycotting TAM.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Plussers sharing how their lack of privilege harms them, in which we learn that "gifted" people are an oppressed class: http://atheismplus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=740

OK, I'm calling Poe.

Maybe this whole thing will be revealed next April 1st. If so, well played.

 

[Marquis de Carabas]

OK, I'm calling Poe.

Maybe this whole thing will be revealed next April 1st. If so, well played.

Unfortunately, the wonderful post where every gripe started with, "Becuase I am a pedophile..." seems to have been removed.

 

[Axiom_Blade]

Plussers sharing how their lack of privilege harms them, in which we learn that "gifted" people are an oppressed class: http://atheismplus.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=740

Is this like those "hot girl problems" I've been hearing about?

 

[squealpiggy]

Is this like those "hot girl problems" I've been hearing about?

Would you believe:

"Because I am woman I can't go out without strange men wanting to spend time with me and potentially sexually assault me"

The last part i a bit of a non-sequitur really. But the first part: Really? Men want to spend time with you? Poor lamb.

Same person also put:

"Because I am woman I have to wear buttons on a side that makes it easier for men to undress me"

Umm...

This is another reason that people are reticent to throw their weight behind A+. The danger of finding yourself in a group with joyless weirdos who expend more effort looking for reasons to take offense than they do in actually empowering themselves.

 

[westprog]

OK, I'm calling Poe.

Maybe this whole thing will be revealed next April 1st. If so, well played.

I can see that it might help people to vent about their problems, but at some stage this has to be counter-productive. When a problem is one of perception, constantly dwelling on the perception - it's not safe to set foot outside the house - isn't going to make things any better.

It might be a better world if rape, violence, insults and cruelty were to be abolished, but in the meantime, people should be encouraged to walk to the shops without being paralysed with fear.

Not all fears are entirely irrational. If you engage with other people at all, you are putting yourself at risk of bad things happening, and possibly if you belong to certain groups in society, you're more likely to suffer these bad things. It's not a matter of saying that these things can't happen - it's managing to avoid dwelling on them with a morbid obsession.

 

[Shiner]

Well, that's clearly insane, as all True Rational Atheists are obviously Cat People.

Wouldn't that be, Mostly Rational Atheists........

 

[Marquis de Carabas]

"Because I am woman I have to wear buttons on a side that makes it easier for men to undress me"

That one really bugs me. Sure the reversed button thing makes things a touch easier, but for years, I've been lobbying the International Council for Oppressing Women to switch to zippers.

 

[Axiom_Blade]

Would you believe:

"Because I am woman I can't go out without strange men wanting to spend time with me and potentially sexually assault me"

The last part i a bit of a non-sequitur really. But the first part: Really? Men want to spend time with you? Poor lamb.

From the same post

Because I am abuse survivor I had to self abort my daughter who was also my sister

I'm gonna try not to think about that one too hard...