You may have noticed that all the choices in the Readers’ Choice Awards for favorite atheist blog are white, so it’s not very diverse (two women out of five candidates, though, is pretty good — a few years ago it was a struggle to even get women noticed in this movement). A few people have been criticizing the awards for that, and I noted that this is a problem that plagues online popularity contests — they tend to be ruled by the majority and exclude all minorities.
To his credit, Austin Cline has responded to the criticisms, and he didn’t dig in his heels. Instead, he’s looking for suggestions to improve the breadth of the sample next time around. That’s the way to do it!
I’m still insisting that you go vote for the old white guy every day anyway.
31 comments
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michaeld
24 February 2012 at 10:42 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I’d like to second what was said on the non prophets (3 episodes back i think it was)that we need fewer best X lists or contests and more underrated, best X flying under the radar etc lists/contests. Its pretty much a conclusion that PZ with his massive following can sweep a list like this and many atheists especially on the internet have probably heard of him. Wouldn’t it be a better use of our popularity to direct people to lesser known bloggers etc.
brucecoppola
24 February 2012 at 10:50 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
FWIW, I’ve been liking Crommunist lately. Good at exploring racism in Canada and the US (with the somewhat differing ways they manifest themselves) as well as generally deflating the common stereotype of Canada as this nice polite kumbaya land of tolerance. Our neighbors have their issues too.
charley
24 February 2012 at 10:57 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
“I’m still insisting that you go vote for the old white guy every day anyway.”
Followed immediately by an ad for Newt Gingrich.
Markita Lynda--Happy Darwin's Birthday!
24 February 2012 at 11:06 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Very good suggestion, Michael D! Let’s find the hidden gems.
dangeroustalk
24 February 2012 at 11:57 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
As I learned the hard way, you can’t have awards any more. Some group will be excluded. Someone will feel they should have been nominated. Someone will not like one or more of the nominees, etc.
We Are Ing
24 February 2012 at 11:59 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Oh grow the fuck up.
Beatrice, anormalement indécente
24 February 2012 at 12:14 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I third what michaeld said.
Maybe we could organize a little competition right here. Nothing fancy, just maybe a thread where people mention good bloggers they have found on wide internet fields during the month. Add some voting (insert a working plan) and maybe PZ can let the winner contribute a guest post on Pharyngula. Even those who don’t win would probably get some new readers.
Naked Bunny with a Whip
24 February 2012 at 12:42 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
PZ only has 72% right now. This is plainly a schism. The Atheist Movement® is doomed.
carinade almeida
24 February 2012 at 2:34 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I am with brucecoppola @2. I have voted for PZ as he is truly my favorite however Crommunist has also earned my following. Good reading that is!
'Tis Himself, OM
24 February 2012 at 3:24 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Who would you rather vote for, middle-aged white guy from Minnesota who writes about squid or a vibrant bi-woman from San Francisco who writes about sex? GRETA CHRISTINA IS OUR CANDIDATE!
PZ Myers
24 February 2012 at 3:41 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
You almost convinced me, but then…you failed to mention if Greta writes about squid. That’s the dealbreaker.
Brownian
24 February 2012 at 4:01 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
What’s the hard way? You were beaten? Your house was firebombed? You had to go into hiding because of death threats?
I really hope it’s none of these, because I think finding out that the writer of a blog called ‘Dangerous Talk’ considers having his decisions criticised as “learning the hard way to just give up” would kick my weekend off right.
Caine, Fleur du Mal
24 February 2012 at 4:17 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Dangeroustalk:
Aaaaw, don’t worry, Cupcake. No one wants to give you an award.
Brownian
24 February 2012 at 4:28 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Sigh. Now everything’s ruined…
Caine, Fleur du Mal
24 February 2012 at 4:34 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Brownian:
Oh…well, I suppose we could work up some sort of sniny bauble.
Brownian
24 February 2012 at 4:45 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We’ll call it the “Most Progressive Atheist Blog” award, and give him one out of pure tokenism.
Gosh, I hope that’s not too dangerous for “Dangerous Talk”. Clearly, he bruises pretty easily.
Caine, Fleur du Mal
24 February 2012 at 4:55 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Brownian:
Aaah yes, that seems perfect:
I think a nice, sniny penny should do the token trick.
Brownian
24 February 2012 at 5:12 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
But such an award pegged to the value of his contributions could hardly be called ‘token’ any longer.
Caine, Fleur du Mal
24 February 2012 at 5:26 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Brownian:
:digs around in catch-all drawer: I have a dull, scuffed subway token. Will that do?
Brownian
24 February 2012 at 5:32 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Perfect. And I’ve probably got one of those ‘Participant’ ribbons they give you in school for showing up on Track & Field day somewhere around here.
Damn. The only kinds of glue I’ve got are non-toxic, though.
Therrin
24 February 2012 at 5:52 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
So that’s why you changed yours to blue.
dangeroustalk
24 February 2012 at 8:41 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yeah, I used the word tokenism to argue against tokenism, go figure. Oh shit, I just used it twice. *facepalm*
zb24601
25 February 2012 at 9:30 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
If it is “Readers’ Choice”, why do I only get to choose from a list made up by the people running the poll? I should be able to vote for any blog. As it is, it should be called the “Poller’s Choice Award”.
Matt Penfold
25 February 2012 at 9:46 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The short-listed blogs were nominated by readers.
mike53
25 February 2012 at 7:02 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The atheist movement I once identified with has become so quick to silence any voice of dissent it makes me think that we’ve become just as bad as religious people.
We need atheism 3.0 with leaders that care about whats actually true as opposed to promoting their own intellectually dishonest ideology and deleting any comments that disagree.
When being politically correct has become more important than whats actually true we need a new movement and new leaders.
Stop being sheeple followers please, get up from your pew and think for yourself.
Ze Madmax
25 February 2012 at 7:54 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
mike53 @ #25
OH NOES! Challenging issues that perpetuate systemic inequality = acting like institutions that are heavily invested in maintaining systemic inequality.
OH NOES! The idea that minorities are people with ideas and points of view that are as valid as the ideas of cis, straight white men = intellectual dishonest ideology
(Also: being called out for being a bigot who supports an unequal system = suppression of dissent)
OH NOES! Trying to improve the quality of the atheist movement by making it more inclusive = bad for the movement ’cause ZOMG PC NAZIS.
OH NOES! Challenging the deeply ingrained inequalities that permeate society = being sheeple.
mike53, you’d be funny, if you were not so sad.
mike53
25 February 2012 at 8:02 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Internet forum jargon and name calling win arguments around here. Deleting any opinions that differ from the popluar opinion is fine.
Free speech isn’t an important concept. Is it?
Thanks for proving my point about all the yes-men around here.
Caine, Fleur du Mal
25 February 2012 at 8:10 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
So…including women, people of colour and LGBT nominees is nothing more than being politically correct? Because there couldn’t possibly be any worthy voices in atheism which fit those categories, right?
You’re an idiot, Mike53.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls
25 February 2012 at 8:41 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
You’re free to speak your mind. Such as it is. Don’t be embarrassed by the lack of ideas you have presented. Ideas with citations (from Google Scholar) for evidence are golden. Evidently, your unevidenced ideas are turds.
We Are Ing
25 February 2012 at 9:28 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Don’t tell me what to do
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OM
25 February 2012 at 9:58 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Aww, everybody cut mike53 some slack. He isn’t used to engaging with real people. He is only bored enough to comment here because his new copy of Atlas Shrugged hasn’t been delivered yet. His last copy has too many pages stuck together.