It really is magic. Whenever atheists put up one of their innocuous billboards, with some mild statement that I find tepid and utterly uncontroversial, the Christians just have to charge in and make it newsworthy. The latest case is in Ohio, where Mid Ohio Atheists planned to put up this billboard:
At the last minute, though, the billboard company yanked their agreement to put up the signs and cancelled the contract. Why?
…the inflammatory nature of the proposed displays would no doubt be considered offensive to much of the community and would be harmful to Lind’s community reputation and goodwill. Lind has always and will continue to reserve the right not to publish advertisements which, in its sole opinion, are obscene, unnecessarily offensive and/or not in the best interests of the community at large.
Oh, yeah, that sign sure is obscene and offensive.
But hooray! The theists have successfully inflamed the issue and made their discrimination the focus of the news! It’s so obliging of them to stand up, put on the big black hat, and paint themselves as the villains.
(Also on Butterflies & Wheels, Blag Hag, and X Blog.)
Next thing you know that billboard company will be serving gelato.
Yeah, but see, they probably also don’t believe in Santa Claus or elves.
It has to end somewhere, you know.
Too bad for them that this was more of a rev-up than and end.
Glen Davidson
C’mon PZ: DBAD. Have some ice cream. The guy said he was sorry.
Oh, wait—a different example of discrimination.
Well, I’m sure the company would have posted it if the sign had said, “Don’t believe in God? Neither do we! (But we’re probably wrong; I mean, science doesn’t know everything, right? And anyways, there’s all sorts of Sophisticated Theology™ out there; and what about Fine-Tuning? Anyways, I’m sure the billboard company is totes in their right to reject this, given how provocative we are in sharing our existence with each other, so no harm no foul. God Bless.)”
Such a shining example of tolerance and goodwill. Let’s all have ice cream!
I am not sure what’s more noteworthy here. That Ohio atheists are trying to make the most innocuous billboard ever (I mean, a billboard completely directed to people that are already atheists, telling them that they are not alone) or that it is still seen as very offensive and inflammatory by some. Beyond the impossible.
No, it’s not me. People are using smaller and smaller fonts, and I can’t read them (anymore).
Isn’t it great to live in a society in which belief in a vengeful, jealous, and genocidal “god” is OK, but reason and rationality are “obscene”?
Gotta love that these signs that say “Atheists Exist!” are just so goddamn motherfucking offensive. Funny, I tried looking for “offensive religious billboards” and found ranting about these weak tea atheist billboards and Muslim billboards to dominate results. Despite there being, of course, offensive anti-choice billboards, and plenty of Christian billboards . It just turns out that people don’t talk about them as much, even though they are far more offensive than the billboards those uppity minority groups make. Fancy that.
Don’t worry, they will offer a sincere apology and we will all forget all about it on pain of censure for being dickish.
So I assume they’re taking down all the ads for McDonalds and Fox news?
One word: Provocation. Don’t believe in God? Fine. Why advertise your beliefs (oh sorry. or lack of beliefs)?
Apparently, publicly announcing that you don’t believe in God is like publicly announcing that you eat babies.
They’re not advertising their beliefs. They’re advertising their existence.
On Route 71 between Columbus and Ohio, there is the following right along the highway:
1) About 25 miles south of Columbus, there are two billboards about a tenth of a mile apart. Going in one direction, the first says, “If you died today, where would you spend eternity?” The other reading, “Hell is real.” Going in the other direction, it lists the Ten Commandments.
2) About 40 miles north of Cincinnati, there is a bar right off the freeway, whose roof is painted as one giant Confederate flag.
And yet, something as innocuous as this is deemed obscene. Go figure.
Whoops, I meant to say between Columbus and Cincinnati.
Why advertise your beliefs (oh sorry. or lack of beliefs)?
now go tell Pat Robertson, Billy Graham, Jim Baker, George Bush (junior and senior), Obama, and pretty much every televangelist, public preacher and politician what you just said.
your religion LIVES TO FUCKING ADVERTISE ITSELF, btw, in strict violation of the admonitions of your own imaginary fucking guru.
or did you fail to read Mathew 6:6?
fuck off, moron.
Cowards. What are they afraid of?
The truth. They can’t handle the truth!!!
Got to say it again.
Xians never, ever, miss an opportunity to demonstrate their complete intellectual and moral bankruptcy.
They are so predictable.
Coco Jumbo:
If churches can advertise why can’t atheists? Are we just supposed to quietly hide out of sight so as not to offend the pious Aunt Bees of the world? Provocation my ass. Fuck off.
How about a billboard that simply says,”Atheist” and put website address at the bottom? I wonder if the mere word, “Atheist” would cause such fear.
Coco:
Good question, Cupcake. Now, why don’t you get busy and start activism in regard to getting all the goddists to take down every single billboard, every poster and every flier plastered all over, advertising their beliefs. While you’re at it, get all those monuments to the 10 commandments out of all the courthouses, too.
And once more for the people who don’t know the song:
Barbra Streisand. *oowoohoo woohoohoo woohoohoo*
One word. Dumb troll. (OK, two words).
Why do xians advertise their beliefs? Why do they constantly try to force them on others with lies and endless violations of the laws?
Seems like the all powerful creator and ruler of the universe should be able to do anything it wants without needing humans to actually do everything.
Could it be the Invisible Sky Fairy is just the Nonexistent Sky Fairy. Xians never act like their god actually exists and is capable of doing anything.
OT
No, it’s not me. People are using smaller and smaller fonts, and I can’t read them (anymore).
hmm, there are a couple of ways you could try increasing your font size:
one, via your operating system software (windows or mac or linux?), and two, via the browser software you are using.
if you are using windows, you can do this in the control panel.
if you are using firefox as your browser, you can do this in:
Tools->options->content->fonts
and just increase the default font size.
I’m sure there are other ways to do this as well, with third party add ons to whatever browser you’re using.
The very existence of atheists is offensive to many goddists. That we don’t believe in The Big Guy In The Sky is upsetting to them.
If Lind had said they were rejecting the ads because they were concerned about vandalism to their billboards then they might have a valid point. But claiming that an atheist message is “obscene, unnecessarily offensive and/or not in the best interests of the community at large” is just laying themselves open to a lawsuit.
In your case CJ, the provocation is abject stupidity. Buster still needs a stunt double, and your lack of IQ fits the bill nicely….
Pretty blatant here. It’s time to sue some of these bigots.
Reportedly, the CFI is suing rich-old-white-guy who is in trouble with the law already in Detroit for cancelling a Richard Dawkins book signing.
The fundie xians created the New Atheists. I can see why.
PS: I wonder if they would refuse a Moslem or Hindu billboard? They might or might not. These people are haters and their hates are legion.
@Coco Jumbo:
Got it. Atheists existing, sending a message to other atheists who might be in a position of social ostracism (or danger) if they ever publicly acknowledge their atheism is a provocation.
Until people like you stop being provoked by the mere existence of atheism, we will provoke you. You can stop being provoked any time you like. Go right ahead. We won’t make you be offended.
Or… Is your faith really so weak that the mere existence of people who don’t believe in your god something that scares you?
Do you secretly want to join us?
Do you look at your fellow christians as they pray and wonder “am I the only one who sees how ridiculous this must look to an outsider?”. Do you ever wonder why you’re a christian? Do you ever wonder if you were brought up in a different country you might be a different religion, and believe that to be the Truth? If so, does Truth depend on where you were brought up?
And isn’t coming on here, a known atheist hellspawn pit, provocation? Is provocation okay when you do it? Or is Jeebus okay with you rilin’ up dem atheists ‘cos he’s cool like that?
This billboard explicitly scaremongers about atheists to incite fear and hatred. Doesn’t ours look rather tame in comparison?
Why does God need a
starshiptone troll?ChrisKG wrote:
Well, plenty of deconverted theists have reported that for much of their lives before they cast aside the chains of delusion, they didn’t realise there was such a thing as an atheist – well, one that wasn’t a cartoonish straw-person straight out of a Jack Chick tract at least.
So yeah, I suspect that plenty of theists are afraid of the word even being mentioned, because deep down they know it might actually make a difference to some people – and they really don’t want their numbers (real or perceived) thinned out. How could they control things then?
You all better fucking shut up! Coco Mother Fucking Jumbo does not want to hear about any one’s lack of faith.
Better yet, act like you believe.
“Skeptics are not welcome in our CHRISTIAN state.”
That looks so bloody familiar . . .
Who is saying I am being provoked? I am talking about those to whom that billboard was offensive and provocative. This is why it was removed.
Well, here you go, ice cream guy. This is a fine example of why your apology falls flat.
Coco Mother Fucking Jumbo, I find you to be offensive and provocative. Could you kindly climb out of the window?
@Coco Jumbo
Evidently, it wasn’t offensive or provocative to anyone; it never went up. It’s like shooting a dog who has Future Rabies.
How so?
In light of Coco’s insights, let me carefully read this billboard:
“Don’t believe in God? Neither do we?”
Yep. That sure is fucking provocative, right there. It might as well a picture of Jesus buggering the Pope while shitting on the American flag. It might as well be calling every Christian an inbred hillbilly moron and be openly advocating that we send them off to the gulags. We might as well have a picture of a Neo-nazi rally, a picture of Abu Ghraib, and a picture of a church, with the caption “Basically the same thing”. It is so obviously trying to get the goat of Christians that I just cannot fathom a sign that would be more offensive. Only things that are equally offensive.
Note for atheist organizations: Feel free to use the above ideas for future billboards. It’s bound to be just as offensive as “Atheists Exist!” in the eyes of the chronically offended.
It’s my understanding that humans enjoy spending time with other humans, and often choose whom they spend time with on the basis of shared culture, ethics, belief systems, pastimes, careers, or combinations of them.
In this case, the value shared is belief (or the lack thereof.) Because these matter. And you know this, because you’re capable of understanding that those who do not share such lack of belief may find the knowledge that non-believers exist provocative.
Now did you really need me to take you by the hand and lead you through the process we call ‘thinking’, or were you just trying to be, one word: provocative?
Sure it’s offensive, but only if you’re a fundy, monotheistic believer or a graphic designer.
From my viewpoint, why didn’t they address only atheists in that billboard ad? They were addressing both believers and non-believers –everyone actually– and asking this question ‘Don’t believe in God’? Those who did believe in God would have rightly found this question offensive.
@Pareidolius: First religion, then graphic designers. You hear me graphic designers? We’re coming for you next.
Coco Mother Fucking Jumbo, I find you to be offensive.
Why won’t you shut the fuck up?
Well, it is bright red, bold, lettering. To
a republican or an unquestioning christianan organism surviving mainly on brain stem function that’s very alarming.I would love for them to next propose a sign saying exactly that. “Atheists exist. (website name)” Just to see the contortions the company goes through trying to explain how that’s offensive.
Because you have no authority and power over me, so to speak. Those who removed that billboard, did so under some power and authority they had.
@Coco Jumbo, 39:
Don’t eat meat? You’re not alone.
RAAAARGH CARNIVORE RAGE!
It is good to see that you approve of abuse of power.
@Coco Jumbo
You have got to be fucking kidding me. ASKING THE QUESTION is offensive? We’re not even allowed to ask? On a billboard? Where no one is even compelling you to answer, much less answer truthfully? What a pile of steaming horseshit.
Coco Jumbo
You ARE a fucking moron. That billboard was written to reach out to other atheists. You’d think the phrase you conveniently omitted, “Neither do we!”, would tip you off to that fact, but no, you’re clutching your pearls so violently you’re cutting off the oxygen flow to what remains of your godsoaked brain.
Also, did it ever occur to you that every time you godbots put up a billboard, it DOES address both believers and unbelievers?
Moron. You’re a fucking moron.
Given that their policy is to avoid ads which “are obscene, unnecessarily offensive and/or not in the best interests of the community at large.” They might just want to go out of business. I’ve never yet seen a billboard that I could see as being in the interests of the community at large, and I would just as soon see the things all dynamited, if it were up to me.
That is their problem, not ours.
I find fundie xians offensive.
I find dumb internet trolls offensive.
I find dumb internet trolls named coco really offensive.
Carlie:
I second this action. I’d love to see a concerted action by various atheist groups to have “Atheists Exist / Website” billboards go up all over the place.
It’s like a billboard created in Frontpage…. for billboards.
Or something.
They did.
“Neither do we!” presumes an affirmation of “Don’t believe in God?”, speaking directly to atheists.
Would “Atheist? So are we!” have been better?
Gee, CJ, you are absolutely the right intelligence to stand in for Buster on Mythbusters. All you need is another response and your CV will be faxed to Buster…He is willing to give you three times his salary…
But Cosmic Snark, that is not the same. Those billboard are intended for both the believers and non believers? How can you be offended by that?
That’s not an answer to “Why won’t you shut up?”, idiot.
The actual answer is “Because I want to share my beliefs about this topic, regardless of whether or not you find my beliefs provocative.”
I find it hard to believe someone who can figure out how to turn on a computer could type something that stupid.
I mean, the real question is why Coco Jumbo isn’t restricting himself to only share his or her opinions with others who do not disagree.
You are not only dumb, you are wrong.
Under the freedom of religion laws and free speech laws, what Lind did was illegal. They are running a service open to the public, in public. They didn’t have any such authority.
They will likely be sued. And lose in court.
They once had to remove a billboard near where I live. It was about a cure for male sexual dysfunction. The billboard wasn’t offensive or anything, but it was near a primary school. The parents lodged a complaint. It was approved. The billboard was removed. The company chose another spot, and re-advertised. No one complained again. No harm done.
Following the same lines, those atheists could try to advertise again, only this time, pose the question like this: “Calling all atheists. Don’t believe in God?” Then wait and see what happens. If it still gets removed, you have every right to be cranky….
Because there is no one standing over him, willing to abuse their power in order to shut him up.
Is there some way that ground could be bought next to a road and the billboard companies could be bypassed entirely? Not having to pay rent would be beneficial in the long run.
@Brownian
I would suggest that maybe he’s trying to convince or persuade others of the correctness of his views, but he’s doing such a bad job of it that I’d feel stupid making that argument.
I’m just going to let everyone mull that one over for a second.
Right… the next clown who says “god bless you” gets a black eye.
Then, to be non provocative, he should have stated his first comment thusly:
“Attention, everyone who doesn’t think this is a big deal: don’t think that this is a big deal? Here are some reasons why I think you shouldn’t think this is a big deal…”
The sentient sack of shit is now comparing atheists communicating to each other to the selling of Enzite.
Coco Mothering Fucking Jumbo, you are a piss poor example of humanity.
(Yeah. It is an ad hominen.)
No Coco Jumbo, an erectile disfunction ad was inappropriate in that location. You are objecting to the atheist ad’s content.
If the atheist ad could have been run somewhere else without changing the content, your analogy might not be an enormous dishonest steaming pile of fetid, oozing shit.
Admit it, Coco Jumbo, you’re a carnivore objecting to a vegetarian billboard.
But you can’t admit it, can you? That would be silly.
R
Oh no. It’s different with atheists. They hold a superior position because of their rationality and sound-mindedness. And because of this, they will calmly explain they don’t believe in God …
Truly Coco is a renaissance moron.
Dear Coco,
You know what? I do exist. A number of other people who share my lack of belief in a god exist. Quite a few actually. How can my mere existence and a sign that says I exist be offensive to any sane person?
Fortunately, we have a brand new shipment of deceased porcupines. Here’s yours. Shove it up your ass, sideways. Yes, I know it’s pretty ripe, but I really think that’s only appropriate.
You’re assuming he actually turned on the computer all by himself. I’m guessing he has trouble figuring out why his computer’s foot pedal is on the desk next to the keyboard, instead of on the floor.
@ Brownian
*nods sagely*
See, obviously you’re a lot more skilled at being non-provocative than Coco Jumbo. I hope he’s taking notes.
No cupcake, you are merely being offended at having irrational beliefs questioned.
In the US free speech and freedom of belief are (supposedly) protected and cherished freedoms. They form no small part of the basis of democracy. Please note that freedom of belief includes freedom from belief.
You are blinded by your belief in superstition to the point where you think stifling others right to free speech is ok. Because you mistakenly think your beliefs should never be questioned or mocked.
I find your hypocrisy extremely offensive.
Fuckface, you do not care if the explanation is calm or filled with invectives. You see it all as offensive. For you, a picture of blue skies is the same as me calling you names.
Worthless sack of meat.
Ah, there’s the real issue.
Let’s review your suggestion again:
“Calling all atheists. Don’t believe in God?”
Please, do continue to advertise your beliefs on rationality and sound-mindedness.
Coco is entirely correct. I especially liked the part where his ilk would have “rightly” found such a question offensive. because they are of course right to do so. They have the right to be offen…OH NO WAIT.
“Nobody has the right not to be offended.” John Cleese
…uh, yeah, that’s what I meant. Poljees.
Well he claimed to be creative. Now admit it, you wouldn’t think of that message, now would you?
Thought, the enemy of
unreasonCoco’s creativity.Glen Davidson
“Calling all francophones: speak French?”
“Calling all dog-fanciers: fancy dogs?”
Oh man. Anyone who hasn’t read the Gary Hill “Why Am I an Atheist” comments needs to go right now and witness for yourselves what a lying, pusillanimous, puerile, projecting asshole Coco Jumbo is.
He claims he doesn’t speak English as a first language, but none of his typing patterns are consistent with that claim, and he refuses to share with the class what his first language is. Odds are pretty good someone on Pharyngula would speak it, see, and then he’d be caught out–as if he weren’t already.
So what is your first language, Coco Jumbo? What languages do you speak besides English? You said you spoke at least two other languages. If you’re not a craptastic, lying troll, it should be pretty simple just to tell us what those languages are.
@#62
That would be a logistical possibility, but the land cost and the taxes would probably blow your socks off.
No most of those challenges are silently tolerated by the non-delusional, because there are real life consequences to “coming out”. This of course is know by the “believers” and is part of the strategy. Congrats on your hypocrisy.
Let’s face it, teh much-lauded intarwebs is much more public that any given billboard. While I am severely unlikely to drive past a billboard in, oh, say, Ohio, what with the whole “living-in-Scotland-unable-to-drive” thing, I very much saw this billboard just now – and others like it in the past, on similar posts, Doesn’t that mean, Jumbo Clowno, that the billboard is actually more offensive* this way than it would be if it was confined to the odd state highway, due to its near-infinitely broader outreach potential with all this publicity?
*I’m assuming “offensive” for your world view…which is still that of a fucking imbecile.
Zinc Avenger:
Jesus Christ. That’s a billboard sized non sequitur.
Coco Dumbface:
Am I missing something here? Herp a derp, atheists don’t believe in god by fucking definition so why the fuck would you even pose a question like that?
A little more on topic: That is one ugly-assed billboard.
“Excuse me, are there any atheists viewing this billboard? Then please keep reading, this message is for you. If you are not an atheist, then please keep driving, you see, we atheists need to have a word in private, we don’t want to trouble you. Are you gone yet? Okay…atheists? Do you not believe in God? Well, I guess that’s pretty obvious from how you would self-identify as such…anyhoo, you don’t believe in God, right? Right, okay, we don’t either! Isn’t that cool? I know, right? For more information, or if you want to hang out some time, go to midohioatheists.com…on your computer. Are there any theists still around? They tend to get kind of sensitive about this, is all. Yeah…anyway, midohioatheists.com. Check it out. ‘Kay, see you there!”
That troll is not interesting enough to keep anyone’s teeth sharp and fur sniny…
I also back the simplicity of “Atheists Exist. http://www.atheists.com” as a message. I use that by way of an example. It’s actually a preaching site. We should take it back!
Can you find a graphic designer? Neither can we!
Your God’s not real?
I bet you’re pissed!
So come and be
an Atheist!
Um, I dunno if anyone gets this any more. I only know about the whole Burma Shave thing from Bill Bryson.
It is really weird that ALL of the atheist billboards I’ve seen so far, with one exception, have had TERRIBLE graphic designs.
The exception was the one in Britain: There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.
You’d think atheists would have the resources to locate a decent graphic designer. I think we need an intervention for U.S.A. atheist organizations.
Actually, can we run with the Burma Shave thing?
You had to use
Your brain for once
Congrats! Ghey secks
With Browni..unce(?)
You want to know about me? Why? I never asked you any personal questions. I could be lying or whatever about me, but it is still totally irreverent to what I am posting here. But just to let you know, English is still not my first language, but it is also not my second language. But if you want to place it in some category, place it somewhere between first and second languages. I never said though that I spoke at least 2 languages besides English, but you are right about it anyway. I do speak at least 2 other languages. Which ones? I can’t tell you. But what I can tell you is, they both are closely related, but otherwise have a very different grammatical structure than German Languages. So, when I write English, I am kind of mixing the opposites. Sounds like fun to me… And you say I am not creative?
In Chicago, I saw one Freedom From Religion Foundation ad that featured Butterfly McQueen.
Funny that there was not howls of protest about this.
<blockquote cite="I do speak at least 2 other languages. Which ones? I can’t tell you.”>
Have you forgotten already?
Yes. You are not creative, and you are a liar.
I ask you these questions because I don’t believe you are being truthful about what you believe and who you are. I don’t respect you at all because of that. I don’t think anyone should take you seriously, and I think people should know if they’re conversing with someone who is a pathological liar. As you have now demonstrated yourself to be. English is obviously your first language, and you were just lying to have yourself a little pity-party in the other thread, and to excuse your obvious stupidity when you were baffled by a few 1st-tier GRE vocabulary words.
Coco Mother Fucking Jumbo, idiocy is not bound by language. I am sure you are stupid in any language.
Chaos take all HTML and its bastard offspring.
In the other thread, you said it was somewhere between your third and fourth languages.
See, not only are you a liar, you’re an incompetent liar. Good liars know to keep their lies simple and consistent. You can’t even do that.
Don’t believe in Thor? You’re not alone!
Janine @C
@94
My thoughts exactly…
Why is a mystic like Jumbo Liar blathering about respect for property-based authority? Isn’t his kind supposed to be above such material concerns?
I never said that. Cut it from that thread, and paste it here. Sally very Strange.
If Jesus and Zeus had a fight you know who would win?
NO ONE.
BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT REAL.
Ok what am I doing wrong? Is it…
Janine @C:
I doubt they’d be stupid in Pig Latin. They’d make a lot more sense.
…this?
M31 @103, that comment didn’t specifically address non-Norse-god-worshipers. I DEMAND you cease this provocation at once!
Sweet. So, Co-co-lumbo. what are these mythical languages you’re not allowed to divulge? Wait…one of them is Druidic, isn’t it?
So, thus far Coco:
1. Thinks access to advertising services is a privilege to be enjoyed only by those who believe in invisible sky monsters.
2. Is so insecure in their god-belief that even the idea that someone somewhere doesn’t share that belief is a personal affront and highly offensive.
3. Fails to comprehend the distinction between inappropriate advertisement location (penis pill promo posted school street side) and advertisement content.
4. Is stupid enough to write – evidently in all seriousness, “Calling all atheists. Don’t believe in God?”
I have to say, this is one of the dumber ones we’ve had lately.
Calling all Christians. Believe in Thor?
Calling all Americans. Live in Pakistan?
Calling all illiterates. Reading this sign?
Can I get a job at “The Coco for Coocoo Jumbo Billboarding Corporation for Billboarders Inc.” when I grow up? If I can’t handle making the signs, at least I can answer the phones.
“So, you say your name is Jacob Bradley. Are you female?”
“Hmm, yes, I will tell my superiors that you and your church find the word ‘atheist’ in an advertisement to be very offensive. I hear you. How do you explain that your kids?”
“Ah, so you are calling from Rhode Island. Are you in Finland?”
“You don’t say. I will tell my superiors to take down the offensive billboard down immediately. We didn’t realize that people other than the people mentioned in the first sentence would be able to read all of the profanity in the following sentences.”
“You’re telling me that you are a schoolteacher in Mississippi? So, I was wondering: will you veto the tax bill that’s currently being reviewed by the Senate? And how regularly do go around on those gondolas?”
“I’m so sorry about that. The sign talking about passing a gay marriage bill was my bad. My supervisors told me that I shouldn’t have approved a sign that didn’t specifically say that only people who already support gay marriage should look at it, but I didn’t listen. I JUST DIDN’T LISTEN!”
Do I get the job?
Well, fuck. The original quote was “Calling all atheists. Don’t believe in God?” and not “Calling all atheists. Believe in God?”. There goes half of my shtick.
Now, you are deliberately being … I don’t know what. English is not my first language. Didn’t I stay I stay away from ‘recycled garbage’ in that thread? Well, this applies to everything in my life. Even when I write English. It is always new, always fresh. No need to read up 300 years old English literature books just to impress myself and people around me.
Ah, you are correct, Coco Jumbo. I do apologize for misremembering what you said. Here’s what you wrote:
However, I don’t apologize for calling you a liar. A non-liar would have no problem simply proving his trustworthiness by saying, “My first language is Tamil and my second language, which I learned about the same time I learned English, is Russian.” Or whatever. But you won’t, which reinforces my impression that you were lying when you said this:
You said this in order to excuse your claimed inability to understand this:
It’s my personal theory that the reason you couldn’t understand this is because you are an arrogant teenager just posting for kicks, that you don’t sincerely believe anything you claim to believe, that you haven’t read the books you claim to have read, and that you are, in essence, the Platonic ideal of a troll.
Prove me wrong by sharing with the class what your other languages besides English are.
Sorry! Didn’t I stay I stay away from –>> Didn’t I say I stay away from
Don’t be sorry. Just be honest.
Not rightly. Stupidly. There’s no reason that question should be offensive. You just say, “Actually, yes I do. I guess it doesn’t apply to me then.” Kinda like how I don’t get offended if somebody asks me if I have a “home church”. I just answer the damned question – “Nope. Don’t want one.”
“Don’t believe in reincarnation?
Neither do we!
http://www.justonelife.com”
–>Hindus and Buddhists must be up in arms, right? They would be “rightly” offended!
Every thread in the past little while has had one industrial-grade escapee from the side show who just can’t seem to get a grip.
Fixed that for you CJ. Buster is anxious to interview you. And upped his offer to 30% of his salary…
Well, to start with, I am not a teenager. I am about … no I am exactly 35. This I can tell you. What I can’t tell you, I won’t. I am sure there are lots of things about you which you wouldn’t like to share here. You have your reasons for not sharing them, I have my reasons for nor sharing my personal things. You can’t possibly call this being dishonest. If you do, then I am afraid, you are a dishonest person as well.
Again, all of this has absolutely nothing to do with my posting here.
Okay well, then don’t be surprised when people think you aren’t being honest. You were dishonest about your own beliefs and intent in the other thread, so it makes perfect sense that you’d be dishonest about who you are and how old you are. I don’t believe you, and I urge everyone else here to treat Coco Jumbo with the scorn and disdain you would reserve for an inveterate and shameless liar.
This is so obviously a lie. A person who is actually 35 would say, “I am 35.”
Right, that has only to do with you being a fuckwitted idjit only good for cannon fodder of the lowest level…Or Buster’s stand-in for the Mythies…
CJ: “I speak three languages!”
Me: “Oh really? Which ones (besides English, obviously)?”
CJ: “I won’t tell you.”
Me: “Why?”
CJ: “That’s PERSONAL information (even though I volunteered the information about the other languages).”
Me: “Then I don’t believe you.”
CJ: “Then YOU are the dishonest one.”
Ing was right, this guy is a gaslighter extraordinaire.
SallyStrange:
Personally, I’m all for everyone ignoring it.
SallyStrange, even with out the details of what languages that Coco Mother Fucking Jumbo allegedly speaks, he has shown that he is worthy of the scorn he receives.
“Atheists go here: www.(whatever).com”
Theists might think it’s a sneaky ad campaign by a church, never check the site, and would be none the wiser. Of course, many atheists might see it as a trick too.
“Believe in reality? Us too!”
“If it’s Sunday and you’re reading this, you’re not in church. Check us out instead” Ok, that’s too long.
“Atheists: we don’t usually eat babies.”
Laugh if you want, but I was riding a NYC subway one day and saw an ad that read “Illiterate? We can help!”
Coco the troll:
Since you don’t think atheists exist, why would you bother talking to us? Do you make it a habit to talk to imaginary beings?
Yes, of course. But the language thing is just so blatant.
“Ah, so you are calling from Rhode Island. Are you in Finland?”
Yes, and yesterday I plan to climb both peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro
I think we’ve given Cookooo Jumbo more than enough rope to hang itself with.
yet, all it has managed to do is tangle its feet and make a mess.
PZ, can you just take out the slack please, and finish the job?
1. People are offended by the most milquetoast things… It’s pathetic.
2. Mid-Ohio Atheists were going to inflict some truly hideous typography upon the people of Ohio, but that still doesn’t seem like sufficient reason to not run the billboards.
Quite the opposite actually. I do think atheists exist — and I think they ‘exist’ more than any other group. Which is to say, they shout so much about their atheism and their existence, that it appears they are trying to shake the whole world just to show they exist. Point taken. You exist.
“Atheists: we don’t usually eat babies.”
well, only on special occasions anyway.
too much prep time involved for today’s modern busy schedule of working 3 jobs and getting paid for one and whatnot for daily consumption.
maybe if the protests succeed in heading off our headlong rush back to the Feudal age, we’ll be able to get back to regular baby eating again.
If not, I suspect 99% of us will never be able to eat baby again.
*sigh*
What are they so very afraid of? I tolerate their religious rubbish every year around their holidays. I have no fear of their religious demostrations via nativity scenes, decorations, etc.I may find their religious bill boards to be tacky and in very poor taste; both in style and intellectually, but i do not fear them. So I ask again, what are they so afraid of?
I think they ‘exist’ more than any other group.
Hey, whaddya know, I do too. Damn the actual polls that show us in a tiny minority.
but projecting your lack of faith onto the rest of us doesn’t make you one of us.
you actually have to admit you have no faith, which is really true for most xians anyway, just like you note.
In fact, ALL of us are atheists.
it’s just that some of us are atheists about only some gods, and others about all of them.
So, now that you’ve admitted you’re an atheist, Cookoo, I have to add…
We don’t want you anyway.
because you’re a STUPID, INGORANT, DEMENTED FUCKWIT. who constantly wastes the bandwidth of this site with your inane blather.
I wasn’t talking about the numbers. I was talking about how strongly atheists try assert their existence. Take it as a compliment.
Then why were you arguing they don’t really exist in the Gary Hill thread? Is it possible you can learn? I find this hard to believe. In fact, I think you’re just an idiotic troll.
Yep, an idiotic troll.
You forgot “lying.”
I wasn’t arguing that. The guy who runs this blog is a well known atheist. How could I possibly argue that on this blog?
Laugh if you want, but I was riding a NYC subway one day and saw an ad that read “Illiterate? We can help!”
yup, seen similar signs.
it would be an easy fix:
“Know someone who is illiterate? We can help!”
which, come to think of it, must be what the religious project onto the billboard that they object to so much.
instead of a call to atheists for community, they must see it as a call for the brainwashing of theists?
I know, it makes no sense, and yet, I bet it fits.
“Know someone who is religious? We can help!”
even though, of course, the message doesn’t say, nor actually imply that, as much as I hope one day it actually does.
I still view religion like the addiction it is, and still think the best way to rid ourselves of it is to treat it just like any other addiction.
can we please tighten the noose on Cookoo boy here?
useless, insipid, BORING waste of space.
You are wearing some of the most ridiculous blinders on earth.
Coco Jumbo wrote:
Well, you are demonstrably stupid.
You are wearing some of the most ridiculous blinders on earth.
I think you’re just an idiotic troll.
please tell me it didn’t take you more than two posts to figure this out?
Buster is trying as hard as it can to recruit that “talent”, but it won’t answer the calls, like it can’t use a phone.
Easy: by being an idiotic troll. And you’re also a liar, as anyone who reads the other thread can see. I’m not going to sift through your bullshit again to find quotes.
Do we really want the mythies to have to downgrade? That doesn’t seem fair to them.
@Coco Jumbo:
While your co-religiots are pissing JEEBUS all over the fucking country like they’re dogs marking territory, us minorities are going to keep being uppity.
I’m so sorry you’re offended by my existence. Sadly, I’m not going to cease existing for you, but you’re welcome to stop being offended any time it pleases you, bless your little cotton socks.
Yeah, we’re so danged noisy. What with all of our huge temples and dedicated cable networks, and thousands upon thousands of billboards and other advertisements all over the country, and our millions upon millions of lobbying dollars.
Oh wait, that’s not us.
I liked the Centre for Inquiry’s extraordinary claims series, though the long-form ad is probably way too wordy, the bus version is nice. T
I don’t mind the COR’s “Don’t believe in God?”-on-a-cloud-background one at all.
FFRF’s are hard to read, and American Atheists’ ones are plain ugly (but do end up getting a lot of attention).
Coocoo
But would you have known we existed if we had prefaced all statements about our existence with “Calling all atheists!”, so as to properly warn The Sensitives such as yourself to ignore all messages beyond that point? Wouldn’t want to traumatize you by suggesting that some people don’t believe in God, after all. Can’t let too many people in on the secret, as most motor vehicles don’t have proper fainting couches installed. We’ll tone it down with the letting people know that some people don’t believe in God, and just let you get back to your regularly scheduled totally not-shouting about how Christianity should have buckets full of special privileges because Jesus chopped down a cherry tree and assassinated King George while Washington made the Constitution out of Bible crumbs in a Baptist church he had made out of the bones of British soldiers and heretics.
Hmm, I hadn’t seen the “Extraordinary Claims” one before; I agree, the bumper sticker version is pretty cool.
This one is aight, as the kids used to say. (Do they still say that? I don’t know.) That is, it’s acceptable. But I’m still rather surprised at how truly rare a good design is in atheist billboards.
What is this? People hold different beliefs than my own? I AM OUTRAGED AND OFFENDED! I mean all this time I thought everyone had the exact same religious beliefs as me! We cannot let this factual information get out, if people ’round here learn that there are non-Christians, why that would ruin the reputation of the community! I thought those temple, mosques, sports fields and shopping malls were all just big modern art sculptures – you mean all this time, people worshiped false gods at these places? I fear I may have to commit suicide, the reputation of my community is just that low. So many non-Christian things occurring here. I feel sick. Why didn’t anyone tell me this was happening? Why, God, why!?
Don’t tone it down. Tone it up actually. Keep advertising your faith (or lack thereof). Then gather around places like this to whine and whinge when Richard Dawkins is booted out from a place for being an theist, when a billboard designed to advertise and promote atheism is removed, when a gelato-seller refuses to sell gelato to atheists…. After all, this is how democracies flourish, and what better place for this flourishing to happen than the birthplace of modern democracy AKA USA? I am with you on this one.
By the way, I am in no way against atheism or theism. My point was to actually see this event from the perspective of those people who got offended by that billboard.
Yep. Not only do we exist tadpole, but a good portion of atheists do the “heavy lifting” that promotes real progress on this planet… Take that as a suppository.
The troll lies.
And insults everyone’s intelligence.
Yeah. Because the discrimination already facing atheism is the fault of our tone, and that discrimination against us is DEMOCRACY. The fact that people were offended by the innocuous sign above is totally the fault of atheists, and not reflective of just how much Christians love to be offended about nothing at all. I would’ve loved to have seen you in the civil rights era, Coocoo. You would’ve been a real peach, I’m sure.
A point of view that is either one of blind, unreflective privilege or frothing, unthinking bigotry? Sorry, you give too much credit to the people who were “offended” if you really just came in to play God’s Advocate.
BTW, the No Religions make up 22% of the population, 67 million people. The best and brightest.
They are growing rapidly as US xianity destroys itself with its hate, lies, and bigotry.
The No Religions are projected to be over 50% of the population by 2050.
If all that holds true, atheists aren’t going to have to put up with xian death cultists for more than a few more decades. It’s going to be a long few decades though. The USA might not even last that long as anything we would recognize.
IMO, the xians are running scared and getting more vicious by the day.
What discrimination are you actually facing? You are not talking about rights here. You are talking about privileges. Like atheists are some privileged people.
I am not sure about the US, but we have anti-discrimination and defamation laws in Australia. Which means, freedom of expression must be balanced out against protecting people’s rights. You are saying that the billboard was not intended to provoke believers? I find it very hard to believe.
@Rey Fox:
And the tax breaks. Lots and lots of tax breaks.
That’s how we buy the babies…
Notice this reply:
http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/11/22/another-wildly-successful-billboard-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-182937
First, an insult. Then an impossible command. Then a comment about something that doesn’t exist; there are no ten commandments statues in courthouses.
Can we stop pretending he’s not a troll? There’s far better ways to deal with a JAQer, first being answering the question.
Then gather around places like this to whine and whinge when Richard Dawkins is booted out from a place for being an theist
Dawkins was booted for being a theist.
I find you laughable in your mistake, and in your ignorance.
but I would still prefer you would just get banhammered.
Coocoo for CocoaPuffs:
Oh, I don’t know. The inability to put up a billboard for example?
…Because everything you do is designed to provoke, and you are too much of a narcissist to imagine that other people don’t think exactly like you.
@ Coco Jumbo
No one actually got offended by the billboard, since it was never put up. So you are imagining what it might be like to view the billboard from the perspective of the hypothetical people who might have seen it, had the billboard company had any spine.
No wonder your arguments suck.
Admittedly, http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/11/22/another-wildly-successful-billboard-campaign/comment-page-1/#comment-182998 shows how disingenuous the questioner is.
So no need to waste your time showing that you’re an ass, too, right?
What discrimination are you actually facing?
I thought I already posted those links?
look around, dipshit, I’m not going to post them again just for your addled brain.
In fact, I’m just going to keep responding to your every post with just…
BANHAMMER, PLEASE.
Coquette Dumbo thinks we shout a lot about our existence? It still thinks this even after it’s looked at the Christian billboards that proselytize all over the place, such as those featured at the top of this very post?
Yeah. We’re so disproportionately loud. Totes screechy.
Lots of ads, which have more than the allowed limit for sex contents, get cancelled too. Or removed.
Coquette:
So what if it was? So what? So what?
Atheism = sex contents
Who knew?
Lots of ads, which have more than the allowed limit for sex contents, get cancelled too. Or removed.
BANHAMMER PLEASE
[name of atheist group] says:
READ YOUR BIBLE.
[atheist group URL]
/Dare them to call that offensive.
TROLOLOLOLOLOLOLO…
Remember folks, Jumbo Liar is completely insincere about everything he writes. Ask him about it 45 minutes later, and he’ll say he meant something totally different. He’s 100% pure troll.
In the other thread, he asserted that nobody is truly an atheist, as the urge to seek god is a universal human urge, and atheism is simply a denial of that urge.
You are a fucktard. Having a religious viewpoint that is so offensive to the idiotic that they deem themselves justified to systematically deny us the ability to advertise ourselves simply isn’t discrimination because we’re talking about “a privilege”? It isn’t discrimination to be barred from a location because of religious identification? The laws in the U.S. don’t agree with you.
Also. Moron.
Yes, we know, because you are the kind of moron who thinks “Yeah, we don’t believe in God” is an insult to those who do. Your inability to have reasonable emotional responses to religious topics that would be expected of any other subject is noted. And also no-one else’s fucking problem but your own.
If I were going to provoke Christians with a billboard, I might make a billboard that said something like…
The Bible endorses slavery and rape.
Where do YOU get your morality from? Not the Bible.
or
Christianity = brainwashing. Wake up!
or
Jesus never existed and he’s not coming back.
You know, something that was specifically directed at Christians, as opposed to “Don’t believe in God?” which is obviously specifically directed at people who DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD, i.e., not Christians.
No Sally Strange. That wasn’t the point. I am saying that ads being cancelled or removed for being ‘inappropriate’ is a relatively common occurance. So common that no one really notices it when it happens. The same thing happened to that billboard which is under discussion here. Only, you seem to be seeing this whole event within the context of “discrimination against atheists and atheism.” See it within the context of ‘laws/ community guidelines not being followed’, and be amazed at how all pieces of the jigsaw puzzle start to fall in the right spots.
Cuz askin’ if you don’t believe in god too is as offensive as billboards that “have more than the allowed limit for sex contents.”
Right. The mere mention of atheism equals boobs? You are an idiot, aren’t you?
Oh yes, look, there you go again, lying about the obvious meaning of your own words. You’re a lying liar who apparently can’t stop lying, even about what you said just a few minutes ago. Fuck off, you trolling trollface. You’re totally useless, except as an object of ridicule.
On the grounds of conscious dishonesty and idiocy, I find Coquette Dumbo inappropriate and in need of removal.
He’s clearly in violation of community guidelines (i.e., being honest is a requirement, and being deliberately stupid is verboten).
Win!
Fail.
Jesus never existed and he’s not coming back.
I would try:
“Jesus wanted believers to STAY IN THE FUCKING CLOSET.”
-Mathew, 6:6
Then why ask me to “Fuck Off”? You should rather be asking, in fact begging, me to stay here so you could ‘ridicule’ me.
That wasn’t the point.
indeed, the point is…
BANHAMMER PLEASE.
Oh dear. You’re Australian Coco? Do you also think Tony Abbott is the bees knees? Or the even kookier ones. (Nile, Fielding, etc.)
Yes, we are living in a country where we are lucky enough that an atheist woman can be prime minister and most people don’t care about her gender or her religious views. But most of the people you are talking to on here? They are not so lucky. There is virtually no chance at the moment in the USA of an atheist becoming President, or any significant elected job. So yes, they are discriminated against.
And you are saying that discriminating against them by not allowing them to put up billboards saying effectively, ‘hey, atheists exist, you might not be alone’ is right? When other billboards spewing Christian hate messages are allowed up?
Fuck you.
Then why ask me to “Fuck Off”?
who’s asking?
we’re telling.
BANHAMMER PLEASE.
In this target-rich environment? As if. Far, far better trolls than you have trolled here before… all have met nasty, porcupine-filled, rather explosive ends.
You’re Australian Coco?
probably one of the inbred step children of Ken Ham, who left it to die on the front porch before he left for the States.
but, being an aussie, probably ended up being raised by dingos.
You and your lame excuses, Sally.
You
BANHAMMER PLEASE.
Coco is Australian, but English is not his first language, remember? He must be an immigrant.
Pathetic attention-mongering lying troll.
Though I will say, in terms of insincerity, few trolls have Coco beat. I will give Coco a perfect 10 for dishonesty. Most of the trolls around here believe at least part of what they say, even if they only choose to share it because they like provoking negative reactions, for whatever fucked up psychological reasons.
few trolls have Coco beat.
I will never, ever forget…
Airforce Dave.
who, after posting no less than 2000 posts on the Panda’s Thumb forum regarding his “creator god hypothesis”, fled to Richard Dawkin’s site to do it… ALL OVER AGAIN.
I put that guy right at the top of my top ten all-time internet trolls list.
the only guy that can even come close to competing with him is John Davison and his “prescribed evolutionary theory”.
Cookoo for Jumbopuffs?
pah.
not enough bait to continue interest for more than a day.
Well there is one other option Sally. Immigrant is more likely though. Not that there’s anything wrong with being one of those.
Being a lying idiot though? There’s something wrong with that.
I wonder if he was one of those fundies who tried to orchestrate a campaign to remove safe sex adverts (fairly subtle ones at that) involving a homosexual couple hugging. Initially taken down until it was pointed out that the whole campaign was orchestrated by a small fundamentalist group (yes, we still have them here, but they’re smaller, though no less rabid) and that more people supported them being there and back up they went.
Don’t you talk about my mum that way!
Don’t you talk about my mum that way!
why not, she’s your mum, ain’t she?
It’s my understanding that dingos have played a vital role in the fostering of Australia’s abandoned youth…
Well, Icthyic, I missed out on Airforce Dave. Before my time, I suppose. Just to be clear, I think Jumbo Liar is an extremely boring and substandard troll–the only area where he gets high marks is insincerity. Otherwise, in terms of creativity, dedication, and provocativeness, he’s either average or below average.
That makes him a bit unusual for Pharyngula; we usually manage to attract trolls who are at least a bit sincere about whatever billshit they espouse. Frankly, I think the most interesting and infuriating trolls pop up in the threads related to feminism. The religious-themed ones are stale and predictable. But in both cases, although they’re clearly posting just to get a reaction, not to have a conversation, they do usually seem somewhat sincere about believing that the Bible is god’s inerrant word, or that bitches ain’t shit, as the case may be. Not so with Coco Jumbo. He vacillates so much that the only two possibilities are that he doesn’t know what he believes, or is deliberately trying not to reveal anything of what he believes, because his main mission is just to stir the pot. And the latter, in internet lingo, is actually closer to the classic Internet 1.0 definition of “troll” than what we usually get around here. Being that “to troll” originally just meant “to espouse views one does not personally endorse only because one wishes to observe an agitated reaction from one’s interlocutors.”
Ah, the joys of troll-watching. I wonder if Coco fits any of the troll types in Ing’s Troll Taxonomy.
bullshit, not bullshit. Obviously. Kinda funny, though.
Erk. Two typos in as many posts. All hail Tpyos! Time for bed.
Sweet dreams.
Don’t you have a prayer to say? It starts with “Now I lay me down to sleep. . . “
Sweet dreams.
BANHAMMER PLEASE.
his main mission is just to stir the pot. And the latter, in internet lingo, is actually closer to the classic Internet 1.0 definition of “troll” than what we usually get around here.
oh, fair enough then.
yeah, as trolls go, it fits the pure definition quite well.
I just find the bait it uses to be inane and tiresome.
hence…
BANHAMMER
Nope. None whatsoever. I pray to no God. How about you?
“Now I lay me down to sleep. . . “
I could sing Golden Slumbers?
crissakentavr
Bawwww?
Or a thought experiment on how to begin a difficult task that must eventually be completed.
Hardly a serious objection to the point. The Ten Commandments are displayed on a plaque in at least one courthouse. And a prominently displayed plaque can be more objectionable than a statue in a secluded corner.
Who, Coco? Or Caine? I happen to know that Caine is not a troll. I’m not so sure about you, though. What I’ve seen from you so far is a whole lot of tone trolling. Have you contributed anything of worth that I overlooked?
Coco, when morning has broken at your longitude, and you’re perusing the Pharynguthreads, mull over this. Would the billboard have been vetoed if it said “Believe in God? So do we!”.
If your answer is Yes, then you’re either stolidly ignorant, or about to sport a proboscis that requires careful negotiation around corners.
Billboards are fun. No Hell? Hell, Yeah!
Hey, you know how we could get some really great new chewtoys around here?
Rent a billboard:
“Do you love God? Come to FreeThoughtBlogs.com”
If Coco is in Australia like me then it’s either mid-afternoon or late afternoon. So they should be well awake.
Sue their asses off! Denial of service on the basis of religious stance must be discriminatory.
How long until the ACLU finally gets on these things and makes it a federal court case ensuring the advertising companies have to put them up, or take down every obnoxious religious one. I keep waiting for it to happen, but nobody seems keen on doing it (yet).
After reading that, I had the idiotic notion that we are being trolled. It’s all so… familiar (if you catch my drift). Heehee.
Anyway, CJ lied there. On the Gary Hill thread, CJ wrote:
If English isn’t CJ’s first language, and English isn’t CJ’s second language, then CJ knows at least two other languages besides English. Duh. What a terrible liar, CJ.
In at least one way CJ is creative. CJ is creative with the truth.
Why is this such a big issue? Do you get touchy when people say they speak more than one language, because you can speak only one language?
Dunno, Ariaflame, I’m feeling pretty dozy here :)
Making assumptions there Coco. How do you know how many languages they know? You won’t even tell us what your languages are. Personally English is my first language, but I have a few years worth of French, some very basic Japanese via anime, (yes, no, idiot, the basics) and more than a passing familiarity with Scottish Gaelic. Just for variety.
But basically the more lies and half truths and untruths you tell, the less likely you are to be believed about anything.
Coco no baka.
Well, if the community one day objects to pictures of
nude,sexy,attractive,sucessfullwomen, we know that Lind Media will be happy to erase them from the face of the earth.Stands to reason. We know that atheists have better, guilt-free sex. So, more atheists=more sex.
And most likely safe sex as well.
Can’t be having that in the 21st century!
ahs ॐ:
I’m also not a he. Not that crissakentavr is terribly concerned about getting those pesky details right.
Lind’s bigoted response to the Atheist billboards is a perfect example of why the billboards are needed.
That’s not an offensive billboard by any stretch of imagination. I agree with the proposition to put on a billboard that says just “Atheists [name of the webpage]” or “Atheists, we exist [name of the webpage]”. I’d like to see how they explain the offensiveness of that (and of course someone will find it offensive).
Coco the Polynot
No, but none of them, up till now, ever admit that they can’t say what tongues they’re fluent in. That’s puzzling. Maybe you speak Lisp, brackets and all. So when you’re asked what you speak, you don’t dare say ‘Lisp’, as people might take it as an imperative, and thtart to thpeak like thith. That can be very vexing to others, so at least you have compassion. Or compathion.
Oh, fuck Lind.
Yes it is puzzling.. I agree. But look at it deeply and you will notice that this is one very effective way to raise your IQ. That is, raise your IQ through puzzles and brain teasers. I haven’t seen any of you thanking me for this?
Of course not, because all you’ll do is tease. There’ll be no consummation.
Of course there is communication. Teasing does it own part, but you do understand everything I say at some level — quite effortlessly. I take you to be as more than an evolved chimp…:)
Good night, Pan Trollodytes.
About time. It’s almost 10 pm here. Good night
Come on PZ, now you’re cheating.
The other billboard makes a much bolder statement: “There is no god”, which obviously is far more threatening to believers.
Now, I agree wholeheartedly with everything you wrote and how you wrote it, but wouldn’t have been more honest to display the bolder sign on your post?
Sure. But it is time to sue.
Billboards are a public service and heavily regulated. While they are privately owned, the space they display to is public, our roads.
I’d be willing to kick in a few bucks to a legal fund. This has stimulated my sense of outrage and instinct for self preservation.
It shows how the religious delusions go beyond believing in invisible fairies. They also take offense to invisible obscenities.
Uhm PZ you happen to have forgotten to post the more ‘offensive’ of the billboards. I think it would be helpful to know the whole situation before discussing it.
I suspect CJ’s first language is Bogan.
except that he didn’t say english was his third language, but rather put it as something between the first and second. which, if it’s something like a second mothertongue, would make sense. same as with me, who feels really stupid counting german as a “second language”
the rest of his claims I’m not going to comment on
Ooo, I like that. “Pray in public? You make Jesus mad.”
It could be a whole series.
“Wear cotton/lycra blends? You make God mad.”
“Refuse to stone your errant child? You make God mad.”
“Woman, is your head uncovered? You make God mad.”
“Refuse to marry your rapist? You make God mad.”
All with the appropriate verses.
Heck, go a step further and post nothing BUT those Bible verses, with the atheist website at the bottom, and see if it gets rejected as being offensive. THAT would be a lot of fun to watch.
Carlie,
I like the way you think.
I’m imagining the first reaction of an average Christian who doesn’t actually read the Bible would be disbelief. Hopefully, the next step would be to go and check it at the source (no, not God), at the same time discovering that not only the verse is true, but that most of their holly book is a montrosity.
Right, I can dream.
DaveR said:
The other billboard, right. With the text:
with a URL underneath.
There actually are two billboards like this. One is considered offensive by Christians, the other, which went up in August and inspired the other, not so much.
The difference? The billboard that went up in August has the url pointing to mrcgrace.com, an Ohio church group. This was the basis for the other, clearly offensive billboard, with the url midohioatheists.org.
Now it’s true that the graphics are different, but the graphics are not the issue.
The issue is the message. Whether it is offensive depends on who is saying it. Christians? Just fine. Atheists? Well, the very existence of atheists is offensive.
echidna:
I’m not here to discuss this issue myself. I just think PZ is misrepresenting it, whatever one’s opinion is about it. It’s one thing to reject the board PZ posted, it’s another one to reject the other board (and yes, there’s a story behind the other board, which should be part of the discussion).
I don’t think there is any misrepresentation. Neither of the billboards is remotely offensive in my eyes. In any case, they can be treated separately without losing context.
Where do you see offense? If you do see offense, why is the Christian text not offensive?
More to the point, comment on the offensiveness of Ken Ham’s billboard with a kid pointing a gun, suggesting atheists are murderous.
My understanding (I might be wrong) is that the set of billboards was rejected together. My view is also that a billboard that says “don’t believe in god? Neither do we” with a link beneath it is qualitatively different from a billboard that says “there is no god”. So yes, it appears to me that context is lost here.
Of course everybody is entitled to form their own opinion about whether that qualitative difference makes the other billboard offensive or not. But I think it would be fair to acknowledge that there is a qualitative difference.
As for the Ken Ham one, not sure what you’re getting at. Yes that’s a stupid billboard. To be clear, I’m an atheist. I just think, with regards to the case at hand or any other, it would be good to know all the facts before forming an opinion.
(again, unless I am misunderstanding things and the two billboards are really independent incidences).
Coco Jumbo, cxu vi parolas Esperanton?
I reject the claim that “there is no god” is inherently offensive. I point at Ham’s billboard because it is inherently offensive, and if you want to say X is offensive compared to Y, having both X and Y being innocuous seems silly.
>Why do xians advertise their beliefs? Why do they constantly try
>to force them on others with lies and endless violations of the
>laws?
Christianity is a mind virus. Its only reason for existing is to spread itself.
Echidna, I have not made that claim. Note that I put ‘offensive’ in quotes in my original post. I have not voiced a personal opinion on that matter, and again, I’m not posting here to do so.
My only claim is that there is a qualitative difference between the two billboards that is relevant to the situation at hand, that one should know the whole situation before discussing it, and that one could interpret not including this information as misrepresenting the situation.
So, “there is no god” (and we actually stand by that claim) is offensive, but “Jesus loves you” is not?
Please explain.
I knew from the Gary Hill thread that Coco Jumbo is an egregiously stupid liar, unable to keep his story straight for more than half a dozen posts together, but he’s excelled himself here. Listen, lackwit, there is no law against atheists saying they are atheists in the USA, or in Australia, although apparently you think there should be. Nor, since the USA does have constitutional protection for freedom of speech, could “community guidelines” banning the expression of atheism be enforceable.
Giliell, I’m not sure whether you’re talking to me, because it seems like you haven’t actually read what I wrote. Why would I want to explain a point of view I’m not actually promoting?
If you want to hear an opinion from me on “there is no god”, I think it’s an unwise statement more than anything else, because it misrepresents what most atheists, as far as I am aware, actually think, and supports what is usually used as a strawman by believers: That we claim to *know* that there is *no* god (of any definition).
Yes, there is a backstory to this billboard, etc., and we could discuss this if PZ actually described the whole situation, but he didn’t. Which, again, is the *actual* point I was making.
Cuckoo Dumbo @39:
Oh, I see. A Christian being asked if they believe in God is like an atheist being asked how many babies they’ve raped last week.
And why shouldn’t the billboard be addressing everyone? What do you think it should have said?
“Hey atheists! Do you believe in God? Didn’t think so!”
Ah, I see there’s been some atheists breaking the first and greatest tacit commandment again…
… which is, of course, if you’re not onboard with the godly con, and can’t even pretend or half-heartedly imply you might be so onboard while on camera, thou shalt at least shut the hell up about it in public, so as not to make the job of the rest of us still selling that con harder.
This is the first and greatest commandment: those seeing through the BS shall render themselves invisible, so that we may continue to imply to the gullible that unbelief is, in fact, unthinkable. And hey, if the lot of you get ulcers from living so invisibly, and so swallowing your tongue every time a smarmy charlatan doth open his festering gob to do further grievous harm to mere logic and reason by proclaiming his loud hosannas, and if you must sit simmering in frustration every time he drains the brains out of yet another skull to fill it instead with his vapid pablum, so much the better.
I admit to having a cold, but that doesn’t make sense: You can still discuss all the billboards, which is what you’re actually doing right now.
But I’m still lost as to why “there is no god” (and since we’Re talking about Jahwe, the one with the talking snake, the flood, the haploid son, jep, he definetly doesn’t exist) is offensive ot changes things.
Dave R:
How’s PZ misrepresenting this? He linked directly to the mid-Ohio atheists website where the other signs were posted and the story was explained in more detail. I don’t see how that additional information does anything except reinforce what he said.
How being offensive works:
I recently visited an adult chatroom, (for purely onanological research purposes), using the nickname ‘godDamned_Atheist’ and was immediately taken to task by ‘anal_intruder’ and ‘nastylilpissslut’ because my name was so offensive.
After a few exchanges I discovered that they both were – or, at least, claimed to be – good xtians.
So I guess that’s all right then.
Giliell
Right, that sentence might have been badly phrased. Of course we *can* discuss these other billboards. I meant that PZ should have brought them up, and that I don’t want to get into the actual discussion about them because it distracts from the point I was making about, again, PZ not bringing it up (I think I repeated myself often enough now).
Dave R
So, your actual point is that you would have liked PZ Myers to post pictures of all of them instead of merely linking to them because that would have given a different context.
But as consciousness razor said: I don’t see the difference.
I don’t see how any of them would justify the ban.
Funny bit. Dunno if anyone here has remarked upon this. Didn’t see it in the thread, so:
One of the billboards Lind saw as so ‘offensive’ had identical wording to one put out by a Christian evangelical organization. Oddly, the too-clever-for-’emselves nutters thought ‘There is no god/Don’t believe everything you hear’, referencing, presumably, the relative prominence of atheism in recent years, would be a nice, provocative way to garner some PR for their own organization and cause…
However, the Ohio Atheists got traffic and people saying ‘Good billboard’, from folk assuming it was them. And it was this, in part, that spurred their campaign… which, then, they were told by the company they couldn’t actually run.
So, see ‘There is no god/Don’t believe everything you hear’ is a perfectly acceptable message to put on a billboard, if you’re actually pushing a god in the link to which it points. If you’re doing the opposite, nuh uh. Shut up now, ye rabble.
See also said rabble’s piece on the same.
Also: I have said it before, I will say it again: the religious are an incredibly insecure lot. Those who disbelieve merely being visible is an affront to them, accordingly. Scares ’em bad.
And I think, again, and as I like to bring up on these occasions, there is, however, sensible reasons for this under said anxiety.
Among them: the truth is, you really keep everyone in your fold believing all the time–there’s too much about the belief system that’s fragile, incoherent, hard to swallow, etc… And this, too, may even, in a sense, be by design, but that’s another topic.
Anyway: so the best you can do is teach them that if they doubt, they have to shut up about it, sit quietly in their pew in shame and anxiety until they’ve thought long enough upon the immense social costs the rest of you will levy upon them if they are so foolish actually as to speak up on said disbelief.
So having folk actually putting up billboards, that’s not really helping with that message. It creates several problems, including both making disbelief something not ‘unthinkable’, and, probably worse, highlighting of the existence of another social community into which people might escape. That’s not good for them, anyone showing that yes, there’s life outside belief.
So, paramount among the priorities of the religious community is: unbelievers must be kept silent and isolated. Visible pride in unbelief, especially, is incredibly corrosive to the fundamentals on which rest their social power.
(/Growls at self over ‘there is sensible reasons’… In my defense, this was editing from ‘there is a sensible reason’ to ‘there are sensible reasons’, and which went, apparently, awry.)
Well, at least the thread has gone back to bashing the Idiot of the Moment and is leaving those poor dingoes alone.
@ Carlie – #241:
Heat your home on the Sabbath during Winter? That makes God mad, too.
(/Grr. And, also, that really should be ‘you really can’t keep everyone in your fold believing all the time…’ Hey, I know, how ’bout I rewrite the damned thing entirely, later, for my own site, when I actually have time to do this right. And am awake. Anyway.)
I find it offensive how these Midohioa theists are trying to ram religion down my throat using reverse psychology! Oh, wait…
PZ writes (emphasis mine):
“The latest case is in Ohio, where Mid Ohio Atheists planned to put up *this* billboard:
[…]
“Oh, yeah, that sign sure is obscene and offensive.”
He makes it look like that this the only sign involved, which is misrepresenting the situation, and again, I think the difference between the signs *is* a relevant one, whether you ultimately find any of them offensive or not.
I think if a Christian site reported the story while showing only the “no god” sign, implying that it is the only sign in question, you wouldn’t accept that either. All of the other atheist blogs report on the other signs as well.
Even if you can’t see at all why these signs are different in a relevant way (and I would be surprised), in case of doubt, mention *all* the facts. I don’t think I should have to defend that position on a blog like this.
Anyway, I’ll leave it at that.
Sometimes truth can be unsetling to those that lived all their life believing in an lie.
My best regards to all the atheists in Ohio, i hope you can reach more people, and let them know that they aren`t alone.
I find the billboard needlessly accomodationist.
What’s with the capitalization of the “god” word, anyway?
Dave R, are you missing the part where ALL of the three billboards were rejected on the basis that “the proposed displays would no doubt be considered offensive”. Displays. Plural. Do you mean to suggest that PZ is being dishonest because they didn’t actually find this billboard offensive, only the other one? If you sincerely believe that the one PZ presents wasn’t deemed offensive, but was still rejected for whatever bureaucratic reason the day before it was supposed to go up due to the other one/two being offensive, then the onus is on you to make that case, because it is not at all what the letter implies. That is all.
(Btw: Yes, I believe the other billboar resembles something approximating “offensive” a small amount more than the one on this page. Yet, none are still not notably “offensive” and rejecting all of them at the last moment for this excuse still reeks of bias/discrimination)
Hmmm. “None are not”. Disregard one of them to avoid a double negative. A very special visitation by Tpyos.
It’s functioning as a proper noun, specifically a name, like “Allah”, or “Zeus”, or “Gandalf”. If it were not, it would have to be preceded by “a” or “the” for the sentence to be grammatical. Refusing to use an upper-case G when the Christian god, whose name is “God”, is specifically being referenced, as it is here, doesn’t show how atheist you are – it just shows how ignorant you are.
It’s because “God” is being used as a proper noun: the personal name or title of the chief deity of the Christian religion. Same reason you’d capitalize Ahura Mazda, or Amaterasu.
Presumably, they thought “Don’t believe in gods? Neither do we!” was insufficiently descriptive. Perhaps they believed people would assume it was anti-polytheist, rather than atheist.
Uh, no. Are you new to the internet? The link is right there before you even get to the picture, and he did say there were “signs,” plural. How this prevents us from discussing the full context of the situation, I have no idea. And since you’ve said you don’t want to discuss it anyway, I’m really at a loss for words. If you had a point, I have no idea what it’s supposed to be.
So whether or not they are offensive isn’t relevant to … wait for it … whether or not they are offensive. Right. Got it.
Do you think the other sign is offensive? Or the third which apparently looks like the one at the Lincoln tunnel? If so, at least be honest enough to say so, or explain what relevant “difference” you think there is.
But you’ve said that you don’t want to, and you’re probably going to continue with this bullshit, so why do I even bother? Bah.
You are right. English can’t be your first language. Consummation is not the same thing as communication. And if you can’t communicate better in your relationships face to face than you have been here, it’s fairly likely that you won’t be getting much consummation.
Also, evolved Chimp? If you hadn’t been posting at around the same time and different in style I’d think Bob was back.
Listen closely. Nobody who knows anything about evolution claims that humans evolved from chimps. Both chimps and humans evolved from a common ancestor.
I enjoy puzzles. Puzzles usually are consistent and have well established rules and are interesting. You are inconsistent, keep changing your claims about what you believe, and are not interesting. So I see nothing to thank you for.
That’s. Just. Awesome.
Seriously, that’s the kinda thing which, if it hadn’t actually happened*, you’d have to write a satire in which it did.
(*/What’s scarier, and what may well render it unsuitable for satire, however: I find it in no way implausible that it actually did happen. It’s more like ‘of course/this prolly happens several times daily… or at least as regularly as people in adult chat fora use explicitly atheist nicks’.)
Coco Jumbo = Fractal Wrongness
That’s offensive???
I wonder if the atheist group might have a civil case on discrimination grounds. At the very least, someone should make the billboard company explain, on the record, how the message specifically falls afoul of their standards.
If they already did so and someone posted a link, apologies; I haven’t had the chance to parse through all 200+ comments yet. (What? People read the articles and comments before spewing their own thoughts? Since when?)
Ok, since you apparently don’t understand the issue here, let me explain it to you:
As you are not well-known to the locals on Pharyngula through outside sources, the only credibility you have here is what you say, how well you say it, and if you can back what you say with evidence. It’s why I’ve never been in the running for a Molly – I don’t comment much, and when I do, it’s usually been said much better by others.* That’s one reason I come here, to see good ideas argued better than I myself can.
The point is that making claims that are easy to demonstrate, and then refusing to demonstrate them tends to damage your credibility. It makes you look like either an idiot or a liar.
If you’re satisfied with that level of credibility, then that’s fine – so long as you understand how much that will limit anyone taking anything you say seriously.
If you’d like to be considered a bit more substantial than that, you’ve been told how you can solve the problem. Your actions are your call.
– – –
*(before anyone misunderstands my intent, I’m neither fishing for pity, nor asking for a Molly nom – just stating things as they stand now. I get a little better each time, so someday who knows!)
I think Coconut is right about one thing: those billboards are provocative, in the same way that it was once provocative for a black woman to refuse to give up her seat on the bus to a white man, or that it’s still provocative for a gay or lesbian couple to hold hands or kiss in public.
Those actions are provocative because they provoke the bigots into confronting the reality that there are people who are proud of what they are and aren’t afraid to hide it, and so the bigots will have to learn to live with it.
It’s precisely because those actions are provocative that they’re necessary. And they’re necessary as the first step in creating a world in which those sorts of actions aren’t provocative.
Caine: I thought about correcting crissakentavr on that point too, but then I thought hey, I just got a hold of some tone-troll meat here, maybe I should share some with Caine. I’m not always sure of the etiquette when others might want a bite.
“Calling all atheists. Don’t believe in God?”
Ha ha ha! You’ve got to be shitting me.
Tone trolls are fun. Just play ’em the brown note, and, you know the rest.
I have observed crissakentavr making on-topic comments… twice in the past few weeks. It’s a bit of a departure for hir, since most of the time, zie prefers to obsess about, and police, the “social pecking order” on Pharyngula.
Wouldn’t:
be taken as self-refuting? If I were a theist I think I’d say, “Good point, I won’t believe that,” and move on.
Glen Davidson
Would quotes from showtunes be considered offensive or obscene? I’m thinking something like this:
Methusalah lived 900 years?
It ain’t necessarily so.
I saw that too!
It was surreal.
Obviously, we need to start setting up our own billboard companies. Or just take a page out of the crank handbook and start buying some properties by the freeway on which to build our own billboards.
What the fuck are you talking about? Atheists DO thinks that there is no god. Why are you interpreting the assertion, “there is no god” to be a statement of certain knowledge in oppose to a statement of belief?
I don’t think that deserved a WTF. Perhaps, they are interpreting it that way (or pointing out that it can be interpreted that way) because boatloads of folks interpret the statement as one of having certain knowledge? Atheists are misunderstood enough already, the level of ignorance out there towards our beliefs (or lack of them) is astounding – I personally don’t think it is unreasonable to word the sign differently to avoid confusion.
Surely you’ve run into theists claiming atheists have faith, since atheists have no proof god does not exist? Sound familiar? When atheists say “there is no god” many theists think “how do atheists know that, how arrogant!”
What was the name of the billboard advertising company? They might be operating in many parts of the country.
Well, we could say something like, “Despite thousands of years of investigation, no independently verifiable evidence of the existence of any supernatural being or beings has been provided. Given that, we cannot reject the null hypothesis, namely, that no god exists.”
Really, it’s the same thing.
There are no elves.
So you’re one of those, are you? An anelvist.
How can you be so arrogant?
Yawn, the truth hurts. So fucking what? The truth is better than little white lies, that turn into major delusional thinking, which is what belief in imaginary deities cause.
I’m an anelvist, and an agnomist too.
The only thing provocative about those signs is the statement that atheists exist. It is ridiculous to consider that offensive.
I know. I was a little sleepy because it was late at night, and I also could not access the online dictionary. I did mess up there. But thanks anyway for believing me.
Yes. I am familiar with this precious little piece of information. But you listen closely to me: If Richard Dawkins can call himself a chimp before a black priest, I think calling a human ‘evolved chimp’ is by all means OK.
I am being inconsistent in what way? About three days ago I said English was not first language. About a week ago I said I was not an atheist anymore. About a week ago I said atheism is a denial of religions and God. I still hold that position.
ahs ॐ:
That was very thoughtful of you. I find crissakentavr to be thin gruel, though, so chomp at will.
The billboard said “Don’t believe in God?” It didn’t say “Do you believe in God?” I think the latter sounds more reasonable. They can try again with the question “Do you believe in God?”, and then see what happens.
Ooh, showing us the stupid fuckwittted idjit. The gnu atheists don’t proselytize. But those who arrived at atheism on their own, we want them to know they aren’t alone. Evidently you can’t understand the purpose for these signs. We do.
Why are you so fucking obsessed with Dawkins, Coco the Liar? Did Dawkins piss in your cornflakes? What’s your problem with him? Dawkins does things that pissed you off, therefore that makes it okay to lie about evolution? I mean seriously, do you even read what you write? Obviously not.
Here’s another question to raise YOUR IQ: given that you have established yourself as an untrustworthy narrator who has no interest in truth or credibility, why should we value your opinion at all?
What’s you problem when I say something about Dawkins? Why do you start jumping and bouncing around all over the place like a popping corn in a popcorn machine? Do you think I lied about Dawkins? I am sure you already know I didn’t, but do checkout this youtube video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4YLhKtdSvg&feature=related
I do apologize though. It was ‘I am an ape’. Not ‘I am a chimp’. And the black guy is a bishop.
This is not true. I disagree. Ask you to prove your claims with evidence.
I am an ape, I am an African ape, and I am very proud to be an African Ape. Ricahrd Dawkins talking to a black bishop
What difference does it make who he’s talking to? I mean, it’s not clear why he’s ‘proud’, but the rest is uncontroversial.
Jared Diamond?
And what was that common ancestor? Definitely an ape, an African ape; arguably an extinct type of ‘chimp’ (depending on just how precisely you insist on applying the nonscientific common name ‘chimp’–one extant species, two, or three?).
Actually, I don’t think it is not controversial. But it looks rather funny when you think about it.
This is what he said to the bishop:
“I am an ape, I am an African ape, and I am very proud to be an African Ape, and so should you be.”
He is telling an African to be proud of for being an ‘African Ape’. I am glad the bishop had a good sense of humour….:)
Coco the lying piece of shit, here’s how you’re a fucking liar:
If Richard Dawkins can call himself a chimp before a black priest, I think calling a human ‘evolved chimp’ is by all means OK.
And then here’s what you type next, you mendacious douchebag:
I am an ape, I am an African ape, and I am very proud to be an African Ape. Ricahrd Dawkins talking to a black bishop
He said, ape NOT chimp, you dishonest sack of shit. See–you can’t stop vomiting
lies out of your worthless piehole long enough to quote people properly.
And we are apes. Get the fuck over it, you fucking fetid pile of stupid.
Sorry! Actually, I don’t think it is not controversial should read Actually, I think it is not controversial
He is telling an African to be proud of for being an ‘African Ape’. I am glad the bishop had a good sense of humour….:)
Shit for brains lying scumbag, it doesn’t matter because Dawkins said he (Dawkins) was proud to be an African ape–because the fucking reality is that Dawkins is an ape, slimeball! So is the bishop. So am I!
You? You’re somewhere in the vicinity of vomit.
Go fuck yourself with your mother’s decayed porcupine, fuckface.
We are all African apes, since that is where Homo sapiens arose. And your inane and insane point is????
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says:
Are you drunk or high? Are you mentally retarded? No? So why the did you completely and utterly misread what I said? Where did I say not to tell the truth? Oh that’s right, no where. All I pointed out was that “there is no god” can be interpreted by many to mean “I know for certain there is no god.” You know what the basic definition of atheism is, I know what it is, but many dumb Christians are going to see that sign and go with the narrower, stupider definition, because “there is no god” can easily be interpreted that way. So rather than flippantly say “the truth hurts” recognize my point that the no god phrase actually leads a lot of people away from the truth of the more accurate definition of atheism.
Is that clear enough for you? I realize many of you lash out every which way, for “fun” but fuck, at least read and comprehend posts before you respond to them, unless you get off on looking like an imbecile or something.
Goto Comment 297, and you will understand my point!
Actually, I did make a mistake. Richard Dawkins called himself an ape, not a chimp.
Hey, YOU are the one who continuously makes reference to Dawkins. I am merely noting the frequency with which you mention him.
As for your point? You don’t seem to have one, apart from “DAWKINS SUX! AND GOD! SO THERE!”
So creative.
And if it does mean exactly that? So the fuck what? It’s not like anyone can disprove that statement. All they can do is point out that nobody can know anything for 100% certain, which is quite a rarified and academic point to be making on a billboard.
Incidentally, if anyone is interested in hearing more of Dawkins talking about how awesome it is to be an African ape in front of a bunch of black people, check out this very good panel discussion on the role of faith, science, and atheism in the black community. The panel consists of Richard Dawkins, Anthony Pinn, Sikivu Hutchinson (a favorite writer of mine), and Todd Stiefel. Dawkins’ remarks are primarily introductory; he doesn’t say much after the first few minutes. Appropriate, since the discussion is about the black community and Dawkins isn’t exactly an expert on that.
Coco is apparently too dumb to realize that rather than repeating a racist trope (“black people = monkeys and that’s bad), he’s turning a racist trope on its head (“all people = apes, and that’s great”). But then, so many, many things fly way over Coco’s head, it would be surprising if he found one thing that wasn’t completely over his head.
You are so stupid and incoherent, you never appear have a point. Try again loser…
I read your post #297. From it I got the points that you’re really stupid and you have a grudge against Dawkins. Was there anything else in the pile of cow flops of note?
Racist trope? What a joke. Who said anything about racism? I think blacks have some of the most handsome and beautiful people on earth. Look at Samuel L Jackson. My favourite actor. Followed by Wesley Snipes and Halle Berry. This equation of yours “black people = monkeys and that’s bad” is your own thinking about black people, and not a very good one I am afraid.
Calling yourself an ape, and being proud of it … I don’t know. Doesn’t it sound funny to you? I mean what’s here to be proud of? The professor obviously needs to do some explaining here. Why should we be proud of for being apes?
Nope, not at all. The is evolution in action. Better known as reality.
We are hairless apes. You prove otherwise with solid and conclusive physical evidence, or shut the fuck up, like the liar and bullshitter you are….
I know we are apes. But my question was different. Let me explain.
Richard Dawkins said:
“I am an ape, I am an African ape, and I am very proud to be an African Ape, and so should you be.”
OK. So we are apes? That’s perfectly fine. But this “being very proud to be an African ape”? I mean apes are not really very handsome creatures by human standards. Are they? What’s in being an ape that should make a human very proud to be an ape?
Coco – why should there be anything wrong with it?
Yes, the difference between the signs is relevant, but here’s the problem:
The second Mid Ohio Atheists billboard was to have the message “There Is No God. Don’t believe everything you hear.” It was rejected. This is in spite of the fact that the McElroy Road Church of Christ put up a billboard that has the EXACT SAME MESSAGE. It was accepted.
If this isn’t an example of discrimination against atheists and in favour of Christians, then I don’t know what is. It’s no different, really, from saying “You are offensive because of the class you fall in, not because of what you do or say.”
Oh get off it, Coco, if you weren’t trying to evoke that trope, you wouldn’t have repeatedly highlighted (literally, bold-fonted) the fact that the priest was black, because it would’ve been a completely irrelevant point otherwise.
By the way, no one called you a racist at all (maybe you should google what a trope is, since you don’t seem to know what that means; also the ‘he’ was referring to Dawkins but okay we can just assume that everyone is talking about you at all times), but still gotta LOL at “I’m not racist! Look at all these famous black people I like!” Yup, mm-hmm, sure.
Considering humans ARE apes, that would mean yes, apes can be very handsome by human standards. Particularly the human apes.
LOL complaining about being called an ape is like complaining about being called a mammal. I mean, mammals aren’t very handsome creatures by human standards oh wait this is stupid.
Also gotta LOL again at the implication that we should only be proud of being things that are “handsome”.
[meta]
Coco Nut:
To quote Terry Pratchett: “I’d rather be a rising ape than a fallen angel“.
QFT. Exactly.
And I think Coco Nut* is trying to derail the thread away from this point.
* Hat tip to John M.
Echidna, are you an agnostic agnomist?
Does he let them use his toilet?
They are part of your distant family. And you haven’t shown any evidence we aren’t related to apes
Your asinine non-sequiturs continue to show what an idjit you are, not challenging our beliefs one iota. For that to happen you need to cite the peer reviewed scientific literature found in libraries at institutions of higher learning world-wide. You know, those places with the books you avoid like the plague…
I find all the homininae to be handsome.
Yeah, thanks, that’s exactly what I saw too. Here’s what he wrote:
Like we were all supposed to be like, *gasp*! Shock! Horror! In front of a black bishop?!? How dare he?
Then, when it was pointed out that, as usual, Coco had utterly failed to comprehend what was going on, he pulled his usual maneuver of pretending that he meant something completely different than what he originally said.
See, Coco? This is why I think you’re a liar.
Makyui
Good points. But that still doesn’t answer the question No one is complaining about being called an ape. I am asking, why being an ape is something to be proud of? What’s in being an ape that should make a person very proud to be an ape?
Black Priest == African Priest. OK?
As far as thing to be proud of about being an African ape:
We invented language, music, art, science, technology, and civilization, all without the help of supernatural beings or aliens or anything. The warring and killing, well, it’s not a point of pride, and neither is the possibility of a human-caused collapse of the global ecosphere. But we can still take pride in the cool things we’ve done.
Ah, so all black folks are Africans in your world?
Doubling down on the lying is not going to make it any less obvious that you are lying in a futile attempt to escape from the original meaning of your words, by the way.
Not really. But that bishop looks African for sure. I wasn’t talking about all black people. Don’t they call black Americans, African Americans in the US?
So, you’re not even sure of the identity of the bishop Dawkins was addressing.
Why were we supposed to be outraged again?
Sally, Haven’t you had enough sleep last night? I actually got transported to a 4 dimensional world last night. I also remember seeing colours that do not exist in the world
Your cowardice and dishonesty are noted. Was there anything else you wanted to derail the thread about?
No, I am done with you. Actually, it happened ages ago. It is you who can’t stay away. Are you a fly? Do I look like a sugar cube to you?
I have SIWOTI syndrome, is all. Don’t take it personally.
Cue the men in white with large nets and a straitjacket, and the music theme to the Twilight Zone.
I think you are the reason this syndrome exists. Don’t take it personally though. But if I say goodbye, would you kindly turn your attention away from me to something more useful? Such as, The God Delusion?
Mmmhmm. Yes, you’ll be really, really done… any second now.
You have to leave. That means delete your bookmarks and stop posting. You will be forgotten in short order, except as an example of an extremely idiotic troll. So, can you just stop posting here? Or start bringing real evidence. You know the type found in libraries at institutions of higher learning.
OK. You are right, it is time to say goodbye now. But I will never forget this blog, and all of you….:)
But before I go, could I ask you a question, please? It could be a little offensive, so I won’t ask, if you say don’t ask.
You just did. The answer is no.
Good-bye.
Just go. If you just lurk, your question will be answered eventually.
[meta]
SallyStrange ain’t a fly, but I note flies are attracted to shit.
(Yes, you look like shit to me)
OK. But I really doubt that my question will be answered by lurking alone.
Before I go. Look at John Morales. He can’t imagine ‘imaginary deities’, but he can imagine me! He can actually see me. I am sure he is very good with brain sciences…:)
Coco the Dim:
1. I don’t need to imagine you; you’re real.
2. You have already forgotten Mxthodoulnious, the very personification of immanence?
(Tsk)
As Ichthyic seems to have given up, I guess someone else has to pick up the relay baton…
BANHAMMER PLEASE!
How would you feel if the following sign proposals had been rejected?
“Don’t believe in God? Well, we do!”
“Believe in God? So do we!”
I love how the town’s “goodwill” does not extend to nontheists. Very Xian of them.