a proposal for our group!

[Bill McBlueState]

I propose we always write out ATHEIST in all caps and italics, to mimic the shock and horror that any Jesus-loving America-loving citizen should have when they contemplate the very word.

How bout it?

Oh my god, the ATHEISTs are coming!!! Hide!!!

:silly:

[fshrink]

1. I get the idea but

I personally have a massive dislike for caps that are not grammatically justified. For me, caps exude and reproduce a surreptitious form of ideology, of essentialism, which I radically oppose. Although this is mostly true for first letters (e.g. Pope, that I write pope, God, that I write god).
In addition, I even have mixed feelings about the word "atheist" that I use only rarely and always with reluctance (see post on the "lack" below)

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I don't want to scare anybody. We're just regular people,

Your neighbors, your family. That, I think, is the point of this group. We aren't different from anybody else. In fact, I think we are a very large number. Most people no longer go to church. And we're sure not out to hurt anybody else, unlike the fundies.:-(

[Bill McBlueState]

3. i know, i know

It was a tongue-in-cheek proposal. :)

My point was that many otherwise progressive people on DU seem to think of us as the sort of people who require a big, scary font to describe us.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. I don't necessarily think so.

I mean, how many DUers are religious, anyway? Though I did get flamed when I defended The Pope on this forum. Yikes! But I just said I thought he was a courageous man who stood up to the Nazis and the Communists. I finally think my message got through, but I did get anxious. Maybe we do need caps, but I still don't think so. Other progressives don't seem to favor religion, from my experience.:shrug:

[beam me up scottie]

4. No, but I think

vicious, evil, satan worshipping pinko commie baby-eaters has a nice ring to it.

[Bill McBlueState]

5. mmmm... babies stay crunchy, even in milk. n/t

[beam me up scottie]

6. Ooooh, that's good.

Use that as your sig to see if anybody gets offended.
:evilgrin:

[onager]

7. "Relax. We only eat CHRISTIAN babies."

:evilgrin:

[Zenlitened]

8. Look out! There's an atheist right behind you!

And he's shooting nonbelief rays out of his eyes! :scared:

[beam me up scottie]

9. Captain Obvious?

Let's make up an atheist super hero, what would we call him?

[Book Lover]

10. I don;t know what his or her name would be

but I insist that their justice cry be, "It stands to reason!"

[Zenlitened]

11. LOL!

:rofl:

[orleans]

13. LOL! you got a chuckle out of me on that one

it reminded me of a line from the movie "camp" -- something to the effect of: "my god! have you been DRINKING?"

(it's a great, fun movie--i recommend it highly)

sometimes i feel that that is how i am perceived by those around me (neighbors in a pretty conservative suburb outside of chicago). only we don't use the word "atheist". instead, they say (on those rare occasions we actually discuss religion) "oh, that's right--you're not religious" or "i know you're not religious but..." and crap like that.

so if i were going to implement your suggestion i would probably have to say something like: "i know i'm an atheist but that also means i'm NOT RELIGIOUS"

(and that last part was a bit tongue-in-cheek as well):evilgrin: