Comments on: Do You Fit the Atheist “Stereotype”?

By: Awesomesauce

Awesomesauce — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:26:57 +0000

Thanks Buffy. I can see where you’re coming from. That part does seem to demean the rest of the article now.

At least her intentions were in the right place

By: Buffy

Buffy — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:09:10 +0000

Awesomesauce,

Tarico says:

My brother, David, is gay. You can’t tell by how he walks or talks or dresses.You wouldn’t know who he loves and why unless you know him.

There’s the set up. David is a Good Gay because he doesn’t give any overt indicators that he’s gay. Only when you really get to know him do you find out that David is gay. And likewise to be a Good Atheist you have to get back in the closet. Don’t scare the horses by wearing your Proud Atheist t-shirt. Don’t be a jerk by protesting blatant violations of Separation of Church and State. Don’t ruffle any feathers so when people get to know you and find out you are an atheist they can be amazed at how really nice you are.

It simply feeds into the notion that we should hide and pretend to please others.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:13:54 +0000

Well, what is the atheist stereotype? I really don’t know, it’s not that big a deal in Australia. I can only form a stereotype off the other atheists I know… that would be educated (formal or self), inquisitive, politically left, free thinking, happy and generally nicer than the rest of the people I deal with. I fit that sterotype pretty well.

Of course, if you’re talking about the mean, puppy-kicking, mass murdering type that seem to get presented in US based websites, I don’t know any of them…

By: Awesomesauce

Awesomesauce — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:13:45 +0000

Buffy said

…Tarico’s insinuation that one should because being open makes you somehow bad is offensive and wrong.

Valerie said:

1. Find a kind, matter-of-fact way to let people know you lack a god concept.
2. Be yourself.

I’m struggling to see how being open about my atheism and being myself are ways of remaining closeted.

Buffy, could you clarify what part of Valerie’s writing insinuated that secrecy was necessary?

By: essentialsaltes

essentialsaltes — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:44:21 +0000

I bought a t-shirt that just says ATHEIST in great big letters. It doesn’t say “You suck!” or “You’re stupid!” or “I’m right and you’re wrong!”
I wear it about and buy my groceries, pump my gas, etc., just like everybody else.

By: vjack

vjack — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:01:07 +0000

I guess I’m not sure what the stereotype is that you are referring to here so I’m not sure how to know if I fit it or not. If you just mean “evil, angry, militant, immoral,” then I probably only fit the angry one.

By: Tim D.

Tim D. — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:23:47 +0000

I would write a bit about myself here, but there’s something that crosses me as just a teensy bit pompous about describing myself as “thoughtful” and “kind” and “caring” to prove a point.

Not dissing on anyone, just holding back myself.

By: Buffy

Buffy — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:42:45 +0000

Anonymous,

Thanks.

BTW, all of my message was about the linked article, not any of the comments. I was reacting to Tarico’s insinuation that gay people and atheists are “good” when they’re closeted – IOW you can’t tell they’re gay/atheist in any overt way. So of course those of us who happen to be open about who we are by default bad.

If you keep your status as an atheist, gay person, etc. quiet out of necessity that’s fine. I’m the first one to understand that. But Tarico’s insinuation that one should because being open makes you somehow bad is offensive and wrong.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:52:45 +0000

Buffy, I apologize. I know nothing about you personally so can’t reasonably judge anything about you. I thought being confrontational like that would get more response. I was the one being dense for assuming that your final comment was responding to mine right above yours. The rest of your message was about that other comment, so it makes sense that the last part of it would be too. Guess I don’t qualify as a Bright

By: Tao Jones

Tao Jones — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:20:06 +0000

Steven,

I didn’t say it was true.. I said that was a stereotype.

Wouldn’t you rather a surgeon who had experience successfully performing the surgery before? Thirty years of medical school without any practical experience? No thanks.

There are plenty of over-educated people in the world. People who think their education makes them right whether they are right or not. People who have the knowledge but not the understanding. People who use ~~polysyllabic~~ big words when small ones will do.