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RE: advertising atheism on the sides of buses...good idea?
July 4, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I do not support anti vilification or anti hate speech laws..
In my opinion the right of dissent to the point of insult is a crucial component of free speech. Everyone has the right to be be offended. No one has the right not to be offended.
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RE: advertising atheism on the sides of buses...good idea?
July 5, 2010 at 11:03 am
(This post was last modified: July 5, 2010 at 11:03 am by The Omnissiunt One.)
(July 4, 2010 at 8:49 pm)padraic Wrote: I do not support anti vilification or anti hate speech laws..
In my opinion the right of dissent to the point of insult is a crucial component of free speech. Everyone has the right to be be offended. No one has the right not to be offended.
The advantages of allowing 'hate speech' (free and open discussion, new ideas even if they are initally controversial, etc.) outweigh the disadvantages (people getting offended) as long as that hate speech doesn't incite violence or persecution. As a utilitarian, I don't believe anyone has an inviolable right to anything, but if a certain law or right promotes the common good, then it should be upheld.
'We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.' H.L. Mencken
'False religion' is the ultimate tautology.
'It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions.' Mark Twain
'I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.' Abraham Lincoln
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RE: advertising atheism on the sides of buses...good idea?
July 8, 2010 at 2:28 pm
There is an extraordinarily fine line between hate speech and inciting to violence, and the location of that line moves depending on the person. As an example, if you were to tell me:
'That fucking fag over there is hitting on me, we should do something about it!'
I would laugh in your face.
If you told the same thing to my aunt, she'd be screaming to the owner of the local to have the 'fucking fag' thrown out.
If you told the same thing to my half-brother, he'd say 'alright, lure him into the parking lot, we'll teach him to be gay around here!' and have broken beer bottles handy.
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RE: advertising atheism on the sides of buses...good idea?
July 8, 2010 at 2:40 pm
(January 13, 2009 at 3:13 pm)bozo Wrote: The British Humanists and Richard Dawkins have paid to have advertisingon public transport stating that God probably doesn't exist so enjoy life without fear of being judged.
What do you think? Good/bad tactic?
I have a gut feeling that it is bad tactics.
I think it's hilarious.
"How is it that a lame man does not annoy us while a lame mind does? Because a lame man recognizes that we are walking straight, while a lame mind says that it is we who are limping." - Pascal
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RE: advertising atheism on the sides of buses...good idea?
July 9, 2010 at 3:18 pm
My signature would be great on the sides of buses and billboards....
Intelligence is the only true moral guide...
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RE: advertising atheism on the sides of buses...good idea?
July 16, 2010 at 9:27 am
(This post was last modified: July 16, 2010 at 9:30 am by Nitsuj.)
Advertising on the side of buses is great. Just the other day, some Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door. I had to act like I was interested in their misguided beliefs. It's time for atheism to do it back. (But we KNOW right-wing christians will scream about how it's an evil thing to do, and it's the devil's work, and blah blah blah.)
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RE: advertising atheism on the sides of buses...good idea?
July 16, 2010 at 9:55 am
Although I completely disagree with atheism, I don't see a problem with atheists letting their views be known, and maybe even doing so in the hope that others will become interested. Religious people have always tried to spread the word, I don't see why atheists can't do the same. However the best way to try and get others to agree with your view is to have a proper chat and answer questions rather than just putting up adverts. Then again I don't see why anyone would have any interest in going out of their way to have others agree with their view in the first place. But as far as the right to do so, there's no problem.