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Post by Iosa the Invincible on Nov 28, 2010 12:52:07 GMT -5
I have to agree with the ones who say this is tacky. This is the kind of in-your-face crap that nobody likes. This isn't like that other recent incident with "One Nation, Indivisible" billboard that was graffitied. At least that billboard didn't outright attack people or their beliefs (though fundies will say it did). I'll actually agree with those who say this is offensive.
And saying that it's targeted at closet atheists doesn't help, either. There's no way they could've made this and not know how it would be taken.
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Post by Sigmaleph on Nov 28, 2010 13:27:44 GMT -5
I can't help but think that the line for offensiveness is set a bit low. Would anyone find it offensive if a similar billboard said "You KNOW this really happened"? I'd find it silly, probably, but I wouldn't feel offended. I think.
So what's the line for offensiveness this crosses? Is it the fact it states a belief is not true? Is it the "you KNOW" part? Is it the timing? Some combination thereof? Something else I'm missing?
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Post by Napoleon the Clown on Nov 28, 2010 13:30:12 GMT -5
Better would have been saying something about the season being about unity regardless of belief or some shit like that.
Or, and I'm just saying, used the money for charity and not a billboard.
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Post by Old Viking on Nov 28, 2010 15:50:13 GMT -5
What is this bushwa about "offending" Christians, or "hurting" their feelings? How much concern do they have about offending us and hurting our feelings. Don't sling it if you can't duck what's coming back.
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Post by MaybeNever on Nov 28, 2010 16:24:00 GMT -5
I can't help but think that the line for offensiveness is set a bit low. Would anyone find it offensive if a similar billboard said "You KNOW this really happened"? I'd find it silly, probably, but I wouldn't feel offended. I think. So what's the line for offensiveness this crosses? Is it the fact it states a belief is not true? Is it the "you KNOW" part? Is it the timing? Some combination thereof? Something else I'm missing? It doesn't strike me as offensive, per se, but personally I find it frustrating when people presume to tell me what I do or do not know. It certainly seems arrogant, at least, and in pretty much any context I don't think I'd purchase a product or frequent a place being thusly advertised.
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Post by Admiral Lithp on Nov 28, 2010 16:26:41 GMT -5
All I know is, if I put up an atheist billboard, I'd get my money's worth. It would be one of those LED changing text things that would describe some new inconsistency with the Christian worldview every day, occasionally altering between the Awesome Face & the Trollface. Also, it would blast Toto's "Africa" from speakers situated below the billboard.
Put me on the design campaign. I'll give people a real reason to bitch.
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Post by Dragon Zachski on Nov 28, 2010 17:45:36 GMT -5
I can't help but think that the line for offensiveness is set a bit low. Would anyone find it offensive if a similar billboard said "You KNOW this really happened"? I'd find it silly, probably, but I wouldn't feel offended. I think. So what's the line for offensiveness this crosses? Is it the fact it states a belief is not true? Is it the "you KNOW" part? Is it the timing? Some combination thereof? Something else I'm missing? Actually, a "You KNOW this really happened" would be just as bad. That's my point. What is this bushwa about "offending" Christians, or "hurting" their feelings? How much concern do they have about offending us and hurting our feelings. Don't sling it if you can't duck what's coming back. Because, gasp, there are Christians that aren't fundies, there are Christians that don't care if people are atheists, and there are Christians that support the freedom of other religions as well. To assign all Christians to the label of "oppressive assholes" is lowering yourself to their level. Don't hurt the innocents when aiming at the guilty ones, that's what I'm saying. It's mildly offensive, though. It's nothing MAJOR. Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that it's basically an aimed attack. If it were aimed at any other religion, it would be just as bad. Probably worse, to be honest. All I know is, if I put up an atheist billboard, I'd get my money's worth. It would be one of those LED changing text things that would describe some new inconsistency with the Christian worldview every day, occasionally altering between the Awesome Face & the Trollface. Also, it would blast Toto's "Africa" from speakers situated below the billboard. Put me on the design campaign. I'll give people a real reason to bitch. To be consistent, I should chew you out, but since I'm not consistent, I'll just laugh instead.
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Post by Sigmaleph on Nov 28, 2010 18:52:02 GMT -5
I can't help but think that the line for offensiveness is set a bit low. Would anyone find it offensive if a similar billboard said "You KNOW this really happened"? I'd find it silly, probably, but I wouldn't feel offended. I think. So what's the line for offensiveness this crosses? Is it the fact it states a belief is not true? Is it the "you KNOW" part? Is it the timing? Some combination thereof? Something else I'm missing? Actually, a "You KNOW this really happened" would be just as bad. That's my point. OK, so I gather it's the "you KNOW" part? I can certainly see how that's annoying, but it doesn't seem offensive. Am I missing something? *checks dictionary* So apparently one definition of "offensive" is "causing anger or annoyance" which I suppose it fits, mostly the "annoyance" part. I just associate it more with attacking or spreading hatred.
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Post by Dragon Zachski on Nov 29, 2010 6:23:58 GMT -5
Actually, a "You KNOW this really happened" would be just as bad. That's my point. OK, so I gather it's the "you KNOW" part? I can certainly see how that's annoying, but it doesn't seem offensive. Am I missing something? *checks dictionary* So apparently one definition of "offensive" is "causing anger or annoyance" which I suppose it fits, mostly the "annoyance" part. I just associate it more with attacking or spreading hatred. To be honest, I'm not upset with the sign at all. I'm a little disappointed in the sign maker for pretty much all the reasons already stated. Not even because it offends people, but more of a "You can do better than that" thing. It's the principle, not the results, that have me annoyed.
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Post by Rat Of Steel on Nov 29, 2010 10:26:24 GMT -5
I think I'll add this little bit from the president of American Atheists, David Silverman. Take it for what it's worth. *shrugs*
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Post by godlesspanther on Nov 30, 2010 18:53:29 GMT -5
The point of the sign is bad. There are some xtians who really don't know that it's a myth. They believe and truly believe that this shit really happened. To them the sign is just wrong. There are also xtians who do know that it's a myth -- but so what. They do not embrace xtianity because they consider the story of Jesus' birth to be literal truth anyway, they will say that they agree with the principles of the religion. To them the sign is irrelevant. So, if the target subject is, as AA claims, the closet atheist -- I still don't think it's effective. Messages such as "you are not alone" or showing "regular folks" type people who are atheists are probably better for allowing people to get over the fear of coming out of the closet. This sign doesn't do that.
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Post by stormwarden on Dec 1, 2010 2:21:00 GMT -5
It is the right of those who paid for the sign to do it. I have seen fundies put up far worse than that.
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Post by Sigmaleph on Dec 1, 2010 13:04:30 GMT -5
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Post by georgebullocks on Dec 1, 2010 13:36:55 GMT -5
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Post by m52nickerson on Dec 1, 2010 15:08:44 GMT -5
The billboard would have been much better had they said something to the effect of "We may not believe in the virgin birth, but we still wish for peace on earth."
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