Godless Billboard Moved After Threats

[Temporal Renegade]

The landowner of a site who rented a billboard to atheists for their message, had it taken down recently because of threats he received. Here's the revised link:
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Godless-Billboard-On-Display-In-Cincinnati/s7nk8IwldUqtprdBCPNW7w.cspx

Okay, to our Believer Contingent: Are you okay with this? If there are boards up praising God, would you be okay with ones that question Him? (Freedom of speech, and all that....)

[~enigma~]

The landowner of a site who rented a billboard to atheists for their message, had it taken down recently because of threats he received. Here's the link (http://%22http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Godless-Billboard-Moved-After-Threats/W0iGN9STXUW0m6VF2g2Xeg.cspx?234) to read the whole story.

Okay, to our Believer Contingent: Are you okay with this? If there are boards up praising God, would you be okay with ones that question Him? (Freedom of speech, and all that....)
And some fools here think it is unheard of that believers vandalize atheist cars, go figure.

[A.A. Alfie]

Can't get the link to work. Would we get it in Australia?

[Cayvmann]

I think even though some will deny it, most believers get a kick out of this kind of stuff. "Serves them right" sorta thing.

[bluesjnr]

Link is not working for me.

[Darat]

Link: http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Godless-Billboard-Moved-After-Threats/W0iGN9STXUW0m6VF2g2Xeg.cspx

[Philip]

The given link has a spurious "http// in it.

Here's the correct link:
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Godless-Billboard-Moved-After-Threats/W0iGN9STXUW0m6VF2g2Xeg.cspx?234

ETA: Dang it! Darat was quicker on the draw!

[Temporal Renegade]

Can't get the link to work. Would we get it in Australia?

I've fixed it now. :)

[Temporal Renegade]

Link is not working for me.

try it now. :)

[Temporal Renegade]

The given link has a spurious "http// in it.

Here's the correct link:
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Godless-Billboard-Moved-After-Threats/W0iGN9STXUW0m6VF2g2Xeg.cspx?234

ETA: Dang it! Darat was quicker on the draw!

:D :D Plus, I went back on it, too. :D
If nothing else, the JREF takes care of its' own. :D

[A.A. Alfie]

'Threats" from whom, when, how or why. The complaint may not have even related to the content of the ad.
Complete heresay, unsubstantiated by the reporter or their paper. Shoddy journalism.
Too many questions, no facts, non event, no interest.

[~enigma~]

'Threats" from whom, when, how or why. The complaint may not have even related to the content of the ad.
Complete heresay, unsubstantiated by the reporter or their paper. Shoddy journalism.
Too many questions, no facts, non event, no interest.
Some people suffer from a severe form of denial.

[Cainkane1]

'Threats" from whom, when, how or why. The complaint may not have even related to the content of the ad.
Complete heresay, unsubstantiated by the reporter or their paper. Shoddy journalism.
Too many questions, no facts, non event, no interest.
I see you've enver been to Cincinnatti.

[bluesjnr]

I have to say that I agree with AAA here. It could be a not very well orchestrated stunt (don't ask 'cos I don't know). Nobody up till now has officially complained.

I think it's important to realise that.......

WHAT ORIGINALLY FOLLOWED WAS REMOVED AND SHIFTED TO ANOTHER LOCATION ON THE WEB DUE TO COMPLAINTS AND THREATS. I HAVE RIGHTS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, SO THOSE WHO COMPLAIN ARE BAD PEOPLE AND NOT VERY NICE TOO.

[justcharlie09]

The landowner of a site who rented a billboard to atheists for their message, had it taken down recently because of threats he received. Here's the revised link:
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Godless-Billboard-On-Display-In-Cincinnati/s7nk8IwldUqtprdBCPNW7w.cspx

Okay, to our Believer Contingent: Are you okay with this? If there are boards up praising God, would you be okay with ones that question Him? (Freedom of speech, and all that....)

I generally find religious billboards (and other billboards advertising for worldview, politics, etc) tacky. But, other than that, no I don't have a problem with the billboard. It's free speech and if the atheistic evangelicals want to be as tacky as their Christian counterparts...meh, whatever...go for it. :)

[SumDood]

I'd love to get one of those up in my town here in the deep south just to see the reaction. I bet it wouldn't last a week. I personally know several atheists in the area, but I don't know of any organization that would support such a cause. I'm not quite motivated to start one myself, but maybe someday.

[justcharlie09]

I'd love to get one of those up in my town here in the deep south just to see the reaction. I bet it wouldn't last a week. I personally know several atheists in the area, but I don't know of any organization that would support such a cause. I'm not quite motivated to start one myself, but maybe someday.

Probably only because the atheists in the pews wouldn't want their views staring at them from a billboard on the way to church.

A lot of people hold to beliefs because it is a cultural requirement. I have in-laws that go on and on about how much they hate crosses, Christianity, religion in general...and then turn around and say that atheists are evil and go to church anyway :confused:

People should be free to express their belief or nonbelief without fear of reprisals from the more dominant herd. I swear, some people should just tie cowbells around their necks and go out to graze in the fields.

My personal attitude is that there are a lot of good people out there all along the belief to non-belief spectrum. People should be left in peace to be themselves.

[metzomagic]

This is really confusing, people. The OP from Temporal Renegade is titled "Godless Billboard Moved After Threats", but is pointing to the wrong story. It's the story about the billboard having been put up, NOT the one about it having to be MOVED, which is here:

Godless Billboard Moved After Threats (http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Godless-Billboard-Moved-After-Threats/W0iGN9STXUW0m6VF2g2Xeg.cspx?234)

At least, that's the only way I can explain A.A.Alfie's strange post.

From the relevant article:

The group that funded the billboard, the United Coalition of Reason, was contacted by Lamar Advertising of Cincinnati. Lamar reported that the landowner of the site had been threatened over the billboard's message and wanted it taken down.

"We weren't given the landowner's identity or precise details," reported Fred Edwords, national director of the United Coalition of Reason. "Nor did we pursue them. It was sufficient to learn that multiple, significant threats had been received and that Lamar would act quickly to alleviate the problem. Lamar was most apologetic to us regarding the situation. It was a development they hadn't expected. Nor had we. Nothing like this has ever happened to us before."

So the landlord of the building where the billboard was located was threatened *multiple times* over the billboard. And some people here are (apparently) OK with that? If so, that's a pretty scary thing. I can't imagine atheists threatening anyone over a religiously themed billboard, can you?

[Beerina]

Isn't intimidation by violence, used by Christians against this billboard, something those selfsame people hate about Islam in the Middle East?

I'd bet a good chunk of change on that.

[Eyeron]

It's different because God can only love. And their God is the One! True! God!.

Oy.

But it's because of thigns like this is why I say Americans value conformity and not individuality. My best guess is because humans are herding animals, and that herding instinct that the same types of people must group together and must be absorbed by the larger groups. Then what complicates matter is the xenophobia humans have about anything different than them. We must all be the same, it helps to foster understanding and makes the world a better and safer place.

[bluesjnr]

This is really confusing, people. The OP from Temporal Renegade is titled "Godless Billboard Moved After Threats", but is pointing to the wrong story. It's the story about the billboard having been put up, NOT the one about it having to be MOVED, which is here:

Godless Billboard Moved After Threats (http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Godless-Billboard-Moved-After-Threats/W0iGN9STXUW0m6VF2g2Xeg.cspx?234)

At least, that's the only way I can explain A.A.Alfie's strange post.

From the relevant article:



So the landlord of the building where the billboard was located was threatened *multiple times* over the billboard. And some people here are (apparently) OK with that? If so, that's a pretty scary thing. I can't imagine atheists threatening anyone over a religiously themed billboard, can you?

Not to speak for AAA but I think his point is that there are only claims of threats; there has been no journalistic work done to verify this information. The land owners details are not, conveniently some might say, available therefore the story cannot be corroborated.

If I'm wrong he'll soon put me right!

[Morchella]

If this story is really true and the landowner was threatened by theists, then call it what it is.... terrorism. In this case the terrorists won.

[A.A. Alfie]

Not to speak for AAA but I think his point is that there are only claims of threats; there has been no journalistic work done to verify this information. The land owners details are not, conveniently some might say, available therefore the story cannot be corroborated.

Precisely.

If this story is really true and the landowner was threatened by theists, then call it what it is.... terrorism. In this case the terrorists won.

The big IF.


BTW,
I do not advocate the supression of free speech at all. If the story is true, then I would have a problem with the sign having to be removed based on the beliefs and complaints of other people.

My issue with this is that we are supposed to read 'between the lines' of the poor journalism and come up with the answers the journalist should have provided in an unbiased manner. Many will - and have already - been 'sold' that this story is about 'religious fanatics' having sufficient power to remove the rights of others. Maybe that's so, but nothing has been proven

[Ian Osborne]

If this story is really true and the landowner was threatened by theists, then call it what it is.... terrorism. In this case the terrorists won.

Don't be soft. It's only terrorism when they do it to us.

[RandFan]

Godless Billboard Moved After Threats (http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Godless-Billboard-Moved-After-Threats/W0iGN9STXUW0m6VF2g2Xeg.cspx)

In the wake of multiple, significant threats, the downtown billboard that says “Don’t Believe In God? You are not alone” came down early Thursday morning.

Christians are by and large peaceful and I think many if not most support the concept of the free exchange of ideas in a Democracy. It's unfortunate that there could be significant threats of violence for such an action to take place.

[666]

"Apparently they were vicious threats of some kind. I don't know the exact nature of the threats but yes," said Welte.I hope these allegations are investigated and appropriate action taken if found to be true.

[Hux]

If there are multiple threats, id say it would be a good gamble that these threats didn't come from atheists, agnostics, humanists, whoever. But I dont have links to that.

[GanipGnop]

How is this any different from the taboo place on Mohammad in the media? It is scary how similar religious extremists are regardless of their core beliefs.

[The Atheist]

Christians are by and large peaceful and I think many if not most support the concept of the free exchange of ideas in a Democracy. It's unfortunate that there could be significant threats of violence for such an action to take place.

Thanks for that!

Considering the numbers of church and christian billboards vs the number of atheist and humanist ones, it's quite funny.

So scared of losing control of their sky-daddy that they threaten violence.

Cute.

[A.A. Alfie]

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=159145


There's been a thread on this already

[Whiplash]

It's absolutely wrong for any religious person to make threats in this regard. They are clearly not following the tenants of their religion. They are clearly extremists. They are clearly wrong.

But they aren't a majority.

[~enigma~]

the tenants of their religion.

How long is the lease and are utilities included?

[A.A. Alfie]

How long is the lease and are utilities included?

"Extreme" tenants - I imagine very long terms leases for these individuals.

[RandFan]

The following post was from another thread.

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=159145 (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=159145)

There's been a thread on this alreadyI've aske the two to be merged.

[rockinkt]

I'd love to get one of those up in my town here in the deep south just to see the reaction. I bet it wouldn't last a week. I personally know several atheists in the area, but I don't know of any organization that would support such a cause. I'm not quite motivated to start one myself, but maybe someday.

Just for fun - you should put up two billboards. One as per the OP and another pointing out that the Confederate flag is a purely evil and racist symbol that no God-fearing Christian should tolerate in their presence.

[slingblade]

But it's because of thigns like this is why I say Americans value conformity and not individuality.

Oh, so it's just us, is it? Just Americans? No other nations value conformity, no other humans? Just Americans, then?

And it's all of us? All Americans? Cuz you've met us all, and know we're all alike?




My best guess is because humans are herding animals, and that herding instinct that the same types of people must group together and must be absorbed by the larger groups. Then what complicates matter is the xenophobia humans have about anything different than them. We must all be the same, it helps to foster understanding and makes the world a better and safer place.

But this is only Americans, yeah? No other nations, no other peoples, are like this, have ever been like this? Can't find this behavior anywhere else but America?

Because I'm really baffled why you singled me and my country out this way, when it's pretty obvious this is a human trait, and not a purely American one.

[Eyeron]

But this is only Americans, yeah? No other nations, no other peoples, are like this, have ever been like this? Can't find this behavior anywhere else but America?

Of course. Everybody else in the world is more evolved than Amerikans.

;)

[A.A. Alfie]

Oh, so it's just us, is it? Just Americans? No other nations value conformity, no other humans? Just Americans, then?
And it's all of us? All Americans? Cuz you've met us all, and know we're all alike?

But this is only Americans, yeah? No other nations, no other peoples, are like this, have ever been like this? Can't find this behavior anywhere else but America?
Because I'm really baffled why you singled me and my country out this way, when it's pretty obvious this is a human trait, and not a purely American one.

Of course. Everybody else in the world is more evolved than Amerikans. ;)

That'd be the 37% difference you refer to in your avatar slingblade.

[metzomagic]

My issue with this is that we are supposed to read 'between the lines' of the poor journalism and come up with the answers the journalist should have provided in an unbiased manner. Many will - and have already - been 'sold' that this story is about 'religious fanatics' having sufficient power to remove the rights of others. Maybe that's so, but nothing has been proven

I think the advertising agency, Lamar, are doing the right thing in not making the landowner's name public. A lot of those fundie nut-jobs have guns.

So I don't see at as 'poor journalism' at all. How about applying Occam's razor:

1. Landowner says he received multiple threats concerning the billboard that was posted on his property.
2. Advertising agency discreetly agrees to move billboard to their own property.

Or, what?

1. Atheists threaten landowner to make it look like religious nut-jobs did it.

So... some here think that this is all a hoax (i.e. that the landowner wasn't threatened by religious nut-jobs), because the journalists didn't interview the landowner? That says CT to me. Isn't it much more probable that the landowner and advertising agency are telling the truth? Even if the landowner was interviewed, how is that going to make things clearer? Presumably, the threats were made over the phone.

[Tricky]

If this story is really true and the landowner was threatened by theists, then call it what it is.... terrorism. In this case the terrorists won.

This depends completely upon the nature of the threats. Were they threats of violence or vandalism? Or were they threats of boycotts or shunning. Maybe they said they wouldn't sell his farm products at their stores or something.

Recently, I threatened a local radio station because they were running ads for Kevin Trudeau's "Natural Cures" book. I threatened them that I would stop patronizing all their advertisers and that I would encourage all my friends to do so as well. (They stopped running it within a week).

So let's not go all goggle-eyed when someone says they have received "threats" until we learn more about the threats.

[Hux]

I cannot imagine any other country than America actually taking the bloody thing down.

There might be a few eyebrows raised here (which is us getting worked up about it) but it would just sit there until the next advert was pasted over it.

[A.A. Alfie]

I think the advertising agency, Lamar, are doing the right thing in not making the landowner's name public. A lot of those fundie nut-jobs have guns.

So I don't see at as 'poor journalism' at all. How about applying Occam's razor:

1. Landowner says he received multiple threats concerning the billboard that was posted on his property.
2. Advertising agency discreetly agrees to move billboard to their own property.

Or, what?

1. Atheists threaten landowner to make it look like religious nut-jobs did it.

So... some here think that this is all a hoax (i.e. that the landowner wasn't threatened by religious nut-jobs), because the journalists didn't interview the landowner? That says CT to me. Isn't it much more probable that the landowner and advertising agency are telling the truth? Even if the landowner was interviewed, how is that going to make things clearer? Presumably, the threats were made over the phone.

You may well be right but where is the evidence? There is nothing but interpretation. Shoddy journalism and you've been 'sold'.

[slingblade]

That'd be the 37% difference you refer to in your avatar slingblade.

That'd be a Netflix joke.

[A.A. Alfie]

That'd be a Netflix joke.

??:confused:

[jasonpatterson]

While I agree that the story that was posted was pretty sorry both in terms of research and the actual writing of the thing, it wouldn't surprise me if it was true. Believing that a group of people who can look you in the eye and tell you that you're going to be tortured for eternity because you won't flatter their god are capable of a few anonymous threats is not a big step.

Christianity in a nutshell:
We love our enemies, until they die, then **** them.

[Tricky]

Looks like some folks have gone past threats (http://www.news4jax.com/news/23136324/detail.html?hpt=T2).
A billboard on U.S. 1 in St. Augustine bearing the message, "Don't Believe in God? You Are Not Alone," has suffered major damage.

The billboard, located about 6 miles north of State Road 16 and visible to southbound traffic, raised controversy when it first appeared March 29. Now those behind that message believe vandalism may have been involved.
Gosh, "vandalism may have been involved"? Ya think?

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I suppose I could have been the Old Guy Himself finally taking an interest in the activities of His Earthly creations. ;)

Though, I must admit, that this is a curious place to resume His involvement after all these centuries. :boggled:

[Tricky]

I suppose I could have been the Old Guy Himself finally taking an interest in the activities of His Earthly creations. ;)

Though, I must admit, that this is a curious place to resume His involvement after all these centuries. :boggled:
If you read the link it was almost funny. On guy was postulating, "It could have been rock flying off a train.."