Sample Atheists on Study

[Upchurch]

This is a bit of crossover from this thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=58164), which resulted in this video (http://www.randi.org/media/talk_atheism.mov). (Warning: it is over an hour long, 56 MB, and requires QuickTime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/).)

I'm curious from both the atheists and theists, how'd we do? Did we present atheism in a representative way?

[jimlintott]

Well you guys were dashing. I would expect no less.

I think that all in all you clearly show that atheists are just regular people who are nice, friendly and have the same concerns as everyone else.

I would have had harder answers for some questions but I can understand not wanting to sound insulting and it can be a fine line. I did find myself wishing that someone would smack the prof. (I assume the prof was the one who sat to Upchurch's right and sounded like a regular woo quite often. I could be wrong about that.)

Thanks for the video. I watched it all.

[Tricky]

Maybe this isn't the thread for it, but dammit, it was on top and vaguely related, so here's my anecdote.

I went shopping today and as I drove toward the store, the sky opened up. I reached for my trusty bumbershoot and as I pulled into a parking place, I saw an elderly lady (I'd guess 65-ish) struggling with her groceries. She had a box of sodas that had melted in the rain and she was obviously having a hard time.

I grabbed my umbrella and opened it up right over her head. As she gawped in amazement, I helped her collect her maverick sodas, opened her car door for her and held the umbrella while she transferred the rest of her groceries to her car. She said thank you about a dozen times.

After she got in the car she said something to the effect of "Thank God for people like you." Unable to resist, I said, actually, I'm an atheist, but I appreciate the sentiment." Her eyes grew wide and she stuttered, "but... but.. you're so nice! "
"Yes ma'am," I replied, "Atheists are nice people too."

Due to the driving rain, the incident ended there, but I like to think that her brief study of an actual atheist might have moved her to think of us in ways she hadn't before. It felt so good, I may start hanging out like a Boy Scout looking to do good deeds just so I can improve the public perception of atheists, one person at a time.

[Hourglassmemory]

Maybe this isn't the thread for it, but dammit, it was on top and vaguely related, so here's my anecdote.

I went shopping today and as I drove toward the store, the sky opened up. I reached for my trusty bumbershoot and as I pulled into a parking place, I saw an elderly lady (I'd guess 65-ish) struggling with her groceries. She had a box of sodas that had melted in the rain and she was obviously having a hard time.

I grabbed my umbrella and opened it up right over her head. As she gawped in amazement, I helped her collect her maverick sodas, opened her car door for her and held the umbrella while she transferred the rest of her groceries to her car. She said thank you about a dozen times.

After she got in the car she said something to the effect of "Thank God for people like you." Unable to resist, I said, actually, I'm an atheist, but I appreciate the sentiment." Her eyes grew wide and she stuttered, "but... but.. you're so nice! "
"Yes ma'am," I replied, "Atheists are nice people too."

Due to the driving rain, the incident ended there, but I like to think that her brief study of an actual atheist might have moved her to think of us in ways she hadn't before. It felt so good, I may start hanging out like a Boy Scout looking to do good deeds just so I can improve the public perception of atheists, one person at a time.


I couldn't help but notice that the rain made the scene more dramatic.
Almost movie-like. Made me smile actually.

[Foster Zygote]

Maybe this isn't the thread for it, but dammit, it was on top and vaguely related, so here's my anecdote.

I went shopping today and as I drove toward the store, the sky opened up. I reached for my trusty bumbershoot and as I pulled into a parking place, I saw an elderly lady (I'd guess 65-ish) struggling with her groceries. She had a box of sodas that had melted in the rain and she was obviously having a hard time.

I grabbed my umbrella and opened it up right over her head. As she gawped in amazement, I helped her collect her maverick sodas, opened her car door for her and held the umbrella while she transferred the rest of her groceries to her car. She said thank you about a dozen times.

After she got in the car she said something to the effect of "Thank God for people like you." Unable to resist, I said, actually, I'm an atheist, but I appreciate the sentiment." Her eyes grew wide and she stuttered, "but... but.. you're so nice! "
"Yes ma'am," I replied, "Atheists are nice people too."

Due to the driving rain, the incident ended there, but I like to think that her brief study of an actual atheist might have moved her to think of us in ways she hadn't before. It felt so good, I may start hanging out like a Boy Scout looking to do good deeds just so I can improve the public perception of atheists, one person at a time.

I started to read this and thought to myself "Wait a minute! Tricky already told this story like a year ago". Then I realized that the post is a year old. I wish they'd yellow with age or somethin'.

[MelBrooksfan]

Maybe this isn't the thread for it, but dammit, it was on top and vaguely related, so here's my anecdote.

I went shopping today and as I drove toward the store, the sky opened up. I reached for my trusty bumbershoot and as I pulled into a parking place, I saw an elderly lady (I'd guess 65-ish) struggling with her groceries. She had a box of sodas that had melted in the rain and she was obviously having a hard time.

I grabbed my umbrella and opened it up right over her head. As she gawped in amazement, I helped her collect her maverick sodas, opened her car door for her and held the umbrella while she transferred the rest of her groceries to her car. She said thank you about a dozen times.

After she got in the car she said something to the effect of "Thank God for people like you." Unable to resist, I said, actually, I'm an atheist, but I appreciate the sentiment." Her eyes grew wide and she stuttered, "but... but.. you're so nice! "
"Yes ma'am," I replied, "Atheists are nice people too."

Due to the driving rain, the incident ended there, but I like to think that her brief study of an actual atheist might have moved her to think of us in ways she hadn't before. It felt so good, I may start hanging out like a Boy Scout looking to do good deeds just so I can improve the public perception of atheists, one person at a time.

Is there some Secular Boy Scouts for such a purpose?

[Hourglassmemory]

I started to read this and thought to myself "Wait a minute! Tricky already told this story like a year ago". Then I realized that the post is a year old. I wish they'd yellow with age or somethin'.

Wow....now that you said that....
I guess we blew life into it again...

[Beerina]

I went shopping today and as I drove toward the store, the sky opened up. I reached for my trusty bumbershoot and as I pulled into a parking place, I saw an elderly lady (I'd guess 65-ish) struggling with her groceries. She had a box of sodas that had melted in the rain and she was obviously having a hard time.

I grabbed my umbrella and opened it up right over her head. As she gawped in amazement, I helped her collect her maverick sodas, opened her car door for her and held the umbrella while she transferred the rest of her groceries to her car. She said thank you about a dozen times.

After she got in the car she said something to the effect of "Thank God for people like you." Unable to resist, I said, actually, I'm an atheist, but I appreciate the sentiment." Her eyes grew wide and she stuttered, "but... but.. you're so nice! "
"Yes ma'am," I replied, "Atheists are nice people too."

Due to the driving rain, the incident ended there, but I like to think that her brief study of an actual atheist might have moved her to think of us in ways she hadn't before. It felt so good, I may start hanging out like a Boy Scout looking to do good deeds just so I can improve the public perception of atheists, one person at a time.

...and who knows? You may find a woman 55-ish next time, who has a body closer to Monica Bellucci and who feels that you, as an athies, are definitely a taboo. So wrong. It would be so...wrong. Can you buy me lunch?

[Ducky]

Is there some Secular Boy Scouts for such a purpose?

http://scoutingforall.org/

[wolfgirl]

I like to think that her brief study of an actual atheist might have moved her to think of us in ways she hadn't before. It felt so good, I may start hanging out like a Boy Scout looking to do good deeds just so I can improve the public perception of atheists, one person at a time.This is something I talk about a lot...that we, as atheists, need to be out there presenting good examples of who we are, to counter the common misperceptions. I think it helps all of us. (Not to mention that it's good to be nice to people anyway.)

[Jeff Corey]

http://scoutingforall.org/
Be prepared! That's the boyscouts' marching song.
Be prepared, as through life you march along.

Be prepared to hold your liquor pretty well,
Don't write naughty words on walls if you can't spell.
Be prepared to hide that pack of cigarettes,
Don't make book if you cannot cover bets.
Keep those reefers hidden where they won't be found.
And be careful not to smoke them when the Scoutmaster's around,
For he will only insist that they be shared.
Be prepared!

Be prepared, that's the boyscout's solemn creed.
Be prepared and be clean in word and deed.
Don't solicit for your sister, that's not nice,
Unless you get a percentage of her price.

Be prepared! and be careful not to do
Your good deeds when there's no one watching you.

If you're looking for adventure of a new and different kind,
And you run across a girl scout who is similarly inclined,
Don't be flustered, don't be nervous, don't be scared,
Be prepared!
Tom Lehrer sometime in the 1950s.