Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Atheist billboard
I'm sure those of you who know me already figured that I am very involved with the organization that put up this billboard (I was actually invited to do some press on it because I am the head of one of the member organizations encompassed in the larger CoR, but I wasn't ballsy enough to go on camera).
I read the comments a couple of you made in the unpopular opinions post, and was surprised to see that you felt there was a negative connotation to the message on the billboard. I decided to start another post because I am curious to see what the general opinion is and how people are reading this to view it as something negative.
The intention of the billboard was: #1 - to let the general public know that non-believers are certainly out there in this state, that you probably know them, and we're active and productive members of the community, and #2 (and more importantly, I think) - to let other non-believers know that there are organizations out there to provide support and community for them. Maybe I'm not seeing what some are because I'm too close to it, but I know we were in no way intending to be negative. I gathered the phrase, "Join the club?" was maybe somehow viewed as snarky, but it is truly an invitation to those out there to join one of our various "clubs."
Re: Atheist billboard
I think people have a way of misinterperating things way to easily. Especially if it goes against what we believe in. We are in fact only human. I don't have a problem with the billboard. As a general rule, if it doesn't affect me in any negative way I usually disregard. I can see your point as someone who does not know about these "clubs" it would be beneficial for them to have these billboards since they do not know these exist.
Just like boymom said in the UO post about if a church put up a billboard talking about not wanting to go to hell. I could see how this would put non-believers to be up in arms or maybe felt like the people who originally put the sign up was taking a jab at them.
I think the billboard is fine. I mean we live in the Bible Belt so I think most athiests feel like they are the only ones who feel that way. (I am not athiest, but my parents are) I think it is good to know there are others out there who feel the same way.
I don't think the billboard is offensive or anything.
I don't see how, "Don't want to go to hell? Join the club!" is along the same lines as this billboard. To me, a similar Christian billboard would say something like, "Do you believe Jesus is your savior? Join the club!" or something like that. It's not like the billboard says, "Think religion is stupid?" or something like that.
I certainly didn't mean to get you upset over the billboard. I think you have every right to free speech and promotion of your beliefs as everyone else does. Just because I am not an atheist and do not share your same way of thinking, does not mean that I'm up in arms about anything.
I'm just remarking on how the billboard could be interpreted by the majority of Christians. I guess I'm somewhat in the majority, because while I didn't find the billboard offensive, I also found nothing positive about it.
That being said--I think that the billboard generates a lot of publicity, and regardless of whether it's negative or positive, you're getting the word out there about your group.
Also, if the group really didn't mean it negatively, then I will genuinely try to look at it in a different light. I think that it's very important for every person to find a group that you have similar beliefs with. Just like I believe it's important for my family to have a church home with a great kids program.
I have to ask critti, and please please please do not take this as snarky or anything like that (because it isn't meant to sound that way), what does your daughter, who you've said is Christian, think of the billboard/group/fact that you're different in your beliefs?
I wasn't upset, just surprised that people were viewing it that way. I had no idea that people were viewing it has having a negative tone. I guess, as Ami said, it's easy to misinterpret things that are different from what we believe.
I agree with you about the publicity. While I wish the billboard was being viewed more positively by the public at large, I am thrilled that we have definitely gotten a response from like-minded people - the membership in my secular parenting group has pretty much doubled with people who learned about the group through press on the billboard
As a non-seeking agnostic you know I'm behind you all the way!
Actually, that almost everyone would have expectations of me religiously was a big concern for me at my job interview. Once I knew I had pretty much closed the deal (our interviews last 2-3 days), I felt like I needed to start interviewing the department. After all, if I was moving across the country for a job, I'd better be sure it was a good move.
On the last day, they were trying to "sell" me on Edmond/OKC. One of my colleagues was talking about the amenities (public art, restaurants, parks, etc.) and said, "and we have every church you could want here, Baptist, Catholic, UCC,...) I waited until she finished her list, then said (as politiely as I could) "I know this isn't really something to bring up in a job interview, but it is really important for me to know. I'm not anti-religious at all, but I won't be attending religious services barring the occasional wedding or funeral. Will that be a problem for me either among the university or the general population here?" One guy laughed and said, "Well, we don't go around our neighborhoods with our "I'm an Athiest" sandwich boards and bells, but we do like to pull those out at parties! Seriously, it won't be a big deal. Especially at a university, you'll find others who think like you do, and most who don't are at least polite enough not to talk religion in mixed company."
That made me feel like I belonged so much more. Seeing a billboard like that on my way through town would have been (pardon the expression) a godsend (ha!) because I would have just felt...not alone.
I just directed the question to her and she shrugged and said, "People are entitled to their beliefs....Not everyone is going to believe in the same thing. No one ever has and no one ever will." She said she also has lots of friends (on message boards actually. Lol.) who have different beliefs from her and she doesn't think it's a big deal.
I think this is exactly the reason why, even with a pretty negative reaction from the public at large, and even if we didn't get a big surge of membership, the money spent on the billboard and the energy Nick expended on pulling everything together and getting word out to the press was SO worth it. We have had several people put in their intros on the meetup things like, "It can be lonely as an atheist in Oklahoma" or "I thought I was alone." Letting those people know that they are not, in fact, alone, is what it is really all about.
And, I really think you should join up! I know you're not technically an atheist, but we really have a pretty diverse membership (atheist, agnostic, naturalist, secular humanist, even some pagans) despite the name Oklahoma Atheists.
Cool! I didn't know if I'd get the boot for not being a "real" athiest
Would you PM or Facebook me the info?
I think this is great that she feels like that.
Eventhough I grew up Christian I was brought with the understanding that everyone has a different belief and we were to respect that belief even if we didn't agree with it. My dad was always stressing that it was great that in America we could practice whatever belief we wanted and not be persecuted for it. I plan on teaching M this same thing.
Honestly, I didn't find anything about the billboard to be offensive or negative. Although I really wish everyone did believe in God, I know that's not realistic. I just view the sign as trying to catch non-believers attention so they will look at the sign and see the website/group name in case they are interested in joining a group of other non-believers.
Kaylee & Cole 06.14.08
8/6/11 First 5k! OG&E Expo Run 34:47
9/3/11 Brookhaven Run 5k 34:18
9/17/11 Healthy Sooners Fun Run 5k 33:38
10/15/11 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 33:31
10/29/11 Monster Dash 5k 32:06 PR!
11/11/11 Veteran's Day Run 11k in Dallas 1:13:15 Instant PR!
1/28/12 Texas Half Marathon 2:38:03 Instant PR!
3/25/12 Earlywine Dash
So, it looks like The Daily Oklahoman is out to prove me wrong about what I said in the unpopular opinions post.
This article is great! It really conveys the billboard in the spirit in which it was intended.
http://www.newsok.com/article/3493591
Very nice reporting. I think that the article will make things less "scary" for the people who don't really know about your group!
And the comments under the article aren't nearly as hateful as I expected.
First, I just want to emphasize that the billboard doesn't bother me, I completely agree that group should be able to promote itself. And the 'join the club' phrase is what I took as snarky. I guess I just can't get past the middle schooler in me...haha.
It is nice to hear from someone in the group (that I actually 'know' and trust what she says) that it wasn't intended to be snarky. :-)
http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-news-controversial-billboard-god-story,0,1027312.story
I think this was the news story I saw that caused me to post that on the UO thread. I dont find the language negative. Atheists do not believe in God. This is a group for people who do not believe in a god. It is what it is. I thought it was very tastefull.
But I am glad that you are seeing positives from the billboard.
I have not seen this one! Where is it???