Calling all atheists

[serene]

I know there are several atheists on my friendslist. The rest of you, go ahead and skip this post. :-)

I am creating a series of PSAs -- they will, I hope, be circulated widely, and I'm going to print them in the new magazine. They will look something like this (this is a crude first draft; imagine them better):



You totally want to be in these PSAs, right?

Send a photo to 42magazine@serenepages.com if you want to join. You should also suggest some nouns. We're looking for the blandest, most middle-america aspects of you (the_ogre was the example I thought of: "Veteran. Cat-lover. Atheist."), but if that grates on you, choose your own.

[Edit: "Bland" isn't exactly the right word for what I'm talking about. I guess the feeling of it is "Look, here's this list of qualities that is really unlikely to offend anyone, and here at the end? Atheist. This is a person just like any other person. This person is also an atheist."]

Comments

[kshandra]

Lemme throw this gridlore's way. "Veteran. Cancer survivor. Atheist." has a definite ring to it, no?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Yes! Thanks. :-) (I misparsed your LJ name as "wonton idealist". Mmmm, wonton.)

re: Calling all atheists

[betonica.livejournal.com]

Do agnostics count?
Or maybe we'll get in on a later iteration.
Although I'm told that only 0.15% or some other remarkably small percent of the population are agnostic. Which I find strange (because, after all, doesn't everyone think the way I do?)

Re: Calling all atheists

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

I've always heard that 1% of the U.S. population is atheist.

and I'm used to being in the correct minority!

Re: Calling all atheists

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

*grin* Nope, it's just atheists for now. Because, after all, doesn't everyone think the way I do? :-)

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

so let me try to understand this.

PSA = public service announcement.

so you want to present the typical 42 reader with a few characteristics about them (including atheist).


and is the red A in your pic the officially recognized symbol of atheism?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

PSA = public service announcement, yes.

No, not the typical 42 reader -- the typical atheist. This will go IN the magazine, but is not ABOUT the magazine, and I'm actually hoping the PSAs will get wider circulation.

And no, I don't think the red A is any kind of official symbol -- I think the artist meant it to resemble the Scarlet Letter.

Here's the official logo of American Atheists, but they're not any kind of arbiter of officialness for atheists or anything:

[phantom_wolfboy]

The Red A is the symbol of the "Out Campaign".

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

Hm. Either I don't have many bland aspects or I have a hard time thinking of applicable nouns.

Possibly both.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Bland is almost certainly not the right word.

Artist. Bicyclist. Pianist. Fencer.

[gible.livejournal.com]

~/What are you dressed as for Halloween?

I'm an Atheist. They look just like everyone else./~

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

James uses that line with "serial killer". :-)

Um...

[the-ogre.livejournal.com]

I don't...

[red-silk-robe.livejournal.com]

If the image is a true PSA shouldn't that ready Parent. Secretary. Athiest? :D you know..P.S.A. (giggle snort) sorry I've had too much coffee.

I think that is beautiful idea and I'll need to give some thought to the adjectives I need....

hmmm!

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Hee!

Nouns, dear, nouns. :-)

[leback.livejournal.com]

Most of the nouns I can come up with make me sound suspiciously intellectual or bohemian or kooky or otherwise not good-wholesome-regular-folks. "Student" is definitely dicey, especially at my age. "Philosopher" is likewise right out, and not quite mine to claim, anyway. "Cat-lover" would work for me, but unless you've got something as solid to pair it with as the "veteran" one from your example, it risks shades of eccentricity. I'm not a hiker anymore, and I don't really cook these days, either. Is "commuter" appropriate, do you think? "Couch potato"? "Polygamist" is pretty much out of the question. :-)

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

Lover-of-pink? Law student sounds like someone who supports the System.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I actually kind of like either "Grad student. Commuter. Atheist." or "Grad student. Couch potato. Atheist." Also possible, I think, if not now then soon: "Homeowner."

[nitoda]

I don't suppose you want international entrants, but if you did I'd be chorister, knitter, atheist (or you could use librarian ... )

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Of *course* I do -- can't imagine why I wouldn't. Thanks!

[baerana.livejournal.com]

you want us to repost this to the atheists we know, send them this way?

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, thanks! I should post it over at the richard dawkins social site, but I may not get around to it very soon.

[baalitlaura.livejournal.com]

I am so excited about your magazine! I hope to submit some writing soon. Wish I could do the PSA thing but I gotta stay "in" for the time being.

:) Awesome idea.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

:-) Thanks!

[pipyn.livejournal.com]

Volunteer. Neighbor. Atheist.

My problem is finding a picture

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I like that one.

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

That's really cool... I wonder if one atheist in particular would be willing to contribute? I'll ask...

[fla-sunshine.livejournal.com]

I suppose I could be "world traveller, retiree, atheist". Now if only I had a digital photo of myself...

[micheinnz.livejournal.com]

Are non-American atheists welcome?

"Parent. Electrical worker. Atheist."

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Yay! (Yes!)