Hobart damned; Tasmanians fail to notice any difference

[Random Person]

Doesn't seem very welcoming.

 

[bilby]

Doesn't seem very welcoming.

I'm sure it does to its target audience. It's the kind of thing that people who attend the Dark Mofo festival would like.

I doubt that the promoters of Dark Mofo give a rats arse how unwelcome a handful of fundamentalist Christians who wouldn't have attended anyway feel; Most likely they were hoping to leverage the rather larger reach that Christianity has in Australia than their little festival does, by getting the fundies to express outrage. There's no such thing as bad publicity.

When someone invites you to feel outraged about anything, there is usually an ulterior motive, and it is unwise in the extreme to accept their invitation. But the ACL obviously haven't heard of the Streisand Effect, and fell straight into the promoters' trap of demanding that the crosses be removed. At that point, the promoters had already achieved their objective, whether or not the crosses were removed. The article in the OP being a perfect example - I probably wouldn't have even heard of the Dark Mofo festival if the ACL hadn't made their rather pathetic complaint.

 

[Lion IRC]

You really don't seem to be able to grasp the existence of atheists at all.

Also, doesn't understand the impotence of Pascal's Wager.

I'm nor more afraid of Hell than Lion likely fears ending up in Niffleheim.

Say again?
No. Really! I don't know what you meant to say.
...that you are such a strongly convinced atheist (anti-theist) that you are willing to deliberately blaspheme God come what may???

 

[Random Person]

Doesn't seem very welcoming.

I'm sure it does to its target audience. It's the kind of thing that people who attend the Dark Mofo festival would like.

I doubt that the promoters of Dark Mofo give a rats arse how unwelcome a handful of fundamentalist Christians who wouldn't have attended anyway feel; Most likely they were hoping to leverage the rather larger reach that Christianity has in Australia than their little festival does, by getting the fundies to express outrage. There's no such thing as bad publicity.

When someone invites you to feel outraged about anything, there is usually an ulterior motive, and it is unwise in the extreme to accept their invitation. But the ACL obviously haven't heard of the Streisand Effect, and fell straight into the promoters' trap of demanding that the crosses be removed. At that point, the promoters had already achieved their objective, whether or not the crosses were removed. The article in the OP being a perfect example - I probably wouldn't have even heard of the Dark Mofo festival if the ACL hadn't made their rather pathetic complaint.

I'm not in the war against "fundies" and am not even sure if I know any.

I think their stunt will have a rebound effect at least in regards to tourism. I live in a town that displays "winter fest" decorations so as not to offend anyone that doesn't celibrate Christmas. It's a, "Let's all get along", kind of thing. If the town I was living in went out of their way to offend half the population, I'd move.

You'd object if they displayed neon Swastikas? Or no? That would get greater attention than upside down crosses.

All I know about Tasmania is that it is beautiful and they have a significant asshole problem.

 

[Keith&Co.]

I live in a town that displays "winter fest" decorations so as not to offend anyone that doesn't celibrate Christmas. It's a, "Let's all get along", kind of thing. If the town I was living in went out of their way to offend half the population, I'd move.

But doesn't that actively offend those that believe not saying 'Christmas' is part of the fictional 'War On Christmas?' All those people that get air time, crying about how this removes Christ from Christmas, and is stepping all over Christainity?

So are you moving, or are you on board with offending silly fundies like them?

 

[Random Person]

I live in a town that displays "winter fest" decorations so as not to offend anyone that doesn't celibrate Christmas. It's a, "Let's all get along", kind of thing. If the town I was living in went out of their way to offend half the population, I'd move.

But doesn't that actively offend those that believe not saying 'Christmas' is part of the fictional 'War On Christmas?' All those people that get air time, crying about how this removes Christ from Christmas, and is stepping all over Christainity?

So are you moving, or are you on board with offending silly fundies like them?

No one has expressed any offense.

 

[Keith&Co.]

I live in a town that displays "winter fest" decorations so as not to offend anyone that doesn't celibrate Christmas. It's a, "Let's all get along", kind of thing. If the town I was living in went out of their way to offend half the population, I'd move.

But doesn't that actively offend those that believe not saying 'Christmas' is part of the fictional 'War On Christmas?' All those people that get air time, crying about how this removes Christ from Christmas, and is stepping all over Christainity?

So are you moving, or are you on board with offending silly fundies like them?

No one has expressed any offense.

What an odd non-answer.
So, what, you're not aware of the War on the War on Christmas?

 

[Random Person]

No one has expressed any offense.

What an odd non-answer.
So, what, you're not aware of the War on the War on Christmas?

I guess I live in a non-whiny bitch zone or something.

 

[Keith&Co.]

No one has expressed any offense.

What an odd non-answer.
So, what, you're not aware of the War on the War on Christmas?

I guess I live in a non-whiny bitch zone or something.

Lucky you.

However, it is STILL an act that, like the one in the OP, will offend large numbers of people quite willing to make a big stink about it, if only they knew about it. Lot of overlap in the offended, too.

Your town at least can claim they're trying not to offend non-christmasers, but the offense taken will not be any less.

 

[funinspace]

Look, my point is simple.
There's a difference between open-minded, agnostic atheism (ignorance) and deliberate anti-religion blasphemy. And you confirmed that the latter would have a different sort of explaining to do on Judgement Day.

What, I'll get a free E-ticket into heaven by not laughing at the beliefs of religious people, while still not believing in any particular god? You probably aren't into 'Far Side' type of humor...

In fact there's probably a version of Pascals Wager which says why not give theism the benefit of the doubt and NOT taunt God. (Unless you like living dangerously)

LOL...not taunt God, sounds like such a petty and narcissistic Skybeast. Again, how would that change what would happen to me (and billions of others) within your envisioned theology? And how would be pretending to worship your God help against the Pascalian judgement of the Islamic God Allah?

And at least in the US there has been quite a rise in threats and harassment towards Mosques and Muslims. I really doubt that the people who don't believe in any gods are at the forefront of such hate. Shouldn't Christians respect Muslims? I can't imagine Allah liking that...sounds like dangerous living as we know skybeasts are petty creatures.

 

[Random Person]

I guess I live in a non-whiny bitch zone or something.

Lucky you.

However, it is STILL an act that, like the one in the OP, will offend large numbers of people quite willing to make a big stink about it, if only they knew about it. Lot of overlap in the offended, too.

Your town at least can claim they're trying not to offend non-christmasers, but the offense taken will not be any less.

They've not put up Christmas decorations here for years during the Christmas season and no one has expressed any offense. Yet I am hearing about offended people on the other side of the globe.

In my view not displaying Christmas decorations and installing upside down crosses aren't equivalent. One appears to be making an accommodation out of respect and the other seems to be intentionally disrespecting people.

 

[Keith&Co.]

In my view not displaying Christmas decorations and installing upside down crosses aren't equivalent.

But the subject is people BEING offended, not whether or not you personally validate that offense.

One appears to be making an accommodation out of respect and the other seems to be intentionally disrespecting people.

To you.
But there are Christains who will see a conscious effort to NOT celebrate Christmas as an attack on what they think is the only acceptable religion, same as choosing to raise up inverted crosses.
I get lectured by them at least once a holiday season. I don't really understand it. People won't even make eye contact with me most of the year, suddenly need to lecture me outside of stores, hoping that I'll boycott a store that's making an accomodation to evil multiculturalism....

 

[Tom Sawyer]

You really don't seem to be able to grasp the existence of atheists at all.

Also, doesn't understand the impotence of Pascal's Wager.

I'm nor more afraid of Hell than Lion likely fears ending up in Niffleheim.

Say again?
No. Really! I don't know what you meant to say.
...that you are such a strongly convinced atheist (anti-theist) that you are willing to deliberately blaspheme God come what may???

I'm fine blaspheming him come what may. It seems like somewhat of a silly concern that some fictional character from a storybook might get into a snit because I didn't lick the man's ass the way he likes.

I won't blaspheme Thor, though. On the off chance that he might be real, that would mean that he's friends with the Hulk and that dude's not someone whom I'd want angry at me for dissing his teammate.

 

[Random Person]

In my view not displaying Christmas decorations and installing upside down crosses aren't equivalent.

But the subject is people BEING offended, not whether or not you personally validate that offense.

One appears to be making an accommodation out of respect and the other seems to be intentionally disrespecting people.

To you.
But there are Christains who will see a conscious effort to NOT celebrate Christmas as an attack on what they think is the only acceptable religion, same as choosing to raise up inverted crosses.
I get lectured by them at least once a holiday season. I don't really understand it. People won't even make eye contact with me most of the year, suddenly need to lecture me outside of stores, hoping that I'll boycott a store that's making an accomodation to evil multiculturalism....

Far Western Mass is very different culturally than Central Ohio.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Say again?
No. Really! I don't know what you meant to say.
...that you are such a strongly convinced atheist (anti-theist) that you are willing to deliberately blaspheme God come what may???

I'm fine blaspheming him come what may.

And Lion is fine with blaspheming Quetzalcoatl by the very act of worshiping Jesus.
Because the threat that a talking flying snake may be jealous and punish him by making him clean used hearts out of the sky-temple drains, for eternity, is a meaningless threat. Nothing to alter his behavior over.

But he really can't imagine not being afraid of HIS god's temper...

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Say again?
No. Really! I don't know what you meant to say.
...that you are such a strongly convinced atheist (anti-theist) that you are willing to deliberately blaspheme God come what may???

I'm fine blaspheming him come what may.

And Lion is fine with blaspheming Quetzalcoatl by the very act of worshiping Jesus.

Ya, I've noticed that he hasn't cut the heart out of a single virgin to bring about spring and is just counting on the revolution of the Earth around the Sun to end winter like some kind of chump. Given all the billions who'll die of starvation if he's bet wrong, he's playing pretty fast and loose with the lives of innocents here.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Probably hasn't identified any witches to the inquisition, either, leaving us open to infestations...

 

[bilby]

You really don't seem to be able to grasp the existence of atheists at all.

Also, doesn't understand the impotence of Pascal's Wager.

I'm nor more afraid of Hell than Lion likely fears ending up in Niffleheim.

Say again?
No. Really! I don't know what you meant to say.
...that you are such a strongly convinced atheist (anti-theist) that you are willing to deliberately blaspheme God come what may???

Are you willing to deliberately insult Superman, come what may???

Are you aware that empty implied threats are not so much scary as they are hilarious?

 

[Elixir]

It's one thing to claim open-minded, enquiring skepticism as to the existence of God.
It's quite another to deliberately mock and blaspheme.

On the Day of Judgement that latter will be harder to explain.

No it won't.
"Your purported story was and remains nonsensical, and if you didn't want me to think that, you were in a perfect position to deny me a brain. Since you didn't do that, I put your silly stories to the best possible use - humor and sarcasm, which was enjoyed by all the other thinking people you allowed to exist."

Of course that's not gonna happen because the whole idea of "judgment day" is as silly as the rest of the tenets of religions - which are uniformly nothing more than artifacts of tribal structures that once were of benefit to (especially the leaders of) small tribes of a few hundred or a few thousand individuals. Now, religions are just pablum for the masses, employed to keep people stupid enough to vote for Donald Trump and his ilk.

 

[Lion IRC]

And Lion is fine with blaspheming Quetzalcoatl by the very act of worshiping Jesus.

Ya, I've noticed that he hasn't cut the heart out of a single virgin to bring about spring and is just counting on the revolution of the Earth around the Sun to end winter like some kind of chump. Given all the billions who'll die of starvation if he's bet wrong, he's playing pretty fast and loose with the lives of innocents here.

Totally ignoring my point. And frankly, Keith&Co is being intellectually dishonest..
I would NOT be deliberately blaspheming Quetzalcoatl by mistakenly thinking Jesus was Quetzalcoatl. The Dark Mofo people aren't accidentally blaspheming.
They are so certain of their fundy atheism that they don't care who they offend.

The Two Rules of Atheism.
1. There's no God
2. If there is a God I hate Him.