This years war on Christmas billboard

[Opti]

www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/here-is-this-year%e2%80%99s-provocative-%e2%80%98war-on-christmas%e2%80%99-billboard/ar-BBgcS6Q

The most reliable annual “war on Christmas” fodder in all the land has arrived: A billboard, released by an atheist group, prodding at the religious foundation of the Christmas season with a reminder that atheists exist.

This year’s billboard — as it has in the past — comes from American Atheists. And this year’s billboard — as it has in the past — will fail to live up to the worst fears of its critics.

The campaign, according to an American Atheists news release, is “aimed at in-the-closet atheists who are pressured to observe religious traditions during the holidays” and who might want to attend the group’s Memphis conference next year. Running from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24, the campaign will also give the group a lot of press coverage (like this article) in the lead-up to Christmas.

“Dear Santa,” the billboard reads. “All I want for Christmas is to skip church! I’m too old for fairy tales.”

[Shooby]

Bitter bitter. Lol

[mmhmm]

That's just plain nasty, as far as I'm concerned - and, I am an atheist. I just don't feel the need to join a group and march around proclaiming it, and I certainly don't feel the need to put down others' beliefs. Those idiots should be ashamed of themselves.

[Tennesseer]

"The campaign, according to an American Atheists news release, is “aimed at in-the-closet atheists who are pressured to observe religious traditions during the holidays” and who might want to attend the group’s Memphis conference next year. Running from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24, the campaign will also give the group a lot of press coverage (like this article) in the lead-up to Christmas."

I swear I am not the local organizer or chairman.

[Deleted]

Dec 1, 2014 21:12:45 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

That's just plain nasty, as far as I'm concerned - and, I am an atheist. I just don't feel the need to join a group and march around proclaiming it, and I certainly don't feel the need to put down others' beliefs. Those idiots should be ashamed of themselves.

Yeah, mostly what she said (except the "plain nasty" and the "I am an atheist" part... because I'm an Agnostic )!

[Opti]

I think they'd win more friends if they had kept the Billboard simpler

and less judgmental.

“Dear Santa,” “All I want for Christmas is to skip church!

(Done.)

[mmhmm]

Dec 1, 2014 21:22:49 GMT -5 Opti said:

I think they'd win more friends if they had kept the Billboard simpler

and less judgmental.

“Dear Santa,” “All I want for Christmas is to skip church!

(Done.)

I don't know why they need to say anything at all, frankly. What the heck do they mean by "skip church"? They don't go to church anyway, I'd hope. It's just a stupid idea that should never have become a reality.

[Opti]

Dec 1, 2014 21:24:16 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Dec 1, 2014 21:22:49 GMT -5 Opti said:

I think they'd win more friends if they had kept the Billboard simpler

and less judgmental.

“Dear Santa,” “All I want for Christmas is to skip church!

(Done.)

I don't know why they need to say anything at all, frankly. What the heck do they mean by "skip church"? They don't go to church anyway, I'd hope. It's just a stupid idea that should never have become a reality.

If you read the  article they are going after closet atheists. People who probably go to

church because they feel they should for social reasons versus belief reasons. That's who

they believe is their target audience.

[mmhmm]

Dec 1, 2014 21:27:48 GMT -5 Opti said:

Dec 1, 2014 21:24:16 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I don't know why they need to say anything at all, frankly. What the heck do they mean by "skip church"? They don't go to church anyway, I'd hope. It's just a stupid idea that should never have become a reality.

If you read the  article they are going after closet atheists. People who probably go to

church because they feel they should for social reasons versus belief reasons. That's who

they believe is their target audience.

I read the article. Frankly, I don't care if they're going after rabid chipmunks. A billboard "targets" everyone who drives by, not a specific group. This is the holiday season and is important to most Christians. This billboard is in poor taste, IMO. It's just plain nasty.

[Deleted]

Dec 1, 2014 21:31:46 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Dec 1, 2014 21:27:48 GMT -5 Opti said:

If you read the  article they are going after closet atheists. People who probably go to

church because they feel they should for social reasons versus belief reasons. That's who

they believe is their target audience.

I read the article. Frankly, I don't care if they're going after rabid chipmunks. A billboard "targets" everyone who drives by, not a specific group. This is the holiday season and is important to most Christians. This billboard is in poor taste, IMO. It's just plain nasty.

Considering other "anti religion" things I've come across... I don't know if I'd go as far as "nasty" for a description of this one.

I mean the "Religion is like a penis" ones... THOSE qualify as "nasty".

[EVT1]

It is people like that who give a voice to people that claim atheism is a religion.

There is no need to denigrate someone else's faith.

Bout time we changed the holiday to giftmas anyway- nothing but a sales drive for churches and corporations anyway.

[Value Buy]

When will they go after the Muslim faith?

They should at the very least, be an equal opportunity religious basher.

[EVT1]

No one should be bashing religion, just simply advocating that it be kept out of schools and the government- that should be the goal of any atheist group. Actually that should be the goal of any Constitution loving American

[Tennesseer]

Dec 1, 2014 21:57:03 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

When will they go after the Muslim faith?

They should at the very least, be an equal opportunity religious basher.

I think not believing in any deity covers Islam and any other religion from A to Z.

[Value Buy]

Tenn, thanks for the correction on my use of  the word Muslim.

I blew that one. I meant Islam. 

[mmhmm]

Dec 1, 2014 21:47:04 GMT -5 @richardintn said:

Dec 1, 2014 21:31:46 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I read the article. Frankly, I don't care if they're going after rabid chipmunks. A billboard "targets" everyone who drives by, not a specific group. This is the holiday season and is important to most Christians. This billboard is in poor taste, IMO. It's just plain nasty.

Considering other "anti religion" things I've come across... I don't know if I'd go as far as "nasty" for a description of this one.

I mean the "Religion is like a penis" ones... THOSE qualify as "nasty".

Your meaning for the word "nasty" differs from mine. Mine doesn't require a sexual component. It simply means mean, or vicious.

[Deleted]

I donno whats the point. Why its important to people I believe what they believe?

[Tiny]

I'm not too sure about the "fairy tale" part...seems a bit in poor taste... but, I guess it's a bit of tit for tat... If you contrast this bill board with the bill boards from the not so distant pass that plainly said if you didn't "come to Jesus" you'd burn in Hell.

I would think that being told your belief is a "fairy tale" is a bit less dire and awful than being told that a loving God would tsk tsk tsk your foolishness as he stands by and watches your soul suffer eternal torment.

Considering how often we are told other believes we hold dear are foolish or silly I'm kinda amazed there's such vehemence when someone pokes a bit of fun at one's belief in God.

Yeah, I'm an atheist.

[mmhmm]

Dec 1, 2014 21:57:03 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

When will they go after the Muslim faith?

They should at the very least, be an equal opportunity religious basher.

The reason they target Christians in this country is really quite obvious. Christians are in the majority here - not to mention it's the Christmas season.

I don't think that's the point here. The point isn't how many faiths a group can target. The point is - why target any? Does it make you proud? Does it make you seem larger than life? Does it make you seem smart? What exactly does it accomplish?

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. And mean.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 1, 2014 22:10:09 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Tenn, thanks for the correction on my use of  the word Muslim.

I blew that one. I meant Islam. 

It's not a biggie, VB. I knew what you meant and you meant no harm. Islam just automatically popped into my mind.

[Deleted]

Dec 1, 2014 22:13:03 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I'm not too sure about the "fairy tale" part...seems a bit in poor taste... but, I guess it's a bit of tit for tat... If you contrast this bill board with the bill boards from the not so distant pass that plainly said if you didn't "come to Jesus" you'd burn in Hell.

I would think that being told your belief is a "fairy tale" is a bit less dire and awful than being told that a loving God would tsk tsk tsk your foolishness as he stands by and watches your soul suffer eternal torment.

Considering how often we are told other believes we hold dear are foolish or silly I'm kinda amazed there's such vehemence when someone pokes a bit of fun at one's belief in God.

Yeah, I'm an atheist.

This one does not excuse that one.

[mmhmm]

Dec 1, 2014 22:13:03 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I'm not too sure about the "fairy tale" part...seems a bit in poor taste... but, I guess it's a bit of tit for tat... If you contrast this bill board with the bill boards from the not so distant pass that plainly said if you didn't "come to Jesus" you'd burn in Hell.

I would think that being told your belief is a "fairy tale" is a bit less dire and awful than being told that a loving God would tsk tsk tsk your foolishness as he stands by and watches your soul suffer eternal torment.

Considering how often we are told other believes we hold dear are foolish or silly I'm kinda amazed there's such vehemence when someone pokes a bit of fun at one's belief in God.

Yeah, I'm an atheist.

I've never been a believer in tit for tat. I don't think it accomplishes anything. It just extends something that shouldn't exist in the first place. Waste of time and energy.

[Deleted]

Dec 1, 2014 22:12:15 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Dec 1, 2014 21:47:04 GMT -5 @richardintn said:

Considering other "anti religion" things I've come across... I don't know if I'd go as far as "nasty" for a description of this one.

I mean the "Religion is like a penis" ones... THOSE qualify as "nasty".

Your meaning for the word "nasty" differs from mine. Mine doesn't require a sexual component. It simply means mean, or vicious.

Ahhhhh... gotcha! 

[Tiny]

Dec 1, 2014 22:13:01 GMT -5 @tiki said:

I donno whats the point. Why its important to people I believe what they believe?

Because in America if you don't have some sort of belief in a god - you are immoral and shifty and can't be trusted.    Politicians have even suggested that an Atheist can not be a 'real' American.     In the recent past, anyone serving in the Military could not declare themselves to be an Atheist. The American public would rather elect a Catholic before they'd even consider electing an Atheist president.   

Do some googles if you want references - there's lots of humanist and atheist sites that discuss these topics.

The unfortunate fact is that there are quite a lot of Americans who have little or no believe in gods.   

That's why it's important to other people to KNOW what you believe  and hopefully that belief matches up with theirs (or else you start to get treated like an atheist...even if you believe in a god (just not the right one).

ADDED:  and that's why I would assume there are a lot of athiests sitting the pews on Religious holidays.   I've never had believe in God (or any God for that matter) and I spent every Sunday in a pew until I was 21 and 'escaped' from the "when in my house you'll follow my rules!" of my parents.  That was over 25 years ago.  I'm sure plenty of people today still feel pressure to "fake it".  Maybe they don't mind "faking it" maybe they do.  That I can not answer.  I found "faking it" to be 'morally painful'.  I didn't believe in God or Hell or any of the other words/oaths I have to say at Mass.  I found it uncomfortable to taking Communion even though I thought it was a bunch of whoo-ey but I was expected to do it.  I was uncomfortable not with my lack of belief but because I was making a farce of something that other people seemed to feel very strongly about.   I was trampling all over their beliefs by "faking it".  I felt I had no integrity.   

I'm not sure I'd being willing to die for my Atheistic belief (ie the lack of gods)... I can easily 'blend in' again if I had to.   I can mouth the words and be convincing.   I'd rather die on some other moral value hill.

[Tiny]

Dec 1, 2014 22:16:34 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Dec 1, 2014 22:13:03 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I'm not too sure about the "fairy tale" part...seems a bit in poor taste... but, I guess it's a bit of tit for tat... If you contrast this bill board with the bill boards from the not so distant pass that plainly said if you didn't "come to Jesus" you'd burn in Hell.

I would think that being told your belief is a "fairy tale" is a bit less dire and awful than being told that a loving God would tsk tsk tsk your foolishness as he stands by and watches your soul suffer eternal torment.

Considering how often we are told other believes we hold dear are foolish or silly I'm kinda amazed there's such vehemence when someone pokes a bit of fun at one's belief in God.

Yeah, I'm an atheist.

I've never been a believer in tit for tat. I don't think it accomplishes anything. It just extends something that shouldn't exist in the first place. Waste of time and energy.

Remember it's Marketing.   Are you offended by commercials for deodarent that imply that you stink so bad people standing next to you pass out because you don't use the advertised brand of deodorant??    Or are you offended when a commercial not so subtle ly implies that women are stupid? Or that men are just really big babies who need a "mother" ?

[mmhmm]

Dec 1, 2014 22:25:18 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Dec 1, 2014 22:16:34 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I've never been a believer in tit for tat. I don't think it accomplishes anything. It just extends something that shouldn't exist in the first place. Waste of time and energy.

Remember it's Marketing.   Are you offended by commercials for deodarent that imply that you stink so bad people standing next to you pass out because you don't use the advertised brand of deodorant??    Or are you offended when a commercial not so subtle ly implies that women are stupid? Or that men are just really big babies who need a "mother" ?

I don't watch television, so don't see such commercials. Doesn't seem they'd be very effective - at least, not on me. I truly think that approach is intellectually bankrupt.

[Tiny]

Dec 1, 2014 22:29:15 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

Dec 1, 2014 22:25:18 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Remember it's Marketing.   Are you offended by commercials for deodarent that imply that you stink so bad people standing next to you pass out because you don't use the advertised brand of deodorant??    Or are you offended when a commercial not so subtle ly implies that women are stupid? Or that men are just really big babies who need a "mother" ?

I don't watch television, so don't see such commercials. Doesn't seem they'd be very effective - at least, not on me. I truly think that approach is intellectually bankrupt.

Again, it's marketing.   I'm sure the "Santa" billboard is meant to be bit the top - to get noticed and to get talked about.     Think about those ads for women's and men's underwear     Although I do have to admit seeing David Beckham in his undies at the bus stop every morning was kinda nice. 

[mmhmm]

Dec 1, 2014 22:41:41 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Dec 1, 2014 22:29:15 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I don't watch television, so don't see such commercials. Doesn't seem they'd be very effective - at least, not on me. I truly think that approach is intellectually bankrupt.

Again, it's marketing.   I'm sure the "Santa" billboard is meant to be bit the top - to get noticed and to get talked about.     Think about those ads for women's and men's underwear     Although I do have to admit seeing David Beckham in his undies at the bus stop every morning was kinda nice. 

LOL. Well, I must admit most marketing techniques don't work well on me. If they work on others, that's cool. In the case of this particular billboard, however, I can't imagine it working on anybody unless they already had the same mind-set as the idiots who put the billboard up. Anyone else would recognize the poor taste and avoid it.

[weltschmerz]

I think it's more about raising awareness, to get other atheists out of the closet.

Someone could be driving by, and think "Hey look! There are other people like me out there, after all! Perhaps I'm not alone. Maybe it's OK, instead of something to be ashamed of!"

[weltschmerz]

Dec 1, 2014 21:57:03 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

When will they go after the Muslim faith?

They should at the very least, be an equal opportunity religious basher.

Oh, you mean like this? Allah is the first one on the list.