Community

[thejackinatoroid]

You actually affirmed Cristofer7's original point. If a person belongs to a certain community, you can make assumptions about certain aspects of that person. (Like a member of the football team probably likes football.)

There is no commonality for behaviours and preferences among Athiests. Their only identifying characteristic is their rejection of someone else's belief(s).

Does a community need a physical manifestation of itself to be considered a community?

[rozeboosje]

I'm a member of the Greystones community. What does that tell you, other than that I happen to live in Greystones?

[thejackinatoroid]

That has meaning. It tells me something about you. But what does it mean if you say you are a non-resident of Helsinki. What can anyone get from that?

[rozeboosje]

I see your point, but I also see a difference. Atheism is sufficiently distinctive to warrant a label. Not being a resident of Helsinki isn't.

[thejackinatoroid]

Sufficiently distinctive in what way? By definition Atheism is is a "non". It it not a type of ideology, nor is it an "anti". Ahelsinkism is as valid as atheism. It is invalid to attach any further meaning to "a-anythingism.

[rowsdowersavesus]

bravo for common sense

[rozeboosje]

Thank you Ben.

[popebenadict16]

well said man

[rozeboosje]

Thanks Pope!

[kunstinflammen]

Zomg I've been away too long AARGH. Missed the brilliant Pino! HAH! Well I'm not entirely atheist because I'm actually agnostic, but I sometimes polarise to the sceptical end. I'm not part of any little offshoot group in any community though, I'm very non-aligned and Swiss in that respect. :D THANKS PINO LOVE YAAA

[rozeboosje]

Thanks kunstinflammen (blush)

[iviewthetube]

I really liked your points. That is why I am convinced that people who think that if all of religions are eliminated then all of the world's problems will miraculously disappear are delusional.

[rozeboosje]

Indeed they are. If that were to happen, people would still be people and they would find other ways of expressing their intolerance. Good comment.

[bobomcgraw]

You make a valid point.

[rozeboosje]

Thanks bobomcgraw

[thequestionmarkofGod]

Agreed, accepting variety is part of the word community. We are not a cult, we can have community and individuality.

[rozeboosje]

Thanks Sara

[YourSuperiorSays]

you can't define a community by one trait people in a specific location share.

that's silly.

[rozeboosje]

Nope. It's practical.

[YourSuperiorSays]

and quite denominational! oh noes! we're a religious sect now!

xD

[rozeboosje]

LOL

[boldia]

This video put me in a coma

[rozeboosje]

You shouldn't have watched it then

[sarcasmosis]

The idea of community in the United States has become distorted by living in personal superforts in the suburbs for fifty years. People don't seem to realize simple things about social life that are undeniable anymore.

[rozeboosje]

Thanks sarcasmosis

[happyjesus123]

It is true that some YouTube "Atheists" see themselves as part of a community. There is a YouTube Atheist community from their perspective, in that being part of a community is based on shared self identifications.

[rozeboosje]

Good point happyjesus123

[LinkTetraWW]

What about those of us that do not post videos? I consider myself apart of this community...

[Loreleila]

Then you are. watch?v=luZbxiM50tg

[rozeboosje]

You certainly are. A pleasure to meet you, LinkTetraWW.

[kurtilein3]

i think there is an youtube ANTItheist community, those that want to make a change when it comes to religion. they have comon goals. the youtube atheists dont have common goals, thats the problem.

i will set up a new group. small, highly exclusive, clearly defined goals, progressive. focused on cooperation, not organisation. actually im planning this since i made my first video, its one of the reasons why im on youtube.

[rozeboosje]

Good luck with that endeavour, kurtilein3. Hope it works for you.

[YourSuperiorSays]

can i be the guy who waves his dick at traffic in this community?

[rozeboosje]

Whatever you please :-)

[YourSuperiorSays]

whattup dutchie

[rozeboosje]

LOL. Just a brain fart, My Superior :-)

[DavidRandallCurtis]

In the atheist community I'm the village idiot. At least the hours are flexible... ;)

[rozeboosje]

Hi David. And what does that make me? The court jester? :P

[cavejourney]

I think a lot has to do with how people define community. It's a staple group of people who see and comment on the atheist vids. Atheists outside of yt don't feel the need to come together. For some reason a small percentage of us do. I for one appreciate the people in this "community" who have educated me and helped me in my deconversion. I don't like everyone but I am definately a greatful part of this "atheist community" .

[CousinoMacul]

"Atheists outside of yt don't feel the need to come together."

Be careful when you make blanket generalizations. Most of my friends from my local atheist meet-up are not on YouTube, yet we feel the need to come together every month.

[TrueNorth15]

I would say that if only 2 atheists desire to come together it would invalidate that statement. there are meetups up here in canada as well Ross of non-youtubers

[rozeboosje]

Indeed

[cavejourney]

CousinMacul - thank you - I should have said "none of the atheists I know personally feel the need to come together". I should not have made the generalization. My atheist coworkers and friends have been kind to me through my deconversion but they don't really feel the need to talk about their atheism as they were raised atheists or their deconversions were easy for them. I'm glad to hear about your group - my education continues...

[rozeboosje]

Thanks cavejourney. Like Javier says, some of us do gather outside this forum :-)

[jscience]

great video!

[rozeboosje]

Thank you jscience

[Loreleila]

I appear to be part of the atheist community, even though I'm not one. The reason is I spend time amongst this group, have got to know and care about, seem to belong in some mysterious way, even if sometimes I wonder how that could be.(more..)

[Loreleila]

I was thinking earlier about what makes a friend, and in part it's being free to disagree with, accept for all their idiosyncracies and flaws, care about for whatever inexplicable reason, and I think the principle is the same here. It must be, otherwise what the hell am I doing here? lol

[rozeboosje]

Absolutely spot on, Cathy :-)

[xy11xy]

Hmmm. I guess it's 'cause they're/we're just people under it all. I suppose you can find things to like in anybody....but some things are deal breakers.

[philhellenes]

Loreleila - What you may not realise is that I disagree with my friends, vehemently, ALL the time, just as they disagree with me. Such conversations normally end with one of us shrugging and asking the other if they want a coffee. Then we talk about something else. Who wants friends who agree about everything. Disagreement is a way testing friendship. :)

[Loreleila]

And that's something else about making friends, finding out their differing styles.I tend not to see differing views as disagreement,but as an opportunity for those involved to see more, to examine each others perspectives.

But now I know you were just being friendly. :)

[philhellenes]

Oh no, I WAS disagreeing. NOW I'm being friendly. :)

[Loreleila]

Haha Expect disagreement. :P

[rozeboosje]

Yup. Happens me all the time Phil.

[CousinoMacul]

I like this community.

[rozeboosje]

Me too. A lot.

[HitchensFanatic]

I totally agree! I feel more comfortable around the people in the YT atheist community, than anywhere else. The drama lately has been disheartening, but for the most part, I think, United We Stand... =)

[rozeboosje]

Divided we stand :P

[TheGiggler1]

One reason I even get on a computer is mainly to see what other atheists have to say and interact with other atheists. There is indeed an "atheist community" on YouTube and I too have experienced the joy as well a the disillusionment and disappointment at times.

[rozeboosje]

Exactly. And I think the joy makes the disillusionment bearable.

[DieselBodine]

Community is viable when willfully participating members use their collective energies for the betterment of that community. Forced membership, ridiculous or unacceptable expectations, perceived pecking orders and the superiority complex stain humanity's desire to splinter into divergent communities. Inter- and intra-community hostilities paint a sordid picture of this potentially "noble" enterprise.

[rozeboosje]

Yes, but I also think it's important within a community for groups to complement each other rather than everyone just marching along to the same beat. Where this works you get harmonious interaction, where it doesn't you get discord.

[gratex]

It's quite simple to avoid the drama: don't subscribe to people you don't like, subscribe to people you do like.

[rozeboosje]

Well, I guess that avoids getting personally involved in drama, but I have seen people I do like fight with each other :-)

[kurtilein3]

gratex: i unsubscribe when the drama reaches a certain percentage of the recent videos of the user. no matter how good the other videos are. and if this happens, i wont subscribe again.

[rozeboosje]

Good idea

[xy11xy]

Calm, rational Rozey!

It's certainly illustrated something I've suspected. I have stronger ties/loyalty to women(Atheist & Christian both) than I do to most men of either persuasion.

I am as disgusted with (Chr&Ath) men who refer to women as "cunt" or "vaginas" as I am with militant Muslims.

[rozeboosje]

Yes, xy11xy, I can very much identify with that.

[philhellenes]

Great way of looking at it, very thoughtful and perfectly accurate. I am persuaded.

[rozeboosje]

Thanks Phil!