Re: Organized Atheism - good or bad?--it's all good!

[omritoker]

Woot! Being atheist rocks! xD

I can eat whatever I want and do whatever I want, and drive whenever I want and not waste my time at boring prayings! (I wonder if that's the true meaning of hakuna matata=/)

[Agila1]

Great points raised in this video!

[GnosticAtheist]

Because youtube doesn't work my comment and any answer is gone. I think youtube has lost its function as no more debate is possible. Please all send a complaint to youtube about it, as it happens all over... Comments just disappear into the void of nothingness.

[dfarmer1584]

Your right! your comments are gone! That pisses me off GA! Looks like some others are gone too.

I've noticed that this has been happening a lot. It's probably happened to every one by now. I know that some comments I've left around have dropped into the void.

I will definitely send a complaint.

[GnosticAtheist]

We must find them (youtube programmers), and destroy them! ;)

[dfarmer1584]

AAARRRRGGGGG! I got your back.

[Dalbert342]

got your back too,Gnostic

[GnosticAtheist]

Tze evil programmers have fixed it, it seems...

But maybe you want something else from my backside? ;)

[Dalbert342]

lol..do you keep your valet in the back pocket?

[GnosticAtheist]

Ehm... Lets say I do? Will you search me for it? ;)

[Dalbert342]

Nah,am not that desperate for cash yet lol

[GnosticAtheist]

hehe. But at any rate; IAM for the win!

[Largo64]

Outnumbered we surely are, but YouTube has already shown us that there are more of us than we imagined before, and all over the world. B ut an orginazation suggests not only some "organization," but some kind of leadership. Who wold you propose as a leader? Yourself? Me? AmazingAtheist? That's a diverse selection. I like you okay, I would bow out myself, and I thnink AA already tried to organize without success. If I'm wrong about that he will surely tell me.

[Largo64]

The grouping such as we have on YouTube is valuable and lends support from one athist to another. Organization will necessitate such things as by-laws. Why do we need that? Groups aiming at specific problems may organize in some way to help further their goals. But trying to compass the whole of atheist peopleseems like a bad idea to me.

[dfarmer1584]

I appreciate your point. I guess it is really a question of the level of "organization" we want to consider. Bylaws...yes I would be hesitant about that. However, are bylaws required for organization? Perhaps just a broad mission statement--with an individual line item veto option? Perhaps not even that. Perhaps several affiliated organizations would be called for, each with a slightly different "flavor" but all sharing a large overall effort?

[Largo64]

That's more like it. ButI was thinking of such things as the board of directors of a little theater group. Meetings were formal, conducted by Roberts Rules of Order, and politics reared its ugly head even in that comparatively tiny group. The loose affiliation we already have on YouTube seems adequate to me. We have a sense of community without having to have a leader or any rules but the terms of use.

[dfarmer1584]

You know, I can't really disagree with you.

But would you be suspicious of, or castigate others if they wanted to create a more structured, goal-oriented group, while not at all altering the current YT situation? I suppose that people could do both--and even more. [...]

[dfarmer1584]

I'm also curious as to how you feel about "promotions?" I think that promotions are a great idea. I know it works well to get the godless voice heard by 10s of thousands here on YT. I can't see a downside to that...wellll I can't see MUCH downside, as long as the promoted material is carefully chosen.

[Largo64]

Well, it works. But one unfortunate "promotion" was a kid who calls himself dendrophilian. The idea was to get everyone behind this guy and get him featured. Turns out he isn't exactly the face many of us would like to be put on atheism before the world. YMMV.

[dfarmer1584]

;)

Ya, I watched that unfold.

[dfarmer1584]

That last "50 cent" video literally made me cringe.

[TheKidFrom13thStreet]

Thank you very much for this, that was more or less exactly what I wanted to know. I have thought about all these things you have talked about and I wasn't able to come up with any strong argument against "organized atheism" but I guess I was just really curious if there was one out there I was overlooking. Thank you again.

[dfarmer1584]

Thanks for taking the time to listen. Your video prompted me to think about this, and I wanted to share those thoughts with you.

[worldlystone]

Its natural for like minded people,who have common goals,to come together,and change the world for the better.

[GnosticAtheist]

One of the things we must watch out for is creating a moral majority. As long as there is no way for a member to be ex-communicated we have no serious problem.

Good video.

[worldlystone]

I agree,as long as we don't set up rules that atheists must follow,it can't go wrong.

[GnosticAtheist]

Yes, no dogma.

[dfarmer1584]

I agree. No dogma. No "laws." Just a forum for people to voice unbelief so that others may hear and know that they are not alone. Organization simply amplifies the voices.

[AtheistAaron]

Very good response, Dave! I don't understand this "anti-organization" attitude. It is essentially the worst kind of anarchy - the opposition of cooperation. I oppose the destruction of critical thinking, I oppose groupthink, I oppose most government. I do not, however, oppose cooperation. Cooperation makes great things possible. Well said.

[bryantulsa]

That is basically my argument. Do the contrarians oppose ALL cooperation? There is a way to collaborate without participating in groupthink. In fact, diversity gives the group more ideas to draw from. But of course, participation is up to the individual.

[dfarmer1584]

Wow. You know you're right about this being your argument! I saw your video a few minutes ago--after I uploaded this ramble. I say here some of the things you said; but, you say much, much more--and in a very professional manner. [...]

[dfarmer1584]

You've given a lot of thought, not just to "should" there be organization, but well beyond that, into the specifics about how that organization should operate, what it should look like, and possible goals it should work for. Very good ideas in your videos. I wish I had saw it earlier.

[dfarmer1584]

Thanks for the comment Aaron. It's always nice to hear from you.

[AtheistAaron]

My pleasure. I'll check Bryan's vid now.