Happy Atheist Forum

Starts around 48 minute mark:

http://anamericanatheist.org/2010/10/14 ... -atheists/ (http://anamericanatheist.org/2010/10/14/episode-27-hipster-christianity-trickster-god-and-smart-atheists/)

This is the first interview I've had for a podcast and for anything other than work...either I didn't stumble on my words as bad as I thought or they did a good job editing.  I was nervous...public speaking is one of the skills I've had to work on and still need to work on.

Nice!  You sounded really clear and well spoken to me.  Way to go!

Quote from: "pinkocommie"Nice!  You sounded really clear and well spoken to me.  Way to go!

Thank you that means a lot to me.

Very well done, Whitney.    Does this publicity mean we'll have legions of new happy atheists visiting the forum?

Quote from: "Sophus"Does this publicity mean we'll have legions of new happy atheists visiting the forum?

I guess we'll see.

Hey, Whitney, well done! This is very nice publicity for the forum, and you did a great job putting your thoughts out there during the interview. It was fun to listen to.

Great job Whitney!
I found out recently that my college does not have a free-thinkers club.  I feel as though I should start one, and suggest that people interested visit this forum.  Would you mind if I advertised the forum at the campus?

You spoke clearly, at a good pace and without any discernible hesitations or 'um's' and 'er's'. I missed a couple of words but that sounded like you had moved away from the microphone for a moment. You came over as thoughtful, considerate and accommodating of people's world views but firm in your own convictions. All-in-all a very good job.

I got the impression that the interviewer was a little antagonistic and didn't really 'get' your stance? Is that so or was he just playing devil's advocate to make for interesting talk radio?

Excellent work, a koala stamp for you.

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fattachments.emergencyoffice.com.au%2Fproducts%2Fimages_small%2F7027.png&hash=dd575f7747b84b7a6097781fc0a6e05658f985b5)

Community organizer, eh? President Ford has a nice ring to it! Wait...

Fantastic job, Whitney. the interviewer seemed to be trying to separate atheists into two camps, where there are sort of softies on one side and the "new atheists", challenging religious folks on the other, but you shut that down quite well.

Quote from: "Will"Community organizer, eh? President Ford has a nice ring to it! Wait...

Fantastic job, Whitney. the interviewer seemed to be trying to separate atheists into two camps, where there are sort of softies on one side and the "new atheists", challenging religious folks on the other, but you shut that down quite well.

There are highs and lows on any spectrum.  Generally speaking, the crowd that follows Hitchens tends to be more aggressive than the Harris or Dawkins crowd.  I can see where he was coming from with that line of thought.

Quote from: "DropLogic"Great job Whitney!
I found out recently that my college does not have a free-thinkers club.  I feel as though I should start one, and suggest that people interested visit this forum.  Would you mind if I advertised the forum at the campus?

That would be awesome...I wouldn't mind making a sub section for you to use as a home base; just let me know.

Quote from: "Tank"I got the impression that the interviewer was a little antagonistic and didn't really 'get' your stance? Is that so or was he just playing devil's advocate to make for interesting talk radio?

I don't know, I didn't know him before he posted a request for people willing to interview on the forum here and haven't talked to him much outside of the interview.  I did actually have a couple ums and longer pauses in the real interview which they edited out...it was when they asked me who was speaking at the convention (it was um..hmm..um pause the interview I need to pull up the website for the names list).  I knew many of the names but had largely blanked on them when asked.

I have followed the thread since you posted it and I've decided to add a few things.  I mostly want to thank you again for coming on the show and sharing your perspective.  I do not personally subscribe to the perspective Whitney takes, although I do highly value it.  I think there are many ways to confront the problem of religion, from supporting fellow non-believers, to open criticism and debate.  It seems self-evident that the line of questioning I took spurned discussion and allowed Whitney's view to properly come through.  As I said, I personally have a harsher tone towards religion, although I believe I am always reasonable (you can certainly read my postings and I appear on every radio show/podcast).  I do not feel ignorant of the different perspectives of atheism/religious criticism/etc. and I primarily meant to highlight her perspective through the questions;these are all topics I have been familiar with for some years now.

I fully support 'happy atheism' and Whitney's stance.  I hope the show generates some more hits, and I'd love to give you numbers but it's hard to determine our actual land radio broadcast in the Sacramento area and how many people it hits as the station we are with does not support that.  I can try and give you rough online estimates of listenership but that would also be under representative.  If you have any further questions/comments, please let me know.  If you enjoyed this interview we have an upcoming one with, conveniently, 'the Friendly Atheist' himself.

Thanks again for your time,
Tom Beasley

Quote from: "tpbeasley"I have followed the thread since you posted it and I've decided to add a few things.  I mostly want to thank you again for coming on the show and sharing your perspective.  I do not personally subscribe to the perspective Whitney takes, although I do highly value it.  I think there are many ways to confront the problem of religion, from supporting fellow non-believers, to open criticism and debate.  It seems self-evident that the line of questioning I took spurned discussion and allowed Whitney's view to properly come through.  As I said, I personally have a harsher tone towards religion, although I believe I am always reasonable (you can certainly read my postings and I appear on every radio show/podcast).  I do not feel ignorant of the different perspectives of atheism/religious criticism/etc. and I primarily meant to highlight her perspective through the questions;these are all topics I have been familiar with for some years now.

I fully support 'happy atheism' and Whitney's stance.  I hope the show generates some more hits, and I'd love to give you numbers but it's hard to determine our actual land radio broadcast in the Sacramento area and how many people it hits as the station we are with does not support that.  I can try and give you rough online estimates of listenership but that would also be under representative.  If you have any further questions/comments, please let me know.  If you enjoyed this interview we have an upcoming one with, conveniently, 'the Friendly Atheist' himself.

Thanks again for your time,
Tom Beasley

I definitely felt it was a good interview, and didn't think it was antagonistic whatsoever. The whole show was enjoyable, in fact. Nicely done, all around. Thanks for posting your message here as well. Nice to get your perspective, Tom.

This is an ongoing debate in the atheist community, not just here, and it's good that it can be hashed out.  I personally fall somewhere between Mooney's "Shh, don't disturb them" and Hitchens's "no guts, no glory" approach.  Essentially, I treat all people, theists included, the way they treat me.

I'm glad for this forum, as it seems to have a good mix of those attitudes as well.

Quote from: "Thumpalumpacus"This is an ongoing debate in the atheist community, not just here, and it's good that it can be hashed out.  I personally fall somewhere between Mooney's "Shh, don't disturb them" and Hitchens's "no guts, no glory" approach.  Essentially, I treat all people, theists included, the way they treat me.

I'm glad for this forum, as it seems to have a good mix of those attitudes as well.

I'm confused about where I fall, or if qualify as a new atheists. Other than on this forum I tend not to debate the "does God exist" question, because that doesn't hurt or harm anyone (plus, who cares what religion they are?). It's the dangerous beliefs theists often have that lead to very real consequences (or the condoning of those consequences) that I find we need to try to correct or speak out against.

Quote from: "Whitney"Starts around 48 minute mark:

http://anamericanatheist.org/2010/10/14 ... -atheists/ (http://anamericanatheist.org/2010/10/14/episode-27-hipster-christianity-trickster-god-and-smart-atheists/)

This is the first interview I've had for a podcast and for anything other than work...either I didn't stumble on my words as bad as I thought or they did a good job editing.  I was nervous...public speaking is one of the skills I've had to work on and still need to work on.

Good job, you did well.

Quote from: "Sophus"

Quote from: "Thumpalumpacus"This is an ongoing debate in the atheist community, not just here, and it's good that it can be hashed out.  I personally fall somewhere between Mooney's "Shh, don't disturb them" and Hitchens's "no guts, no glory" approach.  Essentially, I treat all people, theists included, the way they treat me.

I'm glad for this forum, as it seems to have a good mix of those attitudes as well.

I'm confused about where I fall, or if qualify as a new atheists. Other than on this forum I tend not to debate the "does God exist" question, because that doesn't hurt or harm anyone (plus, who cares what religion they are?). It's the dangerous beliefs theists often have that lead to very real consequences (or the condoning of those consequences) that I find we need to try to correct or speak out against.

The only time I raise my voice about it is when religion aims to have political consequences.  One trope in the Bible I thoroughly agree with:  "Render unto Caesar" and all that.  I have no desire to remove anyone's faith.  I don't want it forced on me, nor do I want it diluting my son's education.