Atheist Message Boards?

Amy SF · Jul 7, 2006

To the other atheists/freethinkers on VB: 
I'm interested in joining an atheist/freethinker message board, but there seem to be quite a few of them. I've started to look at them, but I've been so spoiled by VB! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/laugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lol:"> At least one of them has allowed troll posts to remain, so I'm uncertain if I'd feel comfortable there. 
I'd like some recommendations, if possible. I was wondering who belongs to an atheist message board, and if so, would you recommend it to others? 
(By the way, this thread is not intended for discussion of atheism or religious/anti-religious debate. There are threads in the Compost Heap for that purpose. Thanks.)

Tesseract · Jul 7, 2006

I've participated in a few, but I was dissatisfied with them. They seem to have a much bigger problem with trolls and flame wars than we do here. (You're right; we ARE spoiled by our safe little VB community.) The problems were made much worse by the fact that the ones I was in were largely unmoderated, so of course it was a mess. Plus they just didn't seem to form a cohesive community that I felt welcomed into. I suspect it's an inherent problem in trying to create communities of atheists. The only thing that ties us together is what we DON'T believe in, and I think it's harder to bond when all we have in common is a negative. Once we've been through topics like "Stupid Questions Theists Ask," and discrimination by theists, we don't have a lot left to talk about. So basically all people did was argue obscure points of philosophy, chat about random stuff, and debate (I use the term loosely) with the multitude of trolls who either wanted to save us or send us on to hell faster.

Tame · Jul 7, 2006

Atheist message boards? I don't believe they exist. 
Now agnostic message boards *might* be out there, but someone will have to rpove it to me.

Amy SF · Jul 7, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Tesseract <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
I've participated in a few, but I was dissatisfied with them. They seem to have a much bigger problem with trolls and flame wars than we do here. (You're right; we ARE spoiled by our safe little VB community.) The problems were made much worse by the fact that the ones I was in were largely unmoderated, so of course it was a mess. Plus they just didn't seem to form a cohesive community that I felt welcomed into. I suspect it's an inherent problem in trying to create communities of atheists. The only thing that ties us together is what we DON'T believe in, and I think it's harder to bond when all we have in common is a negative. Once we've been through topics like "Stupid Questions Theists Ask," and discrimination by theists, we don't have a lot left to talk about. So basically all people did was argue obscure points of philosophy, chat about random stuff, and debate (I use the term loosely) with the multitude of trolls who either wanted to save us or send us on to hell faster.</div>
</div>
 
That seems like a pretty good summation of what's out there. 
Unfortunately. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/undecided.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":-/"> 
Oh well. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Tesseract · Jul 7, 2006

I think with aggressive moderators and strict membership requirements, an atheism forum could be a decently pleasant place. But there's still the problem of what the heck we would talk about. "OK, none of us believe in god. So. We're done." <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/laugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lol:"> Anyway, there are so many atheists here we could almost consider it a de facto atheism forum. 
Let's bond over atheism, Amy! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Amy SF · Jul 7, 2006

I think I was looking mainly for a place to vent, without worrying about offending the believers on VB. They're a pretty nice bunch, really. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Melanie · Jul 7, 2006

I'd like to know about a good one if it exists!

queenfluff · Jul 8, 2006

Another atheist here! If you find a good one, let me know. 
Debating about the non-existence of God can be even more stressful than debateing on vegetarianism! I tend to avoid it now unless attacked. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Vegmedic · Jul 8, 2006

At one point in time I looked for an atheist board, but didn't have the greatest luck. If someone does mention a decent one I will check it out.

Gnome Chomsky · Jul 8, 2006

I would imagine that a "freethinker" message board would be barried in arrogance. 
ebola

Amy SF · Jul 8, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Gnome Chomsky <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
I would imagine that a "freethinker" message board would be barried in arrogance. 
ebola</div>
</div>
 
"barried" <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/huh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
Did you mean "buried"?

Ludi · Jul 8, 2006

Way to insult all Freethinkers, ebola! 
Not all Freethinkers are arrogant, at least not more arrogant than most theists, in my experience. 
Some of them are, some of them aren't. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
I'd also be moderately interested in a freethinker/atheist/agnostic board, if anyone finds a good one.

Rotting · Jul 8, 2006

Hmm... I 've found this place to to be overly-moderated and in need of a few trolls (trolls are only as powerful as the attention the[y] recieve). If someone links a decent atheist/agnostic/skeptic/freethin[k]er message board I would like to check it out.

GhostUser · Jul 8, 2006

What does "freethinker" mean in this context? 
Just wondering. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Joe · Jul 8, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Tesseract <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
I suspect it's an inherent problem in trying to create communities of atheists. The only thing that ties us together is what we DON'T believe in, and I think it's harder to bond when all we have in common is a negative. Once we've been through topics like "Stupid Questions Theists Ask," and discrimination by theists, we don't have a lot left to talk about.</div>
</div>
 
Hmmn, all kidding aside, I find *this* very difficult to believe. I think that most people have a need to believe in something affirmative, so my suspicion is that atheists would in fact form (or could form) sub-groups based on what they actually, affirmatively did believe in. 
If I had to guess what some of these affirmative beliefs are or were historically, I'd guess you'd find a large sub-group who believed in science-logic-mathematics as the basis for human progress--sort of the "Bertrand Russell" crowd. I suspect you'd find another subgroup affirming some form of Humanism. I suspect you'd find still another subgroup based around some belief in a psychotherapeutic discipline, whether it be Freudian analysis, transactional analysis ("Games People Play"), EST, whatever. Historically, over the past 100 years, most atheists have been some sort of Marxists or Communists, 
and these in turn have often held their political convictions in much the same way that other people have held their more traditional religious beliefs. (See Arthur Koestler, The God That Failed.)

Carwere15 · Jul 8, 2006

I often wonder what percentage of posters on VB are athiests. Add one more to the count, born and raised.

ketivnilloc · Jul 8, 2006

We could make our own aethiest board with all us VBers. Just a quick trip to <a href="http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/Invasionfree.com" target="_blank">Invasionfree.com</a> and register it and pick some moderators.

Gnome Chomsky · Jul 8, 2006

>>"barried">> 
God, I rule! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> 
>>Way to insult all Freethinkers, ebola! 
Not all Freethinkers are arrogant, at least not more arrogant than most theists, in my experience. >> 
Whoops. I didn't know "Freethinker" was a proper noun, refering to a particular metaphysical perspective. I was thinking that freethinkers were people who declared themselves so unique and original in their perspectives. Thus, a group of freethinkers would perhaps be a "we are so awesome" club, like Mensa... 
regardless, I was mistaken, and my apologies. 
ebola

Carwere15 · Jul 8, 2006

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by ketivnilloc <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
We could make our own aethiest board with all us VBers. Just a quick trip to <a href="http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/Invasionfree.com" target="_blank">Invasionfree.com</a> and register it and pick some moderators.</div>
</div>
 
That would be cool.

Ludi · Jul 8, 2006

Thanks, ebola, apology happily accepted. 
"Freethinker" refers to some sort of philosophy which rejects dogma, as I understand the term was originally used by the German Freidenkers, but has come to be used by the atheist community to mean "atheist" which I disagree with. I consider myself a Freethinker (or maybe a Freidenker) but not an atheist. I have no confidence there isn't a god. 
De gedenken sind frei. And all that jazz......

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