Comments on: From Balticon http://atheists.org/blog/2006/05/27/from_balticon A Blog of Atheist Thought Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:47:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: http://atheists.org/blog/2006/05/27/from_balticon/comment-page-1#comment-36000 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-36000 From Balticon<br /> <blockquote>Why is it that there are more Atheists at Science Fiction Conventions than there are at Atheist conventions?</blockquote><br /> <br /> Great question. I asked a similar question when I was President of the local PTA. Why would parents say that a 7 PM meeting was to late for their kids, and yet take them to the kids softball game that started at 8?<br /> <br /> I guess it comes down to what most people find important...<br /> From Balticon

Why is it that there are more Atheists at Science Fiction Conventions than there are at Atheist conventions?

Great question. I asked a similar question when I was President of the local PTA. Why would parents say that a 7 PM meeting was to late for their kids, and yet take them to the kids softball game that started at 8?

I guess it comes down to what most people find important…

]]> By: ForensicAtheist http://atheists.org/blog/2006/05/27/from_balticon/comment-page-1#comment-36003 ForensicAtheist Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-36003 <blockquote>Why is it that there are more Atheists at Science Fiction Conventions than there are at Atheist conventions?</blockquote><br /> <br /> Maybe because people know about the sci-fi conventions more than they know about atheist ones? I knew all about Star Trek, LoTR conventions, etc...before I even knew American Atheists existed. I wish AA would do more advertising, then maybe the numbers would go up. However, now that I know about the atheist conventions I plan on going to as many as I can...$$ permitting of course.

Why is it that there are more Atheists at Science Fiction Conventions than there are at Atheist conventions?

Maybe because people know about the sci-fi conventions more than they know about atheist ones? I knew all about Star Trek, LoTR conventions, etc…before I even knew American Atheists existed. I wish AA would do more advertising, then maybe the numbers would go up. However, now that I know about the atheist conventions I plan on going to as many as I can…$$ permitting of course.

]]> By: lacy http://atheists.org/blog/2006/05/27/from_balticon/comment-page-1#comment-36012 lacy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-36012 Paranormal restraining orders? If it's on the internet it must be true! I'll have to get one. I think Big Foot is stalking me. Paranormal restraining orders? If it’s on the internet it must be true! I’ll have to get one. I think Big Foot is stalking me.

]]> By: udonman http://atheists.org/blog/2006/05/27/from_balticon/comment-page-1#comment-36027 udonman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-36027 Well Dave when I finally get my sorry self to an anime convention I plan on handing out fliers for American atheist and the flying spaghetti monster I would think there would be a willing audienece. Well Dave when I finally get my sorry self to an anime convention I plan on handing out fliers for American atheist and the flying spaghetti monster I would think there would be a willing audienece.

]]> By: TomSD http://atheists.org/blog/2006/05/27/from_balticon/comment-page-1#comment-36034 TomSD Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-36034 Science Fiction, like most fiction, is entertainment, little or nothing more. I have hear it described as ?brain candy?. People like to be entertained, especially when it allows them an escape from an unwanted reality. <br /> <br /> Atheism, on the other hand, IS the unwanted reality. I have never been to an atheist convention, but I imagine it is much like this blog: people coming together because of the need for kindred spirits, or because they see that something important needs to be done. I suspect happy nonbelievers who are good at connecting with those around them or do not see their unbelief as something important probably do not get involved either place.<br /> <br /> When I went to church, it seemed more than half entertainment: singing, feeling good about yourself and your future and so on. Perhaps we need to find ways to focus on the positive emotions and make nonbelief something enjoyable. Even the humor here tends to be of the darker sort. Not that I make any claims to having added any entertainment value?<br /> Science Fiction, like most fiction, is entertainment, little or nothing more. I have hear it described as ?brain candy?. People like to be entertained, especially when it allows them an escape from an unwanted reality.

Atheism, on the other hand, IS the unwanted reality. I have never been to an atheist convention, but I imagine it is much like this blog: people coming together because of the need for kindred spirits, or because they see that something important needs to be done. I suspect happy nonbelievers who are good at connecting with those around them or do not see their unbelief as something important probably do not get involved either place.

When I went to church, it seemed more than half entertainment: singing, feeling good about yourself and your future and so on. Perhaps we need to find ways to focus on the positive emotions and make nonbelief something enjoyable. Even the humor here tends to be of the darker sort. Not that I make any claims to having added any entertainment value?

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