With the recent changes in the organization, the task has fallen to me to take a leadership role in the Atheist Viewpoint TV show. We usually tape 4 shows at once, and the topics range widely.The “on-line system” is now being upgraded (thanks to Tim) so we will be able to show you more episodes on-line, and we already do the video Podcasting.I’d like to know if anyone has any suggestions as to what subjects they’d like to see discussed on the show. Debates? Special guests? Likes/dislikes? Did you know the show existed?Also, as a reminder, it would be great if you as individuals could sponsor the show. It’s good activism and doesn’t cost anything — just a bit of effort. Here is the link to the (temporary) web site for sponsorship information http://viewpoint.illdill.net/sponsorship.asp
I suggest a Ellen Johnson
Thanks Charlie, that’s really helpful. Maybe I should wear a blonde wig?
I suggest putting all of the episodes on one big Youtube site just for that show. From there, lots of Atheists will embed it and spread it, so to speak.
Of course I’ve always wanted AV archived shows from years back to be available online too. Ron Barrier was a dynamo!
How about a show giving come backs to those hard headed creationists. Come up with a list of the standard things they throw at us when they find out we?re an Atheist and don?t have a computer handy to research the details.
I went to the pet store today to buy crickets for my fire bellied toad. This is usually an in and out chore. Now this is my fault, I just had to comment on the tee shirt another customer was wearing that showed a big Truth fish eating the Darwin fish. Oh boy we spent an hour raising ours voices with each other. The other customers steered clear of us. I was glad of that; I thought I would be ganged up on. This guy believes the world was created by god 5,000 years ago. He brought forth evidence that dinosaurs and people co-existed. He claimed he went from Catholic to occult to evolutionist to creationist. I felt like I was beating my head against a brick wall. He was so smug if I couldn?t produce a source right off the top of my head. My head is not packed full of knowledge like Frank. I know I heard or read about things, but pulling the details out of the back of my brain when my brain was set on the Sunday chores I need to finish was difficult.
sorry David
I guess you cant replace an Ellen Johnson….
(
“Replace?” Give me time. The objective word is “surpass”.
You might consider devoting a few episodes to introducing the various members of the Board of Directors and have them discuss their involvement and their objectives for the organization.
Dave,
You fit in so well with the other board members. You’re just as much of a hypocrite as they are.
On the Viewpoint show, you politely talk about Ellen having left “big shoes to fill.” On the blog, you rudely brag about “surpassing” her.
Hypocrites! I am SO FUCKING SICK of hearing you people blather on about what a wonderful job Ellen was doing and then segway directly into talk about “moving forward.” You whitewash the fact Ellen was FIRED (for dubious reasons)!
Frank and Dick are hypocrites. When it is convenient to cover up the reasons for firing Ellen, they claim that they are ?protecting her privacy.? When it is convenient to smear her reputation publicly, they make wild accusations and claim that they are carrying out their “fiduciary duty.”
My suggestion for the Atheist Viewpoint is that you try TELLING the truth, instead of whitewashing it.
Here’s what you said on the Viewpoint show:
That’s a HUGE whitewash of what really happened.
On the show, you mention that a lot of people have been asking “what Frank’s plans are to move forward.” That’s a whitewash. What people have really been asking is this:
What goals did Frank (and the other board members) have that could only be accomplished AFTER firing Ellen?
No one has ever answered that because there were no such goals. There is nothing NEW being done.
On the viewpoint show, after babbling on for a while (and reading Frank’s babble), you go on to say:
What the FUCK does that mean? Are you saying that Ellen left the organization in disarray? More unjustified insults! Just exactly what is this “organizational challenge” that you insinuate was created by Ellen? You’ll never tell us that, will you? All you’ll do is make vague accusations. You’re a great propagandist, Dave!
There’s only one problem. Atheists HATE to be propagandized!
Arthur Brenner
brenner7@stny.rr.com
Dave
Careful there, Dave. It’s going to be awfully difficult to find anyone as dedicated as Ellen, given her personal connection to AA. How about just finding someone qualified and competent to captain the ship for now, before it smashes on the rocks?
Arthur
I’m only reading this and not hearing it in context, but without your histrionics, I would have interpreted it as the organizational challenge was there while Ellen was there, but not necessarily created by her. After all, you quoted Dave earlier as saying Ellen had clashed with the board. “Inherited” was perhaps an unfortunate word choice on Dave’s part, but I don’t think he intended to smear Ellen. (Did you, Dave?)
Your stalwart defense of Ellen, while admirable, would probably be more appreciated if acted upon in a more rational manner.
Anybody
What is the answer to this question:
And is there a link to the show to view on the web?
Wow Dave…you’ve got your work cut out for you…
Just wait until “What do I know” posts his thoughts…
Here’s a topic…
How about a show dedicated to John Lennon. You can discuss how a certain verse has been misinterpreted for years…
http://www.showbizspy.com/news/07132008/lennon-the-beatles-were-a-christian-band
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69569
Karen,
I’m talking about the Viewpoint. I was responding to Charlie who said I’d “never replace Ellen” as host.
I DO intend to improve the show. That’s what I meant by surpass. Read the whole thread.
I did not slight Ellen. I like Ellen.
Arthur, on the other hand, seems to WANT to be mad at me. He can get in line.
Please watch the episodes and tell me what you think about their quality, and suggest new topics and improvements. I’m new at hosting a show, so your constructive criticism is solicited.
Right now we are operating with less-than-optimum equipment, but we’re improving, thanks to our Producer Tim. Our set will change as well, and we may go with a studio audience.
George — a spotlight feature. I like it!
Phreedm — that’s really good! I could do a show on misquotes and discuss this issue, and expand it to other misquotes as well like Einstein, Edison, etc.
Lilac, also good. Way too much info for one episode. Maybe I should spotlight that too.
Arthur you need some anger management therapy. you read a helluva lot into a few of Dave’s words and interpolated them to support your now obvious contempt for some on the AA board.
here’s a suggestion. take every god myth since recorded history and then demonstrate one god at a time how science trumped the primitive belief. then as yuo approach modern times give evidence for the next trumping, ending with a big fat ? following the word “when”.
(1) Fire the board.
(2) Start over.
For what its worth, I registered the domain name “www.atheisttube.com” a while ago with the hopes of doing something cool with it. It turns out I have neither the time or the resources to do so.
If anyone is interested in making an atheist video site, I would be happy to work with them in getting the name transferred to help make the site happen. Just let me know:
admin@atheisthuddle.com
So phreedm, how many christian songs did the Beatles record? Where is the land of Nod Phreedm? Tell me, how is infinite economic growth possible on a finite planet? Phreedm, you don’t give me anything to think about and I find your wisdom lacking. Is your convoluted logic a result of worms in your brain? If you would like me to challenge you to think then say something, answer some questions. If you can clarify why we atheists are lying I could explain your empty truth. Talk to me.
All you christians are wasting your time here, you’re wasting my time. You should be concerned about the christians on the edge of falling out of your church. You can’t prove it, you just believe? You’ll not convince anyone here of anything. I suspect you are hanging around because you are on the edge hoping to hear something to push you over the edge. Right?
Red Lilac, congratulations on your run in with the confused dude. If you cross paths again remain calm and realize this poor guy has already gone thru 4 paradigms so how positive can he be today about the latest religious fad? You don’t need a computer for people like this. All we have to do is pay attention to what is going on around us. The Hubble telescope has allowed astronomers to look 13 and a half billion light years across our universe. By the way, chances are pretty good we are surrounded on all sides by other universes. Our universe is like a frog egg in a pod of frog eggs and nobody knows how big the pond is. Archeology has already dug down farther back in time than the Jewish folk tales have explained. Paleontology keeps digging up those transitional fossils the church doesn’t like to talk about. Biology, geology, and every other ology continues to dismantle the fairytales organized religion tries to sell.
The curtain is gradually being pulled back and the christians are afraid to look. Oh well, that’s their problem. The world is changing around them. They have their eye on the pie in the sky and are oblivious to everyday reality. When they ask for verification of what they don’t know, tell them they will have to do their own research. It’s just too difficult to explain the edge of a cliff to people who won’t look up.
Remain calm and the people around listening will know who is confused. We really don’t have to be terribly concerned about teaching old dogs new tricks, we have to do our best to insure new dogs don’t learn the old tricks.
I have wondered whether the show would be worth my continued sponsorship, without Ellen. It already surpassed every group’s show of the genre.
I have been reading this blog and trying to absorb the issue of Ellen’s dismissal and how the organization can ever function again at the capacity it did under her leadership.
Although I would like to say more on that subject, this being my first post here since a very long time ago, since this thread deals with the Atheist Viewpoint TV show, I will try to confine myself to that at this time…
I believe the AV was originally Ellen’s show that she did before becoming president. If it were possible, I would hope it continue to do exactly what it has been doing all along, but I can’t expect that much because I don’t suppose anyone has the same insights into, or vision for activism as Ellen had.
If things must change, and indeed they have, I might like to see a bit less rationalizing of Atheism as “the correct state of mind”, and see it presented more as a “given” reality.
Examples could be: What is the method used by others to keep ourselves sane in an otherwise insane world? How do we keep our families safe from the influence of the religious? How do we explain religion to our children? What kind of activities do we participate in or avoid, for our family’s sake, or to maintain our own personal integrity in the face of so many possible irrational activities like bible studies or prayer vigils for peace, etc.?
My first suggestion would be a site/tech update. I mean seriously, RealPlayer? Nobody running a modern system has that plugin installed. I think Joe Zamecki has the right idea: Just replace the viewpoint site with a youtube channel. It’s cheap (as in free), easy to maintain, and, most importantly, it’s viral. Plus, I’ll actually be able to watch it and offer you more suggestions.
Phreedm,
I would suggest you check out the John Lennon song ‘God’.
http://tinyurl.com/6q4ua6
r4d
Phreeky thinks Vladamir Lenon wrote “God”.
Mark F
Great line. Though sometimes they should be looking down rather than up. Poor Lemmings!
I’m not so much angry as I am appalled. Dick Hogan, Frank Zindler, Dave Silverman, and Conrad Goeringer have been lying and distorting the truth, and some of you seem to accept their version of reality.
Their only plan is to try to find ways to discredit Ellen. Why do they want to do that? At this point, they are just trying to cover up the fact that their takeover was unnecessary and extremely damaging to American Atheists. It’s called “adding insult to injury.”
I’m not going to shut up about it until they have all resigned from the board.
Dave acts as if my comments are a minor nuisance. He says that I “can get in line” if I want “to be mad at” him.
In fact, Dave (and the others) find my posts very threatening. They don’t want to be accused of censoring the blog. So, they keep deleting my blog account and have even found ways to block my access to the blog by redirecting my browser, based upon my IP address.
Dave won’t succeed in shutting me up. Frank and Dick won’t succeed in taking over American Atheists. More and more people are refusing to accept the validity of their authority.
Most members don’t even know what has happened yet. The letter that Frank sent out with the last magazine didn’t give very many details. They are afraid to admit what they have done.
Arthur Brenner
brenner7@stny.rr.com
Dave
Are you blocking Authur’s access to this blog?
rfd…
Wow…great!!! More proof of Lennon understanding the “dream is over”…he’s reborn…
Thanks…
Comment from: Mark Farris
Finally a nugget of Truth in your diatribe…
You are sooooo right…
If you were capable of having a discussion without letting your emotions run your tongue, I’d be glad to explain the “theory of economic growth”…
There’s also Stickam. On Stickam you can get your own audio/video chatroom set up and make the large video box your own, and do live shows with a live audience, in the chatroom. You’d be able to see up to six video feeds from six of the people in the chatroom at the time, I believe. You’d be able to control the audio/video content the entire time.
I once did a phone-in interview with a rabid pastor on his Stickam show. We could easily see each other, and several others in the room, and then there were like 50 more people in there just listening, watching and texting their responses. The show was also recorded, and archived for anyone to be able to re-live for free later on. Sorry I lost the url to that long ago.
You could easily make that a phone-in show for viewers and guests. Again like Youtube, Stickam is free.
Joe Zamecki
Austin
I’m a Viewpoint sponsor and I haven’t seen the “first episode” described by Arthur. Now, I think I know why.
My shipment came w/ an old episode dealing w/ the Utah cross case to be next on deck.
I emailed Tim about it and he told me of “technical difficulties” w/ the first of the new installments.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Matador, Check out the illdill site linked in this post. You can see it on-line.
Joe and rainbow, Will check it out. Thanks.
Dave
Duly noted. I’m afraid I got distracted from that point by Arthur’s screeching.
That’s what I thought.
I tried yesterday to watch some episodes. I got the message that there was some problem with Quicktime opening them. I don’t know that I even have Quicktime on my computer-that may have been the problem. Usually when I watch something like this, I download it and am given a choice of what program to open it in. Tried downloading them and just got a bunch of coded script.
phreedm
Huh!? Just what part of “I don’t believe in Bible… I don’t believe in Jesus… I just believe in me…” don’t you understand?
I guess we’ve learned something here: Your dementia and confirmation bias is not limited to George W Bush, supply-side economics, and Bill O’Reilly, but rock music as well. You’re apparently such a huge Beatles fan that you’ve manage to mentally morph them into some sort of proto-christian rock band.
(sigh)
It’s finally starting to dawn on me how much time I spend here conversing with crazy people. Why do I do it? Would I ever visit a mental institution in order to debate the schizophrenics imprisoned there? Of course not. So why do I continue to take the bait on this blog?
Time for some serious self reflection.
R4d
I was going to warn people that the latest bait was even more obvious than usual. It lays bare his intentions and to respond (I do understand the impulse)is to encourage him.
Sorry, I’m a newbie here. Can you tell me where and when your show appears?
Shayne
http://viewpoint.illdill.net/ViewShows.asp
It’s a “Sponsored show”. We film it At AA HQ. Volunteers call their local cable company and try to get it aired. Many cable stations will do this, but many will not. For those that do, we send tapes out to the volunteers, who then bring them to the cable company once a month.
The schedule is up on the site as well. If it’s not in your area, please consider sponsorship.
Karen, I’m sorry you’re having trouble. Send an email to tdicks@atheists.org with tech questions.
Dave
I tried the illdill link and was able to listen to (but not watch your cuteness) the “transitions” show. That’s all I’ve spent time on though. Will check on the other tech problem for the shows not available on illdill. Thanks.
Karen, my cuteness is all I got!
Comment from: rainbows4dinosaurs
Simple. Don’t take each verse out of context. The entire first half of the song describes the views of an atheist…
I don’t believe in Kennedy?
I don’t believe in Elvis?
He didn’t believe in anything but himself. Would you not agree that’s your world view? You set your own moral standards? You decide what’s right and wrong?
Then he realizes it was all a dream. And now he’s reborn…
In light of the interview posted where Lennon claims to be a christian, this sure seems like a logical explanation to his lyrics…
Do you have a more rational explaination that can be described without name calling and personal attacks?
You’re starting to sound like “What do I know”…
I hadn’t seen any Atheist Viewpoint episodes before, so I can’t compare the recent ones with past shows, but I thought the two I watched today were quite well done and certainly informative (transitions and atheist parenting). I was particularly pleased to get a better idea of future plans for AA, including restructuring of the board(s) and playing more nicely with other organizations.
If you can get enough participation, I think it might be interesting to occasionally have a small panel of guests (3-4 people) along with a moderator to discuss various issues.
And yes, Dave is very cute
r4d
Good question. I recommend simply mocking the fools and never addressing them directly. Otherwise they just keep you busy with their juvenile and transparent attempts to keep you chasing their moving goal posts. It’s about control. Trolls are weak minded people operating on the margins of the society whose only joy in life is disrupting the plans of others.
Allow me to demonstrate how one can address a troll if one so desires.
Phreeky will move the goal post up his butt if he thinks you will go there.
The key here is to simply mock the troll without giving it anything of substance to respond to. In other words you take control thereby showing the troll just how powerless they really are. This infuriates the troll and if they don’t leave, because others may be feeding their neurosis, it is at least loads of fun to watch them twist.
For awhile there, I was really interested in Arthur’s posts – he seemed to have some insider knowlege about American Atheists and a point of view that wasn’t evident from other sources. However, the more he posts, the more I suspect he’s just a disgruntled former low-level employee with an inflated sense of his own importance an an axe to grind because he’s apparently not working for American Atheists anymore. After his pointless attack on Dave in this thread when Dave was clearly talking about the TV show and not American Atheists in general, I am becoming more and more skeptical about the stuff this Arthur guy says. This guy may have worked with Ellen Johnson in some minor capacity but he seems to think that qualifies him to mind-read members of the board then and make some broad statements about what they think and do.
I’m starting to think he doesn’t know squat about the real situation other than what he’s been spoon-fed by Ellen Johnson.
Chet
Chet, Arthur is not “a disgruntled low level employee.” Arthur was 50% of Ellen’s staff. He, above all, knew what was going on day to day in the AA headquarters in Cranford, NJ. Dave did not. Conrad Goeringer did not. Frank Zindler did not. That freaky Texas board member whom I never met DID NOT. Arthur was THERE. Every day. And he is still loyal to Ellen. What does that tell you?
So Chet, don’t fall in with the Judases. They are opportunists.
And believe me, the AA cable TV show was much better with Elllen on it.
And you still sound like a lunatic.
From the end of the Lennon “God” song:
I just believe in me
Yoko and me
And that’s reality
The dream is over
What can I say?
The dream is over
Yesterday
I was the dreamweaver
But now I’m reborn
I was the Walrus
But now I’m John
And so dear friends
You just have to carry on
The dream is over.
The Walrus, is of course the character in Lewis Carroll’s Alice series, and John Lennon’s favorite fictional character. Many people have long thought that the poem, “The Walrus and the Carpenter” was a stab at religion and/or capitalism. Here’s how it’s explained in the movie Dogma:
In his song, John is obviously saying he’s reborn as a realist, and leaving behind the days of being the Walrus. (Whether or not you believe the interpretation of the Carroll poem), that is what I see from reading the lyrics of Lennon’s song in total.
What
thanks for the correction. I must have been daydreaming about phreedm when I typed that.
Phreedm, don’t be mad, come on out and play. I was kidding about the crunchy peanut butter and the spilling of seed on the sheets and a coathanger and you living in a mental institution. Jeez, can’t you take a joke or a few. I really would like to hear your theory of economic theory, honest. I’m under the impression we are going to see 1929 soon and maybe you could clarify how this evolved. I also still would like to hear your version of where the land of Nod was after Cain raised a ruckus. Just imagine.
Sorry, Smartgal, but I just don’t buy what he’s saying anymore. Arthur may have worked at American Atheists but he just doesn’t come across like he really knows anything about anything. It seems like I even recall a post of his where he said something about working for AA part time and from home. If that’s the case, that hardly makes him the big-deal insider he claims to be.
I don’t think you have any particular insight or insider information either (do you even personally know any of the people who call by name and disparage?) I think you’re just buying what he’s saying because it fits with what you want to believe. I for one am glad Johnson is no longer president – maybe AA will finally get a president capable of bringing the organization out of the 1950s/1960s and give it some relevance.
Chet
Ahem… back to the point… I would like to see some sort of discussion of what the future of atheism is. what do we hope to accomplish and how do we hope to accomplish it? How can we organize more effectively? How can we motivate the apathetic masses? How do we attract people to the cause? What organizations could we emulate? What practical strategies should we use to stop the virus?
I’m starting to tire of the people accusing each other of being idiots (as if making such an accusation during a disagreement is not an indictment of oneself) and the weird obsession with Ellen.
To those who are emotionally wrapped up in their little anonymous website rivalries: Don’t you realize that we are only a few years away from complete religious domination of the government, media, military, and economy??? Is there anything more important than your flame wars?
But they’re part of the evil Allied Atheist Alliance!! Only an idiot would denounce the truly logical path presented by the United Atheist Alliance!
Mark Farris said:
“We really don’t have to be terribly concerned about teaching old dogs new tricks, we have to do our best to insure new dogs don’t learn the old tricks.”
i agree 100%. the only problem is that we have no societally ingrained mechanism to accomplish that without becoming “preachers” and “proselytizers” like them. science is our best ally and they are doing their best to dumb it down in the schools to maintain their trickery.
Mark Farris
You are a skilled troll handler. My hat’s off to you.
karen,
nice job on the Lennon god issue, but phreedm and his buddies will always see want they want to see, evidence ignored.
anyone who thinks that our founders intended this nation to be a bastion of christianity doesn’t get it and never will.