Slog - Comments on The Scarlet Letter http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter Richard Dawkins has launched an atheist-awareness campaign, the OUT Campaign. Though the idea is attractive (remember when you saw your first Darwin-fish car decal?), these particular slogans and motifs aren't compelling enough to catch on. There are major challenges in trying to expropriate "out" from the gays. And unless OUT is an acronym, it has no business being capped like that.... Copyright 2008 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:21:38 -0800 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:48:57 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by JC I like the "scarlet letter" A. It should just be that. The "Out" will be a turn off to people who want to identify themselves as atheist, but not gay. And put the URL on the back or something. Keep it simple. It works for Apple.

]]> JC http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804475 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804475 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:40:07 -0800 Comment by Ziggity Maybe he should have prayed for guidance on this one.

]]> Ziggity http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804476 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804476 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:41:12 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo Is it possible to be the figurehead of an atheist cult?

]]> flamingbanjo http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804482 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804482 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:46:33 -0800 Comment by kinaidos Keep searching. The slogan than which no greater can be thought must exist because if it didn't exist than it wouldn't be the slogan than which not greater can be though beacuse the existing slogan than which no greater can be thought would have the additional perfection of existence and thus would be the slogan than which no greater can be thought.

]]> kinaidos http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804487 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804487 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:52:55 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool It's weird how the A is photoshopped onto that woman and is not conforming to her curves. it's kind of sending me on a trip.

]]> Ari Spool http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804493 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804493 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:01:23 -0800 Comment by Katelyn @4 you're my philosophical hero today

]]> Katelyn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804496 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804496 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:02:36 -0800 Comment by maxsolomon bigger tatties on the model would sell the product better.

]]> maxsolomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804501 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804501 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:05:44 -0800 Comment by Sean I love the concept, which isn't bound to any particular design. I think I'll go order a custom black t-shirt with just the word "Atheist" written in bold white letters.

]]> Sean http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804504 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804504 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:09:15 -0800 Comment by switzerblog @7: Yeah, they need the 'guess what - chicken butt' t-shirt model from icanhascheezburger.com. I always think that ad's about the hoobies instead of the laffomatic shirt.

]]> switzerblog http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804507 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804507 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:13:10 -0800 Comment by Chris Mmmm... Sexy atheists.

It's too bad, though, the thought of corrupting hot young Christians will always be sexier.

Remember Hedwig and Tommy Speck.

]]> Chris http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804509 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804509 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:14:45 -0800 Comment by Amy Kate Horn B-Bam on E Pike made me a really nice "Religion Is Fiction"t-shirt last year. I'm sure they still have my design on file if you ask for it.

]]> Amy Kate Horn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804520 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804520 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:24:27 -0800 Comment by JMR The last atheism awareness thingie that Dawkins was pimping (granted he did not create it) also hasn't caught on so well, as far as I can tell.

Time to hire a marketing firm.

]]> JMR http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804521 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804521 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:25:19 -0800 Comment by Smegmalicious Anything to get a little positive athiesm press.

"People go to church for the same reasons they go to a tavern: to stupefy themselves, to forget their misery, to imagine themselves, for a few minutes anyway, free and happy."
-Mikhail Bakunin

]]> Smegmalicious http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804525 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804525 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:28:09 -0800 Comment by RonK, Seattle Gosh ... considering the PR savvy American atheists have working for 'em, its hard to imagine how they ended up as unpopular as they apparently think they are.

]]> RonK, Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804529 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804529 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:33:36 -0800 Comment by maxsolomon here's a better one:

Buddha was an Atheist.

i got a million of 'em, and i ain't no marketeer.

]]> maxsolomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804538 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804538 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:48:36 -0800 Comment by monkey I was going to have a shirt made this weekend that just says...

"Suck it, Jesus"

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804540 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804540 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:49:54 -0800 Comment by Katelyn @16 great idea. GREAT idea.

]]> Katelyn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804563 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804563 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:13:20 -0800 Comment by christopher The problem with "suck it jesus" is being associated with the phrase's most well-known user, in all her annoying glory. Ronk- Atheists are mad unpopular. Maybe less so in Seattle, but let's just say I wasn't about to advertise my affiliations when I went to small town KS recently.
-

]]> christopher http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804566 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804566 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:16:35 -0800 Comment by christopher Heck, for that matter, atheists don't get a lot of positive representation in mainstream press even in Seattle. Everywhere in the country -especially in news rooms- people still act like faith is a virtue. One of the few ways I agree with Hitchens is that it damn well shouldn't be.

]]> christopher http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804568 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804568 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:19:02 -0800 Comment by kid icarus I miss Camus. :(

]]> kid icarus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804573 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804573 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:25:55 -0800 Comment by Kiru Banzai A scarlet letter. Seriously.

]]> Kiru Banzai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804580 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804580 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:46:26 -0800 Comment by PHENICS THE SMART who cares - Red A's on tits. And OUT is OK, not in the framework of literary grammar, Amy Kate gets an F.

The Scarlett Letter is much more interesting. Read a book, suck on some tits.

Who has the best marketing campaign - sorry the Christians win.

Color, history, God, eating flesh, mystics - answering the not answerable.

Faith - hope - charity ..... etc. You name the story.

There will always be few atheists, anywhere.

]]> PHENICS THE SMART http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804599 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804599 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:48:42 -0800 Comment by christopher The Christians are gonna keep winning for a while in the USA, mebbe a pretty long while. But I take some solace in the fact their beliefs are unsustainable. Science will keep explaining all the flimsy shit they point to as proof of deity and reality will keep demonstrating how their beliefs fuck the world up for everybody. Eventually, some hundreds of years form now, the last desperate hordes of bible-humpers and koran-cuddlers will drink some poison Kool-aid and jump ship. And since atheism is the natural state of human beings (viewing reality with your senses and feelings instead of dogmas), any survivors will be atheist by default.
Or I'll just keep telling myself that...
-

]]> christopher http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804608 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804608 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:14:31 -0800 Comment by christopher I never used to accidentally type "form" instead of "from," but now I do it all the goddamn time and it's really pissin' me off.

]]> christopher http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804613 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804613 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:18:37 -0800 Comment by PHENICS THE SMART christopher

you just described poly deist ideas

atheists won't like you

athiests are not good mother earth pagans

]]> PHENICS THE SMART http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804619 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804619 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:31:03 -0800 Comment by Sean @16
Christ is cool. Christians suck.

That's my other t-shirt.

]]> Sean http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804634 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804634 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:55:21 -0800 Comment by Mahtli69 @22 - "Who has the best marketing campaign - sorry the Christians win."


It's the damned cross. Centuries before television, the Christians had a 50 foot high crucifix perched on a hill outside of every town in Europe and South America. Talk about a powerful logo and brand recognition!

]]> Mahtli69 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804636 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804636 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:59:35 -0800 Comment by sniggles Every bit as annoying as someone with a "ChRiSt is KInG!" t shirt. Keep it on the DL. I seriously don't give a shit what you pray to as long as we can talk about Project Runway.

]]> sniggles http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804649 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804649 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:32:14 -0800 Comment by erin and i'm sure every time i wore that shirt, some beliefy person pretending not to judge me would try to tell me a heart-warming story about a miracle s/he's experienced in life, supposedly in a non-proselytizing kind of way. yech.

]]> erin http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804657 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804657 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:09:57 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe @28

Tim Gunn gives me wicked boners.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804664 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804664 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:34:54 -0800 Comment by arandomdude Scarlet letter thing is cool but something about "Atheists have always been at the forefront of rational thinking and beacons of enlightenment, and now you can share your idealism by being part of the OUT Campaign." has a patronizing, corporate shill feel to it.

]]> arandomdude http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804670 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804670 Religion Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:54:22 -0800 Comment by suck it theists and/or deists it's been over for quite a while now... reason won and god lost, these things happen. ohh well you've still got "guns and country" for solace.. for a while at least.

]]> suck it theists and/or deists http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804702 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804702 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:44:06 -0800 Comment by Al I saw the graphic and thought "Adulterer" not "Atheist", which works with the models they chose for the photo. Of course, I also thought it might be for Adobe...

Oh yeah, the "Out" thing is definitely too identifiable with gay culture to be helpful to Atheism.

]]> Al http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804717 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804717 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 06:12:55 -0800 Comment by RonK, Seattle christopher -- Intolerant, fundie/evangelistic atheists are mad unpopular everywhere, including here, and for good reason.

Live-and-let-live nonbelievers? Not so much.

And psssst - those involuntary typo's are the big guy's way of letting you know he can fuck with you as much as he wants, any time he wants, anywhere he wants.

]]> RonK, Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804738 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804738 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 07:49:48 -0800 Comment by girlybyrd One of the best things about being an athiest is no one is telling me to spread the word. There is no word. Why would I want to open that door?

]]> girlybyrd http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804741 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804741 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:04:12 -0800 Comment by Nick This is actually not terrible... except for the OUT thing. Silly Christians.

]]> Nick http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804755 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804755 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:32:33 -0800 Comment by Greg I thought proselytizing was one of the things that pissed atheists off? This seems like a step backward.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804770 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804770 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:02:46 -0800 Comment by Proselytizing Atheistism Being an atheist is often associated with hating Christians. I don't think that association does much for the general appeal. I AM an atheist because I don’t actually believe in heaven, hell, god, an afterlife, etc. I believe all those things are human constructs to get people to behave based on a societal moral code.

I think the atheists that I know are actually the most moral, tolerant and giving people around. We value the constructs of a civilized society. We value fairness, equality, laws, tolerance, and forgiveness (essentially, we are more Christian than most Christians).

If people want to believe in god I say good for them, as long as their belief does not oppress me.

]]> Proselytizing Atheistism http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804771 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804771 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:04:12 -0800 Comment by Sirkowski Teaching science is proselytizing now? Yes, let's all stay stupid and ignorant and pray to the moon gods.

]]> Sirkowski http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804790 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804790 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:39:07 -0800 Comment by FS Unlike Christians, I don't feel the need to advertise my beliefs. I'm an atheist and I'll tell someone if they ask me. But I wont put a sticker on my car or wear a tshirt declaring my non-belief. What's the point? I wish more religious folks would do the same. I don't care who you pray to or what you believe in , why do you feel the need to advertise it on your piece of shit car?

]]> FS http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804793 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804793 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:40:35 -0800 Comment by FS and I'll add, what I absolutely hate about being an atheist is when some Christian automatically judges me of having no moral code. Just because I don't need a god to tell me what's right and what's wrong doesn't mean I can't think for myself. The ten commandments weren't sent down from heaven. I mean, how brilliant do you have to be to come up with "you probably shouldn't kill other people or lie, cheat and steal". It's common sense :p

]]> FS http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804813 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804813 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:49:04 -0800 Comment by JenK Not sure I get the Darwin fish thing. I know I'm not the only Christian who accepts the facts on evolution.

Note to self: find same-size Darwin and xtian fish. Stick them on the car so they're kissing.

>>>

]]> JenK http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804822 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804822 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:57:31 -0800 Comment by crazycatguy This is starting to look like a religion.

]]> crazycatguy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804861 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804861 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:52:21 -0800 Comment by Mariana Athiest awareness? LOL! Dawkins probably drove by a megachurch and wanted to get on the gravy train. Christians aren't the only ones who can get shaken down.

Issur - got any shirt ideas?

]]> Mariana http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804872 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804872 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:00:02 -0800 Comment by david @42:

You mean like this?

]]> david http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804878 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804878 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:05:53 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I saw the t-shirts and never thought Atheist or Adulterer, but rather thought people proud they had a 4.0 GPA.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804901 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804901 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:28:45 -0800 Comment by inkweary It takes just as much faith to be an Atheist as it does to be a Christian.

@15 The Buddha wasn't quite an atheist,I believe what he taught was that spending time on trying to prove or disprove the existence of deities is a waste of time and therefore unhelpful.

]]> inkweary http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804921 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804921 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:53:12 -0800 Comment by Issur I'm an atheist so I ordered one of these shirts. I'm Jewish so I still believe that God gave Israel to my people, and I celebrate all the major Jewish holidays, but I' am atheist too. Most intellegent young Jews like myself are atheists.

]]> Issur http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804974 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c804974 Religion Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:33:40 -0800 Comment by violet_dagrinder @40:
I think the point is largely the same as it is for queers coming out. Atheists are villified and invisible. People don't know that we here. . . that we are happy, good/moral people who walk amongst them. Atheists in many areas feel isolated and discriminated against.

I don't get why the (ugly) shirt doesn't actually say "atheist", though. How many people are going to guess what the 'A' stands for? Eh.

]]> violet_dagrinder http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c805420 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/the_scarlett_letter#c805420 Religion Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:48:57 -0800