More boo-hooing about atheist bus campaign
10 January 2009 by Stardust
While most British are open-minded people, they do have their share of cry-baby Christians who are now starting to boo hoo about the atheist bus campaign. More advertising for us, right?
The thing I find hilarious is that they are saying that the signs should be removed because what they say cannot be “substantiated” while there is evidence for the existence of their imaginary friend. Isn’t that a hoot? They are also saying that the signs are offensive to mono-theistic believers. Their signs telling non-believers that we are going to burn in Hell are not offensive?
Here’s the lastest bullcrap printed in the Guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 January 2009 10.35 GMT:
Atheist Bus Campaign is ‘offensive’, say complaints to ASA
The advertising regulator has received almost 150 complaints that an atheist ad campaign, proclaiming “There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life”, is offensive to Christians and other religions that believe in a single God.
Stephen Green, the national director of Christian Voice, is among those who have complained to the Advertising Standards Authority, arguing that the atheist campaign broke the advertising code on the grounds of substantiation and truthfulness.
[I nearly choked on my coffee when I read this! Christians talking about substantiation and truthfulness. Ha!]
The ASA has received 141 complaints about the Atheist Bus Campaign which launched earlier this week on buses throughout England, Scotland and Wales, as well as the London underground. However, 39 of the complaints are regarding newspaper and online articles about the campaign, which the ASA has no power to deal with.
The complainants claim the ad campaign is offensive to Christians and those of other monotheistic religions.
Green said: “It is given as a statement of fact and that means it must be capable of substantiation if it is not to break the rules.
“There is plenty of evidence for God, from people’s personal experience, to the complexity, interdependence, beauty and design of the natural world.
[Someone needs to tell them that these things are not evidence for the existence of their imaginary friend, but assumptions based on their feelings and delusions.]
“But there is scant evidence on the other side, so I think the advertisers are really going to struggle to show their claim is not an exaggeration or inaccurate, as the ASA code puts it.”
As an added note, here is the link to the Atheist Campaign website atheistcampaign.org
10 January 2009, on 11:37 am
The adverts are being banned in Australia. I’m a bit surprised by that:
Australian Atheist Adverts Banned
Indeed, they have.
10 January 2009, on 12:06 pm
What I find humorous about this is even if we are to grant the route of substantiation to those objectors, the sign is already qualified. The “statement of fact” is only a statement of probability, on par with suggesting someone might win the lottery.
10 January 2009, on 12:44 pm
Controversy is great, the more the better. Anyway, it was Britian that sent us those fucking Puritans in the first place so I would hate for them to get by unscathed. Australia?
10 January 2009, on 1:20 pm
Stephen Green and those who support the complaints should look up the definition of “probably”. I imagine the ASA has lawyers on staff with a better understanding of the English language. Of course we’re not surprised by Green’s statement since xians have no comprehension of the meaning of the word “fact”.
Stephen Green has a double standard as can be clearly seen on the Christian Voice web site where he is quoted as stating:
“It is preposterous for the ASA to think they can outlaw Christian freedom of speech and free expression of opinion. The ASA may not like the fact that sodomy is an abomination in holy scripture, but they cannot alter it. Nor can their officials change God’s word that sex outside marriage brings judgment. The Free Presbyterian Church will not back down, and by God’s grace neither shall we. We shall keep telling Government and the teen sex industry that they are betraying young people in this country and that only God’s ways of chastity and fidelity will halt the rise in teenage pregnancies and infertility.”
Green wants freedom of speech and expression for his campaign against the UK government’s immunization of girls against the HPV virus that causes deadly cancer in women every year. He wants freedom of speech and expression for the obnoxious Presbyterian ad campaign against homosexuality. But have the audacity to make a statement that just hints at doubting the existence of god and he can’t tolerate it.
Is it terrible to think it might not be such a bad thing if he stepped out in front of a bus?
10 January 2009, on 1:22 pm
Oops! Sorry I made a boo boo on the italics! Quote of Stephen Green ends at “infertility”.
10 January 2009, on 1:39 pm
Stardust,
Thanks for the article about the Australian ads being stopped. Such a benign ad too. “Atheism – Celebrate Reason” is so non-threatening and docile. How could it be offensive to anyone?
It was an Australian xian pastor who started me on my journey of doubt that led to my atheism. He introduced me to Thomas Paine’s book, “The Age of Reason” which got me hooked on critical thinking so I was ready for Carl Sagan when his books came along.
10 January 2009, on 2:26 pm
Oops! Sorry I made a boo boo on the italics! Quote of Stephen Green ends at “infertility”.
Fixed by the GifS gods
Thanks for the article about the Australian ads being stopped. Such a benign ad too. “Atheism – Celebrate Reason” is so non-threatening and docile. How could it be offensive to anyone?
They are mistaking offensive to imagined persecution. And also, their faith is so flimsy that it can be blown away with a sign with a few words on it because deep down, they know what the signs say is true.
10 January 2009, on 2:34 pm
Whoa. That Green asshole goes from critique of ASA to Teen sex industry in one paragraph. Obvious signs of delusional thinking and some type of personality disorder.
Lynda it is not wrong nor even bad to think of buses and people like him. At times like this I myself often wonder why it is that we stopped using blackjacks and baseball bats to make a staement.
10 January 2009, on 5:40 pm
It’s a miracle! Praise the GifS gods! ;D Thank you.
10 January 2009, on 7:52 pm
Now I really have heard it all, this bunch of loonies who have not a single piece of evidence that even remotely suggests there is a god thingy claim that the ads can’t be substantiated, Green is one sick fucked up puppy who should be scheduled under the mental health act, as an Australian I am ASHAMED that as a society my rights to have a view contrary to theirs is not allowed, I’ve written to the PMs office but in reality this is something that needs to be taken up with the Human Rights commission, it’s only a matter of time before we’re rounded up and gassed, who said Nazism is dead, it’s alive and well, just now we as Humanists are their new target, SCARY, watching fruits whipping themselves in Iran last night was sickening, self flagellation is so psycho and KINKY, what with the fully shaved bodies, that’s mandatory for ALL Muslims, they reckon that’s ok, fuck a duck, that’s SICK SHIT and yet a sign on a bus is offensive, I personally find Roman torture devices displayed on Xian clubhouses offensive, to me that’s the same as SWASTICA”S, religious congregation or just another gang????????
10 January 2009, on 8:02 pm
Tears as big as horseballs well up in their eyes, and their lower lips start quivering, whenever a target fires back.
10 January 2009, on 9:38 pm
We had a laugh this morning, we did a poster run last night, they read Judaism Christianity and Islam are proof there is no GOD, someone went around to the posters and wrote on them,” die in hell mother fuckers” and “you don’t know shit you Fuckers’ that pretty well sums up what we were saying on the posters, we have new ones for tonight, can’t wait for their reaction, tonights say ” You don’t need a god to be good, atheism the logical choice” Xians praising the lord one day, out killing something the next……………………
10 January 2009, on 11:29 pm
Hoffy, your little poster project just proves what violent religions Christianity and Islam are. Die in hell, and all those other wishes for we atheists are so loving, aren’t they? If there weren’t laws, we would all be burned at the stake by these lunatics.
11 January 2009, on 9:29 pm
Those recalcitrant hypocrites, this is why I’m getting so outraged, they would kill us without any question, the Muslim arse wipes would probably arse fuck us first their so frickin sexually repressed, the self flagellation stuff is REAL KINKY, we have problems here in OZ now with Muslim youths kidnapping and Raping women, another 3 were caught yesterday for another kidnapping of a girl on christmas day, they are in a society of repression so their taking it onto our streets, religion is about rape and murder, it’s their calling card and yet they say Atheists are immoral, now that gets me mad, all the atheist I know are way good people who are exemplary citizens, unlike some christians I know who are drug dealing self righteous pieces of shit, the rastafarian freaks, what a bunch of losers they are…………………………..rasta’s fuck they shit me to tears…
12 January 2009, on 12:12 am
A little ditty I couldn’t help making up. From “The Wheels on the Bus” song.
The Atheist Bus
The Atheist Bus goes
Round my town
Round my town
Round my town
The Atheist Bus goes
Round my town
Early in the morning.
The People on the bus go
Ha Ha Ha
Ha Ha Ha
Ha Ha Ha
The people on the bus go
Ha Ha Ha
No more god for Me ee
Well Its a start Make up some verses if you like.
12 January 2009, on 12:32 am
I posted this at Dawkins site as well but for some reason this part didn’t post here. ??
Well Its a start Make up some verses if you like.
Like;
The Christers on the bus go
Wah Wah Wah
Wah Wah Wah
Wah Wah Wah
The Christers on the bus go
Wah Wah Wah
Express Bus, Straight to hell you go.
Well you get the idea.
Golly, I wish I lived in a land of Atheist Buses.
12 January 2009, on 1:00 am
Nice little diddies there, Jimmer!
12 January 2009, on 1:25 am
The Muslims on the bus all say lets kill some infidels, kill some infidels, kill some infidels, the muslims on the bus all say lets kill some infidels then we can all go live with the prophet in hell, yay
12 January 2009, on 1:54 am
I like the British atheist bus message. It basically says “Don’t Worry, Be Happy!” Offensive? The Christians are reacting to it as if it says “Yes, there is a God, and he’s a sadistic bastard. Start worrying, because he’s sending your arse to Hell!”
12 January 2009, on 10:17 am
k9, you make a very good point. There is no reason for Christians to feel offended by a sign wishing people to be happy. The Christians say they are offended, but actually they feel threatened because their faith is gossamer and their fantasy is interrupted. They don’t like seeing their inner, private thoughts plastered on a sign right in front of their faces. Their faith can be blown away with a few words on a bus. I’m going to buy the t-shirts for my husband and I. Just don’t know if we should wear them south of the Mason-Dixon line!
12 January 2009, on 11:17 am
Jimmer…If I might contribute?…
[what are these, by the way?...neuveau Pirate tunes?...and so early in the morning? WTF?]…
This set of lyrics would be for one of those buses taken over completely by atheists, no doubt.:
[Note: alternate Xtians with: Fundies, Muslims, assholes, fuckheads...you get the idea.]
2, 3, 4…
“Keep those Xtians off our bus
off our bus
off our bus
Keep those Xtians off our bus
early in the morning.”
2nd verse? (rhythmically, a little trickier)…
“Throw them out the emergency door…NO!…Wait!…make that…[fire (as in hell-fire?)]
“Throw them out the fire door
fire door
fire door
Throw them out the fire door
Morning, noon, and night!” [Surprise!]
Of course, the following alternate lyric (a shade more violent…perhaps, aimed at terrorist Muslims?) would only be used by atheists on a private (Chartered?) bus:
[Again...alternate Xtians with: Fundies, Muslims, assholes, fuckheads, delusionals, numb-nuts...dip-shits, etc.]
2, 3, 4…
Kick the assholes in the ass
in the ass
in the ass
Kick the assholes in the ass, then…
Kick them in the balls!
See what you started, Jimmer?
What’s that?…A little something to start off another wacky week on a more positive note…
with a song?
HARR!!!
OK…Who’s next?…
Stardust?
(And, by the way…where’s RDZ, and Naomi, these days?)
12 January 2009, on 1:12 pm
Muslims Infidels and assholes.
Thats the attitude guys. Good job.
The bad part of it is now that i have that in my head I can’t get it out.
Yes it is a good start to another week.
12 January 2009, on 3:12 pm
Since I’m in a rather “nit-picky” mood, Jimmer; I must admit to an incorrect musical notation on my part.
The melody of that shtick; which is a take-off from the old “What do you do with a drunken sailor” tune…I presume…is in 2/4 time.
Thus, my count off, should have been more like: “1, 2, 1, 2″…
Your lyric notation scheme is really more correct.
[Ed McMahon's old Carson Show: "You are correct, Sir!"]
I’m showing two things about myself in this lame comment…How out of touch I am, these day, with ‘corny-ass’ gigging tunes; and my old private music teacher tendency to over-analyze.
“Mea culpa, mea culpa…mea maxima culpa!”?
Oh wait!…That’s three…the third being my Catlick altar boy, Latin Mass, upbringing.
(feigns untwisting underpants)
13 January 2009, on 9:34 pm
Stardust and all
Here is an interview with Ariane Sherin the creator of the Atheist Bus campaign
http://richarddawkins.net/article,3516,Interview-with-Ariane-Sherine,CBC
She is the first to be interviewed on this segmaent.