Today’s reactions to me saying “I’m an atheist” to some members of my chorus:
“I’ve never met one before!”
“I’m Unitarian.”
“How can you… what??? *sharp, frustrated sigh of puzzlement* You know what, I won’t ask.”
You should try this. It’s a crap shoot!
photo by Ken Fager
I’m sick of assholes. I’d be less colorful in my language, but I also don’t think being censored necessarily leads to a better life. Maybe I should add that to my list.
I’ve penned a few quick tips for how to stop being an idiot who makes life unpleasant for yourself and those around you. Most of this is specifically directed at the atheist/theist community. If it applies to you, you probably won’t think it does, but someone out there might be picturing your face or username right about now, so it pays to give a few of these a whirl just to say you tried. Heck, it might just help us become a better society, and wouldn’t that be just peachy?
Summer’s Eve is trying to make your vagina cool with a new “hip” branding campaign called “Hail to the V.” But is it funky and new or sexist and racist? They’ve got a video for “white,” “black,” and “hispanic” ladies. Yeah, thanks for boxing us all up into nice little packages, Summer’s Eve.
Wow. I just saw a pubic fro and a “sassy” black hand telling me about clubbing cleanliness. This is so appreciated.
Quick thoughts from my romp around their ads and site:
“If you treat a V right, she’ll return the favor…” Wink, wink, nudge, nudge! How sexual is that?! Ugh.
A vagina owner’s manual? Because … of course. It even teaches you to wipe front to back!
“Vertical smile.” No, really. They said it.
What do you think of this campaign? Does it “empower” women by helping them accept their vaginas? Or by selling a cleansing cloth and wash that are supposed to keep things fresh and “smelling nice” does it actually keep us from embracing the natural bits we were born with? Why are we considered “dirty”?And what about those racial and feminine stereotypes? What are women supposed to act like? Is this just insulting?
Edited to add: Oh my goodness, I just found Stephen Colbert’s take on the commercials. Priceless!
Edited to add (Nov 08, 2011): Apparently Summers Eve can’t take the heat (or the joke) and removed these ridiculous ads from their marketing strategy (and their youtube channel). Good riddance!
photo by Joe McCarthy
When you meet someone new or are just enjoying discussions with other people, are you ever surprised when you find out they don’t share your views? I keep having this experience! Tonight while at dinner with a group of women, one of them mentioned her pre-teen son being baptized at their church since he just “got saved” and how excited she was. During her story, I kept expecting a punchline—as if she would suddenly laugh and tell a story about going skinny dipping in the baptism dunk tanks. But no, she was totally serious, and nothing’s wrong with that.
It made me wonder: Do we assume the people with whom we get along are going to think the same ways we do? I think I do! For instance, I’m skeptical about the paranormal; I do not believe ghosts exist. A friend of mine gabs constantly about ghost hunting and the supernatural, and all the while I laugh and think she must be joking because, hell, who honestly believes in ghosts? Well, she does. Why am I so surprised? Is it my ego?
I remember feeling this way as a Christian as well; If I met someone who wasn’t a believer, it was like a trip into a different world. They were strange, foreign, and mysterious. How could they not believe in Jesus? Of course, Christianity is so popular that it’s sometimes difficult to find people who openly identify with something else—at least in my area. So why am I walking through life as part of the atheist minority assuming everyone else thinks Satan is silly and God is a figment of our imaginations? I have no idea! I guess I think I’m normal!
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