Religion

Rainforestgoddess

(436 posts)

19. No, *I'm* not talking about mlk or your other friends. You are.

Thu Feb 19, 2015, 09:47 PM

Feb 2015

Do a Google image search for militant, and see how many peace activists come up.

The point that everyone who engages you on this topic is trying to convey, is that what *you intend to say about yourself *, and *what you are implying by common usage of the word militant * are completely at odds.

Instead of digging in your heels about it, why don't you find a way to describe yourself that fits how you perceive yourself, that others understand?

I could describe myself as gay, and fight like hell anyone who understood that to mean homosexual, when in fact I meant lighthearted. I would technically be correct, but I'd look like a fool, because common usage means homosexual. So, to stop incessant arguments with people (unless that was actually my intention in the first place) I would find a better, more accurate descriptor for myself.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

174 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Hi. I'm a militant atheist. Do you fear me? [View all] stone space Feb 2015 OP

This is what I fear. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #1

OMFG!!! PUT A TRIGGER WARNING IN YOUR SUBJECT LINE!!! trotsky Feb 2015 #4

What am i missing edhopper Feb 2015 #5

Long story. My wife and I have some goats as pets in her country. stone space Feb 2015 #148

That sounds weird edhopper Feb 2015 #150

Not sure how else to explain it. stone space Feb 2015 #151

I doubt atheism has anything to do with it edhopper Feb 2015 #152

OK, I give up. stone space Feb 2015 #153

I don't know edhopper Feb 2015 #154

All I know is that it started... stone space Feb 2015 #155

I guess there are those here edhopper Feb 2015 #156

Then they're wrong. stone space Feb 2015 #157

Ah, that explains it. okasha Feb 2015 #167

Fear doesn't even come close skepticscott Feb 2015 #2

I don't think everyone is using the word 'militant' in the same way. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2015 #3

It's a first for me, too. But remember what they said about MLK, ... stone space Feb 2015 #6

When did the preferred adjective for atheists change from "rabid" to "militant"? Fumesucker Feb 2015 #7

Wow. I hope that I never hear that one. Rabies is a horrible desease. stone space Feb 2015 #9

Cancer is used quite a bit. Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #12

My TV has an "off" button made just for such occaisions. stone space Feb 2015 #42

Eh, I think militant is worse Fumesucker Feb 2015 #16

Certainly with folks accusing us of... stone space Feb 2015 #20

seriously? 64 years old somehow I haven't heard that one until now.. but I tend to use the term ... 2banon Feb 2015 #59

In this group, "rabid" okasha Feb 2015 #22

wow (nt) stone space Feb 2015 #23

When "rabid" is used to mean skepticscott Feb 2015 #74

now reserved for "rabid apologists" for religion, AlbertCat Feb 2015 #81

I think the whole problem is that you don't mean the word the same way others understand it. Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #8

I mean confrontational. stone space Feb 2015 #10

militant non-violent Lordquinton Feb 2015 #11

Why do you accuse us of burning churches? (nt) stone space Feb 2015 #15

No accusations, it's what actual militant atheists do Lordquinton Feb 2015 #27

Now we're like Nazis? stone space Feb 2015 #29

yes that is exactly the point that was made. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #31

Yeah, atheists are evil. We're just a bunch of church burning nazis. (nt) stone space Feb 2015 #32

I like pie. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #72

Who doesn't? trotsky Feb 2015 #83

What part of the goat does pie come from? EvolveOrConvolve Feb 2015 #126

The head, obviously. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #138

You don't think edhopper Feb 2015 #33

militant = active nonviolence Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #35

Would you demonize militants like MLK? stone space Feb 2015 #37

OK. Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #39

I don't do facebook. Nor am I a twit. stone space Feb 2015 #41

OK, scrolled back. Somebody else. stone space Feb 2015 #43

You have me confused. Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #46

Uh...no...you mentioned facebook. stone space Feb 2015 #49

Well, since we are going old school, Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #51

Oh, please do tell! stone space Feb 2015 #54

"Upper Class Twit of the Year" Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #56

What does it mean to be militant on an internet board? stone space Feb 2015 #47

So do you own a dictionary? trotsky Feb 2015 #50

Chat board militants? stone space Feb 2015 #52

We don't know each other in real life. Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #57

We discuss real world experiences all the time. stone space Feb 2015 #65

You know exactly what I meant Lordquinton Feb 2015 #159

The very definition of "militant" contradicts your use of "nonviolent" Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #14

Shoud militant atheists be demonized? stone space Feb 2015 #21

I am an atheist. Maedhros Feb 2015 #26

Some folks have been trying.... stone space Feb 2015 #30

You aren't a militant atheist. Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #36

MLK was marginalized. stone space Feb 2015 #40

Take things out of context much? Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #44

This isn't about Domestic Terrorists like Craig Hicks. stone space Feb 2015 #45

I have been in more than one dust up edhopper Feb 2015 #48

Surely you understand that the understood usage implies violence Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #17

Did you read the definition that you posted? stone space Feb 2015 #18

No, *I'm* not talking about mlk or your other friends. You are. Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #19

It's about militants. stone space Feb 2015 #24

I honestly don't know what the fuck you're talking about. Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #25

A "clueless" MLK on militant nonviolence stone space Feb 2015 #34

A clueless Fred Flintstone on "gay" Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #58

Reading the responses to this OP has been interesting. chervilant Feb 2015 #158

Yes, people can absolutely pick their own labels. Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #163

Wave my finger at you? chervilant Feb 2015 #164

May have misread your tone. Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #165

Even if militant meant what you think it means Lordquinton Feb 2015 #13

"Militant"? bvf Feb 2015 #28

MLK could have used whatever words you are thinking of. stone space Feb 2015 #38

I wasn't referring to MLK. bvf Feb 2015 #55

Because he was a powerful and gifted orator Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #61

^^THIS^^ Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #62

The dynamite goes... Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #64

That'll teach them Damn Godless Atheistic Russian Commies a lesson! (nt) stone space Feb 2015 #67

Mrs. Pronoun and Mr. Antecedent want to spend their lives together. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #73

Do you EVER read what you've written before you hit "Post"? mr blur Feb 2015 #76

I "read" an image of a nuclear weapon. stone space Feb 2015 #77

I'd like to see how militant goats respond to pie. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #91

damn, now I want a gyro! n/t Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #104

OMG!!! The Russians are Comming! The Russians are Comming! stone space Feb 2015 #66

Journal, day two Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #69

You are trying to make people scared of militant atheists... stone space Feb 2015 #70

Journal addendum Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #71

Sometimes the clue stick, even the very large clue stick, is useless. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #78

AWESOME. trotsky Feb 2015 #68

I'm atheist, but I have not much to gain trying Ed Suspicious Feb 2015 #53

I use the term "Rabid" quite deliberately.. 2banon Feb 2015 #60

Militant atheists most certainly exist. stone space Feb 2015 #63

i dont fear you your bunny wrote Feb 2015 #75

Same here. stone space Feb 2015 #82

but i dont want burn anything . AlbertCat Feb 2015 #85

Your post TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #162

Your insistence on fighting a (losing) battle over the semantics of "militant" Maedhros Feb 2015 #79

Should I step into the closet? (nt) stone space Feb 2015 #80

Depends on how big your closet is. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #109

If you must. PassingFair Feb 2015 #172

Sorry, but I wil not go quietly to the closet. stone space Feb 2015 #173

Your posts puzzle and amuse me. PassingFair Feb 2015 #174

I don't fear you and congrats on someone starting a mocking thread in the other room. hrmjustin Feb 2015 #84

On, no, that can't possibly be correct. cbayer Feb 2015 #88

Well i am not going to judge how they run their room but the threads speak for themselves hrmjustin Feb 2015 #94

I can't see that particular thread, but I am sure it is just more of the cbayer Feb 2015 #105

The thread I was mentioning is typical of the op. hrmjustin Feb 2015 #106

It's kind of like the comic pages of your local newspaper. cbayer Feb 2015 #107

Thanks and I take care of it when they wonder in to cause mischief. hrmjustin Feb 2015 #108

Imagine okasha Feb 2015 #146

I love it! hrmjustin Feb 2015 #147

*sigh* Goblinmonger Feb 2015 #96

vestitu ne maxime punire Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #90

Some people just can't help themselves. hrmjustin Feb 2015 #92

I like mocking. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #97

Good natured mocking is perfectly fine but mean spirited mocking is hurtful. hrmjustin Feb 2015 #98

oh now you've done it! Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #100

Oh I have come to expect your posts now. hrmjustin Feb 2015 #103

Romanes eunt domus? Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #93

I guess it's an honor of sorts. stone space Feb 2015 #119

So, do you post something in the echo chamber and then rush over to see mr blur Feb 2015 #169

No actually mocking threads of other members are not allowed in Interfaith. hrmjustin Feb 2015 #170

You need to provide a precise and concise definition. cbayer Feb 2015 #86

Uh-oh, friendly fire! AtheistCrusader Feb 2015 #87

Good luck with that. n/t Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #95

I read the whole thread before I asked and I am still not getting cbayer Feb 2015 #99

I honestly hope you get a straight answer, because I'm at a loss. n/t Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #101

Would some examples help? stone space Feb 2015 #112

Why do you want to blow up goats? Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #122

In case you don't see it below, I think I understand. cbayer Feb 2015 #125

I did see that exchange, yes Rainforestgoddess Feb 2015 #131

You once self-identified as a militant. stone space Feb 2015 #111

I was actively involved in the anti-war movement. We had a cause. I am at a cbayer Feb 2015 #114

I've been involved in a number of things. (nt) stone space Feb 2015 #116

What is your cause that would warrant calling yourself a militant atheist? cbayer Feb 2015 #118

I can give you an example if you want, but... stone space Feb 2015 #120

OK, I'm getting the picture. You are these two things but they are not related to cbayer Feb 2015 #121

Will I be billed for the psychoanalysis? stone space Feb 2015 #123

This bears no resemblance at all to psychoanalysis, but I am beginning cbayer Feb 2015 #124

I'm sure that we disagree... stone space Feb 2015 #135

I doubt that we disagree on all that much really, but cbayer Feb 2015 #149

Active, confrontational nonviolent action/resistance. stone space Feb 2015 #110

MLK used it in describing his civil rights work. What are you cbayer Feb 2015 #113

Calling out bigotry is not baiting. stone space Feb 2015 #115

You are not calling out bigotry at all. You are fabricating an argument. cbayer Feb 2015 #117

Hahaa no, I don't fear unarmed people. AtheistCrusader Feb 2015 #89

Indeed. trotsky Feb 2015 #102

Please tell me Curmudgeoness Feb 2015 #127

A couple of things EvolveOrConvolve Feb 2015 #128

I will not be pushed into the closet. stone space Feb 2015 #129

If you self identify with a term that's insulting to atheists and is used by violent atheists EvolveOrConvolve Feb 2015 #130

We are not terrorists. (nt) stone space Feb 2015 #132

I didn't say you were EvolveOrConvolve Feb 2015 #133

This is McCarthyism, plain and simple. stone space Feb 2015 #134

Amazing EvolveOrConvolve Feb 2015 #137

What does this even mean? stone space Feb 2015 #168

I'd believed for a time that you were being purposefully obtuse EvolveOrConvolve Feb 2015 #171

You want to rethink edhopper Feb 2015 #136

I'm an optimist EvolveOrConvolve Feb 2015 #139

but keep edhopper Feb 2015 #141

Who is we? Lordquinton Feb 2015 #161

Eliminate closets? Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #140

Gay rights stuff. I'm a militant atheist, remember? stone space Feb 2015 #142

Oh, I get it. You're comparing your experiences here to stigmatization homosexuals face. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #143

Oh good greif! (nt) stone space Feb 2015 #144

I disagree. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #145

He's already compared himself to MLK Lordquinton Feb 2015 #160

An absurd and self-indulgent thread, moderators would have removed it back in the day. NYC_SKP Feb 2015 #166