1. Response to My Fellow 'Atheists'

Comment #77191 by LordZontar on October 8, 2007 at 5:57 pm

I'm sorry, but I must once again state that to relabel yourself as a "Bright" would be about the worst possible tactic imaginable.

Don't believe me? Try debating a real fundamentalist and one who's well used to rhetorical combat and striking at any perceived weakness in an opponnent's argument by any means, whether it be dishonest or not:

"You're an atheist but you call yourself a 'Bright'. Is that meant to say you're superior to the rest of us poor, dumb, God-fearing mortals or do you have something to hide? Why are you ashamed to own up to being an atheist? HMMMM?!"

That is exactly the sort of attack which is in for "Brights". You won't even get the chance to get a word in edgewise before they've demolished your argument by pure hysterical rhetoric and appeals to emotion. The moment they get to suggest you're being dishonest and have to spend most of your time defending your veracity, you've already lost any given debate. Nobody will listen to a word you have to say after that point, either by boredom or loss of credibility or in some forums when the time for argument has expired.

2. The Problem with Atheism

Comment #76140 by LordZontar on October 4, 2007 at 8:22 pm

While I can understand Mr. Harris' argument to an extent, I think the whole idea of atheists calling themselves "Brights" is a rather misguided notion.

Mr. Harris speaks to tactics, but I would submit that such a move would actually represent a blunder on that score. "Bright" is ambiguous to the point where it would allow the committed fundamentalist ground to either accuse his atheist opponent of smugness or that he is trying to hide something or that he is somehow ashamed of his atheism. For the fence-sitters you're actually trying to convince to shed Belief, you would only sow confusion as to what your true position is.

And don't underestimate the fundamentalist capacity to seize rhetorical advantage under such circumstances. Ambiguity is what allows them ammunition in any debate as much as pussyfooting about attacking the core assumptions of their beliefs.

Besides which, I know I would feel a right idiot calling myself a "Bright". If you're an atheist, might as well just come right out and state it directly. You show you've got nothing to hide or be ashamed of and you also avoid feeling like an idiot trying to hide behind a P.R. dodge.