I’d like to see fewer Andys and more Jakes. Heeheehee.

I like the idea of Free Thinkers serving the public. It is one way to eradicate the idea from the minds of deists that Atheists are not “good people”. The Adopt-A-Highway was a good start. Maybe a Blood Drive could be the next step?

I think we ought to lighten up on the mission stuff and do what comes naturally: Make fun of religious dogma.
Seriously, though, has anyone thought of approaching the Journal Gazette, which runs a weekly “faith” page, and offer to be interviewed, or offer to write a defense of skepticism for them?
I’d do it myself, but my wife works there. I know first-hand that their editor is a non-believer.

More meta-discussions. We definitely don’t discuss our group enough.

Oh, and a Diekroger – Butter cage match. Diekroger has the weight advantage, street smarts and feline kung-fu but Butter is wily, quick on his feet and channels the ancient power of Hume.

Seriously, I think we’re still a bit too small to start thinking of expanding our services and activities (although it’s always good to hear what people want). While I’d like to see science and skepticism emphasized more, let’s face it… we’re all trying to do too much at once. We’ve accomplished a lot in a short time, and I think for now we need to grow the membership, get more people active and improve our core activities.

The only thing I’d add to the mix is more speakers, perhaps every other month, but then we’re limited by finances.

Another option would be to organize Ignite talks locally. The idea is simple: 5 minutes per speaker, 20 slides, rotated automatically every 15 seconds. Sorry Andy W., I know your’re cringing at the mention of Ignite but I like the idea and we could potentially attract many of the local geeks.

@littlejohn Good idea! I like that. A blood drive is fairly easy to organize but where could we hold it? Maybe this is something we could work together with the UU church on?

Although, it looks like there’s a blood drive going on pretty much every day of the week somewhere in Fort Wayne so that might be a problem.

I heard of other secular groups doing a “hug” an atheist bit. We could video tape it at a public function. The blood donation idea is cool with me and we can do it privately already. I think other national groups choose the National Day of Reason/Prayer for that… I don’t see why we can’t encourage that.

I would like to see more social “hang out” activities. When we get bigger we can do more community service. We are doing quite a lot already.

@littlejohn- letters to the editor are next on my list. We have put a system in place so the blog is updated more often.

@neural Oh and I can take Butters in a cage match. He may have Hume, (although- I have trained slightly in those techniques, too.) Salesmanship and emotion have the ability to trump pure reason if they are in opposition, especially in this town. Our limbic system is powerful. I would like us to blend both… and then we can be unstoppable force.

PS- I am at the ACPL in the theater for a DNA and genealogy seminar. They are talking about common ancestors and humanities’ journey out of Africa. It is like the National Graphic special “Journey of Man.” They are doing more tomorrow starting at 9:00 AM and I am going. This is very cool stuff.

When I think of this and doing stigma busting, I always think to my self, Self, yeah? Where’s the bathroom? I dunno why! Just kidding of course. But think of this. What is it that we see in our communities or the world that is something we can somewhat agree on as a worthy cause? I for one do not like seeing people living in poverty when it’s so easy to help them out with a car repair or helpful information on where to locate a job. Some times just encouragement. An out reach program of sorts. I know when your screwed and ya need a job to get a car and ya need a car to get a job. 8-( Jobs are out there but getting to them is a challenge. How often do higher educated worldly people offer their advice and brain to people who are family beached in the realm of, ‘I don’t know!’

Have you ever spent time thinking about what it must be like to be a minority in America? if I woke up one day and discovered I was refered to in my culture as ignorant and worthless and one of them. Could you imagne the self image you would have? How many programs are helping these people, other then religion, learn that they are capable thinking decent people that just need educated? Granted computers and internet are out there but do you know how many families are third, fourth, tenth generation welfare families? I saw a guy sitting on the curb at 2am. I walked past but noticed this man was truely troubled. He wasn’t asking for any handouts but just wanted a job and was dieing inside to support his family. I gave him a ride home and tried to find a job for him and told him some places to go to for a job and who to ask for what. I know, I’m trusting. My grandmother would want it that way.

Other ideas are devoting our selves to helping in other ways we think we can do the most good for mankind. Things along the lines we care about. Doing science tutoring for all grade levels. Starting grass roots programs calling business and such for donations to these causes. If that is what we want.

I just don’t want to necessarily build up an image because I don’t need recognition, I need to see the world a better place.

Just the other day I was thinking, *I do allot of that in a low level* Why is it that we are so damned intelligent as a race yet we kill each other? Military intelligence, Contradiction? So why is it that religion thinks it’s so smart, to kill people? Speaking of allot of hostile religions.

Women seem to be for the most part caught in men’s wars. That’s sad. Allot of people say women should be the only leaders. Of course all men would then be castrated maybe? LOL Woops sorry fellows.

Ok I’m rambling. TaTa

For a bit of Friday fun, I thought y’all might be interested in seeing the difference between FFW’s comment policy and another site’s comment policy; portions quoted below.

You will not insult or mock God or Christianity.

You will not promote or proselytize beliefs or religions other than Christianity.

[For Christian areas of the site.] Challenging the existence of God or the validity of Christianity in these forums is prohibited.

You will not use profanity or foul language (which includes using punctuations to bypass the profanity filter) in your postings.

[Sexism] (discussions regarding certain biblical interpretations on the roles of men and women will not be considered “sexist” under this rule), … is strictly prohibited. *

The promotion of Satanism is strictly prohibited on this board.

You will not make posts which attempt to exorcise or bind demons and will not attempt on-line deliverances on this board.

Members shall not make posts which violate the copyrights of others. In general, this means that any quoted portion of any work must not exceed 20% of the total work.**

In the specific case of materials owned by the Associated Press, members shall not quote more than one sentence of the work. ***

According to Wikipedia, Poe’s Law originated on that site.

* This one made me LOL because the “certain biblical interpretations” they are probably refering to are exactly and explicitly sexist.

** I guess this post would fail their requirements.

*** WTF?