So Who's Going to the American Atheist Convention?

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2006-03-14 04:25pm

It was just brought to my attention that American Atheist are holding their 32nd annual convention in downtown San Antonio on April 14-16th. That would put it at a mere four hour drive away, and thus I've been debating over going or not. I'm not a member of American Atheist, but you don't have to be one to attend. Looking at the speakers list I don't see anyone that great (not on the caliber of Randi's conventions), but I do know a bunch of infadels from Austin who are bound to be there. And also I've been looking for an excuse to get the hell out of Abilene and have some fun somewhere else, and the riverwalk fits the bill. Has anyone else heard of this thing, and if so what is your probability of attending?

http://www.atheists.org/convention/

http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/SATRC

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2006-03-14 04:27pm

I'd join you, if you're willing to finance my taxi over there, and by taxi, I mean long haul flight. Via Concorde.

Guardsman Bass · Post by **Guardsman Bass** » 2006-03-14 04:30pm

You really ought to go, if you can (I would, but I have a major project for one of my classes due, and getting tickets would be tough). Randi may not be there, but Michael Shermer is pretty interesting, and it looks kind of fun; I've never actually been in the physical company of an organized group of atheists.

Guardsman Bass · Post by **Guardsman Bass** » 2006-03-14 04:32pm

Normally, I could probably get free standby flights at a higher priority than normal passengers, but my mom is the one who gets the tickets, and she's a very strong Mormon. Getting free tickets to go to an atheist convention is not a likely prospect. Still, anybody within the area should definitely go, since it's only $105.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2006-03-14 04:42pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:I'd join you, if you're willing to finance my taxi over there, and by taxi, I mean long haul flight. Via Concorde.

Be reasonable and just have him ‘borrow’ a C-130 for a little hop across the pond

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2006-03-14 04:47pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:
Be reasonable and just have him ‘borrow’ a C-130 for a little hop across the pond

Pfft, I could've asked my dad for that. I want the impossible.

I'd really like to see one of these conventions though. Over here, I don't recall any in my locality, but given we're supposed to be real secular in Blighty, you'd think them more common.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2006-03-14 04:49pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:Be reasonable and just have him ‘borrow’ a C-130 for a little hop across the pond

Believe me it's much better to fly commercial air. That trip would take two days min. More likely you'll take off one day late due to mx issues, end up stranded in St John's for eleven days for mx issues, spend the night at Westover again for mx issues. By the time you've made it to Dyess after hours of sitting very uncomfortably on the nets, freezing your butt off, and losing most of your hearing, you're just gonna want to go back home to die.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2006-03-14 04:51pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:I'd really like to see one of these conventions though. Over here, I don't recall any in my locality, but given we're supposed to be real secular in Blighty, you'd think them more common.

This is gonna be in Texas, deep in the heart of enemy territory!

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2006-03-14 04:54pm

Wicked Pilot wrote:
This is gonna be in Texas, deep in the heart of enemy territory!

That's what makes it even more impressive. By the sounds of some camps over there, they'd literally go over there and protest against such evil things. Hope for rational freethinking yet, methinks.

kheegster · Post by **kheegster** » 2006-03-14 05:01pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:
I'd really like to see one of these conventions though. Over here, I don't recall any in my locality, but given we're supposed to be real secular in Blighty, you'd think them more common.

I get the impression that Britain is a secular country mostly through the waning of the churches rather than through any specific strength of disbelief among its people. In any case, in a country where most people are non-believers, there's less point of having an organised body for atheism isn't it? How many Islamic Associations are there in Saudi Arabia?

Zero · Post by **Zero** » 2006-03-14 05:41pm

I'd go, if I had my own car to drive. I have a car, but technically, it's the family car, and since my mom hates the fact that I'm an atheist, she wouldn't let me go to an atheist convention. If I could hitch a ride, maybe, but I don't want to dish out a couple hundred bucks to do something like this when I have my own cabal of atheists here.

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2006-03-14 07:06pm

I probably would, except for the fact that it'd probably take me a year or so to *get* to San Antonio on foot.

Grand Moff Yenchin · Post by **Grand Moff Yenchin** » 2006-03-14 07:14pm

Too much for a poor student like me. Pity since it's just a ~40 minute drive.

Metatwaddle · Post by **Metatwaddle** » 2006-03-15 05:35am

Wicked Pilot wrote:but I do know a bunch of infadels from Austin who are bound to be there.

Are they the group of atheists who have that TV show that's also released as a Podcast, where they talk about atheistic stuff and have callers? Their podcast is awesome. They deliver major ownage every time.

I probably won't be going, because San Antonio is a bit far away, and I'm already traveling this spring break (to Spain).

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2006-03-15 11:33am

Discombobulated wrote:Are they the group of atheists who have that TV show that's also released as a Podcast, where they talk about atheistic stuff and have callers? Their podcast is awesome. They deliver major ownage every time.

The ACA, that's them. Their show The Atheist Experience completely rocks. The shear joy of listening to Christians get owned on live TV is incredible, especially now that the new host is a former seminary student. I almost feel sorry for the poor bastards who call in to debate Biblical accuracy, almost.

kheegster · Post by **kheegster** » 2006-03-15 11:49am

Just realised: Isn't Einy in San Antonio at the moment?

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2006-03-15 01:14pm

Wicked Pilot wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:I'd really like to see one of these conventions though. Over here, I don't recall any in my locality, but given we're supposed to be real secular in Blighty, you'd think them more common.
This is gonna be in Texas, deep in the heart of enemy territory!

San Antonio? Hardly. I've been down there a lot in the last few years and it's pretty liberal aside from the annoying cowboy hat and barbacue fetish.

Pezzoni · Post by **Pezzoni** » 2006-03-15 03:29pm

Discombobulated wrote:Are they the group of atheists who have that TV show that's also released as a Podcast, where they talk about atheistic stuff and have callers? Their podcast is awesome. They deliver major ownage every time.

Sounds awesome: Do you have linkage?

I'm not sure if I would go (assuming it was closer to me) myself though: Having to pay money to reaffirm my beliefs? I can do that for free in a church every sunday morning

In all seriousness though, I'm betting it would be pretty interesting to visit, although a little strange as well. I suspect that view does come from being surrounded predominantly by atheists (or at least moderate, and quiet christians).

Metatwaddle · Post by **Metatwaddle** » 2006-03-15 07:08pm

Pezzoni wrote:
Discombobulated wrote:Are they the group of atheists who have that TV show that's also released as a Podcast, where they talk about atheistic stuff and have callers? Their podcast is awesome. They deliver major ownage every time.
Sounds awesome: Do you have linkage?

Well, here is a link to their website. To find their podcast, just go into the podcast directory and search for Atheist Experience. And yes, it's awesome.

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2006-03-20 08:28pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:
Wicked Pilot wrote:
This is gonna be in Texas, deep in the heart of enemy territory!
That's what makes it even more impressive. By the sounds of some camps over there, they'd literally go over there and protest against such evil things.

Not to mention the fact that Mr. Marriott is a devout Mormon.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2006-03-21 03:46pm

Here is a more direct link to the Atheist Experience shows. Obviously for bandwidth issues it's audio only, but 99% of the time that's all you need.

Sans_Deity · Post by **Sans_Deity** » 2006-04-04 01:23pm

Wicked Pilot wrote:The shear joy of listening to Christians get owned on live TV is incredible, especially now that the new host is a former seminary student.

Thanks for the compliments, but I feel I need to make a slight correct...I wasn't a seminary student, I was engaged in self-study with the intent (and hope) of entering seminary.

I don't think the distinction would be important to most people, some might even argue that I've actually surpassed what the average seminary student would learn by not being spoon-fed the details which make the best case for religion. But, in the interest of honesty, I just like to be clear about it. After all, for each person who thinks I'm better off, someone else thinks I missed something by not being "formally" educated.

In any case, thanks for watching (and promoting) the show. We've gained many new listeners and viewers (DVD's are available now), from around the world thanks to the podcast and folks like you.

-Matt Dillahunty
sans_deity[at]yahoo.com
www.atheist-experience.com
www.nonprophetsradio.com
www.atheist-community.org

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2006-04-04 04:16pm

My mistake, nice to have you on the board though. Do you plan on posting here often, or did you swing by just for this thread?

Sans_Deity · Post by **Sans_Deity** » 2006-04-04 11:01pm

Wicked Pilot wrote:My mistake, nice to have you on the board though. Do you plan on posting here often, or did you swing by just for this thread?

Found the place by accident. I'm not sure what my participation level will be, as my "free time" is pretty limited. But I'm pretty opinionated, I'll keep stopping by and I'm sure I'll add a coment or two some time.

-Matt

Zadius · Post by **Zadius** » 2006-04-05 02:51am

Sans_Deity wrote:
Wicked Pilot wrote:My mistake, nice to have you on the board though. Do you plan on posting here often, or did you swing by just for this thread?
Found the place by accident. I'm not sure what my participation level will be, as my "free time" is pretty limited. But I'm pretty opinionated, I'll keep stopping by and I'm sure I'll add a coment or two some time.

-Matt

Hey, Great show Matt! Hope you stick around here for a while.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

So Who's Going to the American Atheist Convention?

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