There was a time when using the exclamation "Oh god" and the like really bugged me. It seemed a stark representation of how prevalent the idea had ingrained itself in the mass population. But after a while it lost even that meaning.
I use other phrases that are just as pointless to me; "Let the cat out of the bag," etc. Using a common colloquialism does not show affiliation to the phrase or what it was based on.
As far as using the term Atheist to describe myself - I used to avoid it. I argued that it was like describing myself as "Not Blonde." While it may be true there are far more accurate terms that describe what I am.
I'd been rolling around my rational around in my head for some time when about two years ago I encountered one of those woe stories at a gas station. Guy needed gas, blah blah blah, I handed him a twenty and he spouted off a "God bless you for being a good Christian" kind of thank you.
That got me thinking it's not about me. It's not about what label I feel best represents me. To everyone else I am an Athiest. It's important to speak up about that and show people that we are perfectly normal people. I've come to feel the same way about being bi and poly. I'm working on being more out spoken about my beliefs. Unfortunately poly is still one that I feel I need to remain tight lipped.
My boss is a (Jewish) Atheist married gay man. He's very outspoken about his life choices, has his own podcast. etc. Drove the point home when he was talking about alternative lifestyles needing to 'come out of the closet' then he paused and pointed out that he could understand why I chose to stay closed lipped (in the office) about being poly.
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Date: 2012-11-12 12:22 pm (UTC)I use other phrases that are just as pointless to me; "Let the cat out of the bag," etc. Using a common colloquialism does not show affiliation to the phrase or what it was based on.
As far as using the term Atheist to describe myself - I used to avoid it. I argued that it was like describing myself as "Not Blonde." While it may be true there are far more accurate terms that describe what I am.
I'd been rolling around my rational around in my head for some time when about two years ago I encountered one of those woe stories at a gas station. Guy needed gas, blah blah blah, I handed him a twenty and he spouted off a "God bless you for being a good Christian" kind of thank you.
That got me thinking it's not about me. It's not about what label I feel best represents me. To everyone else I am an Athiest. It's important to speak up about that and show people that we are perfectly normal people.
I've come to feel the same way about being bi and poly. I'm working on being more out spoken about my beliefs. Unfortunately poly is still one that I feel I need to remain tight lipped.
My boss is a (Jewish) Atheist married gay man. He's very outspoken about his life choices, has his own podcast. etc. Drove the point home when he was talking about alternative lifestyles needing to 'come out of the closet' then he paused and pointed out that he could understand why I chose to stay closed lipped (in the office) about being poly.