# Austrian Atheist Wins Right To Wear Spaghetti Strainer As Religious Headgear **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 13, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936 "2011-07-13T22:53:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/21 "2011-07-14T11:54:34Z")
This news story made me snicker: [Austrian driver allowed 'pastafarian' headgear photo - BBC News](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14135523) An Austrian man applied for permission for his driver’s license photo to show him wearing a colander _(show-off)_ on the grounds that it is religious headgear. He is, of course, a devotee of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or pastafarian. It took three years and a doctor’s certification that he isn’t cuckoo, but he did it! He’s pretty cute, too, if you ask me. Mind, who wouldn’t look cute with the plastic handle of a pasta strainer sticking out to the side of their head? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/22 "2011-07-14T12:30:35Z")
> [@](#): > > who knew Austria was so cool? All the people in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=616192), for one. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/23 "2011-07-14T12:37:13Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > All the people in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=616192), for one. Merged threads. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/24 "2011-07-14T12:40:48Z")
Bugger! And I specially looked to see if there was already a thread on the subject – clearly, not hard enough. Sorry, original OP! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/25 "2011-07-14T12:57:57Z")
> [@](#): > > The stunt meant that the authorities called Alm in to make sure that he was “mentally fit” to drive, but in the end, he was found to be mentally competent and now his license photo features him wearing a colander. Do all religious requests lead to the person’s sanity being questioned? Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/26 "2011-07-14T13:07:38Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Do all religious requests lead to the person’s sanity being questioned? Just saying. I like the way you think. Let’s implement that right away. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/27 "2011-07-14T13:26:21Z")
Look Mommy, that man’s had [brain salad surgery](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BrainSaladSurgery.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/28 "2011-07-14T13:33:15Z")
The bigger question is will Niko Alm out himself here. This guy clearly is a doper. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/29 "2011-07-14T13:43:38Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > The bigger question is will Niko Alm out himself here. This guy clearly is a doper. Nothing about this story indicates that he’s a doper. If someone on this board were going through a three year long battle to defend pastafarianism, he’d have started a thread about it. The FSM is an off-board creation. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/30 "2011-07-14T14:09:27Z")
In celebration, an ascii map of Austria and its capital, Perth: . . . … .-_| . . . . / . . Perth -\>\*.–._/ … . . . . . v ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/31 "2011-07-14T14:13:21Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > In celebration, an ascii map of Austria and its capital, Perth: [Fucking Austria!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucking,_Austria) ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/32 "2011-07-14T15:04:09Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Nothing about this story indicates that he’s a doper. If someone on this board were going through a three year long battle to defend pastafarianism, he’d have started a thread about it. The FSM is an off-board creation. I believe you underestimate the stealthiness of many in the doper community. I’m pretty sure that Niko roams these halls, and have a pretty good idea under what username. ---
**Author:** ![Bamboo\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@Bamboo\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bamboo_Boy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/33 "2011-07-14T15:19:51Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > Pretty stupid. It’s great to make a point and all, but not at that price. Still waiting for an answer…What price are we talking about here? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/34 "2011-07-14T15:25:20Z")
Two cents from a Catholic: Hey, if HE doesn’t mind looking like a total dick (and he does), what do I care? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/35 "2011-07-14T15:49:21Z")
> [@Bamboo\_Boy](#): > > Still waiting for an answer…What price are we talking about here? Yeah, it’s not like it’s much of a strain. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/36 "2011-07-14T15:59:17Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I love the deadpan look on his face. > > That is one snazzy colander. He must be very wealthy. > [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought of that thread. Hooray! Me too. ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/37 "2011-07-14T16:01:06Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Hey, if HE doesn’t mind looking like a total dick (and he does), what do I care? Does anybody look good in their driver’s license photo? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/38 "2011-07-14T16:28:02Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Two cents from a Catholic: > > Hey, if HE doesn’t mind looking like a total dick (and he does), what do I care? Well, Catholics should probably know a thing or two about [dickish headgear](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitre), so I defer to your judgment on the matter. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/39 "2011-07-14T18:22:13Z")
My next DL photo, I wonder if I could wear a colander AND an eye patch, in conforming with my pastafaranian beliefs. I thought all Austrians were named Bruce. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936/40 "2011-07-14T18:26:34Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I thought all Austrians were named Bruce. Of course they are. It’s just they get nicknames so you can tell them apart. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/austrian-atheist-wins-right-to-wear-spaghetti-strainer-as-religious-headgear/588936.md?page=3)