# Billboard of Intolerance **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 22, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365 "2005-02-22T17:10:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/21 "2005-02-22T18:40:03Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > And the Civil War led to West Virginia. What’s this guy’s problem? You ever _been_ to West Virginia? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/22 "2005-02-22T18:43:42Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I find it funny to be called a “lunatic atheist” though. Is it my atheism that’s driving me insane? Or am I insane to be atheist? Your insanity led you to not only become an atheist, but an unpatriotic traitor as well. It’s almost like you weren’t even born in this country! ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/23 "2005-02-22T18:46:13Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Yeah, you’re right. The whole thing is malformed. Its premises are false. And it’s just plain stupid. But since this is the Dope and all, here’s a pretty good page on syllogisms for you, if you’re interested: > > [Categorical Syllogism](http://www.philosophypages.com/lg/e08a.htm) Ow! Now my brain hurts! Anyway, what’re you trying to do - make me think while I’m at work? I’m not quite sure I fathom the purpose of this billboard; seriously, how many people will lokk at it and think it makes perfect sense to them? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/24 "2005-02-22T19:07:51Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Yeah, you’re right. The whole thing is malformed. Its premises are false. And it’s just plain stupid. But since this is the Dope and all, here’s a pretty good page on syllogisms for you, if you’re interested: > > [Categorical Syllogism](http://www.philosophypages.com/lg/e08a.htm) Thanks for that. I’m going to have to look at it when I have a bit more peace and quiet. As for the implied conclusion of the offending billboard: Does atheism lead to civil war? Ridiculous, sure, but you have no idea how many times in the past few years I’ve almost typed “It’s almost like we’re gearing up for religious civil war in this country” in this forum. It seems like both sides are raising the stakes to extreme levels. And it seems like the deists are doing most of the raising, though that might just be my own perspective. I don’t think it’s horribly absurd to imagine the national religion debate turning to armed conflict at some point. Or maybe my imagination is getting the best of me. Maybe that’s a subject for GD or IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/25 "2005-02-22T19:09:41Z")
Reminds me of a billboard near the college I went to, The Evergreen State College. It had a scary-looking Uncle Sam on it (or maybe it was Skeletor dressed up as Uncle Sam), and the guy who owned it would put up different crazy stuff on it from time to time, all directed at how awful them liberals were. One time he put up the phrase: > [@](#): > > THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE: HOME OF ENVIRONMENTAL TERRORISTS AND HOMOSEXUALS. A photograph of that billboard was the campus bookstore’s bestselling postcard. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/26 "2005-02-22T19:15:49Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Your insanity led you to not only become an atheist, but an unpatriotic traitor as well. It’s almost like you weren’t even born in this country! Um. I wasn’t. But I did take citizenship vows! I’m a citizen now! ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/27 "2005-02-22T19:31:18Z")
As soon as I saw the name in the OP, I knew exactly what billboard this was going to be pitting. Fortunately, I very rarely go that way since that’s not on the way to campus for me (only when I head up to WesBanco, and since they’re not giving away money for free, don’t do that very often!) Personally, it struck me as very odd around here, mostly since I call this Morgantown, Pennsylvania (as opposed to Greene and Fayette County, West Virginia), but I laugh it off mostly since apparently the guy has never read the Founding Fathers’ ideas on religion, which certainly have been discussed here to no end so no elaboration is needed. Ohh, and I AM a Mountaineer football fan (live 200 yards from the stadium). No need to bring those forgotten souls down south into the discussion (worst part is that I can’t bring up anything about their football nosedive, lest I be accused of being in poor taste). ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/28 "2005-02-22T19:43:57Z")
Maybe we dopers should pool our money together to put up a liberal billboards in one of the most wacko conservative parts of the country, just to ruffle their feathers. I’d throw down 50 bucks for the cause. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/29 "2005-02-22T19:54:26Z")
> [@beergeek279](#): > > Ohh, and I AM a Mountaineer football fan (live 200 yards from the stadium). No need to bring those forgotten souls down south into the discussion (worst part is that I can’t bring up anything about their football nosedive, lest I be accused of being in poor taste). Geez! Depending which direction you live from the stadium, you could be my next-door neighbor, there. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/30 "2005-02-22T19:55:09Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Maybe we dopers should pool our money together to put up a liberal billboards in one of the most wacko conservative parts of the country, just to ruffle their feathers. I’d throw down 50 bucks for the cause. 😃 I have a suggestion: **WHY DOES THIS MAN HATE AMERICA?** [Picture of Jesus (traditional, that they will recognize)] “Love your enemies.” ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/31 "2005-02-22T20:03:29Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > \*\*tdn \*\* is right. That billboard doesn’t really bother me. It’s so silly and over the top…still assholish enough to draw me in here, though. > > I find it funny to be called a “lunatic atheist” though. Is it my atheism that’s driving me insane? Or am I insane to be atheist? It’s the moon that drives your atheism. ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/32 "2005-02-22T20:12:40Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Geez! Depending which direction you live from the stadium, you could be my next-door neighbor, there. On the side of the Health Campus away from Evansdale…basically down from the student gate to the stadium, near Chateau Royale and Georgetown. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/33 "2005-02-22T20:13:00Z")
> [@](#): > > _Traitors Lead to Civil War._ Why don’t we skip the Civil War and jump straight to the [division of the union?](http://www.kenlayne.com/2004/11/secret_jesusland.html) Affordable health care, a low crime rate, competent leadership (well, relatively speaking), and no more annoying right-wing nutjobs? Sign me up! ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/34 "2005-02-22T20:22:21Z")
> [@beergeek279](#): > > On the side of the Health Campus away from Evansdale…basically down from the student gate to the stadium, near Chateau Royale and Georgetown. Heh. Not terribly far. I’m over on Stewartstown Rd. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/35 "2005-02-22T20:36:20Z")
Where is the board located? (I’m from Morgantown). ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/36 "2005-02-22T20:41:50Z")
> [@F. U. Shakespeare](#): > > Where is the board located? (I’m from Morgantown). University Ave, just after you cross Patteson Drive, heading towards the ‘Y’ where University splits from Collins Ferry Rd. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/37 "2005-02-22T20:51:03Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Reminds me of a billboard near the college I went to,… Fellow Geoduck here, class of '90. How did you wind up all the way out in North Carolina? ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/38 "2005-02-22T21:01:51Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > > [@tdn](#): > > > > Your insanity led you to not only become an atheist, but an unpatriotic traitor as well. It’s almost like you weren’t even born in this country! > > Um. > > I wasn’t. > > But I did take citizenship vows! I’m a citizen now! Me neither, and I’m not. Nyah! I can be an Anti-whatever now! Yay! > [@Kimstu](#): > > I’m always baffled by anti-atheists who reach for an argument against atheism and come up with “unpatriotic”. Denying the Holy Word of God, rejecting Divine love and salvation, burning in hell for all eternity—those are just details, apparently. But impugning atheists’ patriotism—ooh, now that’s harsh! Huh? > > I guess maybe they’re trying to pre-empt the much more defensible argument that religious intolerance is anti-American. I’m always baffled how people can think that Athiesm = Unpatriotic in a country that supposedly separates Church and State. Can someone explain that one to me? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/39 "2005-02-22T21:09:19Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > Me neither, and I’m not. Nyah! I can be an Anti-whatever now! Yay! > > I’m always baffled how people can think that Athiesm = Unpatriotic in a country that supposedly separates Church and State. Can someone explain that one to me? _throws a rock at **GingerOfTheNorth** _ As for your question, we have no answer and will get back to you. But even the senior Bush said something to this effect, or so I’m told. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365/40 "2005-02-22T21:14:49Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Maybe we dopers should pool our money together to put up a liberal billboards in one of the most wacko conservative parts of the country, just to ruffle their feathers. I’d throw down 50 bucks for the cause. 😃 I’ll throw in another 50 bucks at least. Gotta have some way to see the reactions, though. Maybe a concealed webcam… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billboard-of-intolerance/291365.md?page=3)