# Why Are Athiest Assholes? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771 "2002-07-13T11:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/61 "2002-07-14T00:51:15Z")
Me: **AlaItalia** believes himself or herself to be superior. **AlaItalia** is an asshole. **AlaItalia** : But, but… I _am_ superior. Bwahahahah, God dammit. Stop, that’s too fucking funny. I also have a high IQ (I can even join MENSA!). You know what that enables me to do? It enables me to score high on IQ tests. That’s about it, so fucking get over yourself. And yes, I am an asshole. But that doesn’t mean I’m not right 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Regina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@Regina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regina)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/62 "2002-07-14T00:52:52Z")
Hey, **Hastur** , I was just defending myself from what I felt was a mischaracterization. (S)he is correct that I am an asshole, thus validating the OP, but it was unfair of **Beeblebrox** to conclude that I make no attempt at understanding other belief systems or that I’m close-minded. Sunglasses in the bin to your left. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/63 "2002-07-14T01:22:43Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by vanilla \*\*\* > Theres no way he could travel to all the childrens houses around the world in one evening. > so there!_\* Chong: _How’d he get around the world, man._ Cheech: _Man, he used some magic dust_ Chong: _Magic dust? Man._ Cheech: _Yeah, magic dust, man. First he’d give a little to Santa Claus, then he’d give a little to the reindeer, then he’d give a little more to Santa Claus, and a little bit more to Santa Claus, and a little bit more to Santa Claus, and a little…_ Chong: _Wow man, and that got him off the ground? Man._ Cheech: _Got him off the ground man! It got him all around the world! Man._ Chong: _Wow! Man._ ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/64 "2002-07-14T01:25:17Z")
If **Alitalia** thinks that scoring well on IQ tests is a significant measure of some innate “superiority,” he/she truly is an asshole. In my time as a (now lapsed) Mensa member, I discovered that the majority of the members I met felt that possessing a high IQ was a valid substitute for bathing regularly and having social skills. In addition, I would recommend that **Alitalia** read _The Mismeasure of Man_ for Steven Jay Gould’s dissection of the flaws of intelligence testing. There is more to a person’s worth than can be found in three digits of an IQ score. To quote Divine in **Pink Flamingos** , “There are two kinds of people in this world: my kind and assholes.” My kind of people are kind, quirky, generous, intelligent, and fun, characteristics that can be found in Christians, atheists, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and animists. Conversely, assholes can also be found in every philosophical or religous segment of humanity, like the OP, who undoubtedly lives in fear that a little girl from Kansas may one day throw a bucket of Preparation H on him, thereby causing him to melt away. What a world, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/65 "2002-07-14T03:09:07Z")
To paraphrase Neal Stephenson: Large amounts of religion are nonsense. A certain subset of each generation is intelligent and cocky enough to notice this, and conclude that all of religion in nonsense. This is why atheism is connected with intellectualism in some people’s minds. And Alitalia will hopefully get over the smartest-person-in-the-room syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/66 "2002-07-14T03:22:26Z")
Do you ever associate certain posters with celebrities? So that when you read their posts, you picture, I dunno, Sean Connery saying it? **AlaItalia** is now and forever going to look and sound like Peggy Hill in my mind’s eye. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Rubin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billy_rubin/32/3622_2.png) [@Billy\_Rubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Rubin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/67 "2002-07-14T03:32:51Z")
> [@](#): > > To quote Divine in Pink Flamingos, “There are two kinds of people in this world: my kind and assholes.” My kind of people are kind, quirky, generous, intelligent, and fun, characteristics that can be found in Christians, atheists, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and animists. Conversely, assholes can also be found in every philosophical or religous segment of humanity, like the OP, who undoubtedly lives in fear that a little girl from Kansas may one day throw a bucket of Preparation H on him, thereby causing him to melt away. What a world, indeed. This has to be my favorite comment I’ve ever, ever read on the Dope. From the beginning, quoting a famous transvestite, to the segment where many of the major faiths of the world are mentioned, to pointing out that many members of those faiths are walking, talking rectal matter, to the unforgettable reference to the Wicked Witch’s final words while being doused in a patent medicene, I am in total awe. Nice work, Bear. I’m going to print that out and hang it in my cubicle. b ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/68 "2002-07-14T03:58:36Z")
Atheism seems to be becoming a sort of fad (please don’t kill me for saying this, I respect those of you who are aethists because that’s what they believe (or should I say, don’t believe). All of the aethist assholes I’ve met are the ones involved in this fad, generally the punk-rocker types. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/69 "2002-07-14T05:43:38Z")
There is “strength in numbers”, so the assholes will feel more comfortable being assholes when there are more of their kind around them. That’s why so many Christians (and some other religions) can feel comfortable being assholes a lot of the time—they figure they’re in the majority. But I’ve also encountered atheist assholes, even on this board. Since Christian bashing is somewhat more tolerated here, the atheist assholes sometimse will really come out of the woodwork. And yes, they can be every bit as insufferable as their religious counterparts. This situation reminds me of an old job I had a few years ago. In the dept. where I worked, I was outnumbered politically. The other people in my dept. could get really nasty and insulting with me, whenever political issues came up in discussion. It could get really uncomfortable. Then, during the busy season at work, we hired some temp workers. Who, coincidentally, shared some of my political views (and who were sharp as tacks, too!). All of a sudden, the numbers were evened out. I could almost feel the sulking shock of my political “opponents” when they realized that the party was over. They were no longer enjoying a majority. All of a sudden, these people who used to revel in insulting me and starting arguments were saying that they “didn’t like to talk politics” and so forth. Oh, I enjoyed that irony _so_ much… That’s what human beings are like, I reckon. Depressing, isn’t it? Oh, and gobear—sheer poetry, sheer poetry. You always impress. ---
**Author:** ![dreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@dreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreamer)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/70 "2002-07-14T05:43:38Z")
[inquiring minds want to know hijack] > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beeblebrox \* > \*\* > > I have noticed however, that Christian bashing is a little more tolerated around here than most other types of prejudice. It has gotten far better in the past six months or so (oddly enough, I credit **lolo** for that - the atheists were stumbling over themselves trying to put distance between themselves and that nutjob), but it is still around. \*\* So I’m curious. I did a search on **lolo** and pretty much came up with nothing. Can someone tell me what went on with him/her? [end inquiring minds want to know hijack] ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/71 "2002-07-14T06:10:34Z")
**AlaItalia** , I’m not going to rag on you anymore about the “intelectually inferior” thing, but there is still this: > [@](#): > > _originally posted by AlaItalia_ > \*\*but it was unfair of Beeblebrox to conclude that I make no attempt at understanding other belief systems or that I’m close-minded. \*\* was it really that unfair? I was responding to this: > [@](#): > > _originally posted by AlaItalia_ > \*\*I do recognize that there are persons of highly superior intellect who still persist in believing in God, why I will never understand. \*\*Right there you say you will never understand. _Never_. Do you still wonder why I called you intelectualy lazy and closed minded? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/72 "2002-07-14T06:27:59Z")
Dreamer, this is **lolo** : [Jesus: I’m not impressed](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=92421%5B/url) You can find more of his gems by simply typing “lolo” into the search function. You probably forgot to make sure you were searching under “any date”. The asshole has been banned for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/73 "2002-07-14T06:32:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by monica \* > \*\* All of the aethist assholes I’ve met are the ones involved in this fad, generally the punk-rocker types. \*\* Whoa! As a punk (actually, an Industrial GothPunk, but never mind that), I have to say that an important part of our belief system is to be an asshole whenever required for the greater good of society. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/74 "2002-07-14T06:41:51Z")
Wait! Dammit, I just described **lolo** as an asshole. He’s not an asshole - he’s an idiotic nutjob. **AlaItalia** and myself are assholes, there is a difference. That idiotic nutjob is beneath contempt, and I won’t have him sullying the good name of “asshole”. ---
**Author:** ![Regina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@Regina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regina)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/75 "2002-07-14T14:27:59Z")
## originally posted by AlaItalia I do recognize that there are persons of highly superior intellect who still persist in believing in God, why I will never understand. Beeblebrox: Right there you say you will never understand. Never. Do you still wonder why I called you intelectualy lazy and closed minded? * * * No, I get it, and you were right to call me on that. I DO have a problem thinking I’m just a [Church Lady Voice] little bit superior to everyone else. [/CLV] I’ll work on that. Thank you for not being as nasty as I probably deserve. **Miller,** I don’t watch that show, but amazingly enough, with my glasses on and my hair up, I do remarkably resemble Peggy Hill! ---
**Author:** ![Apache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Apache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apache)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/76 "2002-07-14T14:53:11Z")
Reprise p@cific@812 Revtim Thank you for your posts. I think more on theis board could take some lessons from you three on how to put forth a coherent argument. AND Jaakko Pldennison Racinchikki Jinwicked AlaItalia grendel72 Please see title of post. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/77 "2002-07-14T15:40:07Z")
I just want to state for the record that the fact that I am an asshole is wholly unrelated to the fact that I am an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![Apache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Apache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apache)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/78 "2002-07-14T15:49:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by manhattan \* > \*\*I just want to state for the record that the fact that I am an asshole is wholly unrelated to the fact that I am an atheist. \*\* Noted! 🙂 Out of curiosity, do you remember what came first? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/79 "2002-07-14T19:18:38Z")
Please see .sig… (I’m neither a theist nor an atheist - does that mean I’m never an asshole? 😕) ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2002, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771/80 "2002-07-15T13:50:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Apache \* > \*\* > > There really seems to be not just a rejection of any religious belief, which is your right, but an openly hostile effort to squash any type of religious expression. > There is also a frequent effort to portray anybody that hold a religious belief as an intellectually inferior and to associate them with extremist causes. > > If you don’t believe in any type of a Deity, then why try to vilify those that do? \*\* Has this been addressed? The only people that are or should be villified are ones who would use our government to coerce people toward their particular religion. Apache seems to have a misconception that is very common these days: Mistaking people who believe that freedom of religion in the United States is sacrosanct for people who wish to remove religion from people’s lives. This misconception has come to the forefront in recent times with the flackover the Pledge. Unfortunately for all of us, every time the government moves toward a “respecting” of any religion then your religion and that of every other American is cheapened. It is you and your religion that these “Assholes” are trying to protect when they try to keep the government out of your religion. If you love your freedom then you need to fight any effort of the government to impose religion on you and other Americans. The fact that the religion that they wish to impose might be yours is irrelevant. People who love their religious freedom are not limited to atheists. [See Americans United.](http://www.au.org/relicomm.htm) If you wish to live in a country where the government endorses religion may I direct you toward England, Saudi Arabia or perhaps Sudan? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-athiest-assholes/118771.md?page=5)