Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Shake · 06-13-2003, 10:52 AM

I was looking at the Atheists Meetup site when I came across the URL for The Brights!

This is a new way of classifying people. According to their own definition:

Quote:

A Bright -- a person with a naturalistic worldview.
A Bright's worldview is free of supernatural and mystical elements.
The ethics and actions of a Bright are based on a naturalistic worldview.

Their goal is to create a new meme; one without the negative associations to words like: atheist, secular humanist, agnostic, etc. The Brights would encompass all of these. They seem to have things fairly well thought out.

As I haven't yet seen any mention of them here, let me be the first to say it on IIDB: "I am a Bright."

Thoughts? Comments? Please check out their site.

Mods, I hope this is an appropriate place for this topic. Please don't banish it to ~~Elsewhere~~ I thought it might also work in SL&S or C-SS&A, but ended up here.

AquaVita · 06-13-2003, 11:09 AM

Actually, I think this would be a better fit in SL&S as it pertains to the atheist lifestyle and the bad stigmas attached to the "Atheist" label.

wildernesse · 06-13-2003, 11:11 AM

Do you feel that by calling yourself a "bright", that you are inferring that people who do not share your worldview are not bright? As in intelligent/clever?

Quote:

1 a : radiating or reflecting light : SHINING, SPARKLING <bright lights> <bright eyes> b : SUNNY <a bright day>; also : radiant with happiness <bright smiling faces> <bright moments>
2 : ILLUSTRIOUS, GLORIOUS <brightest star of the opera>
3 : BEAUTIFUL
4 : of high saturation or brilliance <bright colors>
5 a : LIVELY, CHEERFUL <be bright and jovial among your guests -- Shakespeare> b : INTELLIGENT, CLEVER <a bright idea> <bright children>
6 : AUSPICIOUS, PROMISING <bright prospects for the future>

Do you see how this connotation could become as negative as the others that people supposedly have about the words "atheist" and "agnostic"?

--tibac, a darkling

Shake · 06-13-2003, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wildernesse
Do you feel that by calling yourself a "bright", that you are inferring that people who do not share your worldview are not bright? As in intelligent/clever?

<definition removed>

Do you see how this connotation could become as negative as the others that people supposedly have about the words "atheist" and "agnostic"?

--tibac, a darkling

I do see that. I also see that you failed to check out the site. Like I said, they've thought things out pretty well, and even your objection is handled:

Quote:

This new and different "bright" is a term for a person or persons; thus, a noun in and of itself. The defining attribute of the person (a Bright) is not the former adjectival meanings.

Now, go look at the site some more!

wildernesse · 06-13-2003, 11:19 AM

Yes, but you can't just arbitrarily change a word's meaning and expect all of the connotations that it previously had to disappear like fog on a sunny day. That's nonsense.

I did check out the site, thank you very much. Declaring something to be so, doesn't make it so. (I know, I've tried with the "I am a beautiful millionaire." line several times.)

--tibac

braces_for_impact · 06-13-2003, 11:29 AM

I don't care if you call yourself a bright, a secular humanist, a naturalist, an atheist, or a purple smurf. As soon as your particular label is connected to godlessness it won't matter to most theists, as their preconceptions take over.

Besides, "bright" seems a bit fluffy...

AquaVita · 06-13-2003, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by braces_for_impact
Besides, "bright" seems a bit fluffy...

I agree. It almost sounds like some sort of bizaare cult. (Ironic, no?

)

King Rat · 06-13-2003, 11:39 AM

They're using a term coined by a sci-fi novelist to describe a girl who was born genetically superior. Obvious condecension aside, it's just another ineffective label.

Autonemesis · 06-13-2003, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wildernesse
Yes, but you can't just arbitrarily change a word's meaning and expect all of the connotations that it previously had to disappear like fog on a sunny day. That's nonsense.

Good thing you didn't say "That's gay" or "That's queer."

It will be very interesting to hear bigots distance themselves from atheists and homosexuals in the future.

"I'm not gay, and I'm not bright either. "

Toto · 06-13-2003, 11:55 AM

I heard an address on this at the AAI convention. The people behind the idea are great people who have done a lot of good work, but I found the whole thing embarrassing.

I figure that it will not catch on, and the best thing is to ignore it.

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06-13-2003, 11:09 AM	#2
AquaVita Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Dallas Posts: 4,351	Actually, I think this would be a better fit in SL&S as it pertains to the atheist lifestyle and the bad stigmas attached to the "Atheist" label.

06-13-2003, 11:19 AM	#5
wildernesse Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,578	Yes, but you can't just arbitrarily change a word's meaning and expect all of the connotations that it previously had to disappear like fog on a sunny day. That's nonsense. I did check out the site, thank you very much. Declaring something to be so, doesn't make it so. (I know, I've tried with the "I am a beautiful millionaire." line several times.) --tibac

06-13-2003, 11:29 AM	#6
braces_for_impact Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In a nondescript, black helicopter. Posts: 6,637	I don't care if you call yourself a bright, a secular humanist, a naturalist, an atheist, or a purple smurf. As soon as your particular label is connected to godlessness it won't matter to most theists, as their preconceptions take over. Besides, "bright" seems a bit fluffy...

06-13-2003, 11:39 AM	#8
King Rat Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 6,855	They're using a term coined by a sci-fi novelist to describe a girl who was born genetically superior. Obvious condecension aside, it's just another ineffective label.

06-13-2003, 11:55 AM	#10
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I heard an address on this at the AAI convention. The people behind the idea are great people who have done a lot of good work, but I found the whole thing embarrassing. I figure that it will not catch on, and the best thing is to ignore it.

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