Comments

  5. DHB says

    Have you ever noticed how atheists are almost always described in the media as being ‘self-described’? Why aren’t religious people ever ‘self-described’? Is it because they are indoctrinated close to birth? Are there any free-thinking families out there who indoctrinate their babies into atheism so they won’t grow up to be a ‘self-described atheist’?

  8. says

    My guess is that at least in this case there are a couple of good explanations for why they wrote “self-described”: (1) they know nearly nothing about her except what they researched from her blog and so are qualifying their remarks as being a matter of self-description. (2) They are making clear to readers that they are not hastily leaping from her remarks challenging religious leaders to assuming that they constitute atheism. In other words, they are not seeing someone mocking superstitious thinking and presuming that entails atheism, when it need not. She is a self-described atheist and that’s sufficient to account for why they characterize her as one.

  9. says

    How about you promise that you will use your powers for evil? At least as far as religious people are concerned.

  12. says

    You’re not just on the website, you’re on the homepage. Of course, I think all of their stories rotate through there until they’re kicked out by something newer, but still very cool. Welcome to being famous, Jen.

  14. Introbulus says

    Six minutes ago? @_@; That’s about as long ago as I found your site! ..Or at least…feels like it…@_@; Shit…I need to sleep.

  15. Sir VG says

    Too late. She’s already taking over the world. Two boobs at a time. Which kind of boobs I’m referring to, is up to you.

  16. David Joiner says

    Personally, I’m reaching the point where I’m hoping this boob day gets over quick so I can have Jen and her blogs back… :PI’m happy for you Jen, and hope this works out awesome, but looking forward to your more thought provoking blogs once it’s over. :)

  18. Azkyroth says

    *ties shoelaces together**follows through on poking the local atheist group leader about forwarding the Boobquake details to the group* ^.^”My guess is that at least in this case there are a couple of good explanations for why they wrote “self-described”: (1) they know nearly nothing about her except what they researched from her blog and so are qualifying their remarks as being a matter of self-description. (2) They are making clear to readers that they are not hastily leaping from her remarks challenging religious leaders to assuming that they constitute atheism. In other words, they are not seeing someone mocking superstitious thinking and presuming that entails atheism, when it need not. She is a self-described atheist and that’s sufficient to account for why they characterize her as one.”3. They are making clear that they are not engaged in another instance of the use of “atheist” in a slur-like fashion as a general-purpose appellation for someone the speaker dislikes, regardless of whether its denotation is even remotely applicable.

  20. Bee says

    your all through New Zealand media as well.Given that it is pretty much winter down here in Dunedin, I will probably die off cold, but I am so there (and have recruited my flatmates as well). : )

  22. says

    I think the media does a lot of catering to religious audiences, even in the most subtle of ways. I think by using certain phrases and terms like “self-described”, they’re creating an additional arms length between themselves and the subject of their story – if the subject may be unfavorable to the bulk of the audience. There are people out there who think the word “Atheist” is a filthy word and that Atheism itself is THE source of moral decline. We’re like rock ‘n’ roll in the ’50s! Maybe I’m reading too much into it here but I think the “self-described” thing is their way of saying, “That’s HER thing… we’re not endorsing it by reporting on her…” Whether they agree with Atheism or not, they might think the absence of the extra arms length is bad for business.

  24. says

    I would love to be able to report that you’d made it to my country as well, but it doesn’t look like it. I googled some keywords in the appropriate language and came up empty. One thing I’m sure of, though; if you make it to a certain major Oslo newspaper, whether print or online, the story will be headed by a huge picture of either a cleavage or a bare boob, just in case we don’t know what they look like. Not necessarily Jen’s, anyone’s will do. Speaking of such visual aids, has anyone seen whether Jen has made “The Sun”? Brits please report. Probably “earthquake” is too long a word for the readership, though.

  25. says

    You know, agreed. I’ve had like five different things I wanted to comment on in the last couple of days, but haven’t been able to. Oh well, kind of can’t complain too much…

  29. tnstatc says

    Boobquake was mentioned on WPLJ-FM in New York City this morning. They even mentioned your name (mispronounced it though).

  30. vasiliy says

    As an Orthodox Christian from the Russian persuassion, I just wanted you to know I applaude your efforts at showing the world just what lunacy runs rampant in Iran (Never mind my own lunacy. That’s beside the point!). Although I can see the cleric’s point. With all those promiscuous people who are bouncing around in their adulterous actions, some of that movement has to cause some sympathetic movement in the earth. I guess when they come, the earth really does move! Keep writing, keep thinking, and Thanks, again.

  33. says

    In general, I have a horrible habit that I feel like I need to address any comments that disagree with me. Boobquake is teaching me not to, mainly because I have no freaking time.

  35. Alicia says

    This is so awesome, Jen!! Way to get some publicity! This story is everywhere! You’re famous! LoL, just don’t forget all of us small people here at Purdue when you’re having tea with Richard Dawkins.

  38. says

    Just heard you on Newstalk here in Ireland – amazing how this has taken off! The radio station I work for SPIN South West was chatting about this on air earlier in the week….wow how it has grown in a few short days. The power of the internet!

  40. ereador says

    This is so excellent! I would marry you Jen, even if in name only. That way, when people talk about how interesting, insightful, funny, and just basically attractive in every way you are, I can say, “Yeah, I know. That’s my wife.” !!1!!!11!

  41. cnv says

    i think you need to make a correction to your experiment.the guy basically said that scantily-clad females first lead men astray, then corrupt their chastity, then spread adultery. then and only then are the earthquakes caused. your experiment relies on the assumption of the fact that women exposing more flesh will increase the adultery rate, and that’s simply unproven. if all these women expose their cleavage and the adultery rate remains the same, then the earthquake rate should also remain the same (according to the muslim cleric’s thesis). since there’s no one measuring the adultery rate, there’s no way to know if it has changed or not.so your experiment really should be two steps. one, to prove that excessive cleavage causes excessive adultery. and two, prove that excessive adultery causes excessive earth quakes.we can prove the thesis wrong by contradiction in either of the two steps. since it’s difficult to impossible to measure the adultery rate, i suggest we attempt to prove the second step wrong. thus i propse, #adulteryquake. i propose that we all engage in an abnormally high amount of adultery. then and only then can we be sure that the muslim cleric’s thesis is incorrect.

  43. Jonas says

    Awsome! As I don’t have boobs myself I wont be able to participate, but I think this is an awsome way to actually see if theres any truth to it. I wont be expecting any earthquakes any time soon, though I live in Sweden wich has been rather earthquake-free as long as I know.I also agree that when something so increadibly stupid is said, humor is the way to go!I suprised at the way some muslims manage to insult both genders at the same time, while also putting their religion in a bad light.

  44. says

    I wonder what stupid thing I write on my blog will end up making me famous.BTW: Have you read some of the comments on CNN? Some people are actually siding with the Iranian! Hilarious.

  45. Male Supporter says

    You were featured on the news in Calgary, Alberta today too….good luck with your event.

  47. jackralph says

    i think you’ve discovered the quick and easy surefire method of gaining media interest. 1) make it topical2) involve cleavage/genitalia/nudityta da! media firestorm. and jonas, just because you’re a man don’t mean you have to be left out. i know our iranian cousin specifically mentioned “women who do not dress modestly” but here in the (so called) enlightened west we are supposed to be equal. i, for one, shall be attending work wearing nothing but a pair of speedos. the chances of this leading anyone astray are, unfortunately, somewhat slim. unlike my good self.

  48. says

    I say, write your thought provoking blogs, and maybe have a Boobquake update at the bottom if there is one. CNN and BBC is reading your blog right now! If there was ever a time to make your voice heard….

  49. Epictetus says

    CONGRATULATIONS and GREAT JOB! Thou hath a mass of fans behind ye! Although a word of caution… to force humans to actually “think” has proved hazardous to others in the past. Be careful!!

  50. says

    I just found your blog and I like what I see! SO consider yourself linked! Hope we get to help testin the boobaliscious theory here in Finland too :D I know I will!

  52. JLo Canada says

    Congratulations! I found the event through a friend’s FB up here in Canada. It led me to your blog. Your blog is great! I am so happy that your blog and in turn atheism are getting so much media attention! You are doing a great thing with your writing – keep it up! :)

  53. Valerie says

    Hi. Long time lurker, 2nd time commenter. Jen, your name is now synonymous with boobs; and look at all the new fans it’s bringing in. if you don’t dedicate a portion of your future research to boobology, I will be very disappoint.I’m telling all my friends to rise up to the cause. Can’t wait to read the exciting conclusion!

  54. Astro says

    another lurker. i laughed at the original boobquake post, destroyed my computer (unrelated i assure you), fixed it, and came back to see this. wow. add this to the atheist barbie post and people may start to know who you are!

  55. TheWanderer says

    Um Jen, I have been considering this experiment and I have a concern here. If the result *is*, in fact, negative, that is if there is no statistical increase in earthquake activity, there is a question as to how to interpret this result. I mean we could go ahead and draw the conclusion that that promiscuity *did* increase, but had no effect earthquake activity.There is, however, an alternative interpretation that would be consistent with the result observed. It is *possible*, even though very unlikely, that immodest dress does *not*, in fact, increase promiscuity. As we know from Hojatoleslam Kazim Sadeghi’s hypothesis, it is the promiscuity, rather than the immodest dress that is the actual activating mechanism. This is certainly a poser… if there is no increase in earthquake activity is it because promiscuity doesn’t increase earthquake activity… or because immodest dress doesn’t increase promiscuity. ;-)

  57. says

    The comments are cracking me up, mostly. But there are a few that are completely ignorant, of course. Typical Indiana country folk, by their own admission

  59. geekaty says

    Whenever I’m diverted to a mainstream news website, I have to try really hard not to read the comments section. The commenters either spew ignorant blabber or they don’t bother to read the article at all. In either case it always makes me cringe something awful. This time was no exception. I get spoiled by blogs such as these where most of the readers are reasonable, even if their opinion differs considerably.

  62. beardedskeptic says

    Oh man, the puns in the comments on the article make my brain hurt ( though some were actually funny.)I have to disagree with the one gentleman who said that cleavage in public is as disgusting a plumber’s crack. That is a ridiculous statement. I mean, really… plumber’s crack? <shudder></shudder>

  63. Imama says

    Infidel! Your silly scientific test means nothing. You have failed to take into consideration BOOB-LAG! An absence of seismic activity today PROVES NOTHING. Your immodest attire sets up sympathetic vibrations in the cosmos that may manifest themselves days, weeks, months, years (whatever is necessary to prove our point) later. The next serious earthquake will be your responsibility. Boob-lag will be your undoing!

  64. nadeemlakhani says

    it should not be taken for granted only because it is coming from a Muslim, I myself don’t like these people interpret Islam even if they don’t know how it should be. he might have been quoted out of context or his way of saying it is not that impressive but he is repeating or trying to make people aware of what Jesus had been doing all his life. Straight message is “where ever adultery is committed in abundance Almighty will shake that part of earth to warn people” as after too many days we still are not been able to fly to Europe even after being in 21st century. Think about it!

  65. Imam Mohammed Rezi Khozorigi says

    Yes I agree imodestly clad women cause earthquakes. Just the other night my niece came into my prayer room ripped off her top and grabbed my…….(sorry due to technical difficulties with the Tehran ISP connection, we can no longer provide the rest of this message)

  66. gregster_m says

    There are “self described” religions out there – but they are , generally, much nuttier than the more common ones.And “indoctrination” of atheism is more properly called “education” (theology excluded).

  67. Valhar2000 says

    The fact that a different made up fairy tale also supports the same point changes nothing. It is still garbage.

  73. PDX_Greg says

    No shit?!!! Jesus, you are living the dream life.  Don’t forget to experience an inflective moment of “Holy Crap, this is happening to me right here in the middle of reality!” while you are there.   I came to BlagHag to revel in your brash atheistic rationalism, ended up learning much from your raw unbridled feminism, and now am experiencing undeniable fits of envy at your seemingly endless parade of awesomeness-steeped adventures .   Not that you have not earned it or worked hard to get there, but just know that you are experiencing the world steeped in a level of rational-skeptic-atheismic greatness in a way that I can only dream about.   Party on, Jen!

  74. says

    Man, I am jealous! I would love to go to a party where it would be expected to be as offensive as possible. I would probably proposition everyone and vent about all kinds of stuff while eating Krispy Kremes, and then die.

  76. Annie says

    That is the most versatile little black dress… ever!!!  A little recommendation:  keep a list of events you wear it to…  you’ll be the talk of the assisted living facility when you’re 95.  Enjoy!

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