Twitter is fast becoming my early warning system when it comes to finding out about the things that I am interested in.
That’s how I found out about Think Atheist, the second Atheist networking site that I am aware of. Taking a quick look at the site it does look like an Atheist Nexus clone( in the sense that it seems to be built using the same software and has the same features).
It is sitting at around 300 members but, I have to ask why they bothered if it’s essentially the same thing as that which is offered on Nexus?
Is competition always good?
Would it be better to pool resources on this one?
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Eh, some people want to lead no matter what and others want to get on the bandwagon for the ad money.
I'm of the old school 'less is more', the fewer sites I have to be a member of and keep track of the better.
I did note that Think Atheist had a shop and was merchandising a bit more
Actually I signed into Think atheist using the same ID that I use fro Atheist Nexus, works on the same platform.
OK, now I'm just pissed off, that stupid site won't let me sign in. It sees my email address as a ning one but won't accept any of the possible ning passwords (which by the way I'm not a member of ning that I know of) So it wants to give me a new password. F' that I say, what other sites is that going to screw up.
Ok sir now just step away from the car with your hands in the air.
"Our network actually thinks" –amongst atheists, thems fighting words! Sheesh! They're all "Oi! We matter more cause we actually DO shit eh!!" Seems kinda dickish and pissy to me. The xtians will rejoice and think bible verses to themselves "A house divided will not stand" and be all happy that the atheists are infighting. *rolls eyes*
I do agree with you there I am not too happy with that slogan.
I think it's a little pretentious, especially when it doesn't really offer anything new. I can't help but think that it has been created as a money spinner for the founder, which in and of itself is not a bad thing. I can't seem to find an about page that lists the reasons for it being set up.
I have an account at both sites, but I find myself over at Think Atheist more. They seem to have more happening and a more lively chat room. Only time will tell which is the better one, but for now my vote is with Think Atheist.
I have accounts at both and visit neither regularly. I've put more time into Atheist Nexus so am probably more likely to continue to focus my efforts there.
Likewise Vjack, not that I have been very active there of late – New Years resolution eh
Glad to see you have found something you like. I don't like the ning platform and I don't find myself at either too often. I have noted quite a bit of action from some on Atheist Nexus in reards to the Australian crew, but it does not seem to be fully utilised as yet. I don't know if this is due to the configuration or the nature of social networks, where its chiefy about socialising?
I spend more time on Facebook than Atheist Nexus. It just happens.
Gasp! No Poodles Nooooooo at least its not myspace
Mostly I think it is because that is also where my IRL friends are.
That's fair enough. I only use myspace to keep track of my old school friends and to promote my blog. It just seems like too much foollin around to try anything else
I am on Atheist Nexus, and I think too many will dilute the waters on this one. But, to each his own. I am also partial to AN because it is run locally (Atlanta area). Not that it matters.
I am tending to agree here, if it offers something new, addrsses a niche then I can see its worth, otherwise its 300 or so members who could be contibuting elsewhere.
Good question about whether competition is always good. I think it's good when there's an oppressive monopoly, or if the competition increases attention for an important topic, thus gathering more interested parties. It's probably not good when the result is segregation of interested persons when what's needed is consolidation and commiseration among all of those persons.
There's nothing wrong with creating niches that appeal to certain specific types of nonbelievers (e.g., focusing on evolution or politics, etc.), but what it appears is happening is that cloning popular gathering spots is creating cliques with identical interests but with different wallpaper. That can't be good.
Vjack wrote that atheists should be forming an alliance, and I agree. Although there's nothing wrong with wanting to branch out and "do your own thing" with regard to new atheist and related sites, there's something to be said for making a concerted effort to strengthen the network and perhaps abandon ideas of sovereignty with regard to nexuses in order to accomplish the greater goal of changing the way the world views atheists. Perhaps that's a sacrifice not everyone is ready to make, but for a website devoted to the idea of being a nexus for all things atheist, it doesn't make much sense to exist in conflict with another such site if the result is that devotees are divided.
Maybe I should see if I could interview the founder of Think Atheist, get the reasoning from the horses mouth so to speak?
Now YOU'RE the one stealing MY thoughts! I had the same idea this morning but didn't bother to act on it. I think this would be a great post, especially since I did a keyword search on Think Atheist for the word "Nexus" and got zero hits.
FINALLY
Think atheists slogan seems kind of snide. Since there are only 300 or so people on think atheist and thousands on atheist nexus, I think a comparison to the battle of Thermopylae or the movie 300 is needed. Who gets to play Leonidas and shout "THIS IS ATHEISM" in a cheesy memetic manner? Who gets kicked down the digital pit of death that only ends once you are miles inside myspace territory?
Honestly though, think atheist just seems rather…pointless. Competition isn't needed in an industry so specific, lest we end up with our own version of the extremely cheesy catholic and christian dating websites.
You sir have just become the internet poet laureate.
You bestow too much on upon little old me, for I am nothing compared to that of a digital cuttlefish.
He is quite good. He's selling copies of his petry through Lulu.com, did you know?
I do now.
I'm not really sure what to think of these websites. I've just signed up to Think Atheist and quite intrigued by it all. People of similar belief will always gather together but I always worry when non belief seems to turn into a religion-esk sort of thing. Hmm…
Michael,
They ae good, I think if if you can use them to help organise action or as a support network. I don't tend to use the social networks like others (don't play games, interact through applications) maybe its my age, or lack of time.
If you can find something useful go for it
I'll have a wander around the sites now and again. Although, like Poodles, Facebook is used quite a lot. It's a shame more don't use Twitter. I like the idea of building the blogging community then perhaps using Twitter as a form of calling card. Intense Debate seems brilliant for that. Ah! Social networking overload!
There actually is an (ad-hoc) athiest twitter group @ http://twittgroups.com/group/atheism
And don't forget the original: http://delicious.com/tag/twitter_atheists
Glad to hear you're getting some traffic on this post. This is exactly the sort of post that will generate excellent long-term traffic because it addresses a question that people are going to keep having as they hear about both of these sites.
Since this post yesterday and adding the Reddit button at the top I have increased visits by about 400%, netting half as many visits as I did when hosting the carnival on on a weekend to boot.
I joined Atheist Nexus a while back but find I also spend more time @ facebook & following blogs via twitter. I will definitely NOT be joining ThinkAtheist based solely on the first blog post, a rant titled " 'I'm sorry I don't give blowjobs' " by one tapeworm. I'm not interested in following the writings of someone who writes "Being in a relationship, are we not obligated to satisfy each others sexual desires?" (and that was about the least offensive line). That attitude towards sexual relationships is against my, uh, lack of religion.
That has me turned off as well. While not averse to making off colour jokes myself at times the post sounds a little juvenille. I do get the impression that Think Atheist's member base is a litle younger. That's not to say of course that youth necessarily equates to juvenile behaviour
Alright. I just signed up for this one too. Same ID, different picture.
I joined Atheist Nexus months ago, primarily because all of us who are involved in Another Goddamned Podcast signed into it. To be honest, though, I never really got involved with it. Keeping up with various blogs in the atheosphere, like this one, takes a lot of my time. Besides, I really get tired of messing around with joining this and joining that. Zeus only knows how many footprints I've left all over the Internet in places I don't remember ever visiting.
I think what holds me back is that I have not benn able to integrate Atheist Nexus into my online activities as well as say using twitter.
you and me both.
i've got not only my 'ozatheist' footprint everywhere, but also my old 'flatcat' one still floating about the interwebs.
there's an idea for a clever programmer, design a program to find an collate all your footprints and bring them into one easy to use program. no more logging in to a dozen different forums and social networking sites.
There are a couple of different sites where you can aggregate your content but I have yet to see any that do that and manage passwords as you're talking about here.
Personally I use retaggr (http://www.retaggr.com)to keep up with where I'm signed-up and what my usernames are. It also allows me to put a badge on my blog to show everyone else where they can find me around the web. Profilactic(http://www.profilactic.com/)is also a good option and friendfeed has similar albeit limited functionality.
Just thought that might be helpful.
thanks friar_zero, I might give retaggr a try
And here I was thinking that Intense debate was playing up. It's small but I will check it out further nonetheless.
Even a mustard seed can grow into a huge tree
Oh okay, I think i like the name a little better than Think Atheist and its a little less busy, though perhaps a bit flat.
Yeah the website that I originally linked to was tiny compared to ones discussed and that is why I deleted my comment, it didn't belong with these heavy hitters.