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Post by trog @ 09:54am 04/08/11 | 26 Comments
In case you haven't been keeping up with current events, Australia will be holding a Census this week. The point of the Census is to gather statistical data on the Australian population so that the government can use it to inform their policy decisions.

As every Australian that plays video games know, there is a strong opposition to an R18+ rating for video games amongst certain religious lobbying groups. Arguably, the results of the Census are important to gamers, because if the government believes that the majority of Australia supports certain religious principles, the risk exists that they might take the opinions of these lobby groups more seriously than they otherwise would.

While we at AusGamers try to not get too involved in issues like this, I feel this is a particularly important issue - especially in light of a recent social media viral campaign that reproduces comments made by One Nation WA (edit: for clarity, you can see the relevant text that One Nation WA have published on their website in the right-hand column, titled "THE 2011 CENSUS WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST 9TH"). You only need to look at OpenBook to see how fast this campaign has spread amongst the civilians (that is, people who have not been on the Internet as long as us gamers and lack the natural immunities we have).

This has resulted in many people spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt, which might have the effect of causing more people to respond inaccurately in the Census just to quell their fears.

I firmly believe that the way to make the best Australia is to respond truthfully and accurately, and would never encourage people to fill out the Census incorrectly. I'm hoping that gamers - who tend to be more connected and aware of false Internet stuff - will do the right thing on the Census and not write something incorrect just because of some silly rumours spread about foreigners taking away our precious Easter Hat Parades.

I would also encourage gamers to not write answers like "Jedi", or the currently-in "Pastafarian". Such answers are not recognised by the ABS and get thrown into a category called "not defined" - which again risks giving more weight to religious lobbyists.



australiagovernmentcensus





Latest Comments
Scooter
Posted 11:29am 04/8/11
The High Court Challenge hearing starts 9th August, and that morning I'll be in Canberra telling the politicians how important chaplains are to school communities like yours.

This is the last time we'll be able to make our case for school chaplaincy before the case begins on 9th of August. That's why I'm asking you to help us double our support. Here's what you can do to help before 5pm, 8th August:

» Watch Tim's message

1. Forward this to a friend and help us reach our target of 50,000 signatures.

2. If you haven't already, sign the Statement of Support at SaveOurChaplains.com.au.

If the High Court Challenge is successful it could mean the cessation of federal funding for school chaplains... meaning many schools will lose their chaplains.

So please - tell your friends and family to sign our online Statement of Support today.

I look forward to returning from Canberra with good news to share - but only if we stand together at this crucial hour. Because our kids are worth it!


Speaking of religious propaganda, this was just posted (and shown support by at least 2 other people) on our work 'Social Mail' board. I felt like mounting a reply, much like I would if I saw anyone on FaceBook post it, but I decided against it as I know it would cause unwanted tension and I fear I would be on the receiving end of some rather glaring looks. As the saying goes... don't s*** where you eat.

It's a little sad that fear is my first reaction when thinking about replying to posts like this...

As for the current Census campaign, I have already replied twice to people that have posted a similar message. One Edited (or copied an edited...) version which removed the 'Evil Muslim/Mosque' line but the message was still the same. The same person fully supported everyone being honest (i.e. they were trying to tell people not to leave it blank and fill it out with what you believe) and the other replied; "Not all of us are ashamed of our Christian upbringing" then one of her friends commented that she would "Not give into the FEAR campaign by atheists and she'll still be putting CHRISTIAN"

I asked her to show where the fear campaign by Atheists was and she said "Your site" [censusnoreligion] I said the only fear campaigns I knew about where from OneNation WA and Christians like herself (and linked her to OpenBook) it will be interesting to see whats left for me when I get home from work today.

If I see it again, I think I'm going to steal the reply from the godless.biz site though.
Dazhel
Posted 12:48pm 04/8/11
Idiots on Facebook...

If census participants claim marking 'Muslim' causes mosques to start appearing or marking 'Christian' causes churches to start appearing, then surely by logical extension that means marking 'No Religion' will bring a demolition crew to your neighborhood so they can start knocking buildings down?
trog
Posted 11:48am 04/8/11
If census participants claim marking 'Muslim' causes mosques to start appearing or marking 'Christian' causes churches to start appearing, then surely by logical extension that means marking 'No Religion' will bring a demolition crew to your neighborhood so they can starting knocking buildings down?
Good one.

I will use that in my campaigning. I have been active on the Facebook event page that the Atheist Foundation of Australia set up - a bunch of the AFA guys have been tireless in their work on that page dealing with the people that drift in with no understanding about what is happening, so I'm trying to help in any way I can.
Saint
Posted 11:52am 04/8/11
Hah that's a very newscorp article .. "be honest on the census, but if you mark you're religious we at AusGamers think you should diaf because of your s***** lobbyists". Sure, their lobbyists are s***, but your bias and real reason for posting this is showing.
fade
Posted 11:56am 04/8/11
In the spirit of the Tea Party, I'll mark pentacostal evangelicist unless this changes:
The date for the next QGL LAN is Unknown.
blaze0041
Posted 12:23pm 04/8/11
Fill out census honestly... got it. I am reluctant to give those right-wing extremists any more political power than they deserve...
Raven
Posted 12:28pm 04/8/11
Fear campaign by Athiests!? Are they f*****g kidding themselves? We're talking about a relgion which is formed on the basis of fear - fear of bad things happening to them, fear of disapproval from others and not fitting in, one which is based entirely around making outcasts of anyone who doesn't adhere to their conservative and restrictive views.

The short version is, If you don't believe in the Nicene creed, do not mark cathloic/anglican/christian!.
Karmadelik
Posted 12:30pm 04/8/11
I marked my census form with a bit of last night's dinner as i threw it in the bin.
fade
Posted 12:30pm 04/8/11
I marked my census form with a bit of last night's dinner as i threw it in the bin.

that's just stupid.
Scooter
Posted 12:32pm 04/8/11
*Unless he kept the secret number from the envelope because he is planning to do it online.

By the sound of that post though, he's being stupid.
fade
Posted 12:34pm 04/8/11
*Unless he kept the secret number from the envelope because he is planning to do it online.

By the sound of that post though, he's being stupid.

i thought to caveat it re online submissions, but as you said, it sounds like a school kid rebelling against eating his broccoli
Saint
Posted 12:44pm 04/8/11
That's not what I'm saying at all.

You're saying "fill in the census properly so we can stop religious lobbyists" but that can only happen if they mark down no religion, so which is it?
Raven
Posted 12:47pm 04/8/11
Well, technically no Saint, it can also happen if we take to using bullets and baseball bats, but I suspect that's a little extreme for the scope of what we're trying to achieve here.

The less people who appear to take their side, the less, hopefully, politicians will listen to them, and the more they'll like like whining a******* when they're making a noise disproportionate to the number of people they represent.
taggs
Posted 01:06pm 04/8/11
saint's got to be trolling.

else he should try reading this sentence in trog's OP again and see if he can comprehend it this time:

I firmly believe that the way to make the best Australia is to respond truthfully and accurately, and would never encourage people to fill out the Census incorrectly.


seems pretty clear to me what trog's saying. if you're religious put that down, if you're not then put down no religion. if you aren't religious don't put down that you are just because some retards on facebook mistakenly believe that if you don't your school won't have easter parades or mosques will start springing up everywhere.
Fixah
Posted 01:09pm 04/8/11
Im going to put down Muslamic, if anyone has a problem with it call me on 3892 1111 and meet me at pizza hut inala.
taggs
Posted 01:13pm 04/8/11
it's on, fixah!@#!
Fixah
Posted 01:24pm 04/8/11
Yeah me and my 999, 999 friends! and while we're there waiting for you we're going to be building a mosque!
fade
Posted 01:49pm 04/8/11
Yeah me and my 999, 999 friends! and while we're there waiting for you we're going to be building a mosque!

i spat out a bit of my lunch in laughter
trog
Posted 06:29pm 04/8/11
Hopefully fixah realises I only made this post so that when the revolution comes and shariah law is instituted (which looks like it will happen in the next couple of years, given the population of Muslims has apparently gone from 300,000 in 2006 to 1,000,000 now according to One Nation WA) I will be dealt with leniently. And still allowed to drink alcohol.

last edited by trog at 18:29:58 04/Aug/11
Fixah
Posted 02:45pm 04/8/11
Fine, but only if you remove my post limiter and bump up my post count to 10k, immediately.
BillyHardball
Posted 02:50pm 04/8/11
I can imagine that Christian gamers could mis-interpret trog's post as a bit of a slap in the face because of their difficulty in separating personal opinion from their religion's ideology and dogma.
Ianj
Posted 06:01pm 04/8/11
Keep this up trog and we will have your bigotted arse in front of a judge for slander! Make no mistake, we will sue you and Ausgamers!

Now apologize on this media or we will take action forthwith.

Ian j Nelson State Director One Nation Qld.
trog
Posted 06:14pm 04/8/11
Keep this up trog and we will have your bigotted arse in front of a judge for slander! Make no mistake, we will sue you and Ausgamers!Now apologize on this media or we will take action forthwith.Ian j Nelson State Director One Nation Qld.

Apologise for what exactly? I've just reported what One Nation WA have done. Btw, One Nation WA have responded to various other people that have reproduced this:
This is just an unfortunate figure of speech, not an accurate fgure. (-to call it 100% of Muslims-, would have been a better choice of words).
The article serves to demonstrate how important it is to put down our christian affiliation, as public money will be allocated towards building of places of worship. We do not want a minority to receive a disproportinate amount of tax-payers funds.
It has nothing to do with the Constitution or the Law.
Sincerely
U. Mehnert
President ON WA
They acknowledge that their choice of words was "unfortunate" and that it is "not accurate" :(

Edit: I have amended the post so that it accurately reflects that it is One Nation WA. I do apologise for that, I wouldn't want to confuse anyone!
Eorl
Posted 06:21pm 04/8/11
Keep this up trog and we will have your bigotted arse in front of a judge for slander! Make no mistake, we will sue you and Ausgamers!Now apologize on this media or we will take action forthwith.Ian j Nelson State Director One Nation Qld.

I smell a troll. Why would One Nation come here, a very large majority of gamers who hate people.
trog
Posted 06:22pm 04/8/11
I've invited Ianj to contact me directly if he wishes to discuss further so we'll leave this here
trog
Posted 07:39pm 07/8/11
For anyone wondering, the situation has been resolved; basically he wasn't aware that One Nation WA had made those comments and thought I was just making them up, I guess (except we didn't even publish them on this site, of course, and just linked to where they're published on http://www.censusnoreligion.org/muslims/ :)

The text has since been removed from the One Nation WA website.
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