Post by trog @ 09:54am 04/08/11 | 26 Comments
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.
Latest Comments
26 Comments
Show
Follow Us
Advertisement
Log In
Posted 11:29am 04/8/11
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.
Posted 12:48pm 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 start knocking buildings down?
Posted 11:48am 04/8/11
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.
Posted 11:52am 04/8/11
Posted 11:56am 04/8/11
Posted 12:23pm 04/8/11
Posted 12:28pm 04/8/11
The short version is, If you don't believe in the Nicene creed, do not mark cathloic/anglican/christian!.
Posted 12:30pm 04/8/11
Posted 12:30pm 04/8/11
that's just stupid.
Posted 12:32pm 04/8/11
By the sound of that post though, he's being stupid.
Posted 12:34pm 04/8/11
i thought to caveat it re online submissions, but as you said, it sounds like a school kid rebelling against eating his broccoli
Posted 12:44pm 04/8/11
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?
Posted 12:47pm 04/8/11
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.
Posted 01:06pm 04/8/11
else he should try reading this sentence in trog's OP again and see if he can comprehend it this time:
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.
Posted 01:09pm 04/8/11
Posted 01:13pm 04/8/11
Posted 01:24pm 04/8/11
Posted 01:49pm 04/8/11
i spat out a bit of my lunch in laughter
Posted 06:29pm 04/8/11
last edited by trog at 18:29:58 04/Aug/11
Posted 02:45pm 04/8/11
Posted 02:50pm 04/8/11
Posted 06:01pm 04/8/11
Now apologize on this media or we will take action forthwith.
Ian j Nelson State Director One Nation Qld.
Posted 06:14pm 04/8/11
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: 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!
Posted 06:21pm 04/8/11
I smell a troll. Why would One Nation come here, a very large majority of gamers who hate people.
Posted 06:22pm 04/8/11
Posted 07:39pm 07/8/11
The text has since been removed from the One Nation WA website.