Ginny

As for banners and flyers, something must have gone wrong as I thought Mark was bringing the "Religious wars? Fighting to see who has the most peaceful god?" banner. I thought that was a humorous and peaceful message that also couldn't be refuted by the religious. A great one IMO.

We'd also discussed leaflets that would say:
"Really want world peace or just say you do? You can stop fanning the flames by not just going along with the irrationality of the religion you happened to have been born into. Your religion wasn't your choice, but you CAN make the choice to put irrationality and hate aside. Don't run on automatic. Please THINK"

I guess Mark didn't have time/resources to do all this himself - and he's to be commended for doing so much already. Next time we'll be better prepared. It'd be good to get ideas for what messages we could use. Agree with all of you that it should be light and humorous messages that ideally would also make people think and ask for more info/details.

2 · September 9

Alex D

Well done for representing, chaps & chapesses - I hope you all enjoyed it. And I'm sure your good deeds will be rewarded in heav... oh, wait...

0 · September 9

A former member

We needed some leaflets and placards IMO. I spoke to some good natured religious people who were not there proselytizing but happened to be there doing something else and decided to avoid the crazies lol.

0 · September 9

Ginny

Sounds like you guys delivered exactly the good natured, peaceful and light-hearted message/method that LAAG's principles are about. Also sounds like a learning experience of how we can be better at giving our message out to those who wanted it - one has to start somewhere, so well done for taking the plunge!

Unlike the religions, we're not about pushing anything in anyone's face but from what I've heard, this event proved that by standing up peacefully and being available interested people will approach and ask for more info. It therefore shows we can make a difference - and have some good natured fun at the same time!

Really well done guys, especially Mark - this should encourage others to come along next time. I'll certainly be up for it if we do it at speakers' corner. Perhaps we should build in a regular slot ...repeated every 2 months?

1 · September 9

Richard Francis

Well done to Mark for arranging this. It was great to meet like-minded people and have a laugh whilst 'spreading the word';) If only we had leaflets and banners;) Next time.

0 · September 9

Adrian Rox

Great day - good natured time interacting with variously atheists who came up to high 5 us and religious people who we engaged in sensible discussions (well at least we did - religious people can't have sensible discussions!). The security guys were great - one or two of them wanted to know where to get the stickers that we had (we gave a few to them and now there's a van with the sticker featuring a rainbow and the phrase "every time you see a rainbow god is having gay sex"). One of them even said "we have to be impartial - we can't pick favourites. But you're our favourites ;-)

We learnt that we need to have flyers because people asked for them, and also a banner/placards. Either way a great first effort at representing atheism at a public event/place.

Thanks to everyone who turned out and especially to Mark for organising something we've been meaning to do for a while!

0 · September 9

Mark

If you'll pardon the pun, I’ll happily describe yesterday as a religious experience. Awesome day & I think the group learned a lot about interacting with people when trying to impart common sense over religious non sense. Seemed like everybody had a lot of fun and with an engaging crowd, (from our religious counterparts to event's security), this can be chalked up as a highly successful experiment. Next step would seem to be escalation, (more numbers and better organised materials etc.) Well done to the whole group for standing up with the courage of your convictions. Let’s keep this group going…

0 · September 9

terence freedman

Trying hard to find a focus and a way to communicate in a forum of well organsed opposition.
A useful experience. In looking at the material to support the message I did prefer that which makes me laugh or ask for more details.

0 · September 9

phil

All that was missing from the various sects today at Stratford was a Whirling Dervish. The sheer numbers of crazies, ranting and frothing at the mouth was worrying - and that was just us. We had a serious message to get across, and we did it in a light and sometimes amusing way.

0 · September 8

Roger Cawkwell

We were pretty unprepared - none of us had actually done that kind of thing before but I think it want pretty well considering (at least until I had to leave at about 4.15). I think we learned quite a lot - I strolled around beforehand, looking at how the various religious groups (mainly Christian) were organised & can make some recommendations for next time
A big banner is essential, I'll bring a selection of message suggestions next time we meet.

Also some small leaflets to hand out to passers by - not that many will take them, not that many of those will read much of them (we'll probably find a lot in the next litter bin...) but it does give us an opportunity to approach people in a not-too-pushy way. The leaflets don't have to say that much but should contain a positive message, be not too aggressive towards religions (we're not going to convert anyone with a leaflet!) but should speak to the undecided or waverers. There should be a list of websites and recommended books.

0 · September 8

A former member

Hope it goes well tomorrow. My son and nephew have athletics tickets so I will be escorting them to the stadium. Will shout abuse at you as I go past. :-)

0 · September 7

phil

12pm would have been better for me, as now i can only do a couple of hours. Also, (in my humble opinion,) if we all wear the same t-shirts, we'll come across as a bunch of nutters.

0 · September 7

Mark

Hi guys n gals,
Just wanted to let you know that I can arrange parking for anyone that needs it. Free secure parking, less than 500m away from the station. If anyone has to drive, parking around the Olympics zone will be a swine. If you're joining us and need to drive, email me and we'll arrange it very easily.

0 · September 1

Mark

Hi all,

Small update for the start time - it's now 2pm (still at BurgerKing) - hopefully this will help people keep their lunches down, (we've got a strong message to pass on.) If anyone wants to meet earlier than that, I'll probably be there from 1:30 - having a bite - I won't be hard to find in that uniform!

Looking forward to seeing you there.

0 · August 31

Adrian Rox

I/'m assuming we're doing this on the Saturday now - Midday would suit me as it's about a 90 minute journey for me to get to St. Ratford and I'm not at my best first thing!

On the t-shirt front how are you doing those Mark? Just wondering if we could get the LAAG logo on? (The masthead banner on this page)

0 · August 23

Mark

Hi all, slight update to the meeting... Initially we’ll meet upstairs at the Burger King - exactly over the road from Stratford Station entrance - still at 12pm. This will give us a good chance to discuss how we will react (or not!) e.g if religious protesters hassle us etc etc. Everyone should obviously feel supported by the others in the team, and all should be happy and comfortable with how we will play this before we start. Everyone Feel free to bring along any materials and/or ideas about what we as a team should focus on as a message if people want to talk to us, otherwise I have a few ideas we can evaluate together and decide on the day. Obviously this meetup has the potential to become quite heated and we should establish certain principles before we begin. This is going to be a great day. See you on the 8th.

0 · August 30

Ginny

Terence, with outside events we email out a contact number the day before. Mark, since you're organising this let me know if you have a contact number you want to use, otherwise Adrian can bring along the LAAG mobile with him and we'll email the number out. Thanks

0 · August 24

PAULINE REITH

. I threw my stuff into my house and went back and tackled the "followers" telling them if they wanted to pick a fight then they could have one. The usual nonsense was spoken but they were packing up anyway. The women bundled up those that did want a fight and I was left with the pretty laid-back "leader" (not Philipino). We discussed things pretty rationally but I strongly made the point that following someone to their house is not peaceable behaviour in any culture.

0 · August 23

PAULINE REITH

After the picnic on Sunday, I passed a bunch of Philipinos at Shepherds Bush Central line station, standing around clutching bibles with one on an amplified microphone. I approached and pointed out that they were < 100yds from my residential area i.e. it's not ok for them to amplify their voices. They argued a little but I left them to it and wheeled my bike the couple of hundred yards into my street. I looked around and saw 3 of them had followed me. Since a survey of how far the amplification could be heard would've only taken them 100yds from their starting point, I took their actions as intrusive, especially when they began to heckle me

0 · August 23

Mark

Hi guys n gals,
Re-reading my own writing below I can't help but feel that perhaps I'm taking the mission a little far - ("destruction of religion".) The goal is to wake people up to the pitiful state of their brainwashed indoctrinations - not to beat them over the head with their own archaic books.
To this end, knuckle dusters won’t be mandatory equipment for the meetup – the fact that people will FINALLY be standing up to the nonsense with common sense, (taking a stand and voicing our objections), we’ll get the message across.
Hope no-one was dissuaded from joining the meetup due to my overzealous enthusiasm.
So, I’m printing a few spare T-Shirts and will have them with me on the day - you can see the print on my picture
Also, it seems that Saturday will be better for everyone. If I get confirmation from all parties, then I’ll change the date. How’s that sound – Mid-day on Saturday 8th, instead of Sunday 9th?
Hoping to see you there - the zombies won't wake themselves up

1 · August 22

Roger Cawkwell

The Saturday is OK for me (& I even live reasonably nearby) but not the Sunday (no, not a religious commitment - I have two gigs...)

0 · August 22

Mark

Hi all, great reception so far, very enthusiastic. Let’s hope it carries over to the meetup. That would make for a great day & a great start to the mission (destruction of religion.) How about a banner, (Jodie's idea – nice one sweetheart.) Must be hard hitting though - when I wear a uniform, I need to feel proud of it…

All ideas are welcomed so lets use this area to find our common approach. How about:
Maybe this on an A1 billboard:
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/3...

or just a few quotes:

Religous War - Killing eachother to see who has the most peaceful god!

I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.

Science has done more for the development of western civilization in one hundred years than Christianity did in eighteen hundred years.

OK guys, this should be taken as your chance to hit back. Let's have it...

0 · August 22

Mark

Couple of people have said that Sunday 9th is awkward. No problem for me to change it to Saturday 8th. Will probably be more shoppers bumping into everyone but sacrifices must be made... Anyone mind if it falls on the Saturday instead of the Sunday?

0 · August 22

Kanwar

We (laagtv) did a video recording http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...

0 · August 22

A former member

This is exactly what I wanted to do but am not allowed to ( signed a contract when I took the Olympics role). I will however be nearby so you may get a drink delivered to you.

0 · August 22

Ginny

Hi Mark, a very warm welcome to LAAG! It's GREAT to have someone with such enthusiasm :-). Yesterday we had been discussing doing something similar at Speakers' corner (meetup not yet scheduled) ...but why not do both if people are interested and available. ...so I'm promoting it to the main page as a featured meetup in order to help with promoting the event. Well done suggesting it!

0 · August 22