This isn’t really a rant, or even a manifesto. Just call it a “things to observe if you want to be a marginally decent person” list.
- Respect consent in every situation. This is not just about sexual consent, even though that seems to be the most obvious one. If someone doesn’t want the food, companionship, drug, gift, entertainment, etc., ad nauseum that you’re offering, respect those choices and stop “offering” (i.e., pressuring).
- Everyone’s entitled to use their own body however they wish. This includes sex, sport, companionship, physical touch, personal interaction, and what have you. If what other people do doesn’t float your boat, go float your boat elsewhere.
- Children have just as much right to autonomy and respect as adults do. That means no spanking, corporal punishment, coercion, threats, or manipulation to gain obedience. If you can’t convince children with rational arguments, facts, and real opportunities, your position is bullshit. If it doesn’t work with an adult, it shouldn’t work for a child.
- Decriminalize consensual behavior. That means no more wars on drugs, sex, or anything, quite frankly. How about no more war, period? Can that be a thing, please?
- Respect for science and rational thinking. This does not mean “obeying scientists” in a reverse authoritarian stance. Scientists are just people that practice science. I mean respect for the method (hypothesis, experiment, conclusion, and repeat). Science deniers need not bother me with their “arguments” unless they have some verifiable proof of their assertions.
- Be a decent, loving, inclusive person. That means challenging bigotry, institutionalized and internalized oppression, and prejudice. And, no, hatred of intolerance isn’t intolerance. Nice try, false equivalence promoters. That bullshit doesn’t fly.
- Human rights are inviolable. This means respecting human choice. Just because there isn’t a “law” to deal with violation, that doesn’t make violation okay. And if there are “laws” that violate human dignity and choice, those laws are bullshit. Slavish adherence to convention, power, and institutions are not demonstrations of character. They’re more like cowardice and fear of standing outside the acceptance of others.
That’s it … for now.
AAAtheist 