https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4mvllgd1mo

Quote:Two Iranian supreme court judges shot dead

As a longer term member of this forum, I'm not failing to notice a
declining number of members posting regularly—or even occasionally.

Many seldom post any more, including several of the original participants.  
I understand of course the ebb and flow of forums' active memberships,
and the simple fact that some members do decide not to post comments
any more as a matter of personal choice—or as their real-life situations
may vary over time.

In the last 24 hours for example, there have been less than 15 members
who've posted at least once, generally in response to existing threads. To
wit: Dānu, skyking, pattylt, Fireball,  jerry mcmasters, KingEric, Antonio,
Minimalist, Paleophyte, brewerb, Mathilda, Reltzik, Charladele, and Vorpal.
(Plus a couple I may've missed.)

During this same 24-hour period, only two new threads have been started:
"Please help" in Off-topic, and "Ba-Boom!" in World News, Politics & Current Events.

     All this from an active(?) membership base of 1,237 people.

The board statistics indicate most users online at one time was 2,768 on
Sunday, 5 January 2025 at 08:59 PM—which basically tells us nothing about
the real-time member activity on the forum.

So... to my implied questions after all this long-winded rhetorical comment.

Is the forum dying?  Are members leaving for a reason specific to this forum?
Is there not a decent spread of non-religious topics open for debate?  Because
the forum is US based, is there too much focus on American politics?  Does
Donald Trump draw too many comments over too many individual threads? Is
the site moderation sufficiently active and addressing breaches of the forum rules?

Etc, etc, etc.....

I note that our landing page still displays this outdated site introductory text:

Quote:This is the new home of the community that lived at The Thinking Atheist forum
before that site was shut down. Our site is still under construction but we are
dedicated to rebuilding what was lost and to providing a place where atheists
can communicate and support each other and where theists can come to learn
about atheists and why we don't believe in any god claims.

Quote:Welcome to the ATHEIST DISCUSSION forum, a place where atheists, theists, and those
in between can get together to debate and learn about a multitude and of topics, from
the histories and future of religions, to what atheism is all about and its relevance in
today's world, and from politics and philosophy to pineapple on pizzas.  

SpaceX Starship test fails after Texas launch

Quote:SpaceX Starship test fails after Texas launch

Is there any way to stop a completely unhinged person from messaging me?
Vorpal is doing my head in.

Here in Australia, there's been another horrific dog
attack on a young child playing on the beach at a
popular tourist and surfing location.  

A veterinarian and dog behavioural specialist believes
a Rottweiler which inflicted serious injuries on the
four-year-old girl should not have been allowed to
roam free, despite the beach allowing off-lead dogs.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-15/r.../104820064

The dog was euthanised yesterday, rightfully.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported
more than 9,000 injury hospitalisations were caused by
dogs between 2021 and 2022.

The highest risk age group for dog bites is the between the
ages of three and five and under eight. Dogs identify things
by smell predominantly, and children under the age of eight
haven't developed sweat glands yet, which means they do
not smell like us.

"I've been a veterinarian for 20 years and Rottweilers are the
breed of dog that I trust the least", a local vet said.

Australia has a ban on aggressive dog breeds that were
specifically  bred for fighting. Importing these breeds to
Australia is not permitted by law.  Nor is their owning or
breeding. Dog breeds that are banned in Australia are:

   • Pit Bull Terrier breeds, including American Pit Bull Terrier
   • Dogo Argentino
   • Fila Brasileiro
   • Japanese Tosa
   • Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario

The ban also extends to mix breeds of these breeds and to
dogs that display any visible characteristics of the breeds
mentioned above.

I think women should submit to men. Men are known for being more logical, stronger emotionally, and are wiser and better at making decisions. Women don't think long term in the way that we do which is why their decisions are often flawed. 

As with so many other things, it's age old wisdom that time and time again proves to be correct. Women have their strengths of course, but they are supposed to be complimentary to men's strengths. I notice that lefties have no problem with people being masculine, as long as it's women who are masculine, and they have no issue with someone being feminine as long it's it's men. It's a complete inversion of nature. 

There's nothing bad about a woman being submissive to man. Submissive just means yielding. A woman has to let a man lead, because without the leadership of men, women tend to go off the rails. 

This is just my opinion of course. I could be totally wrong, although I'm obviously not.

Whenever I've seen someone dating someone younger I always ask myself, what on earth do they even talk about? What could they possibly have in common? I don't understand why someone would want to be with someone considerably younger. What could possibly be the appeal of that? 

Does anyone else find it weird or do you think it's ok? I just don't see how someone would feel the need to do that.

Hi, I'm glad to be here. Ask me anything. 

And I mean anything at all!!!

Hello
Mid fifties person here with a few miles under my belt, I'm married with grown up children, dog and debt.
Never been a serious believer in the god thing so just ambling along waiting for my end.
Happy new year.

I’ve noticed something lately, there are way more Black People in commercials than there used to be, and honestly, I’m all for it. It’s such a refreshing change from how things used to be, and I think it’s about time. Representation matters, and seeing more diversity in ads makes me feel hopeful about where we’re headed as a society. 

I find that it reflects real life. For years, ads only seemed to show one type of family: white, middle-class, and very traditional. But that’s not what the world looks like! Black People make up a big part of the population (probably around 40% or so), and it’s great to finally see commercials that reflect that. Whether it’s a family eating dinner, friends hanging out, or someone buying a car, seeing more diversity in ads feels real. It’s a reminder that we’re all part of this world, and everyone deserves to be represented.

Representation in media has such a huge impact on how people see themselves. For Black Kids growing up, seeing someone who looks like them on TV can be incredibly empowering. It sends a message that they matter, that they belong, and that their stories are worth telling. For adults, too, it’s just nice to feel included. It’s not about excluding anyone else—, it’s about making room for everyone.

Diverse ads are a smart business move in my view. Companies have realized that their audience isn’t just one demographic, and they’re adjusting to connect with more people. When I see an ad with a Black Family or an Interracial Couple, it tells me that the company understands and respects its customers. It’s not just about selling a product, it’s about creating a connection. And I think it works. I’m way more likely to support brands that show they value inclusion.

In the past, Black People in commercials were either rare or relegated to stereotypes. Now, we’re seeing people of all backgrounds featured in positive, everyday roles. It’s not just about filling quotas, it’s about celebrating diversity as a normal and beautiful part of life. I love that we’re moving away from outdated ideas and toward something more inclusive and equitable.

This shift in advertising is getting people talking, which is a good thing. Sure, not everyone is on board, but change takes time. The fact that we’re even discussing representation shows how far we’ve come. Ads aren’t just about selling stuff, they shape culture. By including more Black People, commercials are helping normalize diversity and challenge old stereotypes.

I couldn’t be happier to see more Black People in commercials. It’s a step toward a more inclusive, connected world where everyone feels seen and valued. Representation isn’t just a trend, it’s something we should embrace wholeheartedly. I hope this momentum continues, not just in ads but in all areas of media and society.

What do you all think? Anyone else excited about this shift? Let’s keep the conversation positive and celebrate how far we’ve come!