An Immodest Proposal: Innocuous EAC Insignia

[MilitantModerate]

I have been pondering something for a bit now. It all started with wanting to get a infidelic t-shirt. I soon found, however, that most of the ones out there were pretty 'in-your-face' or at the very least seeking to make an overt point. I realized this is not what I am looking for; partly, at least because for me (and I suspect others), atheism is not about proselytizing and trying to make a big statement, at least not all the time. Also because I wanted something for us, something subtle, that was a brand of recognition that could be worn anywhere without anyone else but 'us' having to know what it meant. I guess I am basically talking about an innocuous logo for the EAC secret society. An open secret badge that would allow strangers passing in the street to give a thumbs up and know that they were not standing alone against the resurgent theocracy sweeping many parts of the world.

Now I know there are a ton of EAC graphics here http://www.cyberdespot.com/eac-logos.html but these are more designed for webpages and mostly geared towards shock value. The logo I am thinking of should be tasteful, simple, and innocent; something you could put on a polo shirt, bumper sticker, pin, tie clip, ring, pendant, t-shirt, ball cap, or belt buckle (for those in the bible belt you know :)). Something that doesn't seek to tie any of us to a specific dogma other than atheism and that does not mean anything overt (e.g. NOT most or the above examples or a candle of reason or something like obvious like that; the II pool and drop may even be to much). Something like a stylized 'EAC' text, perhaps with a unique but indeterminate coat of arms. Nothing that you couldn't pass off as a school, frat, club, etc. crest if you really did not want to explain it to an annoying fundy (the Electronic Arts College you know ;)). Something you could wear to work every day and not get a second look or put on your bumper and never get ripped off.

I guess I think it would be spiffy if the EAC finally became a bit more than a casual joke we all toss around: a little something to bind people together. This could be a tiny step towards that even when when we don't feel like making a big public show of it.

So stop me if this has been suggested before and/or you think it is (still) stupid. If this already exists and is broadly accepted and I have somehow missed it; then point me to it. Otherwise I'd like to hear any suggestions flow. If there is a consensus and enough takers perhaps II could sell some new shirts for fund-raising.

[dracon427]

Hey! Thats a great idea! I would get a shirt like that asap! :notworthy

[orpheus last chant]

I guess I think it would be spiffy if the EAC finally became a bit more than a casual joke we all toss around: a little something to bind people together. This could be a tiny step towards that even when when we don't feel like making a big public show of it.


Well, the last logo (lower far right before the first link) on the linked page you gave has an element that, for me, would be perfect.


The apple.

You don't need a specially designed one, as there are always broches with fruit themes. I also have a lot of xmas decorations with apples. That would EAC-ise the holiday a bit. I love the fact that it symbolises inherent human curiosity (and the fact that a chick did it too, Eve's my hero).


Oh, and if the idea sucks, go easy on me :).


P.S. Did headquarters forget to inform me on....what the heck are the black helicopters about?

[Pentagram]

P.S. Did headquarters forget to inform me on....what the heck are the black helicopters about?

Notification Alert!: Query [Helicopters, black]
Response?: Standard.

"Black helicopters? What black helicopters?"

[lunachick]

I really dig the apple idea. :D

btw - great thinking, MM. Get some designs going, and a store up!

[Sarpedon]

You know, I was reflecting that symbols can become meaningless outside of their accepted context. Even a universally recognized symbol can lose all meaning if put in a place where one cannot see how it relates to its situation. So I thought of putting symbols in strange places. like the symbol for food and drink on a tee-shirt. Or my favorite one that I was thinking of was a white pawn on a black tee-shirt. Now of course, that may lead people to think that I'm a pawn, myself, but with no other explaination, its ambiguous.

I propose the pawn as our symbol. No-one uses the pawn as a symbol. The king, queen, bishop, knight, and rook are all commonly used, but not the pawn.

[EarlFlynn]

Possible symbols:

A light bulb.

A library.

I like the apple idea, too. It would be even better with a bite taken out of it, but Apple the computer company has already stolen that one...hmmm, I wonder if they were making the same connection we are?

[Autonemesis]

What about a scarlet letter A? ;)

[Shake]

I have been pondering something for a bit now. It all started with wanting to get a infidelic t-shirt.And what's wrong with this one??
http://www.infidels.org/images/shirtback.jpg

available here (http://www.infidels.org/infidels/products/shirt.shtml)

[Guido]

Maybe the thinker by Rodin with a slogan underneath : make up your own mind.

The vitruvian man, obvious.

The symbol of my alma mater: Two hands shaking hands over a sort of old pouch and scientia vincere tenebras underneath.

The hands and pouch signifie the Geuzen, the protestants in the low countries rebelling against the church and Spanish inquisition.

[Clete]

How about a broken infinity symbol with the words "what you see is what you get" underneath it?

[jafosei]

Since I first ran across it, I've been fond of the Invisible Pink Unicorn (http://www.invisiblepinkunicorn.com/) logo. It looks nice, but unless you already know what it is, you're not likely to guess.

[His Noodly Appendage]

Hey, I second the idea of the IPU logo.

It looks trendy, and the reference is highly cool.

jbc

[catalyst]

Maybe the thinker by Rodin with a slogan underneath : make up your own mind.




I like this one. The IPU logo would be my second choice.

[MilitantModerate]

Re: Infidel's T-shirt or Rodin with slogan or similar. Those, or the like, are already out there. Remeber my purpose was *NOT* to make a statement, at least not to the uninitiated. That is a valid goal but not what I was trying to acheive.

The apple or pawn (or apple with a pawn on it :D, actually that might not be to bad) are good ideas and examples. My ideal would have, at most, an ambigous acronym like 'EAC' on it for writing.

However, it looks like there is already a winner that I had not found before: the IPU symbol :cool:. Vague yet distinctive and futuristic looking. It looks like they already sell stuff (http://www.cafeshops.com/ipushop) with it, perfect. So how about it? Shall we rally around the IPU defacto standard that already has some momentum?


http://www.invisiblepinkunicorn.com/download/ipulogoblack_small.gif

:notworthy

License (http://www.invisiblepinkunicorn.com/ipu_logo_license.htm)

[catalyst]

Sure.

But then I am fairly easy.

[Loki]

IPU made wikipedia!

Awesome! Bless her hooves.

I vote for that, too. If you can put that on a hat, maybe cafepress (is that right), I'd buy it.

[MilitantModerate]

If you can put that on a hat, maybe cafepress (is that right), I'd buy it.

Already there. See the 'stuff' link. Your new hat:

http://storetn.cafepress.com/8/7469328_F_store.jpg

[MilitantModerate]

But don't you think this is a little late to find our your date is an Atheist? :D

http://storetn.cafepress.com/9/7470079_F_store.jpg

[Loki]

Awesome! I need a hat, too.

Anyone else going in on the IPU thing?

[MilitantModerate]

So what's the cover story for the logo? I suggest it's the crest for the New Zealand EAC (Electronic Arts College) Rockets; their national championship water polo team. :D

[Loki]

How do I find it on cafe press?

[MilitantModerate]

How do I find it on cafe press?

At the 'stuff' link from above:

http://www.cafeshops.com/ipushop

So any other support here? :( Of course we have the standard atheist orgaization/cat herding problem. :) Perhaps a crossposting to secular activisim;
although if you are really an activist you DO want to make a statement:

http://www.heresyhouse.com/catalog-hh/ts01_design_sm.jpg

[OldAngelMidnight]

My good friend Aaron Farber, of http://www.meninhats.com (
Men in Hats, has a t-shirt you all might like available here. (http://www.meninhats.com/merchandise.htm)

http://www.meninhats.com/images/meninhats-shirt-church.gif

It's not exactly innocuous, but I think it gets the message across.

[dendrast]

Carefully, carefully now. First you start wearing your symbols, then you start indentifying with your symbols, next your symbols clash. Isn't that how we got here in the first place?

[MilitantModerate]

Carefully, carefully now. First you start wearing your symbols, then you start indentifying with your symbols, next your symbols clash. Isn't that how we got here in the first place?

That's it!! :mad: If you don't like the IPU then you are not welcome in the EAC. Please turn in your badge and sidearm. :p :D

[Jackalope]

Well, if you want blatant, you can use my design:
http://www.retro.com/employees/lee/Art/AtheistWarning.jpg
or any of my other ones on this page (http://www.retro.com/employees/lee/CafePress.html).
But I swore off designing logos for large groups of people who don't have a clue what they want. I got tired of the "we want 17 conflicting design elements" problem that always comes up when no one has a clear idea of what direction the group should be going...

[dendrast]

IPU? What IPU?

[Demosthenes]

IPU? What IPU?

the Invisible Pink Unicorn. It's a parody of the whole idea of detity. Her Majesty homesite can be found here The Institute for Unicorn Research (http://www.geocities.com/ipuprophecy/ipu.html).

[Mageth]

the Invisible Pink Unicorn. It's a parody of the whole idea of detity. Her Majesty homesite can be found here The Institute for Unicorn Research (http://www.geocities.com/ipuprophecy/ipu.html).

One reason it parodies the idea of "detity" is, of course, that the IPU (PBUH) has titys, though they are invisible, and pink. ;)

[dendrast]

IPU? Ironic Pink Unicorn ?

[Corona688]

I would hardly call the theist vs thinking world problem a "clash of symbols". We do need SOMETHING to unite us, and the IPU symbol might as well be it. I mean, the whole point of the symbol is that it's meaningless, so there's not much to object to about it.

[dendrast]

OK , you win. You gotta have a symbol, you gotta have a symbol. Would the Invisible Pink Unicorn be related in any way to the Weapons of Moose Destruction?

[Calantorntain]

I thought of this a while ago. It really isn't all that great, but oh well.

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v108/Calantorntain/EAC.jpg

Yep. It has a big "A" for Atheist, and it also has an E and a C which you can sort of see on the right side. EAC.

Edit: eep! Sorry this picture is so big.

[Jackalope]

Okay, I'm not above taking someone else's idea and running with it. Color variations:

http://gw.retro.com/employees/lee/Blasphemy/EAC.jpg
http://gw.retro.com/employees/lee/Blasphemy/EAC2.jpg
http://gw.retro.com/employees/lee/Blasphemy/EAC3.jpg

[Rhaedas]

I like the apple idea, too. It would be even better with a bite taken out of it, but Apple the computer company has already stolen that one...hmmm, I wonder if they were making the same connection we are?

I think but am not sure, that indeed that was the point of Apple's logo. Someone who knows Steve Jobs' thoughts on the matter?

As for discrete symbols, I personally continue to like the IPU symbol the best (I have one on my desktop, in invisible pink, of course). Jackalope, yours is a good second though...it has that same subtleness, yet trendy look.

For an in your face logo though, I love the pic of the earth, with the phrase "We're not taking over the world. EAC. It's already ours." :D

[Calantorntain]

Oooh. Thats far shinier, Jackalope.

And I like the IPU symbol as well.

But hey, we don't just need one. I mean, the X-ians have both the fish and the cross. And the crucifix nail too, I suppose.

[Mageth]

Jackalope's red one has a devil's trident...;)

[Jackalope]

You mean like this?
http://gw.retro.com/employees/lee/Blasphemy/EvilAC.jpg

It's uh...spear fishing! Yeah, the local spear fishing club!

[Rhaedas]

I don't like the EAC stuff that uses some form of devil in it, for one reason...it sinks to pretending there is a devil, and theists just don't seem to get the satire. So in a twisted way, you're pissing them off and at the same time validating their beliefs.

[Mageth]

I don't like the EAC stuff that uses some form of devil in it, for one reason...it sinks to pretending there is a devil, and theists just don't seem to get the satire. So in a twisted way, you're pissing them off and at the same time validating their beliefs.

I think the trident I saw in Jackalope's symbol was unintentional, and his embellishment of the symbol was in jest. But you have a good point; if I saw and jokingly pointed out a trident in the symbol, some fundy would probably notice it as well and claim that the symbol included a sign of Satan!

[Jackalope]

I think the trident I saw in Jackalope's symbol was unintentional, and his embellishment of the symbol was in jest.

Her, her, damnit. That's the third time today someone's made that mistake.
http://gw.retro.com/employees/lee/Art/AniAvitar.gif
Yes, it was in jest, perhaps I should have put a few sarcastic smilies along with it.

But you have a good point; if I saw and jokingly pointed out a trident in the symbol, some fundy would probably notice it as well and claim that the symbol included a sign of Satan!

Right, which was reason enough to pick one of the non-red color schemes. If I actually did this as a logo, I'd probably rework it to look like brush strokes or sumi-e art.

[Dialogian]

I 7th or 8th or nth that motion for the Invisible Pink Unicorn. I love its sleek design, origin, and potential.

--Dialogian

[MilitantModerate]

Just ordered over $200 (OK that's Canadian with obscene brokerage and shipping charges :D) of IPU merchandise from cafepress (http://www.cafeshops.com/ipushop). :cool: All hail her sublime pinkness!

http://www.invisiblepinkunicorn.com/download/ipulogoblack_small.gif

:notworthy

[MilitantModerate]

Oh and I think for my cover story (for those I don't care to explain it to) I will say it's my daughter's or wife's soccer team: The Rockets. Remember a cover story will make the EAC that much more evil and conspiratorial. ;)

[The Other Michael]

Is there anyone else that had trouble getting the IPU design to become recognizable to them? I must have looked at it for 3-4 minutes before it finally "clicked" for me.

Was She hardening my heart or something?

cheers,
Michael

[Demosthenes]

you're not the only one. I thought the little line at the bottom of the head was the eye but I realized it's supposed to be the underside of the head. Maybe somebody should extend that line a bit so to reduce the space...

While the EAC symbol had the cool idea, the actual symbol itself bothered me. Look at this way, you're drawing it that it looks like AEC rather than EAC. To make it sensible, you'd have to somehow put the E to the left instead of merging it with C. But it ruins the whole logo look unfortunately... while the idea was cool, I don't really like the logo, my mind keeps putting the letters in the wrong order soley based on the order I percieve the letters in the logo.

[MilitantModerate]

Is there anyone else that had trouble getting the IPU design to become recognizable to them? I must have looked at it for 3-4 minutes before it finally "clicked" for me.

I saw it rather quickly. Probably only 10 seconds. It definitly has aspects of one of those 'ladies or vase' or 'young or old woman' pictures. However I find that part of the charm. A buddy of mine, who is getting a T-shirt from that order, took on the order of a minute or more and some leading by me for it to "click". Once it "clicks" though her pinkness has you under her spell.

[Angrillori]

Dagnabbit.

Now, inaddition to the hundred dollars of bumper stickers I HAVE to buy, I HAVE to buy $150 of IPU stuff, (Have to get the missus to match!) and the II T-shirt....sheesh....

My Solstice list just keeps on growing....

:) :) :) :) :)

[Richard1366]

The idea of adopting a symbol to represent atheism/agnosticism/freethinker is great, but in order to be universally recognized, it should be adopted by a substantial number of the atheist/freethinker/agnostic/secular organizations. The symbol should be easy to draw, ( the one for American Atheists is difficult, if not impossible to recreate), the symbol should be uniquely recognizible and not a symbol of an existing organization, the symbol should not be easily changed into something else. Some type of stylized "A" would probably be best, at one time I had suggested using an "A" and the Infinity symbol representing science and the unknown.

Æ

is a symbol that is readily available in most typefaces, to represent Atheism and Evolution or something similar. Easy to create, would look OK on a hat, T-Shirt or on a proudly carried sign. The "Directors" of this board really need to start the ball rolling on coming up with a symbol and sell it to the "Directors" of the other organizations.

[Abdomens]

Good idea.

Hmm, it's kind of funny you know.

Æ is actually also a letter in the danish alfabet, æ when it isn't in capital.
Sounds sort of like the e in red.

[arcadia]

How about:

T.I.N.G

or

T.I.N.g

or

T.A.N.g

I kind of like the sound of the bell going off.

[SEF]

Some of my attempts (at getting the e and the a to conspire):

http://img33.photobucket.com/albums/v101/_SEF_/logo/EAC.gif

[capsaicin67]

I've been thinking about this too. I agree with the general sentiment.

I actually *love* the II tshirt, and really would like to wear it places, as you say, and simply see who I meet, and give a subtle thumbs up to those that recognize it---without being overtly confrontational or provocative. I really like the colors, and I like the graphics on the II shirt---a lot of shirts sold or given away for promotion of various other causes I care about [if they exist at all] are decidely uncool with very nerdy and dated colors and graphics etc. They look like someone's well-intentioned, color-blind, tasteless, uncle had them made.

II almost has my fantasy shirt---with one quibble---the "jamming the meme" part. It basically is saying "Telling religion to fuck off since 1995".

That is the only thing that has kept me from buying one thus far---I know I couldn't wear it almost anywhere, or would choose not to, because I'm not going out to tell people to fuck off, I'm usually on my way to the grocery store or the like and would like and need to see friendly faces and friendlier faces. I'm sure that there will be the occasional internet-savvy xian that will get in a huff no matter what or how subtle it is, but by and large, I would feel pretty comfortable "doing my thing" as long as I don't define myself so strongly with being "about" disrupting "them". Oh, I spose that is some of what I do, but the whole point of Positive Atheism---and I hope the evolution of various atheistic denominations, communities, resources----is to be about *more* than simply what we are against? At the least, I know I won't wear a shirt that flips off almost everyone I know and have to deal with daily in real life. I pick and choose my battles, that is just not one battle that I think would be productive and would choose.

I love the colors and the contemporary, cool, dynamic design. And I would not begrudge anyone wanting the "meme" version. But my suggestion, humbly submitted, is that I would like an alternate version without the "meme" thang available, too.

p.s.---I think that the drop/pool symbol are very cool, and my vote is that they are not too provocative or "too much". I think that shirts that played with that theme could take on many forms and some really cool stuff could be generated by an imaginative graphic designer! If it needs to be a little more expensive or whatever in order to make it appealing to the II Illuminati as a fundraiser, I'd say rock on and see what the freemarket tells us about whether it is a good idea. I'd gladly pay a little more if I knew it was supporting something cool-----and I was getting something tangible that was cool, too!

Lastly, it's possible that II could hold a yearly contest for best design and then let people vote etc.....? That could be a special edition design or offering, so on and so forth......

[DMB]

Well, I like the IPU logo, but all I saw when I went to the site were garments. I really want a discreet lapel pin (pink, of course) that I can wear alongside or instead of my "happy human" or darwin fish. I sometimes wear these when dressed quite formally.

Having a small pin like that is more like a secret handshake. You don't shout at people.

[Gawen]

Is there anyone else that had trouble getting the IPU design to become recognizable to them? I must have looked at it for 3-4 minutes before it finally "clicked" for me.

Was She hardening my heart or something?

cheers,
Michael

I hate to say this, but on first look, it looked to me like a skewed Klingon logo. But I do like the design. I'm thinking of buying at least a Tshirt.

Can anyone give me the link to the II wearable stuff? I can't seem to find it.

[xxthe_leewitxx]

You can find the t-shirt here (http://www.infidels.org/infidels/products/shirt.shtml), Gawen.

[Gawen]

Thanks xxthe_leewitxx ...Friday is Payday...

[MilitantModerate]

Shamelessly bumping this thread now that I have all my IPU wear (http://www.cafeshops.com/ipushop). But also thought I would link to some other 'interesting' t-shirts (http://www.thoseshirts.com/). :rolleyes: The market for these ones scares me! :eek:

[EverLastingGodStopper]

Shamelessly bumping this thread now that I have all my IPU wear (http://www.cafeshops.com/ipushop).
Woah, resurrected thread... yet, on-topic...

[His Noodly Appendage]

I've just done up a rather flashy black/pink and grey-gradient reworking of the IPU logo for my desktop wallpaper at work. It looks *very* l33t.

Now to see if anyone notices...

jbc

[Vorkosigan]

II almost has my fantasy shirt---with one quibble---the "jamming the meme" part. It basically is saying "Telling religion to fuck off since 1995".

Not to mention that memes are psuedoscience, so why are they on our Tee? There's no sense in giving up one idiocy in order to further another.

I'm all for some version of Her Pinkness. Maybe we could lobby for National IPU Day....what day would that be?

Vorkosigan

[MilitantModerate]

I've just done up a rather flashy black/pink and grey-gradient reworking of the IPU logo for my desktop wallpaper at work. It looks *very* l33t.

:cool: Link? The world wants to see (well at least I do).

[EverLastingGodStopper]

Another resurrected quote:
II almost has my fantasy shirt---with one quibble---the "jamming the meme" part.
If II had the same shirt with the II logo and website info, but without the "jamming theistic memes since 1995" phrase, I'd buy it. Maybe we can ask the Admins about creating a plain version of the same shirt? Shirt link (http://www.infidels.org/infidels/products/shirt.shtml) for those who weren't aware. If there were a plain version available, I'd buy it this week.

Various versions of the EAC and IPU logos are also appealing to me.

[His Noodly Appendage]

:cool: Link? The world wants to see (well at least I do).

Erm, it's not *that* flashy... Here. (http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~jbc/ipu-1200-bold.jpg)

It does have that logos-as-trendy-dance-subculture-designer-wear flair to it, though :)

jbc

[WhyBeNormal]

Two or three seconds into reading this, I thought of the IPU. I'm glad somebody mentioned it. Maybe I'll get an IPU hat to go with my II t-shirt. (Which still hasn't come yet! I hope you guys don't ship as slowly as the Skeptic's Society. I ordered some stuff from them 4 weeks ago and it's still not here!)
www.invisiblepinkunicorn.com

:notworthy All Heil Her Holy Pinkness! :notworthy

PS- There seems to be some people who dislike to II shirt's phrase. I just wanted to add that I love it! You guys need to start making more stuff with "Internet Infidels" on it.