LessWrong Members and Their Local Communities

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At Reason Rally a couple of months ago, we noticed that a lot of atheists there seemed to be there for mutual support - because their own communities rejected atheists, because they felt outnumbered and threatened by their peers, and the rally was a way for them to feel part of an in-group.

Reason Rally is definitely an event that selects for people who feel excluded by their communities most of the time. There may be a different concentration of people who have had this sort of experience on LessWrong. Some of us felt ostracized by our local communities while growing up, others have felt pretty much free to express atheist or utilitarian views for their whole lives.

We are trying to find out about how many LessWrong members feel like outgroup members where they live, how many feel like their views are accepted by those physically around them, and how many don't interact with their local communities much at all. We also would like to find out what sort of attitudes towards atheism, skepticism, and related ideas LessWrong members experienced while growing up.

Current Situation

What country do you currently live in?

What state or province do you currently live in?

What would you say is the predominant religion where you live?

What religious viewpoint do you identify with?

Please rate how much you agree with the following statements.

Don't know / N/A

Strongly Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Agree Somewhat

Strongly Agree

Most of my friends live near me.

I feel part of my local community.

I regularly have enjoyable conversations with others in my local community.

I talk about controversial topics, like atheism and utilitarianism, with others in my community.

I feel religiously excluded by my community.

I would expect most people in my local community to judge me silently if I express controversial views.

I would expect most people in my local community to take actions against me if I express controversial views.

I would expect most people in my local community to carry on a conversation with me if I express controversial views.

Don't know / N/A

Strongly Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Agree Somewhat

Strongly Agree

Most of my friends live near me.

I feel part of my local community.

I regularly have enjoyable conversations with others in my local community.

I talk about controversial topics, like atheism and utilitarianism, with others in my community.

I feel religiously excluded by my community.

I would expect most people in my local community to judge me silently if I express controversial views.

I would expect most people in my local community to take actions against me if I express controversial views.

I would expect most people in my local community to carry on a conversation with me if I express controversial views.

Clear selection

Childhood Situation

What country did you live in while growing up?

What state or province did you live in while growing up?

What would you say is the predominant religion where you lived?

What religious viewpoint did you identify with?

Please rate how much you agree with the following statements.

Don't know / N/A

Strongly Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Agree Somewhat

Strongly Agree

I felt part of my local community.

I regularly had enjoyable conversations with others in my local community.

I talked about controversial topics, like atheism and utilitarianism, with others in my community.

I felt religiously excluded by my community while growing up.

I felt pressure to conform to the religious views of my parents while growing up.

My parents did not care what my religious views were.

My parents were in favor of atheistic or skeptic views.

My views were much less controversial while I was growing up than they are now.

Don't know / N/A

Strongly Disagree

Disagree Somewhat

Agree Somewhat

Strongly Agree

I felt part of my local community.

I regularly had enjoyable conversations with others in my local community.

I talked about controversial topics, like atheism and utilitarianism, with others in my community.

I felt religiously excluded by my community while growing up.

I felt pressure to conform to the religious views of my parents while growing up.

My parents did not care what my religious views were.

My parents were in favor of atheistic or skeptic views.

My views were much less controversial while I was growing up than they are now.

Clear selection

Any further comments or experiences you would like to share:

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