The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

Hi, I’m Teen Atheist and I run Diary of a Teenage Atheist. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but anyway, I like talking about myself, so here goes: I’m 18 years old, graduated high school about two years ago and am currently earning pretty good money in a job I really enjoy. Every adult I know keeps pestering me to go to college, but I’ll deal with that can of worms next year.

I finally decided I was an atheist about a year ago, and that’s a very difficult thing to be in the country I live in. I faced a lot of prejudice and bigotry, so I decided to write about my feelings in order to reach out to an online audience and send the message that we all need to treat others — not just atheists, but everybody — with more respect and compassion.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

Of course. Practice makes perfect. The more you play basketball, the better you get. The more you work on making the perfect chocolate soufflé, the better it’ll taste. I think the progression is visible on my blog; I was a very angry and oppressed child when I started it out, but now I’m more focused on introspection, analyzing my experiences and helping fellow teenage atheists out with their own problems. My writing is important to me because having great writing skills will hopefully help me in my dream profession of being a television scriptwriter.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

Everything’s memorable, although encouragement from other bloggers, particularly Hemant Mehta, the Friendly Atheist (http://friendlyatheist.com), was pivotal in my decision to support my gay friends and other LGBT people everywhere by joining my country’s Gay Pride Parade, despite my mother’s objections. I donned a stripey scarf and socks and marched with my polka-dotted pink umbrella. It was fabulous!

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

I’m always available through my Contact page, for private correspondence, and my Feedback page, for public comments. I have also recently set up my own email address, teenatheist@rocketmail.com, so that I can send out replies in private without giving out my real name.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

I’m regrettably apolitical (it’s a form of escapism, I suppose, because the government in my country is utter crap right now), but I think YouTube has been pretty useful for the 2008 US Presidential candidates.  News blogs like yours are instrumental, as well.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

Yes, it’s definitely a more interactive form of media. The Average Joe now has a way to make himself heard, thanks to the internet.

What do you think sets your site apart from others?

While I don’t think teenage atheists per se are all that difficult to find online, I think my personal experiences put me in a very specific niche. Also, I’ve found that atheists tend to focus on the topic of atheism itself, and its arguments, debates, concepts, philosophies, what have you — but mine is about my life as an atheist. So it’s a personal blog that still connects to atheism and other social issues.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

My passion. I can either love and obsess over something or completely loathe it, but I’m proud to say that I have never been lukewarm about anything.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

Happiest: too many to count — but my 18th birthday definitely stands out as the most recent; Gloomiest: a lot, as well, and mostly tied to family issues.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

New York, Hong Kong, and London.

What is your favorite book and why?

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky is utterly beautiful. I hope to see it one day adapted to film, and if nobody steps up to the plate, then I’ll work on the screenplay myself.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

The general disposition: is s/he smiling or frowning? Does s/he look approachable?

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

No, not really. My singing’s hit-or-miss, my dancing’s laughable, and don’t even ask me about basketball, but writing has been the one talent I always felt I could rely on because it’s what I’ve always gotten complimented on throughout the years. I’ve been writing ever since I learned to put pen to paper.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

Hee! This is actually something I discussed with my on-again-off-again friend, Fred, a couple of months ago. He recommended I put up a PayPal button on my blog to collect donations from readers, and get Google AdSense to make money by advertising. Now, I have absolutely no plans to annoy my readers with ads on my site, but setting up a “Help Teen Atheist Rent Her Own Condo and Escape Her Assy Family” fund is starting to sound like a good idea to me.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

I wish! I’m a very busy person, actually, despite having a number of blogs (more than you can count on one hand!). For me, the key ingredients in having a successful blog are 1) being an entertaining and engaging writer, 2) having a hyperactive mind and 3) having a life or an opinion that’s interesting enough to document.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

Set a good example, and promote good causes (mine are better education, and anti-discrimination).

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

Stuff God Hates (http://stuffgodhates.wordpress.com)

Friendly Atheist (http://friendlyatheist.com)

Maddox (http://maddox.xmission.org)

Bill Maher (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher)

I also love McSweeney’s (http://www.mcsweeneys.net) and Something Awful (http://www.somethingawful.com), but I don’t think they count as blogs.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

I think the entry of mine that got the most attention was the one I wrote about atheist tropes on TV (http://teenatheist.wordpress.com/2007/11/14/just-because-im-an-atheist-doesnt-mean-im-adjective/). It was a post combining two of my greatest interests — atheism and TV — so I was very passionate about writing it, and I think it showed.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

Frankly, I’m an unabashedly self-centered, whiny teen and I live in a bubble, so I have no particular opinion on any country outside of my own and the United States (my country has an unhealthy obsession with the US, and it maybe kind of rubbed off on me?). I’ve heard good things about your people, though!

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Not particularly, no. I pay more attention to how interesting and well-written the blog is.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

Oy, don’t take me back to Social Science class in high school!

What is the future of blogging?

I’ve never really thought about it.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

I try to keep them separate, seeing as I’ve never even revealed my identity on my blog. I have, however, had lots of wonderful support from blog readers which really helped me get through some tough times. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve also lost a friend over some things I wrote.

What are your future plans?

Work my way up the ladder in the company I’m currently in, because I love it here. Or alternately, study at New York University and become a screenwriter. I have a lot of options, so right now I’m trying to savor every moment and take it one day at a time. Life’s been more than kind to me.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Be nice to everybody you meet (although if they’re jerks, then they deserve what’s comin’ to ‘em!). Atheists don’t really eat babies. Don’t discriminate based on looks, race, gender identity, social class or anything else. The world would be so much better if we all treated each other as equals. Peace and love!

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