I don't see it as an issue. If anything it at least gives us a word to search if we want to find like minded people. Easier to search 'atheist groups' than 'people who don't believe in god groups'

It's scary to me because I live in Texas. I've had to pretend all my life to get by here with people in general. If most of my neighbors knew, I think my house would at least be egged. I have to kind of feel people out before I can say the truth. So I belong to a couple of atheist meetups where everyone is a non believer.

Very. And I'm happy enough with "heathen", "unbeliever", "hellbound liberal'....

I was not comfortable with it for years. I called myself Agnostic for a long time, but had to concede the fact that I really don't think there is a god, and I don't subscribe to the idea of belief itself.

I wear it proudly. Don't care what anyone else thinks, and can't believe the lengths that some of the 'christians' will go to to try to convince me otherwise, to the point that they argue, denying that I'm NOT a christian.

I ware it like a badge of honor. Also heathen

I don't have a problem being an atheist or being called one. I don't believe in god I'm an atheist.

I not only accept the word but I embrace the word, to the point where I would call myself a militant atheist.

The word is fine and I'm comfortable with it as an adjective. Labels are problematic especially when people disagree on the definition.

In northwestern Europe anyone describing themselves as a Christian is regarded as rather 'odd' or a little bit simple. So to be referred to as 'atheist' would be rather comforting.

I wear it as a badge of honor.

You make good points. Personally, I am very uncomfortable with the word as I was raised in a christian household and I fear I would be subject to "remedial intervention" or ostracized in some way, perhaps covertly, if my relatives knew of my beliefs. I have let it be know that in the present political climate I would be deeply ashamed to be associated with the preponderance of christians who voted for and still support Trump.

Well, I suppose it does not bother me any more than a Christian being called a theist.

Well the vast majority don't believe in santa or the tooth fairy, so there isn't a need for such words. The vast majority of humans are theists, so therefore a word is needed to describe us.

Exceedingly.

It don't bother me

Have no problem telling people that I don't believe in invisible men.

Know what you mean.
I hate the word Brexit. But just try having conversation in the UK without hearing it.

It depends on the audience. I try to be non-confrontational until confronted. Experience has shown me that there are people that will be confused by the term atheist because of negative connotations. I'm not comfortable starting a fight with every true believer that comes along. I would rather pick my battles.
Remember that there are preconceived notions about that word and you can really stir up a bunch of quotes they've heard or feelings that they've had but if you offer up a description such as "I don't believe in any superstitions, even magic, ghosts or gods" you can put them on the defensive, force them to think about what they are saying. It might even make them think about what they really believe if they aren't otherwise superstitious or don't believe in ghosts. Don't hold your breath though.

People always try to label things. Try to put everything in it's own little box. Each person should be allowed to think, wonder, love, and be free as long as they are not hurting someone else or imposing their will on somebody else. How can one have an honest discussion when people are labeled as snowflakes, progressives, libtards, Rebuplicrats, liberals, conservative, anti-Semitic, conspiracy theorist, etc. You get the idea. Republican/Democrat no matter the end result is the same. We the people are under attack, and so often the "official" explanation is contrary to the facts but most choose to believe it anyway.

i am not an atheist.
i am simply a non-believer.
i also, generally speaking, never have felt like a blanket label of any kind has fit me properly.
to me, to consider myself atheist would be to assert that i know there is not a god or gods -
a certainty.
that would be foolish in my estimation.
i'm not agnostic - because i'm not searching or questioning either.
i neither know nor do i care one way or the other.
i'm not interested.
so, i do not use this term for myself.
i am perfectly comfortable with it for anyone else who chooses it for themselves -
but as a general rule will refer to someone as a non-believer until i know their preferred term/label.

Very comfortable.

I am very comfortable with using Atheist as my label. I am actively involved in our local Atheist community, and we try to de-stigmatize the word by using it in our everyday life. I have had some believers who behaved as though I had the plague when they learned of my Atheism, but they usually come back around after they realize I am the same person they knew before .

very.

I understand what you are saying and rather agree but I don't mind saying Im an atheist.