I am an equal-opportunity atheist. my atheism certainly includes the tooth fairy and santa claus. i'm not worried about it )

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Good point. It's like calling tea - unsweet tea. A comic made the joke that you can't unsweeten something. Why don't we call it un-lemon tea, un-iced tea, un-arsenic tea?

Logically, you may be right. But to paraphrase a quote from Star Trek, "whoever accused of the humanity of being logical?" I think historically that the majority of humanity has held religious beliefs of some sort, and continues to do so. So, I am perfectly happy with separating myself from the majority with the label "atheist." One of my favorite theist writer is Reza Aslan, and I enjoy reading his books (and many would say that his books are not exactly "scholarly" and they are probably right, but still very entertaining), and he makes a point that the state of belief as opposed to the state of non-believing has been, and is, the norm. I agree that that has historically been the norm. I would of course argue that it shouldn't be. But the fact is that it is.

It took me awhile. I spent a long time calling myself, "Spiritual but not Religious", then "Agnostic", finally the importance of evidence was able to make me comfortable saying "Atheist".

I understand your feeling because Atheist basically means anti God. But if there is or never has been a God in the first place saying your Atheist seems to give a positive inclination to the existence of God. Which is obviously not what an Atheist is confirming. Personally I prefer Atheist to Agnostic because in my understanding Agnostics once believed there may of been a God who exists no longer. To my mind this gives more inclination that a super being at once existed.

Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.

It's a very exact Greek word.
It means literally "without God".
So it's very correct for many people.

However, many atheists mistakenly think it means "without belief" which is both totally wrong, and also totally impossible for a human being.
All human beings need beleif systems, and atheists also belive many things which are not provable to them, they accept these things on blind faith.

I am 100% comfortable with calling myself an Atheist.

Proud of it .

Seriously comfortable. I don't mind who knows this about me because something I don't do is of no importance to me whatever. We have a rather cockney saying- "Leave it Ah't Mate" (meaning shut up!, not interested !)

I do resent people who think they can talk me in or out of something at their will and in that situation I don't mind how rude I seem to anybody as long as I get them to stop bothering me.

There was a time when the term bothered me. I wouldn't want myself defined as "not a believer in the Easter Bunny", although that statement is true. My daughter said I was a "Secular Humanist" and then spent ten minutes explaining it to me. It seemed like I would need to carry around a brochure just to clarify what I "believe". Eventually I accepted "Atheist" in many situations and "Non-believer" in an actual religious discussion. Reality is I'm a heathen.

I would not choose the label for myself. But it reflects our cultural indoctrination. Like belief in a cosmic spectator magic sky daddy is the default. It is a scathing critique of absurd social mores.

A label of sort is needed as we are the exception, at least in the US where I am. I am disappointed that instead of sparking questions it usually gets contempt.

I prefer the term rationalist, though I feel like I am taking the easy way out if I use it.

Just tell them your an Asatanist, it is both true and will confuse many.

I think you're right, especially as religionists have consistently failed to grasp the meaning anyway.

I usually refer to myself as a realist, believing in that which is real.

I don't share your discomfort with the term "Atheist" nor do I believe it in any way concedes any credibility to the insane delusions of theists. For me the prefix 'A-" is like a pie in the face of so-called believers. Yeah! Rub it in bro!

i love telling people im athiest, anytime i hear god bless you , i mention it

I like your take - except its a good frightener word to use on persistent proseletysers.
And I am a pragmatist - whatever works!

I wonder how useful it is to have this label. It only serves to differentiate us from the bulk of people in the world. Since we were usually the ones being burned at the stake, I think it is best to just live an honest and honorable life without giving the proverbial breast a place to drink its claws. Let them fight each other while we live in truth, beauty, and growth.

It bothers me that I should be defined by the lack of belief in something. I prefer Humanist, as I believe in furthering the positive power of humanity.

It is fine. A word is all but better than the alternatives I guess.
I mean it seems like an unnecessary one to us but then we would allow the religious to come up with more creative words to describe us

Absolutely not! Or non believer. I prefer Freethinker.

I'm very comfortable with the term. That defines us from the religious fools out in the world. I can't wait to tell one of door knockers to see the expression on there face. I'm thinking about annoucing on it on Facebook. To see what kind of reaction I will get

I don't mind it, it's accurate after all. I get the point about there being no words for other types of non-belief, but then those types of non-belief are commonplace whereas atheism is not.

I had to visit the ER last week and found my hospital system doesn't have a box for "Atheist" in their religion list. The closest the guy could find was "Not Affiliated". I was tempted to snatch the clipboard out of his hand and look for myself, except that my leg was in a crapton of pain and I couldn't be bothered.

How about "Nay-Theist"?