Pagans on Gaia.. =/

[wiccan_sk8er]

I've been very disappointed lately in a few of the Pagan guilds/threads I'm a part of here on Gaia.
All of my wiccan/pagan friends in real life are so lovely.
They're friendly and nice; i guess the kind of "stereotype" that Pagans are.
Because before I really knew what Pagan/Wicca was, I had heard that all witches were really friendly and nice people!

But lately on Gaia, I've been browsing through the guilds and forums, and have noticed how mean and rude some of them are! neutral

Even some of my own posts, whenever someone would reply, they are very rude and matter-of-fact, kind of like a stuck-up person. They speak like they're superior, and know everything, and it's really starting to bum me out...

I thought "Hey, maybe just a few of them are like that, and they're in a bad mood or something."
But no, every time I try to say something, or someone new to the faith asks a question, the majority of them are mean as hell... I don't get it..
Why is that only the Pagans here on Gaia are acting this way?

I'm not exaggerating this one bit, I swear.
This is all pure experience from being on the site.
I've contemplated leaving all the Pagan guilds I'm in, and just ending contact with them all...

[Xiam]

People can be like that when it comes to religion. Particularly if they converted to it willingly. It becomes a sense of pride, to an almost jingoistic extent. Because clearly if they found it was the best for them, it must be the best religion, and anyone who does not understand or believe in it is Unclean, and must be shunned. This can be common in any religion, really, not just Pagans or Christians. I'm sure there are self-righteous Buddhists who forget the entire point of the religion and act all high-and-mighty about enlightenment.

But there will always be the friendly types too. The problem is, they're very quiet about it. In fact, the chances are high that what you're experiences is a vocal minority in the religion. The ones who don't act like you're scum are just the type that don't talk much.

[Sanguina Cruenta]

It's possible all the Pagans you hang out with in real life agree with you when it comes to particular statements and issues, whereas on the internet you have a much wider range of people coming together, so you're more likely to run across people who disagree with you or take exception to something you say.

For example, you say "Pagan/Wicca". Many people will wonder why, and ask. Others will assume you're using the terms interchangeably (as the / can sometimes mean) and point out that that's incorrect. It's best to be as clear as possible if you want to avoid people asking you questions, or correcting perceived errors. 4laugh

[Nityananda-rama dasa]

In addition to what has been said, many people, especially in this forum, get tired of correcting the same misinformation over and over and begin to be less and less tactful when correcting.


The difficult thing about learning about the various Neo-pagan paths is that there is a lot of misinformation.


I think that you will find that if you drop labels, you will have an easier time. I know I did. I went from "Wiccan" to "Neo-pagan" to "Animist". Once I realized I was not Wiccan, my journey got a lot easier.

[Pompeiian]

wiccan_sk8er

I've been very disappointed lately in a few of the Pagan guilds/threads I'm a part of here on Gaia.
All of my wiccan/pagan friends in real life are so lovely.
They're friendly and nice; i guess the kind of "stereotype" that Pagans are.
Because before I really knew what Pagan/Wicca was, I had heard that all witches were really friendly and nice people!

But lately on Gaia, I've been browsing through the guilds and forums, and have noticed how mean and rude some of them are! neutral

Even some of my own posts, whenever someone would reply, they are very rude and matter-of-fact, kind of like a stuck-up person. They speak like they're superior, and know everything, and it's really starting to bum me out...

I thought "Hey, maybe just a few of them are like that, and they're in a bad mood or something."
But no, every time I try to say something, or someone new to the faith asks a question, the majority of them are mean as hell... I don't get it..
Why is that only the Pagans here on Gaia are acting this way?

I'm not exaggerating this one bit, I swear.
This is all pure experience from being on the site.
I've contemplated leaving all the Pagan guilds I'm in, and just ending contact with them all...

Depends on what path of Paganism you want to follow really. Some of the practises are traditionally not open to everyone, and thorough research is always a neccesity regardless of what religion one follows if at all in order to understand it better.

So far as Wicca goes, there's no such thing as a solitary Wiccan and it's lineaged. If you don't know someone in a legit coven who can trace said coven's history back to Gardner, you're s**t out of luck for genuine Wicca, sorry.

[BTW Found]

There is also the issue of people taking disagreement as an attack. You can disagree with someone's opinion without attacking them as a person. Some people can not take any form of disagreement and view any attempts at debate as an attack.

There are also people who have a really bad case of entitlement. They think because they want something to be a certain way or that they can be something by just saying they are that they have the right to it.

Also it is impossible to read body language over the internet and that is a major component of communication. Some people are more direct than others and these can come across as rude.

There is also a component of herd mentality among individuals at various sites. If you criticize what they believe or one of their friends then you are demonized.

YMMV.

[Calelith]

wiccan_sk8er

Pagan/Wicca

Why are you using both? They're not interchangeable ya know.

"There is nothing to fear when you have nothing to lose."

[Homicidal Orange]

Calelith

wiccan_sk8er

Pagan/Wicca

Why are you using both? They're not interchangeable ya know.

"There is nothing to fear when you have nothing to lose."

Birds of a feather flock together. :/ They shouldn't be considered at odds with each other.

Wicca is a subset of pagan. The term 'pagan' is vast and loose in definition.

[Homicidal Orange]

Amor Sempiternus

wiccan_sk8er

I've been very disappointed lately in a few of the Pagan guilds/threads I'm a part of here on Gaia.
All of my wiccan/pagan friends in real life are so lovely.
They're friendly and nice; i guess the kind of "stereotype" that Pagans are.
Because before I really knew what Pagan/Wicca was, I had heard that all witches were really friendly and nice people!

But lately on Gaia, I've been browsing through the guilds and forums, and have noticed how mean and rude some of them are! neutral

Even some of my own posts, whenever someone would reply, they are very rude and matter-of-fact, kind of like a stuck-up person. They speak like they're superior, and know everything, and it's really starting to bum me out...

I thought "Hey, maybe just a few of them are like that, and they're in a bad mood or something."
But no, every time I try to say something, or someone new to the faith asks a question, the majority of them are mean as hell... I don't get it..
Why is that only the Pagans here on Gaia are acting this way?

I'm not exaggerating this one bit, I swear.
This is all pure experience from being on the site.
I've contemplated leaving all the Pagan guilds I'm in, and just ending contact with them all...

Depends on what path of Paganism you want to follow really. Some of the practises are traditionally not open to everyone, and thorough research is always a neccesity regardless of what religion one follows if at all in order to understand it better.

So far as Wicca goes, there's no such thing as a solitary Wiccan and it's lineaged. If you don't know someone in a legit coven who can trace said coven's history back to Gardner, you're s**t out of luck for genuine Wicca, sorry.

What makes some random guy from earlier in this century correct? The fact that he said so? :/

We need to be more welcoming, not to turn people away because of some dogma about covens. Nobody will convert to Wicca if you're always crusty and unpleasant toward people with an honest curiosity.

[Lucky~9~Lives]

Homicidal Orange

Nobody will convert to Wicca if you're always crusty and unpleasant toward people with an honest curiosity.

You make it sound like Wicca seeks converts.

[Homicidal Orange]

Lucky~9~Lives

Homicidal Orange

Nobody will convert to Wicca if you're always crusty and unpleasant toward people with an honest curiosity.

You make it sound like Wicca seeks converts.

They don't. But people who are seeking to convert shouldn't be treated like that.

[Shearaha]

Homicidal Orange

Amor Sempiternus

wiccan_sk8er

I've been very disappointed lately in a few of the Pagan guilds/threads I'm a part of here on Gaia.
All of my wiccan/pagan friends in real life are so lovely.
They're friendly and nice; i guess the kind of "stereotype" that Pagans are.
Because before I really knew what Pagan/Wicca was, I had heard that all witches were really friendly and nice people!

But lately on Gaia, I've been browsing through the guilds and forums, and have noticed how mean and rude some of them are! neutral

Even some of my own posts, whenever someone would reply, they are very rude and matter-of-fact, kind of like a stuck-up person. They speak like they're superior, and know everything, and it's really starting to bum me out...

I thought "Hey, maybe just a few of them are like that, and they're in a bad mood or something."
But no, every time I try to say something, or someone new to the faith asks a question, the majority of them are mean as hell... I don't get it..
Why is that only the Pagans here on Gaia are acting this way?

I'm not exaggerating this one bit, I swear.
This is all pure experience from being on the site.
I've contemplated leaving all the Pagan guilds I'm in, and just ending contact with them all...

Depends on what path of Paganism you want to follow really. Some of the practises are traditionally not open to everyone, and thorough research is always a neccesity regardless of what religion one follows if at all in order to understand it better.

So far as Wicca goes, there's no such thing as a solitary Wiccan and it's lineaged. If you don't know someone in a legit coven who can trace said coven's history back to Gardner, you're s**t out of luck for genuine Wicca, sorry.

What makes some random guy from earlier in this century correct? The fact that he said so? :/

We need to be more welcoming, not to turn people away because of some dogma about covens. Nobody will convert to Wicca if you're always crusty and unpleasant toward people with an honest curiosity.

But Wicca isn't out for large amounts of converts. It's a priesthood, so weeding out those who aren't truly called is a good thing. Just think how much worse it could be if the Catholic automatically ordained anyone who walked in the door saying "I wanna be a priest"

A priesthood looks for priests not converts. Those who are called will find their way and not be rebuffed by a little bluntness or even outright rudeness.

Not to be childish but Here's a clip from the new Thundercats that illustrates the point. Cheetara had to prove that she truly wanted to be a cleric before Jaga would allow her entry and training.

[BTW Found]

Homicidal Orange

Amor Sempiternus

wiccan_sk8er

I've been very disappointed lately in a few of the Pagan guilds/threads I'm a part of here on Gaia.
All of my wiccan/pagan friends in real life are so lovely.
They're friendly and nice; i guess the kind of "stereotype" that Pagans are.
Because before I really knew what Pagan/Wicca was, I had heard that all witches were really friendly and nice people!

But lately on Gaia, I've been browsing through the guilds and forums, and have noticed how mean and rude some of them are! neutral

Even some of my own posts, whenever someone would reply, they are very rude and matter-of-fact, kind of like a stuck-up person. They speak like they're superior, and know everything, and it's really starting to bum me out...

I thought "Hey, maybe just a few of them are like that, and they're in a bad mood or something."
But no, every time I try to say something, or someone new to the faith asks a question, the majority of them are mean as hell... I don't get it..
Why is that only the Pagans here on Gaia are acting this way?

I'm not exaggerating this one bit, I swear.
This is all pure experience from being on the site.
I've contemplated leaving all the Pagan guilds I'm in, and just ending contact with them all...

Depends on what path of Paganism you want to follow really. Some of the practises are traditionally not open to everyone, and thorough research is always a neccesity regardless of what religion one follows if at all in order to understand it better.

So far as Wicca goes, there's no such thing as a solitary Wiccan and it's lineaged. If you don't know someone in a legit coven who can trace said coven's history back to Gardner, you're s**t out of luck for genuine Wicca, sorry.

What makes some random guy from earlier in this century correct? The fact that he said so? :/

We need to be more welcoming, not to turn people away because of some dogma about covens. Nobody will convert to Wicca if you're always crusty and unpleasant toward people with an honest curiosity.

This random guy, Gerald Gardner, is credited with the creation of Wicca. If you look at the academic research by Ronald Hutton and other scholars you will see that they conclude that Wicca was created by Gerald Gardner. So if you want to understand a religion the words and ideas of the creator are important.

Wicca is about quality not quantity. If you are called to the priesthood that is Wicca nothing will stop you from your goal. I know people who spent over 20 years seeking a proper Wiccan coven to study with. I know of others that fly 3,000 miles every couple of months to study with a proper coven. If a little hard truth stops you, you may not be feeling the call.

[Calelith]

Homicidal Orange

Calelith

wiccan_sk8er

Pagan/Wicca

Why are you using both? They're not interchangeable ya know.

"There is nothing to fear when you have nothing to lose."

Birds of a feather flock together. :/ They shouldn't be considered at odds with each other.

Wicca is a subset of pagan. The term 'pagan' is vast and loose in definition.

I didn't say anything about the two being at odds with one another and no, it's not birds of a feather. The only thing that ties the Pagan religions together is that they do not follow the Abrahamic God. That's it.

Wicca is a very specific path that follows two very specific deities and requires very specific steps to be taken BEFORE one can call one's self a Wiccan.

And no, Pagan is not vast nor is it loose in definition.

"There is nothing to fear when you have nothing to lose."

[Xiam]

Calelith

Homicidal Orange

Calelith

wiccan_sk8er

Pagan/Wicca

Why are you using both? They're not interchangeable ya know.

"There is nothing to fear when you have nothing to lose."

Birds of a feather flock together. :/ They shouldn't be considered at odds with each other.

Wicca is a subset of pagan. The term 'pagan' is vast and loose in definition.

I didn't say anything about the two being at odds with one another and no, it's not birds of a feather. The only thing that ties the Pagan religions together is that they do not follow the Abrahamic God. That's it.

Wicca is a very specific path that follows two very specific deities and requires very specific steps to be taken BEFORE one can call one's self a Wiccan.

And no, Pagan is not vast nor is it loose in definition.

"There is nothing to fear when you have nothing to lose."

Random question, would pantheism be considered paganism?