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Am I Overreacting? |
yes |
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3% |
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no |
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65% |
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maybe |
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30% |
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Total Votes : 26 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:09 am
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This is part rant and part serious question. The rant of course come first (so please excuse me for a minute or two blaugh )
Quote: So...my family and I went to our local Pagan Pride Day the other day. I was left wondering if my standards and/or expectations of other Pagans are a bit too high. I realize that there is a whole group of people who categorize themselves as Pagans, who are simply "wannabes". What gets me though, is it was these particular people who seem to be showing up in droves to the PPD event. Maybe they thought that since it was a gathering of other Pagans, then it was ok to let loose, but I still have to question...why? Why break out the fairy wings and renaissance wear - the Harry Potter gear, and Goth wear. We shout Pagan Pride and expect others to take us seriously, and yet if we go out in public like this, can we really expect for anyone to take us seriously and give us the respect we deserve. There are many people who have chosen a Paganism because they are seriously seeking a religion or a spiritual path that they have not been able to find elsewhere. As one of those people, I find that I resent the "intrusion" of these "wannabes". I am sick of wading through endless amounts of fluff, to find one small shred of valid truth. Just once, I'd like to go to a Pagan gathering and come away feeling like I learned something valuable, not like I've been violated. If I wanted to go to the a carnival or Ren Faire, then that is where I would go. As I said in the beginning, maybe my standards are too high - but if we are ever to be taken seriously, then maybe it is time that others raised their standards as well .
On to the question part... Am I just crazy, or do you think there maybe there is an issue that needs to be addressed within the Pagan community? Even if your particular tradition calls for certain garb during ritual (robes, cloaks, staffs, jewelry, etc...) - is it appropriate to wear it out to an event that is open to the general public or other occasions besides rituals?
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:14 am
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:05 am
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as a fairly newbish person to Paganism, I would never show up to something dressed in a corset and wings and glitter. That's not appropriate. And it has NOTHING to do with being pagan. I may wear my pentacle ring, a comfy dress and bring my tarot deck with me, but that would be the extent.
I think its hard whenever you take something seriously to see people treat it like a ren fair... or worse, a joke.
If i may diverge for a moment, I have another group in which this happens. I am a (united states) civil war reenactor. As part of a reenacting group, we strive to constantly better ourselves, our personas and our reenacting. We work together to sew period correct clothing. We research, we teach, we learn we share. We have period correct down to our cups, our tents (yes camping in canvas and wood tents!) and our underwear. We work our asses off and spend extra money to get it right, because it MEANS something to us. Its important to us.
Now imagine how we feel when we come to a reenactment, and find the reenactor version of fluffly bunnies running around. They in their "pioneer" skirts they bought at walmart, their big straw hats and tennis shoes "reenacting." Its incredibly frustrating for us. Especially since they usually get on the news etc.
It's not bad that they are interested in history or reenacting, but its hurtful and frustrating to those of us who put the work into being correct.
Back to paganism, I think its fair to be upset with these people who don't do the work, but seem to be the face of pagans in your area.
/wall of text.
I agree with you fully.
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:37 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:22 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:14 pm
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Sanguina Cruenta Vice Captain
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Violet Song jat Shariff Crew
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:38 pm
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:14 pm
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Sanguina Cruenta Vice Captain
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Sanguina Cruenta Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:26 am
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:44 pm
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Violet Song jat Shariff Crew
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:48 pm
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Esselean Are you saying that just because people wear fairy wings they arent true pagans? No. What I'm suggesting at least (I won't speak for anyone else here) is that these are usually the Pagans who whine and b***h about being taken seriously as Pagans. So, what does a Pagan do to gain his/herself some respect? Why, it certainly isn't slapping on a pair of faerie wings or a Griffindor scarf to attend a PPD, that's for damn sure.
Quote: Maybe they just want to let loose and have some fun occasionally especially when they feel like they are in an environment where they wont be judged (or so they think) Great. Good for them. I don't understand how they can not understand that they might be judged when going to an event that is public and out in the open.
Quote: I say dress however you want to and be yourself. Agreed. However, one should also take into consideration things like first impressions, and the fact that most people make snap judgments. Can someone wear faerie wings if they like? Sure. But they should also expect to be given as much serious consideration as a five-year-old sitting in the White House.
Quote: Personally i dress in whatever i feel comfortable in or feel like wearing and if others don't like it then that's their problem. As I said above, sure wear what you want, but understand that there are repercussions and the like that come with wearing certain things. It's really not my problem if someone doesn't know how to dress and act in a way that earns them respect and being treated like an equal.
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:52 pm
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Violet Song jat Shariff Crew
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Sanguina Cruenta Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:49 pm
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Yeah... and I guess mostly it's just really disappointing. You go to a PPD or a meetup hoping to connect with someone who follows a religion similar to yours, and it's incredibly disheartening and depressing to meet people who don't care a jot for their deities and have never had a serious thought in their pretty little heads their whole lives - which is even more depressing when you consider that many of these people are over 40.
I mean, gods forbid anyone be genuine about their religion. There's far too much "I'm a witch, teehee! I know I'm a witch even though I've never done magic my entire life, because I worship the Gawdess like they did in the Old Religion before the mean Christians burned them all!"
I don't like people in general, so I feel no obligation to be generous to these people. If you're stupid, it's a fair bet I'm not going to like you. I have limited tolerance.
Fairy wings can be done right. I just, honestly, do not see the connection here. Why would you think you can get away with that sort of thing any more than you would in a supermarket? Sure, if you wear fairy wings at the supermarket... if you do, my respect for you goes through the roof. If you're just wearing them to a PPD because hey, you're a pagan, yay fairies...
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