Read some damn books! It isnt going to kill you.
Ok, so obviously I am in another one of my moods. But I am so tired of hearing people make excuses for their laziness in reading. If you have a disorder like dyslexia, then I would understand why you dislike it. But I really think that most of the time it is because people have gotten so lazy that they dont think they should have to take the time to read, study, question and ponder.
It doesnt make you stupid if you have to reread something. You can read something and not really understand the underlying knowledge within it for years to come, sometimes you just have to be patient and quit expecting to have all the answers handed to you. Actually come on, a lot of answers are being handed to you, they are in the books!
When someone asks me about witchcraft and paganism, I always suggest some books that they might find helpful on the subject. I would venture that 9 times out of 10 they dont bother reading any of it, so why should I waste my time exerting my energy when they wont even exert an effort of their own?
I really think that it is easy to tell how much a pagan is living what they are preaching or declaring. If you cant make the effort on your own to study I highly doubt that you have exerted much effort anywhere else in your life.
I take notes, I underline, I question the source and I try out what I read, I dont expect to be able to sit back and have others give me the answers. Besides, why wouldn't you take actions that help you think for yourself rather than rely totally on the opinions of someone else? What kind of freedom is that? Just because you read it doesnt mean you have to follow it, if it doesnt sit well with you than go on to the next book. If nothing else you will get plenty sources to help you decide what you think. Not what everyone else thinks.
Ok, I am done complaining for tonight. I think.
It doesnt make you stupid if you have to reread something. You can read something and not really understand the underlying knowledge within it for years to come, sometimes you just have to be patient and quit expecting to have all the answers handed to you. Actually come on, a lot of answers are being handed to you, they are in the books!
When someone asks me about witchcraft and paganism, I always suggest some books that they might find helpful on the subject. I would venture that 9 times out of 10 they dont bother reading any of it, so why should I waste my time exerting my energy when they wont even exert an effort of their own?
I really think that it is easy to tell how much a pagan is living what they are preaching or declaring. If you cant make the effort on your own to study I highly doubt that you have exerted much effort anywhere else in your life.
I take notes, I underline, I question the source and I try out what I read, I dont expect to be able to sit back and have others give me the answers. Besides, why wouldn't you take actions that help you think for yourself rather than rely totally on the opinions of someone else? What kind of freedom is that? Just because you read it doesnt mean you have to follow it, if it doesnt sit well with you than go on to the next book. If nothing else you will get plenty sources to help you decide what you think. Not what everyone else thinks.
Ok, I am done complaining for tonight. I think.
Tags: answers, read!, responsibility
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Andriel on -
I am not upset by those who want or need a teacher to help or act as a mentor, if they have made some personal effort for their education. If they refuse to read books especially when they have asked for recommendations or when they claim to be searching than I cannot fool myself into thinking that they will do anything that requires a little self-sacrifice and work. It is not those who want help that bother me, just those who want someone else to do what they should be doing.
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Permalink Reply by Glitta on -
Andriel said, snip and quote: "When someone asks me about witchcraft and paganism, I always suggest some books that they might find helpful on the subject. I would venture that 9 times out of 10 they dont bother reading any of it, so why should I waste my time exerting my energy when they wont even exert an effort of their own?" And, snip and quote: "I take notes, I underline, I question the source and I try out what I read, I dont expect to be able to sit back and have others give me the answers. Besides, why wouldn't you take actions that help you think for yourself rather than rely totally on the opinions of someone else? What kind of freedom is that? Just because you read it doesnt mean you have to follow it, if it doesnt sit well with you than go on to the next book. If nothing else you will get plenty sources to help you decide what you think. Not what everyone else thinks. "
Andriel, that's the very heart of self-learning. You educate to liberate yourself and your own thinking. Although you are mad in your post, and you are talking to those who you have spoken with recently, nevertheless you are correct, people hate to make the effort to learn something new. They want you, the experienced one, to give the gratifying answer quickly. Of course, in some thing like Paganism, Witchcraft/Wicca, Druidism, Wizardy, etc. it does not come quick, and in fact, those who are the best at their own abilities and practice are those who have done their studies. The others bugging you are those who make poor students, and some people are just blind followers. They want to ride your tail.
I suggest you continue to recommend a book list, then leave the rest up to them. And don't worry about it. And yes, I love to read and write, and I love to update my knowledge base as desired. We readers do exist, be at peace.
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on -
GASPS!!! Read a book!??! HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME!!!!!
j/k
Knoweledge is power!!!!!!!!! Read a damn book! I do the same thing as you, referring people to books, that is.
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Permalink Reply by Wonderlust on -
why would people read when they can google perfectly true information or watch the movie? Yes, I am being facetious. Having never furthered my education past HS, it is amazing that people with degreess have NEVER read a book from cover to cover... this saddens me.
I love to read, but lately my mind will not allow me to complete a book... i have at least 7 started...
However, What are some suggestions for good books.. . it would be great to start a reference page for different paths.
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Permalink Reply by Wonderlust on
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what a great site!!!
But that means you have to send the book back.... I cant do that really... I wont even go to the library unless to research. If I want a book to read cover to cover.... i have to own it and it is very hard for me to let them go. Unless the book really sucks, then it goes in a donation pile.
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Permalink Reply by Andriel on
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lol, I was also taught that you never write in a book, but I will anyway...there are always notes in the margins, and my sister knows that when I borrow one of hers if I can add pertinent information than I will scribble it in somewhere. Thank fully she likes that I do that, but then again I wouldnt do it to anyone's books unless I Knew that it would be ok.
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Permalink Reply by Cat High on -
I so know what you mean here, I have suggested books to friends and knowing they can't afford them told them to come over and check out my spiritual library ........ very seldom does anyone take me up on my offer.
By the way, I happen to be dyslexic (a rather mild case though) and reading from printed books for more than 20 minutes gives me a headache and the letters start to jump around .... but I love research and learning so much that I deal with it. I just have had to decide what books are important enough to put me through the discomfort. At one time I had some rose colored transparencies that I used to place over the text and that helped some. I wish I had a computer as a kid, I might have done better in school. As it was, my mom read everything to me, book reports, history textbooks etc. all the way till I was 16. Then in my 20's I found that I could read from my computer screen without any ill effects, so I try to find PDF files of books. Also my computer can read text to me, so sometimes I use that feature.
Blessings Cat =^o^=
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Permalink Reply by Andriel on
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see! that's exactly what I mean, you have a valid reason to avoid reading some things or to attempt to get the information some other way and yet you still read! The way I see it this just proves that those who refuse to read and expect others to do all the work for them are just lazy and dont really care.
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Permalink Reply by Crimson on -
not that i took the time to read all the replies but i just had to toss a few of my mental pennies in the pool.
i am a bookworm and i am dyslexic the same is true of not only my mother but my daughter.
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Permalink Reply by Witchmagick on -
Kudo's to all of you w/dyslexia and are doing the reading thing!! While the topic got off topic for a smidgen there a few pages back, I'm happy to report that the creed in this household is: "Books are our friends!" lol My 2 yr. old & 9 month old have an extensive library to choose from when they are able to read by themselves. We were burned out of our apt. in June 07, and I lost many of my favorite books due to water & smoke damage, but I was able to save all my "witchy" reading material, thankfully.
And I frequent our local library, which isn't all that big, at least once a week, I'm a fast reader.
I do find sometimes though, that even though I've read a book that has been recommended, I am sometimes left feeling even more lost. I am assuming here that you are referring to Craft learning materials. Unless the person truly doesn't want to take the time to read up on the subject they are questioning, then I do have to say that sometimes asking for the answer or opinion of another is truly a feasible possibility.
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