What was your worst experience with in our own Pagan community?

Just wonder if anyone cares to share (if you have any) your worst experience with in our own Pagan community?

I have, in the past had two bad experiences, the worst being this past summer.

It all started with an online yahoo group. The groups description was... “For solitary practitioners of a wiccan/pagan religion who are not necessarily seeking to belong to a group, but want to be able to exchange ideas, ideologies, friendships, or information with other solitaries.” As I started to mention on another discussion…I was a member of this said group. I was seeing nothing but daily chit chat so I thought I would bring up a topic and ask a general question to see how others on the group felt. After all I was staying within the topic that the group was created for in the first place.
I asked “Due to a recent discussion with some friends, I thought this would be a great topic What do you feel is advanced Wicca? Such as a Wicca 301 course?” At first people were replying and everything was great then I was bombarded as if I had an evil motive, which I didn’t and even explained myself to them. I was simply asking a question to get a “wiccan topic” conversation started and the next thing I know I was being called a liar, thief, troll …etc. After days of this going on I broke down and said one thing that I shouldn’t have and even gave a half-assed apology and of course I was attacked for that as well. One of the members, sought me out on the web and found one of my groups and witchvox account, which was fine but then she reported back to the group with lies and had everything bad to say about me and the path I chose. There were even other members on the group cheering her on. The next thing I know I have new members on my online group who were posting childish comments on my pictures and everything else. The whole ordeal was pathetic and unbelievable. I was never pushed and attacked as bad as I was on that group.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 24, 2009 at 11:28am: Wow I’m sorry to hear that, Its bad enough when someone torments you emotionally but to put your personal life, business, or career in jeopardy is down right evil and malicious. You did the right thing as far as getting the police involved.
People who tend to put others down for self gratification and righteousness tend to be known to others for who they really are with time.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LadyHawk on January 24, 2009 at 11:15am: I am so sorry Lilly, I had to learn a few lessons about covens and those who run them, but I have never been treated like this...Trust your instincts to be your guide...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 24, 2009 at 11:43am: Many seek the solitary life due to these types of issues. It's a shame.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 24, 2009 at 11:37am: Aw thanks, I have dealt with little issues with my study group in the past and have been involved with plenty of other groups that are in towns around me and never dealt with anything this bad (which is not as bad as what others may have dealt with). It is only online that "I" have found such cowards who hide behind their computers are the ones who tend to be the problem.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pandora'sCasket on January 24, 2009 at 11:58am: I believe the truth about that group was no one really knew what they were talking about and didn't really follow the wiccan path, they were dabbling and when you addressed them with a topic they had no idea what to say, so they attacked you. I too am looking for a coven and find those who don't have a clue or are not even in reality about the wiccan way...or not in my reality.lol

Often times when your being attacked it's because people see a power in you that scares them, and when your pointed out in a crowd there is someone among you who needs your help, and its how they find you, or at least that's how it works for me.Hang in there.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 24, 2009 at 1:26pm: Believe or not, there were many seasoned (years) practitioners on the group. It was a group with over 1000 members. I know that many of them also took the time to study their path due to some of the previous posts they had over the years, which was why I had no problem asking the question it did. I felt that I would- without a doubt get a variety of replies from newbie’s and elders alike.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by AlanHeartsong on January 24, 2009 at 3:29pm: Believe or not, there were many seasoned (years) practitioners on the group.

It's totally believable. In some situations, those folks are the worst because they spent so many years getting to a point where they can consider themselves some kind of "elder" that they think that gives them the right to belittle and abuse others. Happily that's not always the case, but the folks who won't do that usually aren't very vocal online.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Arachneh on January 24, 2009 at 4:09pm: but the folks who won't do that usually aren't very vocal online.

Or online at all. We're still in the minority, I think , Alan. :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by AlanHeartsong on January 24, 2009 at 5:08pm: LOL, I think you're right luv. Well, you and I together can be a vocal minority in the Cause for Non-Stupidity among the Trad folks :)

EDIT: Wait, even better. Let's form the LADDI - League Against Dastardly Doodyheaded Idiots; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by KaliSara on January 24, 2009 at 5:38pm: I believe this. That's why I'm a little uncomfortable with the practice of enfolding (where a new person to a group is accepted at a higher level) even though I was enfolded into my own coven group. I just don't see how a person that may have been known for a few days of actual time can be given that kind of authority/influence in a group. Yeah, the intuition/feel around the person can say a lot, but some people hide their nastiness because they don't even realize how nasty they can be, kwim?

Oh, well, so far it has worked for the group, so...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 24, 2009 at 2:39pm: Lol nope I’m in PA.
I just want everyone to know.. I wasn’t looking for any type of sympathy but thanks it does mean a lot. This is why I love PS. For what I have encountered here everyone has been kind and thoughtful. For the most part overall, other then a few wand raising moments on this site everyone eventually chills out and moves on to the next topic.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eaglewoman on January 24, 2009 at 2:03pm: I am so sorry this happened to you. Sounds like a horrible experience.

This experience happened online not offline? I was reading your post and at first I thought it was a real life, face to face group you were describing so I just wanted to clarify it.

I think alot of these experiences happen online because it is easy to act like that online. It is harder to act like a jack ass when you are looking into someone's eyes and there is a possibility of legal intervention. Don't take anything online too seriously. I know, harder done than said. Although I did hear of a case where someone actually sued another person for some malicious acts that were done online. I don't know the details. So remember that when you interact with people online.

Thank you and blessed be!; ▶ Reply to This