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 25, 2009 at 11:05am: I feel she was the troll, It is hard to tell what point someone is trying to get acrossed when online, you can't see facial expressions or tones in ones voice. Someone giving their view point could be received differently by others thus causing a fight when what should have been done was trying to clarifying what was being said.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Karina on January 24, 2009 at 11:05pm: I have not had a bad experience in the Pagan community where I live (although there have been many times where I just want to knock an idiot out, open up their mind and re-connect a few wires..get what I mean?).

BUT I have seen war after war after war on online groups. Many feel that it is their way or the highway and are just downright rude and mean to others. I usually am not in the middle of them because I let others do the pointless bitching...but occasionally I couldn't handle the stupidity any longer.

ah well. tra la la la...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 25, 2009 at 11:07am: (although there have been many times where I just want to knock an idiot out, open up their mind and re-connect a few wires..get what I mean?).

LOL; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by PamWiccan on January 25, 2009 at 7:20am: I have had only one bad experience and it is when someone called me a Stupid Witch. I usually do not take offense to such but it did piss me off. LOL, Many blessings to you!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 25, 2009 at 11:06am: A stupid witch... I don't think I'd like that either; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fantumofthewinds on January 25, 2009 at 9:49am: I would haft to say my business. I had long contemplated opening a metaphysical store , as we have none in this area, thus I did and was in business for almost 3 years . now are town is small and their is a chruch on ever connor it seems. One day while in the evening I got a phone call, I no not who the mans voice was on the other end. I was told that I was a devil and I was sending their youth to hell. I was told that I had better watch my back. well I took this as a threat, I dident wish to put my customers or my practioners in danger , so I closed my dream . I now keep a very low key , and my only communication is here on the net. BB Fantumofthewinds; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 25, 2009 at 10:55am: That's awful. Did you ever get the local police involved?
It is reasons such as this that still go on today that keep people in the broon closet.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by James "TwoSnakes" Stovall on January 25, 2009 at 9:54am: My local "group" has had battles and fights for years. The moderator of the local yahoo group shoots down anything and anyone, and there are now people joining the list who we know to have been expelled from other groups for causing strife.

Worse yet, they are asking me to step in any try to change things.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 25, 2009 at 10:57am: Ever think if just starting a new group? Allowing only those who are not causing the strife?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spiralle on January 25, 2009 at 11:48am: Unfortunately bullying is very common in paganism. Please check out my website at http://www.geocities.com/pagan_bullies/ for more information, and suggestions as to what to do about bullying.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lilly on January 25, 2009 at 6:33pm: Thanks for the link....
Bullies are most likely to pick on intelligent, competent people with an ability to cooperate with others. The bully considers their capability a threat, and decides to cut them down.
From what I know of with some witch wars and experienced myself this has been the case.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lea on January 25, 2009 at 5:19pm: Being told that I was nothing because I chose to create my own path from many rather than adhering to some strict regime. How judgmental ~!~!; ▶ Reply to This