I read the article in question. It was actually quite good. His discussion was an analogy, and a very good one at that.

Are people just not educated enough anymore to recognize metaphors, analogies, irony, etc.? Or has the internet created an echo chamber where anyone and everyone is a victim persecuted by someone, and therefore, always in constant state of outrage waiting to be riled up by the next big Facebook or Twitter social campaign?

So often it seems that people are just looking for something to get outraged about, just as you describe.

I agree about the article in question, though. It's worth the read.

Use their scary magical powers to get back at the author? Oh, that's right, they don't exist.

TlalocW

Self-identified witches do exist. They are really interesting people, too.

And more power to them as the ones I know tend to me pretty environmental, do-no-harm types.

However, none of them have magical powers.

TlalocW

and apologize.

I've hexed you. Your crops will wither, and your cattle die.

TlalocW

And since I have neither crops nor cattle, you should be particularly afraid.

Just yankin yer chain.

That anything you do to someone,good or bad, comes back to you 3X more intensely.

The author's own karma will deal with her.

I think she makes a valid case without animosity or malice.

.... is a myth. Like witches.

Pagans.... the ones this time with a chip on their shoulder who are refusing to even read the article comprehensively. Just knee jerk reactions and unjustified butt hurt.

Next they'll accuse someone of being a misogynist!

Religion is ridiculous.

niceness coming back. You could insert the word tolerance, graciousness, civility or anything else in there. You could also insert meanness, intolerance, rudeness and incivility.

Have you met anyone who defines themselves as a witch? They are actually real and not at all mythical. There are actually quite a few who participate in this site and are well respected.

This isn't just about pagans. It's about all kinds of people who don't read articles comprehensively and respond in a knee jerk fashion, or make assumptions about others based on preconceived notions and lack of understanding.

And that can happen whether the person is a theist, a page or an atheist.

Prejudice is ridiculous.

...involves the actions of your past lives. (Hinduism)

And more informally, something to do with fate and it being effected by one's actions.... but there is a sorta "cosmic justice" implied.

Then there's the definition you talk about which is very informal indeed. But I think most people who use the term seriously go with one of the 1st two definitions.


Its vitality usually stems from remembering the "hits"... where someone gets what they deserve, good or bad, by what are more than not random occurrences.... and forgetting the "misses"...which number far greater than the hits.

If not, I am going to go on a new crusade about the word delusional.

So you can reject the religiously based definition and still accept the more commonly used one…. or not.

I'm pretty sure that one's action do lead to outcomes and sometimes I think one might experience it as justice.

I have parking karma. I think it is because I am super nice behind the wheel. My patience and kindness towards others often assists me in finding unbelievably good parking spaces in very surprising places.

If you want to reject it completely, that's certainly ok. But others find it useful and it may even lead to better behavior.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

I repeat:

"Its vitality usually stems from remembering the "hits"... where someone gets what they deserve, good or bad, by what are more than not random occurrences.... and forgetting the "misses"...which number far greater than the hits."

My superior pattern recognition skills have led me to conclude that it's a fact.

Now, if I start to tell you about my history of playing craps, you will definitely have a case.

And I do think that you can "pay it forward". I do think that good, nice, thoughtful people are much more likely to receive that kind of treatment in return.

And not very nice people are likely to receive that kind of treatment in turn as well.

YMMV.

Surely you don't mean you and all your friends?



And you've always been so pleasant and sincere.

other than that you make an excellent point.

Word mean what cbayer decides they mean.

Last edited Tue Nov 11, 2014, 06:46 PM - Edit history (1)

I wonder who has the key and how one obtains training to operate it.

I do see what the protesters are upset about, though. The reaction could have been avoided by the insertion of three words:

"Witches, like terrorists, 'are perceived to' threaten....."

I thought you were of a Native American religion. I know that "pagan" was used to describe Native Americans by those that churches that tried to kill them off, but I always felt that paganism was a different animal (ha--see what I did there?) from the Native American religions.

Sorry for my misunderstanding. Hopefully I didn't make any ignorant comments about your religion previously when I thought you were of the animism religions rather than a pagan.

are pagan religions. We have a lot in common with neo-pagan and wiccan groups that are essentially shamanic.

You seem to have missed the final paragraph of the post you're responding to.

Added: Read Zitkala-Sa's (Gertrude Bonnin's) classic essay, "Why I Am a Pagan."

I'm sure they'd lend you a key.

and some of your colleagues have been enraged the whole time.

Got a spare key?

You know them - the people who are waiting for something to be upset about.

Agree that he could have worded it better, but I think his intent was clear and the response was a bit OTT.

It's like some original series Star Trek monster. The only way it's able to survive as a publication is to absorb the hate and anger of its readers. The best way to deal with an issue of Time is a hypospray of Dr. McCoy's happy juice.

I'm not sure they purposefully did that in this case, but I agree that they do it frequently.