Hey, I just found my Witch name!!!

[WiccanWade]

Originally Posted by Baud

I have - fortunately - never met this Corbin as far as I know. I am always amazed how people would spend time to write down lenghty messages for the sole purpose of hurting others (and his message(s) most probably took a long timez to write).

Reading his messages, I cannot help wondering if the guy is not just a simple troll. I have difficulty imagining any sane person writing phrases like: "I am an Initiated and Elevated priest of the Wiccan Gods (...) I have bound myself by oath twice over now to Serve Them, (...) I am obligated by karmic vows from this lifetime and lifetimes in the past (...) I am thrice-born from the Cauldron of Annwn". I think there is a possibility that this is just a guy who knows something about Wicca and just indulges in a trolling (creating havoc for the fun of it). Obviously no excuse for it, though.

Ditto!

Originally Posted by Baud

I second the advice of the ones who advised to study carefully a deity and the related religion before worshipping it, but it seems that you already did that, Wade, so this is OK.

And, I wouldn't have it any other way, either.

Originally Posted by Baud

In any case, there is very few information available about Celtic deities, primarily because of their unwritten culture. Not only are gods much more than "just X", in the case of the Celtic pantheon (if there ever was such thing), I doubt that anyone could actually pinpoint the "X".

Exactly! After all, unlike most other pantheons, the Celtic deities were far more complete within Thenselves, rather than a Love God or a War Goddess, et al (as in Greek or Roman culture, for instance).

[WiccanWade]

Originally Posted by bgruagach

I expect this person really does believe what they are saying. Unfortunately, there will always be people, in almost every community, who will get swelled heads by what they think is their "special authority" to look down their noses at everyone else and act like they are the bosses of everything.

Oh, and such behavior just REALLY bothers me! Especially when they view it as their Divinely ordained right/authority, etc... *heavy sigh*

Originally Posted by bgruagach

People like Corbin might very well speak for their own particular tradition... I don't know what his tradition is, whether it has a formal hierarchy, and where he actually is in that hierarchy. Thankfully, within Wicca we don't have a central authority or even a central scripture to tell us all What Is and What Will Be for all Wiccans and all traditions. Corbin can't speak with authority outside his particular tradition... he has as much authority as any other Wiccan of any other degree level, initiated or not, unless he can prove his position has some validity, and can actually convince those he is speaking with that he is right. And I think it's pretty clear he's not convincing many people by talking down to others the way he does.

Well...no one certainly dispuited him, unfortunately. However, I have, actually, ran across a Gardnerian whom presummed to tell me what was, and was not, correct of me to meantion about anothers Trad. or to say to someone else about whatever else. *sigh*

Originally Posted by bgruagach

The problem with getting up on a pedestal is that you've much farther to fall than those of us who are standing on the nice solid ground. If Corbin hasn't discovered that yet, I'm sure the Goddess will smack him upside the head with a frozen fish (which She is wont to do when heads get swelled) and he'll have to learn pretty quickly or else he'll get Her divine fish-wallop again, and next time it might not be an itty-bitty goldfish She uses.

Unfortunately, due to his clearly sanctumonious behavior, he would doubt you and debate you till his last breath. Poor fellow...

[beltainelady]

[quote=WiccanWade]Oh my goodness!!! I just cannot believe what someone actually said to me, on an E-Group, siply for posting an Egyptian Temple Meditation that I had channelled while in a very light trace (via what I call "infused knowledge"). It was just awefiul!!! Why would someone say these things (I'll post my meditation in a seperate thread)- it was absolutely scathing, and ruthless!:

{and then an entire post written by someone else}

Uhh...Wade? While I'm sure you're angry and hurt at what they said, I do not think that violating copyright (as I understand it, reposting a person's words without their permission is a violation) is the right way to go about it. It seems...well, frankly, immature and vicious.

And what good does it do, anyway? You've not changed the original posters position, you've just brought ugliness from elsewhere and deposited it here. To what end? Does it change how you believe? Does it make you feel better at what they said? I doubt it.

I'm really curious as to why you felt the need to share this interlude with these people, people who had nothing to do with the original conversation from which these words were copied. It seems to me that it's less an exercise in showing your true understanding of the Morrighan, and more a cry for attention. Why? You're having a perfectly lovely conversation here - why create a hurtful situation where none existed?

For the record, I will say that I know Corbin, both online and off. He is usually slow to anger and even slower to flame, generally a rather even-tempered and wise fellow whose words have inspired and taught many. Seems you caught him on a VERY BAD DAY.

I'm sure you don't know about his feelings of contrition, embarrassment and remorse for such an outburst. But, I can tell you that spreading those words around do nothing for you...nor will you succeed in slandering someone many people look up to and respect.

*shrug* I never did understand the need to take an occurance from one place and spread it to others. Seems pretty pointless to me...

Respectfully yours,

Jax, just another Alexandrian chicka

[bgruagach]

Originally Posted by beltainelady

Uhh...Wade? While I'm sure you're angry and hurt at what they said, I do not think that violating copyright (as I understand it, reposting a person's words without their permission is a violation) is the right way to go about it. It seems...well, frankly, immature and vicious.

Hi Beltainelady, and as another participant here I'd like to welcome you to the board.

I personally thought that this particular thread was quite useful and brought up a number of excellent points regarding people being judgemental in our community. While we should all probably not use specific people who are not present as examples (at least, unless they are "public figures" like published authors or the leaders of established and public traditions) it's understandable that Wade would want to talk to us here about something he personally experienced, since we are friends here and talk about all sorts of things.

When it comes to communication with people who are not public figures, and even if they are public figures, it would be advisable like you suggest to refrain from posting their words without permission. Or if a sample was posted, it would be best to just give the direct link to where this was said on the web so that anyone who was interested could go to the source and read it directly themselves.

As you know this Corbin person personally, perhaps you might invite him to join the community here and join in the discussion? Corbin could then clear his reputation if this was indeed a rare instance of "having a bad day" and allowing it to spill over onto others.

We all make mistakes -- Corbin, Wade, me, you, everyone -- and I would hope that we could all be mature and participate in honest discussion about the issues instead of allowing our egos to feel bruised and turn things into "witch wars" or something else as petty. If Corbin does choose to join us here to participate, I would hope that everyone sees this as an opportunity to learn from each other and not see it as an ambush or any sort of ego game.

Personally, I think that the Wiccan and larger Pagan community does have a serious problem with "witchier than thou" and "holier than thou" attitudes, with the "High Priest/ess Disease," which makes people who are presenting themselves as elders, teachers, and leaders very difficult to accept as spiritual role models or even as peers who are worthy of respect.

[WiccanWade]

Originally Posted by beltainelady

Uhh...Wade? While I'm sure you're angry and hurt at what they said, I do not think that violating copyright (as I understand it, reposting a person's words without their permission is a violation) is the right way to go about it. It seems...well, frankly, immature and vicious.

Call it karmic balance. I have had others infrindge upon my copyrights, too, however...it was far more defamatory, in that they changed the the subject header, after cross posting it to I-don't-know how many Groups, with "Oh the Idiocy" and then left off with a link to come join their defamatory Group about me. As far as I know, I did no monatary damage to this person, have not crippled him financially, or any business he may own, to speak of (although, if I did- being as that I don't know him from Adam, I would apologize).

Originally Posted by beltainelady

He is usually slow to anger and even slower to flame, generally a rather even-tempered and wise fellow whose words have inspired and taught many. Seems you caught him on a VERY BAD DAY.

I know that you're trying to be fair, however, that is absolutely no excuse for such repulsive behavior (on his part).

Originally Posted by beltainelady

I'm sure you don't know about his feelings of contrition, embarrassment and remorse for such an outburst. But, I can tell you that spreading those words around do nothing for you...nor will you succeed in slandering someone many people look up to and respect.

Respect is something earned; and if he was so embarrassed, and sorry for his actions, why has he not apologized? Even privately, I would have accepted an apology. But, none was issued forth.

Originally Posted by beltainelady

*shrug* I never did understand the need to take an occurance from one place and spread it to others. Seems pretty pointless to me...

I look at it as "venting".

In servce of The Goddess,
Wade MacMorrighan

[I, Brian]

Copyright

On the issue of copyright - to my mind, reprinting material from one source to another without permission is a violation of distribution rights - which in itself is often tied directly to copyright. However, it should be noted that messages on messageboards of most kinds have freely given up their distribution rights - even copyright - and is often explicitly stated so in the Terms of Use of such boards. I know MSN certainly have one in force, though I believe the Yahoo TOU was watered down after protests. Essentially, these places are protecting themselves legally from claims of illegally distributing copyrighted material.

I'm not a copyright lawyer so I may be completely wrong on the issue. This is merely my perception of the issue. Any specific discussion of this subject itself should really be taken to the General Chat board for discussion, though.


Other boards

There is an immediate situation developing here - essentially, old flame wars from other communities are threatening to ignite here.

So I'll make a clear position for all:

disagreements from other boards stay on those boards.

I'm aware that there are a number of people now present from other communities, who may or may not feel slighted by comments on those other communities. However, those are not issues that will be discussed here.

Certainly there is room to discuss general issues of attitude towards those within and without certain circles of faith.

However, specifics dealing with other online communities should now be kept within those other online communities.

I have no intention of allowing the comparative-religion.com forum to get dragged into an inter-community flame war.

To coin a cliche, the buck stops here.

Apologies to those who wished only to make well intentioned observances - the subject matter of attitudes within any sphere of belief is still open for discussion, but this individual thread itself must be closed.