Comments on: Troublemakers? Or Just Misunderstood? http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:51:57 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Minxee http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html/comment-page-1#comment-2262 Minxee Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:30:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html#comment-2262 Crazyjane13 – you’re right in your comment re: the way the article was written. It was poor and sensationalist – like most Sunday paper articles written abt pagans 10+yrs ago. And back then, we thought it was 'good' press because it wasn’t totally negative, now, we have higher expectations given that we (pagans as a whole in Australia at least) have generally been dealing with higher quality journos over that time period. The imporvement of their output can be directly linked to organisations like the Pagan Awareness Network and the educational and media work that they've done over the last 12yrs. <br/><br/>The tongue in cheek manner in which Elder portrays pagans & witches is one of the main reasons I now personally steer clear of the media, regardless of their intent. <br/><br/>His reliance on gossip mongering, which one would assume is of little interest to mainstream media, seems rather ridiculous especially when presented with decent interviewees who had interesting views on Beltaine to share. <br/><br/>Sinton, after meeting him some years ago, seems to be a nice enough guy and a decent enough businessman (ie able to serve customer orders with speed and a pleasant manner), but reveal to him that you’re pagan or ask about pagan material which he clearly stocks in his store, and he’ll happily ignore you or be extremely rude to you, even if you’re willing to inject $$ into his business. Strange fellow indeed, although, his manner is not unlike the rude bookstore owner in Blackbooks. <br/><br/>Just don’t mention that you’re pagan…or perhaps worse still in his mind, Wiccan. Crazyjane13 – you’re right in your comment re: the way the article was written. It was poor and sensationalist – like most Sunday paper articles written abt pagans 10+yrs ago. And back then, we thought it was 'good' press because it wasn’t totally negative, now, we have higher expectations given that we (pagans as a whole in Australia at least) have generally been dealing with higher quality journos over that time period. The imporvement of their output can be directly linked to organisations like the Pagan Awareness Network and the educational and media work that they've done over the last 12yrs.

The tongue in cheek manner in which Elder portrays pagans & witches is one of the main reasons I now personally steer clear of the media, regardless of their intent.

His reliance on gossip mongering, which one would assume is of little interest to mainstream media, seems rather ridiculous especially when presented with decent interviewees who had interesting views on Beltaine to share.

Sinton, after meeting him some years ago, seems to be a nice enough guy and a decent enough businessman (ie able to serve customer orders with speed and a pleasant manner), but reveal to him that you’re pagan or ask about pagan material which he clearly stocks in his store, and he’ll happily ignore you or be extremely rude to you, even if you’re willing to inject $$ into his business. Strange fellow indeed, although, his manner is not unlike the rude bookstore owner in Blackbooks.

Just don’t mention that you’re pagan…or perhaps worse still in his mind, Wiccan.

]]> By: crazyjane13 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html/comment-page-1#comment-2261 crazyjane13 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:42:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html#comment-2261 The article on Beltaine in Victoria was very poorly written, not to mention inaccurate. The "high profile witch" is someone with a huge grudge who has never hesitated to use the media to air her personal vendettas, and what happened last year at Mt Franklin was badly reported.<br/><br/>The journalist had access to a number of good interviewees who were either quoted out of context or not at all. Instead, he chose to go with an anonymous gossip and someone who isn't even a Pagan and only wants to be associated with us when there's media coverage in it.<br/><br/>The journalist has turned up on one of the Yahoo egroups, Witches Workshop, and attempted to defend himself. The article on Beltaine in Victoria was very poorly written, not to mention inaccurate. The “high profile witch” is someone with a huge grudge who has never hesitated to use the media to air her personal vendettas, and what happened last year at Mt Franklin was badly reported.

The journalist had access to a number of good interviewees who were either quoted out of context or not at all. Instead, he chose to go with an anonymous gossip and someone who isn’t even a Pagan and only wants to be associated with us when there’s media coverage in it.

The journalist has turned up on one of the Yahoo egroups, Witches Workshop, and attempted to defend himself.

]]> By: Minxee http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html/comment-page-1#comment-2260 Minxee Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:30:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html#comment-2260 You're entirely right there Pitch abt your comment on public spaces. a group here in Sydney Australia has been using public space to host monthly full moon rituals for nearly 12yrs without much trouble at all, from anyone. <br/><br/>Yes, pagans are members of the public too! You’re entirely right there Pitch abt your comment on public spaces. a group here in Sydney Australia has been using public space to host monthly full moon rituals for nearly 12yrs without much trouble at all, from anyone.

Yes, pagans are members of the public too!

]]> By: Pitch313 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html/comment-page-1#comment-2258 Pitch313 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:49:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html#comment-2258 I'm looking at these two reports in a different way--Who is entitled to use public spaces? <br/><br/>The obvious answer--members of the public. But the applied answer seems to be--whoever can cause enough disruption to prevent others from using the public space. <br/><br/>Maybe the time of large Pagan events that are "open to the public" and held in public spaces is coming to an end. Maybe these sorts of events will have to shift to closed or by invitation only venues. <br/><br/>Disruptions can still happen at closed venues, of course. But it might be a little more easy to sort out the invited party goers from the uninvited party crashers. <br/><br/>Taking a different slant, large gatherings do generate social dynamics all on their own. I’m looking at these two reports in a different way–Who is entitled to use public spaces?

The obvious answer–members of the public. But the applied answer seems to be–whoever can cause enough disruption to prevent others from using the public space.

Maybe the time of large Pagan events that are “open to the public” and held in public spaces is coming to an end. Maybe these sorts of events will have to shift to closed or by invitation only venues.

Disruptions can still happen at closed venues, of course. But it might be a little more easy to sort out the invited party goers from the uninvited party crashers.

Taking a different slant, large gatherings do generate social dynamics all on their own.

]]> By: Anonymous http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html/comment-page-1#comment-2256 Anonymous Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:29:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/10/troublemakers-or-just-misunderstood.html#comment-2256 From all reports of those I know who were there last year and who suffered at hands of said troublemakers, these 'trolls' are not just a bunch of misunderstood kids. They are violent troublemakers with various AVO's out against them.<br/><br/>These problems with these folk are longstanding and until now, have mostly stayed out of the mainstream media. It's a shame that a high-profile anonymous witch -(what's the point of being high profile AND anon?) decides to air dirty laundy in a national sunday newspaper.<br/><br/>Disgusting really. From all reports of those I know who were there last year and who suffered at hands of said troublemakers, these ‘trolls’ are not just a bunch of misunderstood kids. They are violent troublemakers with various AVO’s out against them.

These problems with these folk are longstanding and until now, have mostly stayed out of the mainstream media. It’s a shame that a high-profile anonymous witch -(what’s the point of being high profile AND anon?) decides to air dirty laundy in a national sunday newspaper.

Disgusting really.

]]>