Hello, all!
There are a couple of issues that have come to my attention and so it is time, once again, for you to let me know what you think!
Contributions for up-coming show: I recently received an e-mail from a listener who is exploring Wicca. She wanted to know how some of you, Wiccan and otherwise, deal with the stereotypes associated with your religion. What are some ways that you would recommend approaching those who harbor such stereotypes? Any fun stories to share? Gimme what you got! I'd really like to have this episode done before the end of January, so please send your contributions to me by January 25th.
Concerning Comments: You may or may not have noticed the rather strange and wonderful turn that the comments on Episode #9 took. It was my first time handling a flame and I have to say that I'm not entirely sure I did so very well. So, I want your input: Would you rather that I never delete any comments, no matter their content, or that I censor those which make personal attacks on show listeners and participants? I'm trying to find a way to do things so that half of the discussions in the comments don't devolve into hate-filled shouting matches and name calling. At the same time, I want you to feel that you can disagree with the ideas expressed on the show or correct me or a participant if we should make any errors. Please let me know what you think about this!
Advertising: If you'll notice the show notes for Episode #11, TBC's subscription to Libsyn runs out at the end of this month. Though I very much appreciate all of the monetary support that we have received in the past, I wonder if asking for donations is maybe a bit unfair to all of you. I have begun to ponder the possibility of starting up an account with Google AdSense for the site as an alternative way to generate income and keep us on Libsyn. My only concern is the amount of control that I may or may not have over what ads get listed here. I would really rather run advertisements for your businesses in exchange for a $5-10 donation, but I realize that the listening audience may not consist of enough business owners for that to work. So, should I start monetizing with Google Adsense, or leave things alone?
Have an opinion? Make certain your voice is heard! Either leave a comment on this post, or e-mail me: thebroomcloset@hotmail.com
Bright Blessings!
~LitheWolf
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
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9 comments:
Concerning the flames: Degrading comments, ones that are blatently hateful should be deleted in my opinion. They help no one, and only produce more negative comments.
Concerning Episode 11: Amazing episode. May you be healed soon! Don't lose that wonderful voice! Well, I have a question pertaining to personal relationships with deities. I was wondering how you would go about establishing a relationship with a god or goddess. Knowing the cultural/mythological characteristics is obvious, but as you were talking about vision quests, meditation, etc, how else could you really begin to connect with the divine?
Looking forward to your next episode!
Brightest blessings on this new year,
Lisette
Lisette: Meditation, prayer, and what some people call "vision quests" are three basic ways to get in touch with dieties or specific spirits and become familiar with them. Rituals that are designed to help open up and facilitate communication with a specific deity can be performed. Some people also perform rituals that honor a deity as part of getting to know them (such as pouring libations, burning incense, or leaving some other kind of offering for that deity). Many of the possible techniques that one could use to become better acquainted with a deity involve personal gnosis--that is knowledge which you and only you have gained, usually through a profound religious experience or an epiphany of some kind. Usually meditation, prayer, and "vision quests" render this sort of information more than other methods. For instance, if you meditated on a specific deity, you might end up wandering into a conversation with them. The way they behave, what they look like, their personality, and what they say to you while you have this experience is all information that you will have gained by personal gnosis. As I mentioned in Episode #11, personal gnosis can be a very good thing. These are the experiences which give you a more personal understanding of and a closer relationship with a deity. But I would warn you not to get too carried away. I try to temper any such experiences with a mythology "reality check." That is, I try to make certain that what I have experienced generally lines up with what is already known about that diety. It is a healthy thing to acknowledge when you have probably had a dream or ended up accidentally talking to yourself.
Thank you for your input!
Concerning Comments: I believe what it comes down to is your purpose for this podcast. You have made it clear that you wish to start something that A) provides a community to those in the Broom Closet and B) creates a conversation about issues important to those living in the Broom Closet. This is the vision I think that your policy should stay true to. So, it would be perfectly appropriate for posts containing nothing but personal attacks against your listeners would be deleted, for that destroys community and does not promote a healthy discussion. Dissenting ideas, of course, should be left, for they do promote a discussion. There may be times when their ideas are not given in the most complimentary light to you or Wicca. Leave them, as long as they are not personal against any of your listeners. Their own words will speak for them. In the end, it will come down to how much we, your listeners, trust you. Personally, I believe you handled yourself well and you have gained my trust, as a listener. *tips hat*
Advertising: You need money to stay on the air. This is something that happens to everyone. Don't feel bad about addressing this need. I think it would be nice if the ad content related to Wicca, but if it's the difference between your podcast disappearing into the nethervoid of the interweb, and you taking on a few non-related ads, then please, take the ads.
Thank you for creating an excellent show. You give me food for thought I would not otherwise get.
With regards to the comments, I think you did the right thing. Offensive ones should be deleted because not only are they not constructive, they are destructive. The more pagans read such comments the more likely they are to become intolerant of such people, as you mentioned in your second show. You need to be tough with these people and show them that being rude will not get them the attention they want. Perhaps a warning on your site would be helpful (apologies if you already have one I hadn't noticed), so that if you do need to delete posts they are less likely come back at you with 'I thought you could handle free-speech?' comments; you would simply be following through on your own rules and warnings.
I personally would prefer you asked your listeners for help with fees than put ads on your site. As soon as I get my student loan through, I plan to make a donation myself! However if you need to put ads up then so be it. As someone suggested, maybe you could have pagan-related ads like they do on covenspace. They may not all be trustworthy ones (eg. 'Discovered: 2000 Year Old Spells For Love, Wealth, and Protection! Only $297!') but I think your listeners are intelligent enough to ignore them.
As for pagan stereotypes, I personally think the best way to address them is to identify them and try to do the opposite. For example, to combat the fluffy-bunny stereotype, you need lots of study and to be able to defend your religious position logically. Listening to your applogetics show would really help! When I think of wiccan stereotypes there are two I think of: the first is those who are vague about their faith when questioned, leading people to think it's a bit of harmless fun or a phase. Either that or they are ignorant and need to be 'saved'. So being learned in your path and articulate would help. I think some Wiccans are far too defensive and try to play down their faith to make it more understandable and accessible to others. We need to be more assertive and lay our cards on the table, and not accept the way others see it. I understand it is difficult though, as this leaves us more open to attack. It's a vicious circle, we want stay in the closet to protect ourselves but this leads people to think there are less of us out there than there really are, leaving other pagans who may not be our best spokespersons to do the talking.
The second stereotype I think of is the way we appear and dress. When I was younger, to my shame I thought that looking like a hippy (or some choose the goth route), was the best way be true to my faith whilst still in the closet! I wanted to feel like I belonged to the pagan community, and dressing like them would help. Whilst I still dress a little like this because I have done since I was a child and it is ingrained in me (!), I now of course know that I am a Wiccan no matter what I look like. I have cut my hair shorter because it looks better that way (it used to be down to my waist), and have developed quite an aversion to tie-dye! I guess I'm happier in my own skin than I used to be.
Apologies if my POV is a bit silly, I always read it back and think I sound really stupid! Keep up the great show, I love listening to it.
Merry part,
Araceli
Araceli: Excellent suggestion about putting up a warning. I noticed that I had the option to put one on the commenting form and have done so now. Should I receive a tidal wave of feedback from listeners saying that comments should be left alone no matter what their content, I will remove the warning.
It disappoints me really.
And I find that 9 times out of 10 the person fanning the flame knows little about Wicca or even paganism in general. They're so close-minded that they feel they will go to Hell if you quietly try to explain or correct their misinformation.
Christians mostly (I've never had a Jew or a Muslim try and convert me, rather, experienced nothing but kindness from both religions) have an entires BOOK that tells them two things about Witches:
1) Exodus 22:18 "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"
2)Exodus 20:13 "Thou shalt not kill"
Ok, so that clearly frustrates me as it is contradictory. Then again, this is what *I* personally dislike: Someone going off on a tangent, hacking and attacking another resource to prove a point. It's not what I wish for others and so it proves a challenge for me to follow the "Harm None" rule - in my Thoughts, Words AND Actions.
Oh dear, I've ranted now. Sorry for taking up so much space!
I love your Podcast Lithewolf and you inspire me so much. Know that you have avid listeners in Australia!
~Mary
Melbourne, Australia
I think you did the right thing by taking it down. I love listening to your podcast. I'm a bit in and a bit out of the closet, so it's great for a person either way! :)
Hi! I was intrigued by the subject of Wiccan stereotypes... I'd agree with Araceli that Wiccans (and Pagans in general) tend to get slapped with the "hippie" or "goth" label. (I occasionally get cracks about renaissance faires and the SCA, too, neither of which are things I have an interest in, but I think as soon as some people hear the word "Wicca," that's the conclusion they draw.)
I much prefer dealing with those kinds of stereotypes than the more insidious ones (they're certainly easier to laugh off!)
But when confronted with those nastier stereotypes (the Satan-worshiping, you'll-burn-in-hell ones) I still find myself using humor. I'll toss out the "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," passage before they get a chance to, then joke that I left my stake and matches at home.
I'm all for apologetics, and I enjoy any opportunity to carry on a reasoned, logical debate with someone or to answer well-meaning questions about my religion, but I have found that some people only wish to condemn. And in those cases, I find it's easier to just laugh a little and walk away.
Can't wait for the next episode!
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