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Passive Pagans

I'm somewhat annoyed. Maybe I am just encountering this trend more, but there seems to be a lot of 'passive paganism' going around at the moment.

Let me describe my definition here.

These are the people who complain. And complain. They sign up to internet forums or join regular local groups or gatherings. They watch other people talking or posting. They rarely have much to contribute. And then they go away from the site/group complaining that "they talked too much about this topic" and "they never do anything I'm interested in".

Perhaps I should point out that following a witchy/pagan path does not make people mind readers.

It should be noted that most of the time these complainers don't say anything to the site owners or the group organisers. Surely, if you'd like more of something or less of another thing, actually SAYING that would be your first step...?

If there's no topic of interest to you on a message board - start a topic!
If there's no mention of something you're into at a gathering - speak up and mention it!

Bitching and complaining about things in that way only builds resentment.

Some people in the community go out of their way to organise websites and gatherings where people can meet and exchange ideas, and it seems that whilst these 'complainers' are happy to moan, they very rarely do anything about it themselves.
Be active, not passive. Even if you can't help someone with their website, you might know someone who can. Even if you can't host a gathering, you might know a good local pub who'd be happy to help.
We should be thriving on sharing ideas and information and encouraging interaction, not stabbing each other in the back with a poisoned athame...

This, of course, cuts (ooh, bad pun) both ways. If you are an organiser and someone offers a topic that's either not right or not viable, tell them! They may have other ideas which would be just right, but again you have to ask.

Otherwise we're reverting to the playground, with covert whispering campaigns and "you're not my friend anymore" cliques.

So, here's the key: you might not have control about what everyone else is posting or saying. But you have control of yourself.
And if you don't ask, then don't complain when you don't get.

Starless
~*~

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