Anyone Practice Voodoo? (Or other forms of "witchcraft"?)

[swilow]

Every time you say something to a university philosophy student, they break it down...
Yes, they say, but what does "break it down" mean... really? Isn't everything subjective?
And I roll my fucking eyes.

No, sorry, that has literally nothing to do with my statement.

I felt that you were claiming to be something of an authority on 'darkness' because of your limited experience with it and by questioning my apparent fondness for it, so I mentioned my own ticklings by its gloomy fingers which you dismissed because we were discussing "dark ritualistic stuff". I took that to mean that you were defining darkness in a way that was unfamiliar to me. Hence my statement which you sort of pissed on.

As I said, I'd appreciate it if you gave me some space.
That doesn't mean that you're trying to upset me.
You are upsetting me, accidentally. And I'm letting you know.

Too bad. I'm not trying to upset you. This is just a discussion. I talk to you no more then I talk to anyone here, and in fact, I generally just say what I'm thinking, not always in relation to what someone else has said.

Dark religious practices, including vodun, lead someone I loved to jump out of a window.
I've seen animals tortured and slaughtered for their blood.
I've seen people fucking covered with blood.
I've seen children dancing in blood.

That, IMO, is dark.

Look, I am sorry you have experienced that, truly and I understand that this must be an emotional topic for you. Perhaps it is a topic that you should steer clear of if it makes you upset.

I'm still going to express my opinion though okay?

I absolutely agree that those experiences are dark, in the same way that any violent act is dark. I don't think of it as having any other mystical darkness though, any greater resonance then any other comparable violent act. Therefore, I don't distinguish between what you are describing and the violence I have received and perpetrated in my own life. I'm not saying that you are saying that, but I feel you are weighting these acts differently because of their spiritual significance. So we have different notions of darkness, provoing ever university student ever right.

Since you have no first-hand observations, your opinions are Google generated are your perspective is even more limited than my own.

Their not even google-generated, I pretty much have no opinion. I just found your language to be oddly emotive and so I responded.

I also was attempting, I suppose, to discredit voodoo as serious subject matter.
Just because I made a joke thread about trans-racialism, doesn't mean you should call me the boy who cried wolf.

A boy crying wolf would say that you realise?

That was one thread. It doesn't invalidate the rest of my posts / opinions. Nor does the post about voodoo dolls.

It shouldn't, that much I will say.

Peace

ps. FWIW, if I was you I too would pick this apart, but I am me so I do what you would do to me to you.

 

[ForEverAfter]

I'm tired of these weird petty circular discussions.
I don't know where to begin and I'm sick of arguing, endlessly.

I've got to spend less time on this forum.
Multiple page long discussions about what constitutes darkness isn't my cup of tea.
I didn't want to get into a lengthy discussion.

I asked you for some space, but - you're right - it's a public forum.
There are half a dozen people on P&S that ruin it for me.
So, I'm just going to add you to my ignore list.
That goes for you, too, Foreigner.

You can say whatever you like.
I'm not going to see it.
Problem solved.



edit: Apparently I can't ignore administrators.
Oh, well. I don't encounter him/her much anyway.

 

[Ninae]

"Darkness doesn't have to be dark".

I think it can be a bit dangerous to tell people in general they can trust witchcraft-type movements. Even if nothing bad happened to you it doesn't mean it won't to someone else. It's hard for someone to know what they're getting into, as they can present themselves as practicing white magic or a beautiful form of pantheism, and even if they don't it can be impossible to know what the limits to "dark" is. I don't even want to share some of the horrible things I've heard some people go through but I would be very wary of trusting anyone.

Just use common sense. Don't get involved with a coven of strangers, etc. If you don't have anything spectacular to offer it's likely you're just going to get used in some way (not a selfless kind of thing).

 

[swilow]

It sort of defies the whole purpose of the ignore function when you tell people. I dunno, it just seems like an attempt to be hurtful.
Foreverafter you should have a break. This is a discussion forum but you don't seem to want discussion so i can't see what benefit u derive or add to the forum. I like your posts but you are taking this too personally. Either way only u lose out with your head in the sand.

As ever, peace.

 

[Foreigner]

I'm tired of these weird petty circular discussions.
I don't know where to begin and I'm sick of arguing, endlessly.

I've got to spend less time on this forum.
Multiple page long discussions about what constitutes darkness isn't my cup of tea.
I didn't want to get into a lengthy discussion.

I asked you for some space, but - you're right - it's a public forum.
There are half a dozen people on P&S that ruin it for me.
So, I'm just going to add you to my ignore list.
That goes for you, too, Foreigner.

You can say whatever you like.
I'm not going to see it.
Problem solved.



edit: Apparently I can't ignore administrators.
Oh, well. I don't encounter him/her much anyway.

I'm sorry that you were so offended?

It's not hard to grasp that Vodun has a left hand path and a right hand path, much like other faiths.

Too bad you feel I ruin it for you. Maybe next time don't make sweeping generalizations.

Ta.

 

[ForEverAfter]

Maybe next time don't be condescending and tell me repeatedly that I'm ignorant because we don't share the same opinion, especially when I've said that I'm recovering from a serious trauma and it is a sensitive subject... I may have been wrong, in the way I phrased certain things, but that doesn't justify someone in your position insulting someone who is (perhaps misguidedly) quite upset...

You could have engaged me without resorting to name-calling...

I don't think I made the sweeping generalizations about voodoo that you perceived... At least I didn't intend to.. If I did, it was accidental, hence my repeated attempts to clarify my position... If you quote shit out of context, I'm sure you can construct a different reality, to suit your perspective... Like when you implied, heavily, that I described the religion as "evil".

I think it is dark and I've clarified that I meant dark, relative to other religions.
(Although, since everything is relative, I don't see why I need to clarify that.)
That statement, that voodoo is dark, doesn't imply that the religion is evil.
Nick Cave is dark. That doesn't mean that he's evil.

Too bad you feel I ruin it for you.

You're not one of the half dozen people I was referring to...
I haven't encountered you much on this website.

I'm just tired of having the same arguments with the same people.
That is not to say that willow doesn't have valid contributions to this forum.
My need to dispose of the bath water, however, outweighs the value of the baby.

 

[ForEverAfter]

I can see when people on my ignore list post something, and chose to reveal the post.
I assumed that your comment was aimed at me, willow, so I read it.

It sort of defies the whole purpose of the ignore function when you tell people.

No, it doesn't.
I'm telling you, so you don't direct comments at me in the future.
You can do so, of course, but you will be talking to nobody.
I'm telling you as a courtesy.

Foreverafter you should have a break.

I don't need to take a break.
I'm tired of the few people on this forum that ruin it for me, so I'm just going to systematically remove them.
I haven't committed to a long term relationship with you and I'm not obliged to read your posts.
Yes, this is a public forum, but the ignore function allows me to be selective.
There is nothing wrong with social selectivity.
I am not required to pay you any attention.

This is a discussion forum but you don't seem to want discussion so i can't see what benefit u derive or add to the forum.

Nonsense. I've been involved in many discussions on this forum.

I am interested in discussion, generally.
That doesn't mean I can't chose who I have discussions with.

I like your posts but you are taking this too personally.

I have psychological problems and functionality issues.
I'm in recovery from drugs and from trauma.
I told you to give me some space.
I, simply, cannot deal with you.
I'm not saying that is ideal.
It is a limitation.
But, it is what it is.

Either way only u lose out with your head in the sand.

My head isn't in the sand.
Please don't direct any more comments towards me.
I'm not going to reveal any more of your posts, so you will be talking to nobody.

 

[swilow]

^Yeah right, you won't be able to resist . Its offensive that you say that I and others are ruining the forum, because all I have done is disagree with your statements. If you are unwilling to back them up, don't make them in the first place. If people question you on a philosophy discussion forum and it bothers you, then you are in the wrong place.

Do remember- when you reveal publicly that you are putting people on ignore, it is clear you are only attempting public humiliation of that person and not actually making proper use of the function. I find that pretty horrible, because it works. I think you should reflect on who is doing what to whom here. I am disagreeing with you, not trying to publicly ridicule you.

Good luck my friend

 

[ForEverAfter]

I told you as a courtesy. If you find it humiliating that a grown adult that you don't know needs to use an ignore function, because he can't psychologically handle engaging with certain people, that's up to you. I find it rather embarrassing, from a personal perspective, that it has come to this. I am not doing it out of spite. I am doing it out of necessity...

This is one of the frustrating things I find, when talking to you.
You're not listening to me. You think you have me all worked out

Its offensive that you say that I and others are ruining the forum, because all I have done is disagree with your statements..

I said that certain people are ruining it, for me. I'm just being honest. Sorry.
I don't enjoy my time on this website, because of my interactions with a few people.
So, I can either not post on Bluelight or I can ignore the people who are ruining the experience.
The choice is obvious, as far as I'm concerned.

Do remember- when you reveal publicly that you are putting people on ignore, it is clear you are only attempting public humiliation of that person and not actually making proper use of the function.

No, it isn't.
I feel like it's ruder to put you on ignore without telling you, because then you might talk to me and think I'm ignoring you.
Now you know that, if I ignore you, it is because I cannot see your posts.

I think you should reflect on who is doing what to whom here.

There's nothing to reflect on, and I have better things to do.
I'm sorry that you find it really upsetting that I don't want to talk to you anymore.
That's just something you're going to have to process. I'm fine with it.

I am disagreeing with you, not trying to publicly ridicule you.

Yes, you're disagreeing with me.
But you're not doing so in a way that engages me...
For whatever reason, I don't find our discussions satisfying.
So, I'm not going to continue them.

Enough courtesy.
I will not respond to another read.
The temptation to read what you have to say is not as great as you might think.
Since blocking rickolasnice, I haven't clicked on a single one of his messages and I feel better as a result.

Good luck my friend

You too.

Sincerely,
FEA

 

[Mysterie]

You guys could write a comedy together about two people discussing how little they wish to discuss with each other

 

[Ninae]

This is one of the frustrating things I find, when talking to you.
You're not listening to me. You think you have me all worked out

This is one of the things you have to deal with on a message board.

People see things through their own perspective and if you try to argue it too aggressively it usually leads to getting banned (happens on a regular basis).

 

[ForEverAfter]

This is one of the things you have to deal with on a message board.

No, I really don't...

I have a tendency to get "locked in" to discussions that I'd rather avoid.
It's an ego issue. If someone criticizes me, I feel like I must defend myself.
Often this just goes on and on, and on, and on, and on, and on.
It often bores me to tears, too, but I feel compelled to continue.
The ignore function makes it easier to avoid these situations.

 

[Ninae]

But maybe your sensitivity levels are getting a bit high if you can't tolerate people you don't know from a safe distance?

 

[ForEverAfter]

This is not an endurance test. It's not kindergarten, either.
I don't have to get along with everyone to prove some point.
I am wasting my time with a lot of these P&S discussions.
They all seem to degenerate into semantic squabbles.
I don't want to contribute to that anymore.
Maybe my sensitivity levels are high.
But, maybe that's a good thing.

I don't see the point in neglecting my feelings.

I've seen you waste a lot of your time, too.
I've seen you get upset... and get trapped.
If you think you have to keep going, that's up to you.
Personally, I've spent enough time beating my head against a wall.
And, no matter what you say, you're not going to convince me otherwise.

 

[swilow]

You guys could write a comedy together about two people discussing how little they wish to discuss with each other

:D I am actually more then happy to continue discussing things with him but I've offended him somehow (or maybe just annoyed him).

I guess it is a side-effect of internet forums, that the really distinct seperation between individuals creates an instant two-sided relationship, and all the other normal social tools we use to signal submission/forgiveness/agreement aren't available, so we might approach things in a combative manner and perceive others as doing so. The debates here are way less heated or controversial then ones I have face to face with friends, but online things feel so much more personal; perhaps because they totally and utterly are, a difference to 'real' life. Behind the username, there is ONLY me. I don't want to hurt anyones feelings or upset them, and in real life, face-to-face, I don't think requesting or disputing a defintion of a word would truly do that. In summary, its kind of fictitious waffle IMO. But I've certainly gotten angry with people online. WTF is the point though really...

I dunno, but without the ability to have that sort of discussion, theres not much point in this.

Sorry for O/T.

 

[Foreigner]

You're not one of the half dozen people I was referring to...
I haven't encountered you much on this website.

I'm just tired of having the same arguments with the same people.
That is not to say that willow doesn't have valid contributions to this forum.
My need to dispose of the bath water, however, outweighs the value of the baby.

I was going to PM you this but it could be a useful reminder for others who might see it.

P&S can be a heated place, but we all need to keep our heads. That said, if you need safe space where people are less combative and you have more license to speak your mind without being critiqued, you might want to try the Recovery Forums. I empathize that you're recovering from a serious trauma, which is why I recommend that.

P&S is only safe insofar as its general guidelines go. Ideas get picked apart here all the time.

 

[ForEverAfter]

Like I said, I'm fine with P&S most of the time.
I'm fine with my ideas being picked apart, too.

I've just consistently had frustrating experiences with certain users, time and time again, over the course of various months, and I don't want to interact with them anymore... I don't need to leave P&S. I'm quite happy using the ignore function.

Thanks for the concern, though.

 

[ForEverAfter]

I've thought about this thread and re-read things that I misinterpreted as attacks, and I've come to the conclusion that I was wrong.
Apologies if I offended you, in any way, willow. I've been having a difficult week. Everybody on my ignore list is hereby re-instated.
I didn't mean to destroy this thread, with self-serving tangential nonsense...

I value your posts, willow. I hope you can forgive this silliness and we can return, unscathed, to civility.
I've been going through some withdrawals and this thread dredged up some long repressed issues.
On a positive note, it has helped me to process some of my issues.

Perhaps voodoo isn't any more dangerous than any other religion.
Perhaps I was being ignorant.

My limited experience may well not be representative of the religion.
If I have a negative experience with someone, no matter how traumatic it nay be, it's not fair to write off their entire race.
I've realized, upon reflection, that this could have happened with any religion.

There is a great deal of animosity towards Christianity on this forum, as I said earlier.
But that doesn't justify my posts promoting animosity towards voodooism.
I kind of realized this, when I first made the statement about Christianity.
But, at the time, I was too upset and stubborn to admit it.

 

[swilow]

^Thanks my friend. I am glad. BTW, clear some PM space, your looking a bit full there I have some timid words of hope, pain and sky for you.

 

[ForEverAfter]

clear some PM space

Done.