These last few pages... oy vey.
My take: I have a strong personal interest in 'the occult', and though I dislike the designation (to say the least) I would ultimately fall into YPDH's 'spiritual person' category. I'm also very much a skeptic and very acutely aware of the fact that the general public sees this area of interest as 'eccentric' at 'mumbo jumbo' at worst. I can live with that.
I don't generally bring these things up (unless prompted) in company that isn't similarly predisposed. On the very rare occasions I do, I fully expect people to snigger, shake their head, do the Twilight Zone music or whatever. I certainly wouldn't take offence if somebody attempted to confront me on any outlandsh assertions I might make.
I've had sleep paralysis several times, and no matter how many dusty grimoires I might have read, or Sisters of Mercy records I might have listened to, my opinion is it's just that - sleep paralysis; it's a widely-recognised and researched phenomenon. Putting forward any alternative hypothesis, whether that's 'spirits' or whatever, naturally invites criticism and scrutiny. End of.
if you're going to stick your head above the parapet belief-wise, don't complain when people start hurling stones, in a nutshell.
Right, I'm off to make a burnt offering to the Great Old Ones. Brb.
It's just another communications medium. There is a culture of cuntishness because the web has up till recently been the domain of young(ish) men pulling their wire. It's gone mainstream now though, there are ladies present!
