Why are people so hateful?

[Lauralu]

I don't think I can stand it anymore!! "sigh" I am a VERY

[Old Witch]

A very what hon? Whats wrong??

[Lauralu]

Oh geez I'm sorry. i hit the enter button before I could finish my little letter thingy here. Ooopps! Anyway, as I was saying, I am a VERY new newbie and I love the path I have chosen very much, even if I still have alot of learning to do. But what I can't understand is why so many people out there hate pagans and such just because we're different from them. i know that people "fear what they can't understand", but why? What makes another person hate just because? do they feel inferior and therefore feel they have to put others down to justify their own actions? Or are they just spiteful? I have a friend...the only one who believes the way I do, and she is NOT mainstream. But she's beautiful, insightful, a bit sarcastic, but very smart. She skipped a grade, even. But people call her a lesbian vampire or something like that because she distances herself. and then they ask her for her homework. I hate that!! Slandering wonderful people for no reason except that they aren't what "society" wants them to be. Does anybody else ever feel like screaming at the world??? Just yell out and tell them to stop hating and start accepting. We're not all that different. We're all human beings, not monsters or vampires or whatever. "sigh"

[Semele]

I am sorry you have experienced this, but just remember that not everyone in the world feels that way. You have stumbled upon a wonderful, large community of folks who respect each other. The members here are as different and varied as the mainstream world, yet we manage to treat each other with respect, (most of the time);)

Also, keep in mind...it doesn't matter what others think in the long run. Someones opinion of my path isn't going to change the way I practice and I am definately not going to be thinking of their negativity long enough to let if affect me. Just try to let it roll off and focus on the things that make you happy. Hang in there!

[Old Witch]

We're a tolerant bunch here...........so welcome and come around whenever you're feeling like this..........you surely will be listened to and taken seriously. There's a whole lot of knowledge in these pages..........

[Myst]

Originally posted by Lauralu
i know that people "fear what they can't understand", but why? What makes another person hate just because? do they feel inferior and therefore feel they have to put others down to justify their own actions? Or are they just spiteful

It's human nature to handle fear or sadness by getting defensive. It's like ok I might be in danger here, claws come out, rawr!

It's unfortunate that you've been through this, but I guess all you can do is hold your head high and try to realize those who *do* fear don't know you or your friend, and thus, their opinions obviously aren't based on anything! Obviously they're just ignorant of what's great about you and your friend. So do they really matter?

All that's important is what you know about yourself.

[Dalia]

Well, I guess people here have said it all, LOL! I agree, other people's opinions should not matter to you, what is important is what you think of yourself. Ive been on a similar situation. I am very different from people where I live so some people just judge me without even knowing me! That bothers me but I dont let it bother me too much. I just ignore them, if they dont like me, then they lose! I know what I am worth so that is the only thing that matters to me. So, just relax and remember that what you do here you pay it here! Maybe their son or daughter will have the same problem you do and they will realize how wrong they are! Just hang on! Relax, dont give them more importance than what they diserve!!
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((lauralu)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[CoolJ]

argh, yeah,frankly, i find that YOU CANNOT be nice in thsi society or everyone else takes advantage of you... on school ppl called me nasty names and threw paper at me... then they asked me for pens,... maybe even my HW to copy like ur friend... alright, just because i'm smarter, better looking, and more behaved than them doesn't mean they have to do that, ... ppl just take advantage of my good nature, i tell ya, if i dind't hate wanton violence so munc i'd hammer that idiot right there

i'm sorry ur experiencing such things.. .i do to... when i sometiems say I'm pagan in a website (... dunno why but some1 just outta the blue asked whateveryone's religion was) and I said "wiccan" ... everyone called me a "god damn devil worshipper" and to get away... :mad:

i hate this crap, it really pisses me off, yeah, a majority of the world really pisses me off , i'm just glad I can find peace here :)

a lot of times i see those sorry excuses for human beings, I always think, and I know, that I am waaay above their primitive aggressive ideals...

[Phoenix Blue]

Quoth CoolJ:
argh, yeah,frankly, i find that YOU CANNOT be nice in thsi society or everyone else takes advantage of you...
That's sometimes true, but in my experience, most people outgrow that by the time they're out of high school.

[Myst]

Originally posted by Phoenix_Blue
That's sometimes true, but in my experience, most people outgrow that by the time they're out of high school.

Yeah. Thank God. :)

[Azure]

I agree. There is a difference between being nice and being a door mat as well.

There are many cool, tolerant, aware people in this society- unfortunatley, it's the bigoted, stupid minorities that often yell the loudest.

I ran into people like that when I was in high school. Most of them have sad little lives now, and I'm glad I'm me. . .

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Hang in there kid! The truth is kids are cruel. As in the previous post, most outgrow that stage (but not all). And sad to say but it's something that everyone has had to deal with at some point in time. And if they haven't dealt with it yet....take heart....they WILL have to deal with it. Not just the relgious difference, but folks have backs turned on them because of race, income, profession, even things such as the kind of car they drive, the kind of house they live in, or the kind of clothes they wear. So, you and your friend keep smilin' while your treadin' water and when it gets too much to bear, reach out to one another. Of course we'll always be here to lend an ear.
Keep your chin up!

[Naillosotarrain]

Unfortunately hate and fear are a part of human nature. People fear what they cannot understand, and instinctively learn to hate it in order to cope with their fear of it. I myself have learned to ignore/blend in with these kind of people, because it isn't worth the effort to get into an arguement with them, or even worse a fight. Just do as I have done and learn to live life one day at at a time; forget about yeserday, don't worry about tomorrow, and only focus on what is happening in the present here and now.

[Chibi-Fallon]

I was talking about this after my play stuff today. A buddy of mine (we'll call him Gram, because that's his name :D ) was saying how humans have been "breeding" in meanness and all that crap because it was needed a million years ago. Then someone else came up behind me and told me it wasn't worth debating because he "isn't one of us". ;) I think it's a rather odd idea (but he's a rather odd person) but I guess it makes some sense.
That and I am now offically one of the drama kids. :cool: Jer gave me a good-bye kiss (that's how you know you're in 8O ).

[SimplyStrange]

Hatefulness does suck. But it's everyone. It hurts just as bad when a Pagan is prejudiced against a Christian as it does the other way around. But it's unavoidable. It's human nature to be critical, and we all can be sometimes :)

If there's anything I've learned, it's that it's pretty much best to just let it slide and push it aside as someone else having their own opinion, regardless of how 'wrong' I may think it is. After all, I really don't think anything I say or do is going to really change their mind. And why should they have to change their mind because I said so? It'll get figured out in time. The most important thing is that you're true to yourself, because you can never go wrong. I think as long as you know in your heart that the path you've chosen is best for you, you're going to be allright, and respect other peoples' chosen paths. :)

I think respecting each others' paths is just something everyone has to learn to do. It'll get better, and it has been :) But I really don't criticism will ever entirely go away. It's human nature. Can you imagine a world without it???

[PeleRising]

Sometimes… when things get rough… and you don’t have any choice but to ride it out… what I will do… is pretend that I am in this huge bubble. One that surrounds me… but that ppl cant get through. Only I can chose what I allow into my “bubble”. It is very quiet and calm in there… and I can focus and drown out the negativity… deep breaths help too… Anything to allow me to focus on something other than the troublesome thing in my environment. I have found that i can handle almost anything if i can remain calm...
Just remember they are the ones with the problem... you and your friend just need to support each other... and dont forget... your friends at MW are here for you as well!!!

[Twig]

I have a saying

"Hate is the ultimate expression of Fear"

For people (as a whole) are scared of/dislike what they don't understand. While others may challenge this theory, that is not the intent. My intention is to shed possible light on the solution to the problem.

You have chosen a path that by it's very nature invokes fear and hatred because of the stigma the christian religion has infused to "the left hand path" ever since The Inquisition.

"How DARE you choose a path that is not ours!".

Get used to it. If it is any consolation, people will mellow their attitude when you get ~20 years older. Then they just think you're weird! ;)

Peace,
Twig
:ghost:

[SpikesPet5150]

Wow, I really know what you're going through. The thing I've noticed is, if you just smile at these people and treat them with amazing respect, they usually change their minds. They realize that you're not evil and you're not out to get them. And believe me, I know how hard it is to smile when you want to cry or scream or smack them. The only person I ever lost my cool with was a guy at Arby's... he was incredibly rude and mean to me, and he was working the counter and I was a paying customer! I couldn't take it anymore, I smiled really evily and said, "Ya know, it's probably not the best idea to piss off a witch." and I walked out. I've never gone back. The manager was standing not 2 feet away from this kid, and she didn't stop him from berating me. Jerks. But I don't suggest you do that.. because by saying that, I fed into their fears and judgement.

Welcome to the family.. if ya ever need to talk, we'll always be here. We've got some amazing people here.. they've really helped me out alot.
~Bree