How to Deal with the Uninformed Politely

In Regard to the Average and Uninformed Persons and How to Deal

         Those of us in the occult community are faced with a wall of ingorance everyday. Sometimes this can get ugly and it's possible to be confused how to deal with confrontations that hit directly on your very personal belifes and pracitices with grace and dignity. Hopefully, as time goes on and with experince, we get good at this and develop our witty retorts to an artform; but sometimes we need a little help ... thus is the birth of this page. I will list some guidelines to dealing with the ignoratant masses in grace, style, and above all, with as little rudeness as possible.

       One of the most common problems arises when pentacles and other occult symbols are spotted on clothing, jewlery, and other accessories. One of the easiest ways to deal with comments such as "that's the devil's star" and the like are to pretend to be ignorant of it or simply say that you don't care, you like the design. These two methods are most useful to those who are not out of broom closet. Another method is to simply correct them and tell them that, no it is not the "devil's star" is a symbol used very often as a symbol of protection or a promentent Wiccan symbol. If you so chose and think the offending party is honestly listening then you may explain to them exactly what it means and etc. Sometimes you will get a comment as easy to answer as "that's the symbol of Satanism" .... which is the inverted pentacle, and can also be expalined. However, when you reply do not get overly defensive (no matter how nasty the person who said it to you was) and try to remain calm no matter what they say to you. It's simple, the more put together and logical you look and sound the more likely they are to listen to you. Also, the more calm you are about it the less likely they will be to say anything again, your very confidence could shatter their convictions.
       There is also the matter of (ecspecially Christian) friends and relatives trying to take you to religious services or "save you." One would hope that once you have explained your belifes and that you are not "evil" that they would leave you be; however sometimes this just isn't the case. A simple answer is "no thank you, I'm not interested" or even "I'm sorry, while I appreciate your concern I'll have to refuse your invitation to worship; and it would be nice if you respected my desicion." In all fairness either of these replies should be sufficient. In the case of Jehova's Witnesses and other belifes that wish to save you and "born again" faiths a simple "I've already been evangelicalised" does wonders; but for many of us is a lie. Sometimes when in this situation simply explaining your belifes, or stating that you are hurt/annoyed by repeatedly being asked to attend worship may work; but more often than not it only makes them more convinced they are doing the right thing by asking. Unfortuntely, the only thing to do in this situation is to polietly refuse each time or go with them to worship once and simply tell them that you went and have done what they asked, now would they please let the subject drop. You can rest assured though that you were the poliet on and that their repeated efforts to save you were at the height of rudeness.
        Often when people discover you're a witch or magician, what have you, then they begin to ask various questions. It's always poliet to answer honestly. Sometimes though you may not feel comfortable answering questions or the questions asked are way out of line. In the cases of someone very young, or younger than you (such as children or friends who are very young) then a simple reprmand along the lines of "that's not a very nice question" may work. With elders, bosses, or the like though when touchy questions come up it's always easy to say "I don't feel comfortable answering that" or change the subject. Often though the two previously mentioned responses invoke suspision. A good way to deal with questions you'd rather not answer is to say "I'm not sure" or be honest and tell them you don't feel comfortable talking to them about it but reccomened some good books and websites. I would reccomened though that you answer all questions to the best of your ability. One reason is because this lessens suspicion that you are doing "evil" and the like. Another good reason to answer people's questions (and honestly, not with "yes, I worship the devil" for shock value) is so that they get correct information. Realise that what you say and their experince with you will carry over to the next person they meet who is a witch or Wiccan or magician or whatever; it's not all about you. Answers like "I eat babies" and the like are only hurting our reputations and if they were inclined to believe such things then they will forever hold this opinion with the uptmost conviction that "they were right about..." and hold your "confession" as proof.
        However you deal with these people, keep in mind that what you do reflects on everyone in the occult community. To be honest it's not cute or funny to scare someone into thinking that Wiccans worship the devil or harm children. These sterotypes already exist and do cause problems for many people; you have absolutely no business encouraging them. Deal with the uninformed people with grace and be poliet. Refere them to books, websites, and other people who are good resources if you do not feel up to it. Please keep these things in mind; incidently this will get a lot further than playing into their fears anyway.