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| Author: Posted: Sep. 8, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 7,125,026 |
Question of the Week: 87 - 12/1/2002 The Pagan Web 2002... Your likes? Dislikes? No other spiritual paths have embraced the web as dramatically, quickly and extensively as the Pagan communities [Link] have done. So here we are some 8 years later... What do you look for in a Pagan Web site? What brings you back? What are you tired of? What is missing? Do you believe that the noise to signal ratio is out of whack? Too much chatter? Too Little? What changes have you observed? What trends have you noticed? What do you see for the future of the Pagan web? NOTE: Mean spirited attacks against specific Pagan Web sites will be promptly removed. |
| Reponses: There are 50 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| Man, We've Got It Easy | Dec 4th. at 4:43:19 pm EST |
| Brian (Mission Viejo, California) | Age: 42 - Email |
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The first thing that strikes me about the Pagan Web is the easy access to information. How many of us would even be on the Pagan path if it weren't for the Web? I know I wouldn't. Information (yes, most of it is of the Wicca 101 nature, but still) that you would have had to acquire by first finding yourself a Witch (difficult enough in bygone decades) and then persuading hir to teach you, is now freely available on your desktop. Years of learning condenses to weeks. I suppose the old-guard Pagans do have reason to be envious, and a little afraid that something handed down in a traditional manner to "properly prepared" initiates is now free for the taking. And the enthusiasm of newbies who haven't yet discovered the darker nature of the Gods they've come to love can't help but come across as fluffiness. Well, if they stay on the path long enough they'll develop the balance they need eventually; my advice is to give them time. But as for the Craft being spoiled by the ease of learning in the 21st century, who's to say this isn't the Goddess' work? Just because it was an exclusive club prior to the 1990's, does this mean it was meant to stay that way forever? I don't think so. The Pagan web is like everything else in the online world: you learn to separate the good from the bad, use what you can and discard the rest, ideally making a contribution yourself in the process. Maybe that's as it should be. |
| Gratitude | Dec 4th. at 5:16:01 pm EST |
| Airmid (Wyoming) | Age: 28 - Email |
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First and foremost, I am thankful that there is so much information readily available to seeking pagans, today. Back in my day (tee hee) it was often difficult to find a bookstore with so much as Buckland or Cunningham. Granted, there are a lot of sites that provide information that I find sloppy and/or disagreeable. I might point out, however, that most of us have been sloppy and/or disagreeable at some place along our pagan path. In most instances, I find it valuable to look for knowledge in all the sites I happen upon. Even those who have only read three books my have precisely the lesson we need... even if the only lesson is to humbly read more books. The only mistake I can't tolerate is plagiarism. I think we have a responsibility to call the site creator to task wherever we see it. Don't surf on by; take two minutes and politely point it out. Younger pagans, especially, may not know better unless someone older and wiser is willing to instruct. I enjoy original graphics. I have found much wisdom in the plainest of sites. I've even enjoyed sites that haven't been updated since 1998. As a web designer, I echo the wish that searchers interact more often. Like something? Tell them. Don't? Tell them that, too. I think that too many people take without giving. Especially if you want a site to continue, provide some input. I truly believe that most non-commerce sites are a huge labor of love and should be respected as such. |
| Spells | Dec 4th. at 10:40:57 pm EST |
| Moonlight Morgan (Canada) | Age: 19 - Email - Web |
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I'm sick of seeing pages of spells. First of all, I don't mind listing some to help those who are new to making spells, but most spells should be of your own creation. Even more importantly, are sites like the one I went to today, which had spells like "how to make a man love you" (exact words) and "revenge." Even if you are not Wiccan and/or do not follow the Wiccan rede, I would think that not doing spells like that should be a part of common sense, but I guess not. |
| Goddess Bless The Pagans! | Dec 4th. at 11:45:57 pm EST |
| Faiedra (united states) | Age: 18 - Email |
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i see that pagan webs are getting more and more popular and i like that because that means that paganism and wicca alike are becoming more recognized as well. i check out a lot of the pagan sites out there and i enjoy all of them. i hope to make my own wiccan website on day. blessed be! |
| Gotta Love Witchvox | Dec 5th. at 2:58:45 pm EST |
| bookhenge (New Mexico) | Age: 20 - Email |
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As a Pagan who doesn't follow a particular path, I have yet to find a single website that meets my needs, and that's fine. I know how to do websearches for what I need. I love Witchvox because mainly because of its "front page" features: the articles, news stories, and survey questions like this one. I also appreciate the local search feature, although living in New Mexico (Goddess, I miss Florida), I don't have much of an opportunity to network. This is the only Pagan website I visit on a regular basis, and that's because of its commitment to excellence and originality. The only complaint I have for the website is a technical one; on the news articles, the comments always go from newest to oldest, which is really irritating when you have to go forward and to the bottom of the page to find the posts that everyone else is responding to. I think it would be much more user-friendly to have the posts run from oldest to newest. Happy Holidays Bookhenge Ed. Note: Thank You Bookhenge for your kind comments about TWV. Good News!!! Two weeks ago we a added 'reverse sort' LINK as an option on All the news comments pages (and on question of the week responses as well)... Check it out at the top of comments on the right. Thanks for helping us to make this happen. Fritz Jung (Webcrafter TWV) |
| Goooooo, Witchvox! | Dec 5th. at 9:38:50 pm EST |
| Mailei (USA-West Coast) | Age: 22 - Email |
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I love Witchvox.com. I started my search for pagan info around 1997. Since then I've done meta searches on every pagan related word I could come up with. I have researched magick, witchcraft, wicca, religious philosophy, origins of christianity, occult, etc. A lot of sites had good solid information, others have been lacking in the common sense department. I rarely book mark pagan related sites, preferring to glean what factual information I can from each, then move on. Witchvox is the only pagan related site I visit on a regular basis. I read the daily news headlines, the front page articles, and the adult essays. I also make good use of the local pagan links to shops, adult groups, and individual pagans. |
| Pagan Websites | Dec 6th. at 10:21:42 am EST |
| Acacia Moonfyre (Holts Summit, MO) | Age: 25 - Email |
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Truthfully, I am a little bored with what is out there now as far as information on Wicca and paganism. Akin to the books out there, it appears that one person made a factual website and had a million clones who added spells and stores that offered the same overpriced junk. For newbies, these websites can offer vital information, but it is often contradictory. Most websites state that one should follow the Rede, yet offer spells on revenge, "dark magick", and otherwise breaking the Rede. This, I am sure, thoroughly confuses the newcomer. As a High Priestess and practicioner for 10 years, I find the websites highly lacking and actually offensive. They probably have good intentions, however seem to only debase and destroy the true meaning of Wicca - to honor the earth, the God and Goddess, and to honor one another. I personally rarely ever cast spells anymore, since spells are there when all other options to solve a problem have been exhausted. Of course, looking at these websites today, they seem to promote spells as a game and Wicca itself as dress-up time so that people can play witch. The only website I view as having merit is Witches' Voice. The involvement with the community that this website has is astounding and commendable. I thoroughly enjoy this website and think that, once someone has found it, they need not search for another. There isn't a better website for honest, truthful Wicca out there. So, my likes: Websites that are involved with the community, that offer honest interpretations of Wicca, and that support pagans all over the world. My dislikes: Clone websites cluttering up the web that offer hypocrisy instead of truth ("Harm none...here, cast this binding spell.") and offer no new, advanced, or otherwise purposeful information....Okay, I think my rant has passed. Blessed be everyone! Acacia Moonfyre |
| I Love Witchvox Too | Dec 6th. at 11:06:55 am EST |
| MoonOwl (Egypt Lake, USA) | Age: 39 - Email |
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This is the only pagan website that I go to everyday. I've surfed others and always come back to this one. I enjoy all the features here. I feel Wren, Fritz and staff have made an intelligent website. Witchvox is full of information and resources and Witchvox doesn't try to sell me anything or leave pop-ups on my computer. What more could a girl ask for? Keep up the excellent work y'all. Hope Ruby is getting better!!! MoonOwl |
| So Informative | Dec 6th. at 12:37:08 pm EST |
| Sagesse Abiona (Ontario, Canada) | Age: 27 - Email - Web |
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I would say that other then the site that belongs to the tradition that I'm studying, yours is the one that I frequent the most often. I love it that you have so many articles from so many differnt people. I love seeing everyone's thoughts on different issues. I like the diversity. Sagesse Abiona |
| Pagan Websites | Dec 6th. at 4:06:47 pm EST |
| LightSpirit (NS, Canada) | Age: 41 - Email |
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I would prefer to see sites that deal in ancient life, rites and practises that can be factually supported. I find that most new-age wiccan/pagan sites offer little to do with ancient paganism or it's practises. They all seem to have turned these ancient practises into faddish "Do as thou will but harm none" sites. Most of these sites are repetitious copies of every other pagan site and offer their boring sections on the wiccan rede, spells, correspondences, and all the other monotonous dogmatic hooplah that has infiltrated a way of life that is supposed to be based on ancient practises. Most of these do-gooder sites run and hide from the darker aspects of paganism and denounce them, pretending they didn't exist, or perhaps they really don't think that pagans practised sacrifice. While it is always good to promote positive moral values, we need to be a bit realistic about what ancient pagans did and not constantly deny it with statements like "real pagans/witches wouldn't harm anything", wake up, a lot of them would. There is a dark side to every path... I like sites that are not afraid to embrace that aspect... not promote it, but not deny it either. Most pagan sites are too wishy washy and simply don't live in the real world. Most are more concerned about being popular than they are about being accurate. It seems pagan sites are trying too hard to be all sparkly clean. It's no wonder we get walked over and our rights trampled. And all these spells... it's no wonder people think pagans are nutcases, get back to reality. These sites would do better to teach how to live in the world and be successful through hard work rather than teaching how to wave a stick with a crystal in it around and wish real hard and you just may get it. All these sites talk about living in the world and being one with nature but very few teach how. Instead they teach fantasy and lead people to believe their dreams can be realized by lighting the right color candle. I think any real pagan would have a good laugh over that. |
| Thank You For Existing! | Dec 6th. at 11:20:00 pm EST |
| Ann Schremp (New Jersey) | Age: 56 - Email |
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Most recently I have been devouring the Kerr Cuhulain articles. I found out about his latest book at Witchvox. I look to this site for ibalanced information that bridges many traditions and for links to other Pagans (such as K.Cuhulkain) and for links to merchants. I find all this and more. It is always an adventure to come to Witchvox. Thanks again and Blessed Yule to all Ann |
| More Real People | Dec 7th. at 12:53:35 pm EST |
| Ailsidhe (Central Texas) | Age: 25 - Email |
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Witchvox is great about bring the community together and often highlights some of them. What I'd like to hear is more about Pagan Lifestyle, how Pagans bring their spirituality into their mundane lives. Specifically, some interviews with prominent Pagan figures, asking them about their every day lives. Not snooping of course... just a gentle peek into the real world of Pagan people. I'd like to see how Pagans get involved in their community as well. I think this would be a great asset to WitchVox. |
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