Featured Website Review
http://www.geocities.com/pagan_bullies/index.htm
The creator of Pagan Bullies has collated an excellent resource for those isolated or wounded by the Pagan community. Its well-researched content is nonetheless easy to read, understand and provides a lot of food for thought.
The author channelled the hurt of personal experience into researching the problem of bullying, then providing this website for others who might suffer the same fate. A positive and courageous outcome for an extremely negative experience.
'Ironically it was the knowledge that she is turning her sights on other people that really set me off to start writing for this site - I'm tough, and not easily intimidated, but they might not be.'
From My Story - an account of the author's personal experiences
A powerful introduction is followed by a summary of the author's research, definitions of bullying tactics, then pages providing more detail about: Gossip and Slander, Characteristics of Bullies, Accomplices of Bullies, How They Pick Their Victims, False Accusations, Action to Take, The Role of the Community, and a Book of Shadows (which concentrates on protective or confidence building magical aids), before finishing with the author's own story, examples of Pagan bullying and other definitions/resources.
This web-site is worth visiting not only if you feel personally that you have been bullied within the Community, but also if you are a part of it. It provides a lot of information about what to look out for, and that is invaluable if you would rather not unwittingly become an accomplice. As a leader within the Pagan Community, it is also a fine resource to help protect the weaker members of your coven or Moot.
This includes the cyberworld, as is so vividly illustrated in the page on Characteristics of Bullies, and could be usefully read by anyone who belongs to an on-line Pagan Community.
As one who spent most of her school-life being bullied and who has experienced (attempted *grin*) on-line bullying too, I personally applaud the unnamed author of this site for its creation.
Reviewer: Mab