To think this stance is hypocritical?

This.

I think you are taking to the literal extreme. People have opinions. Why would someone else’s opinion of you affect you? They aren’t doing anything - just thinking and having an opinion. You seem very sensitive to other people’s opinions. I personally don’t care.

Agree to disagree but you are choosing to hold some random person’s view as important, when it’s not. You’re giving them power.

My mum is a Wiccan, she doesn’t care what people think of her either.

No, it's quite simple to avoid occultists, if you've identified them as such or they've told you for the most part.

What about a Christian who believes that the occult comes from satan and those who practise it are doing the devil's work? Is that not a valid reason to not tolerate occultists?

I think people misunderstand "magic" because it's had such a Disneyfied approach for so long. Much of it isn't far from meditation or mindfulness and the mastery of one's own will. Even science could be considered magic adjacent - it starts with a thought or curiosity, tools and materials are gathered, exprriments (rituals?) performed to seek an outcome. Everyday stuff can be viewed similarly - steeping herbs or grinding beans and drinking the results to soothe or stimulate....

"Occult" simply means hidden, so we have the frisson of the subversive, completely leveraged by authorities who want conformity.

In current times, any declaration to do harm to an individual or group not harming or recruiting others, is disturbing. It's unecessary power play, and little to do with actual beliefs, and leads to mob mentality, which is when the wheels really come off the bus.

The people caught up in previous witch trials - mostly women considered problematic - but also a number of men - weren't likely practising actual magic - a bit of herbalism and midwifery was enough for genuine persecution. It was a reaction to political unrest needing scapegoats under theocratic regime.

I can empathise fully with the OP feelings especially around the hypocrisy of it all. And especially with the tensions growing all around at the moment.

Of all the groups to take umbrage with, the "occultists" or Pagans or Wiccans or whatever branch of esoterica one chooses are the least in your face or public about it, as a rule (well, apart from in my locale apparently, but that's a whole can of worms encompassing personal undercurrents that I'm just watching with popcorn).

It's really a sad indictment of the world we live in. I'll take ridicule, scoffing and dismissal. I don't take open threats of harm.

I think people who don’t believe in the occult are the crazy ones. Believing in the occult just means you believe there are things affecting the universe that we can’t prove or explain yet. Of course these things exist. These things have always existed. It wasn’t so long ago that we couldn’t prove there were other planets, or even other countries, or things like bacteria and gravitons. But it didn’t stop them existing. The idea that for some reason in 2026 we have already discovered everything that exists is ludicrous.

And your acquaintance is probably just brainwashed about stories about wicked witches. In reality many witches believe in the rule of three. We aren’t just slinging hexes around for fun. We are careful about the energy we put into the world.

oh and for the previous poster - transwomen are women.

There are people who believe that transwomen are women which is an untruth that has definitely been bad for individuals and society but in this case I don't think the OP is pushing her beliefs onto all and sundry to their detriment.

All Abrahamic religions proselytise - their beliefs are protected in the Equality Act 2010 and so is the OP's.

block the person problem solved

No-one is though. They’re judging the thing you’re into. Occultism being stupid is an opinion that anyone is free to hold.

Exactly! People are going to disagree with you OP, and may think people who think like you are weird or stupid. That ain’t prejudice. It’s an opinion. I am sure some think things I like or follow are stupid or weird. That is their opinion and I couldn’t give a fuck. You should try the same.

"Idiots who believe in Gods" unfortunately isn't a minority at all. Just because your sky-wizards aren't one of the popular sky-wizards, doesn't make you special

No, it really doesn’t. Someone doesn’t like you. Boo hoo.
Seriously, this is a load of nonsense about nothing. Someone talks shit, and someone else is offended. So what?
Do some magic, cheer yourself up and move on.

if only there were a button on FB that meant you no longer had to interact with…oh wait 🤦‍♀️

No-one has the right to not be offended.
Toughen up and ignore him.

The world is full of prejudices. Just get used to it. As long as it’s not stopping you from exercising your freedom to choose, what does it matter?