Can we have a proper 'woo' topic?

[IndigoBarbie]

Dear MNHQ, I fully believe in freedom of speech and experiences, and as such I go out of my way to assist those who are asking more angelic/psychic etc questions, since this is my real life in a nutshell. Getting sooooo fed up of threads becoming all about others who don't believe and blatantly attacking those of us on thread who want to actively discuss and share and I think a lovely new topic of 'woo' or something you feel is an appropriate title could be provided for us to have proper sharings and discussions.

Offering services in exchange for money is against guidelines isn't it?

It is, but offering services for free isn't - so I don't know how it could be policed/stopped if only "woo believers" posted on a thread.

I am horrifed that the parent of a missing child, or sick child, could have someone claim that they could find or heal that child. That is indefensible, whether they took money for it or not. Can you imagine the mental anguish? It doesn't bear thinking about.

and why are people assuming that 'woo believers' would condone it?

Wow what a great derail of a thread and explains exactly why posters don't like to post experiences. Bravo!

Softly, which post are you referring to?

Yes please but please don't call it woo as that makes it seem, well....woo. Can we call it something else...not sure what though!

Does being a woo believer automatically deny a person of any morals then? It's perfectly possible to believe in certain things and still have a strict moral code.
Preying on the sick and vulnerable is wrong and a belief in that is not restricted to any one group of people.

Just because you believe one thing doesn't mean you believe in everything yanno and anybody knows you're not supposed to charge for using a gift.. people who peddle those sort of wares are given short shrift anywhere, no matter what the forum.

But that is exactly what IndigoBarbie has said she does (on the Angel Thread)!

Cote said: "But Indigo isn't happy about the valid and rational criticism she gets on such threads so she wants a protected topic to sell her woo."

That is completely untrue.

Lots of the people here who are opposing the setting up of a separate topic are doing so on the basis that it will in some way be a "protected" topic.

no-one is asking for that. No-one.

We just want a topic heading so that when we are ganged up on, by large numbers of posters, we can respectfully ask the gang to move on.

Of course it will be open for debate and discussion like all other topics on MN. Talk Guidelines must apply, and that will help debate, help us, not hinder us. So selling services won't be allowed.

How is the thread being derailed? We're still talking about whether or not we should have a separate topic for 'woo' or however you want to phrase it. Are we not all allowed an opinion on it?

Why should other posters move on if their posts aren't breaking guidelines?

I couldn't face the angel thread but if I had been posting on it I would have pointed that out myself. Just because we believe in alternative things doesn't mean we're devoid of morals as has been pointed out.

What's wrong with the term 'woo'? It is woo,and the users of Mothering.com have been using it for years,and they're about as woo as you can get.

One poster isn't representative of a whole though Bore, offering a 'service' in exchange for money is very much frowned on in most circles. As already stated there are frauds and charlatans everywhere and they are called out wherever they are.
Do you know the damage they do to the Pagan community in particular? It's why so many of us don't talk about it IRL, purely because we get dumped in with the snake oil salesmen when all we try to do is live our lives with our own beliefs and occasionally talk to like minded people.
Completely fucks me off.

IndigoBarbie Tue 03-Jun-14 23:09:11
I am an energy healer. Clients do pay and they benefit greatly from my work.

IndigoBarbie Thu 05-Jun-14 21:34:35
In the past on mn their have been some missing people and children, therefore I put my skills to good use to assist in locating them. I have honed my craft over the years just like many of you have done for your 'REAL' jobs.

From the Guardian Angel thread

I have never c&p from one thread to another before, but I am making an exception here because I think it's very very relevant.

Is it not bad form to drag another thread on to another thread or gang up on posters that are not even here anymore?

Posters that are interested in certain topics should be allowed to discuss with out it turning in to a debate or a by fight.

If you don't agree and feel the need to screw your opi

Another problem is people's posts being misread. The first response to my last post is a complete non-sequiteur.

I think the problem comes when a debate is seen as a war, where one side has to win. Most people who want to muse about woo topics aren't interested in "winning". We're interested in the vast unknown frontiers of human knowledge and experience.

If a poster is determined to win, then other people's posts will be misunderstood - because there is no desire to understand the "opposition", just beat them into the ground.

That's why such threads are discouraging at the moment. I would hope that people using a specified topic would have open minds, and be interested in debate - as in, allowing other people to speak.

Opinion on it - fine. But the relentless shouting of ' it's fake! It doesn't exist! It's all rubbish! Is pointless.

I've also seen the posters that shout the loudest that it's all bull quite regularly frequent those threads, looks like their just looking for a fight.

Yes mrs

Idontseeanyicegiants I agree one poster doesn't represent the whole but the Poster I previously quoted is the OP of this thread and is the one who wants a protected Woo Topic where she can go unchallenged.

Thank you for pointing that out, BoreOfWhabylon. I'll stop being nice(ish) about posters professing weird beliefs, I think!

To those who staged concern for my experiences - thanks, but you completely ignored what I said about not feeling bitter, and about the real world being staggeringly weird & amazing.

I do, though, have quite a big axe to grind about people who leverage other folks' vulnerability for profit or power. Some seem to be on this thread.

"the OP of this thread ... is the one who wants a protected Woo Topic where she can go unchallenged."

Just not true!

Bore and Garlic read my last post. A belief in woo does not go hand in hand with a lack of morals and a desire to make money or exert power over the vulnerable. Indigo is wrong wrong to do this as are the many others who do it.
It's a shame you couldn't take my opinion and regret for your experience as a valid one Garlic, it was meant sincerely and not staged in any way.
I'll stick to the other site I think. It allows robust debate but also requires respect and an adherence to a moral and legal code.

Ok, fair enough, maybe my post was badly worded - I have to admit when I saw the claim that a poster had helped a MNer to find her missing child, and no-one had rounded on that post, it made me 'red mist'.

My concern is that a person that is 'open' to woo - believes in clairvoyants/contacting the dead/angel feathers etc, would be less likely to stop someone peddling services.

(I am finding hard not to be insulting, so if I do insult you, please forgive me).

I'm going to try and explain my worries - this could be long.

Poster A has had a terminal diagnosis for her child. Posts on a 'woo' (spiritual? believers?) thread as she is grasping at straws.

Poster B offers sensible advice, which happens to include 'less mainstream' medications/actions in addition to conventional medicine.

Poster C (who lurks on the thread) can see that Poster A is clutching at straws and PMs Poster A offering to 'pray for' or use 'healing energy' or 'realign the planets' - doesn't necessarily ask for cash.

Posters D E and F offer stories of 'miracles' that give Poster A hope her child will survive, despite the terminal diagnosis. She is bouyed by the positive stories, and starts to believe. It's well known that some people facing a bereavement will become fixated/compulsive on anything that they hope will help.

Dissenters have hidden the topic so don't know this is happening.

Poster A jumps at the chance given by Poster C, believing the stories posted and puts all her energy into 'saving' her child.
Poster B knows nothing about it and thinks she is still helping
Poster C gets off on it
Posters D E F know nothing about it and think they are still helping

Child dies.

Poster A blames herself.
Poster C distances herself from Poster A, or claims that without her help the child would have died months ago/in more pain. Or even claims that Poster A didn't do 'enough' or as she was told, if she had then her child would have survived.

B, D, E and F are decent people, but have contributed to the tragedy.

'Just not true'??? Well MrsRTea, that is what I understood from the opening post of this thread

"Dear MNHQ, I fully believe in freedom of speech and experiences, and as such I go out of my way to assist those who are asking more angelic/psychic etc questions, since this is my real life in a nutshell. Getting sooooo fed up of threads becoming all about others who don't believe and blatantly attacking those of us on thread who want to actively discuss and share and I think a lovely new topic of 'woo' or something you feel is an appropriate title could be provided for us to have proper sharings and discussions."

(my emphasis in quoted post)

Idon't
Bore and Garlic read my last post. A belief in woo does not go hand in hand with a lack of morals and a desire to make money or exert power over the vulnerable. Indigo is wrong wrong to do this as are the many others who do it.

I agree entirely with you.