Identifying Charlatans
Sidney Lambe
Most charlatans will want you to believe that they can hurt
people with what they call 'magick'. Or force them to behave in
certain ways with what they call 'magick'.
First of all, they can't.
Secondly, only ignorant and twisted people want to hurt people or
coerce them, by any means, for any reason.
Lastly, this is _obviously_ the LAST thing that any normal person
would want to do with magick, given the number of other things
one can do with it.
Charlatans are always spewing theatrical nonsense that sounds as if it
came from a cheap fantasy novel, and acting as if makes perfect
sense to them and that the only reason you don't understand it is
that you are an ignorant peasant.
The truth is that all that crap doesn't mean anything to anyone.
It's just a part of the costumes that charlatans wear, along with
their staffs and pentangles and robes and so forth. And the jars
of weird stuff and the weird drawings and the rows of books at
their homes.
And they all have spooky looks in their eyes: Just takes practice
in front of a mirror.
But the real test for charlatanhood is twofold:
1. Do they have a good life? Are they happy?
If they don't and they aren't, they don't know shit about magick.
2. Will they demonstrate any of the extraordinary abilities
they claim and/or imply that they have?
If they won't they are charlatans. They won't because they can't.
(A lot of very advanced mages have no extraordinary abilities at
all. At least not any of the sensational ones. But they wouldn't
claim or imply that they did either.)
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.wicca/msg/937efafdee96fb64
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.wicca/msg/962e0d14d4eef742
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.wicca/msg/2667fd32fb1e6189
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.wicca/msg/fb2c86695b925775
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.wicca/msg/fd4ae2a7007797c1
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.wicca/msg/17f62b2931fee8fb
Sid
--
My newsfilter kills more than half the posts to these groups,
including replies to any name in my killfile. So if I don't
respond to a reply it is because I didn't see it.
Thou shalt not suffer a troll to speak in thine presence.
ren
> Secondly, only ignorant and twisted people want to hurt people or
It is nice to know that you can count. Perhaps you should try an
English composition class next.
aine
> #Followup-To set to alt.religion.wicca
>
> Most charlatans will want you to believe that they can hurt
> people with what they call 'magick'. Or force them to behave in
> certain ways with what they call 'magick'.<
Verses mundane tactics like: stealing, lying, abuse, cheating,
harrassing and stalking to name a few.
Then of course we have gossip, catty, snotty and the mistreatment of
lower class from upper class.
Tom
>
> Most charlatans will want you to believe that they can hurt
> people with what they call 'magick'. Or force them to behave in
> certain ways with what they call 'magick'.
In order to be a "charlatan", you have to know that your claims are
false and engage in some sort of trickery in order to deceive. If you
actually believe your claims, you may be deluded, but you're no
charlatan.
> First of all, they can't.
>
> Secondly, only ignorant and twisted people want to hurt people or
> coerce them, by any means, for any reason.
Then I take it that you are opposed to any sort of law enforcement or
self-defence? Both involve a certain degree of willingness and
ability to inflict hurt and to coerce people into obedience to limits
on their behavior
> Lastly, this is _obviously_ the LAST thing that any normal person
> would want to do with magick, given the number of other things
> one can do with it.
Almost every person initially encountering the possibility of magick
sees it as a means of acquiring power. So it's not the last thing
they would want, but the first thing they would want.
> But the real test for charlatanhood is twofold:
>
> 1. Do they have a good life? Are they happy?
>
> If they don't and they aren't, they don't know shit about magick.
If there is a "real test" for this, I have yet to see it. In order to
determine this, you would have to specify exactly what measureable
quantities compose "goodness" and "happiness". Those qualities are
highly subjective and dependent on individual values.
> 2. Will they demonstrate any of the extraordinary abilities
> � �they claim and/or imply that they have?
>
> If they won't they are charlatans. They won't because they can't.
I have the power to spit right in your face, should you appear before
me. Yet, I refrain from doing so because of my choice to adhere to
values of common civility. A lack of the exercise of power is no
guarantee that such power does not exist. Still, if I were to brag
and threaten to exercise this power and wouldn't do so when
challenged, I'd clearly be open to a charge of hypocrisy.
> (A lot of very advanced mages have no extraordinary abilities at
> all. At least not any of the sensational ones. But they wouldn't
> claim or imply that they did either.)
I agree with you here, Sid. Isn't that amazing?
ren
> In order to be a "charlatan", you have to know that your claims are
I misjudged you, Tom.