Wiccans -- This post is for you...

Well, um... I'm not Wiccan, so I'm not sure I should be here. =p I definitely see what you are saying though. I think it is hard to maintain the sacredness of a phrase when it is continuously said in casual usage. If I said "blessed be" 500 times a day, it wouldn't mean anything at all to me. Not that I particularly say "blessed be" anyway, but if I do, it's because I really want someone to be blessed. =p I've seen several of the Christian posters say "God Bless" at the end of their posts, which would see to be the same thing to me. I think it's silly either way, honestly. If I were saying something to a particular friend in a serious discussion, I might say "blessed be" or "May the Gods bless you" or whatever, but most likely only if we were talking about a serious issue they were facing.

I pretty much ignore it the same with any of the ending salutations I see after a post. I don't see much sense in signing anything afterwards anyways. We know who said it, the name is right there why add several spaces and a name or "God Bless" or what have you. Yes I have seen Christians end posts with "God Bless" as well as Wiccan's using "Blessed be". That being said not all do, in fact most don't, it's just a handful of them.

Do you live in the same world I do? Lol *means this in a funny way, not a bad way* People do that ALL the time. Not just wiccans..but everybody. I don't place endings like that, 'cause I never did like advertizing and they seemed stupid for me to put on there. But I understand that that's just me. They rarely ever get laughed at for doing that..really. It's okay you feel that way, I get tired of things being repeated alot too.

Oh my goodness. I can think of a lot of things being written that drive me up the wall, this saying would not even make my list. I do take offense on personal attacks and people trying to put words in my mouth or make me not use certain words.Just because some people believe different than I do is not justification for me to tell them they are wrong and must obey me. I may not like you or what you stand for, but I will be at your side defending your right to be who you are and believe what you do.

I agree it can become trite when repeated often. When used too often the special meaning can slip away.

I don't see anything wrong with it. I am not going to flame you either. I just ignore the endings and go on about my business if people try to do that. I don't think they do it to upset us. I just think they do it out of kindness.

OK, so I had my say about my feelings of Wiccans being singled out under Zu's response. But I also wanted to respond and tell you that I also agree with you. Yes, I am a Pagan Wiccan and I also agree with you. I have seen some of my same religion go into many discussions that has nothing to do with religion and end the response with "Blessed Be". Well, honestly...there is no reason for that at all! And putting that at the end of each response as if it were a signature is just plain rude and disrespectful of those that are not of the same religion. Wicca teaches that we be respectful of others and do no harm. If I were to go out and force my religion down others throats, I would be doing harm to them and upsetting them. So, with this, I also agree with you that they phrase should not be typed and thrown about to those that are not of the same religion or the discussion is not about religion. On another note...I also agree that when words that are thrown carelessly, they are begin to hold no meaning. If I went around and told every Tom, Harry, and Joe that I loved him...then the words would have no meaning to my partner when I said them and would have no meaning in my heart because I said it on a constant basis. Blessed Be has a meaning behind it! Just as someone saying God bless you. But if you say with without feeling and just threw it in there anytime you wanted, would one truly be blessing another? No...probably not. So, yes, I do agree with you that those that end every response with Blessed Be should not do so...I also believe that those of other religions should also not go into others discussions and force their religions either. Can't we all respect each other? :) ha ha

Personally I don't get bothered by that kind of stuff. I remember that saying..."Don't sweat the small stuff". There are a lot worse things that go on here and for you to single out the Wiccans just doesn't seem right. But you are entitled to your opinion and so is everyone else.

I have to agree with you about that. Blessed be, it's like hey everyone look! I'm a Wiccan. Anyways, those are just my thoughts. Yours In Christ... JUST KIDDING HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

hehe. yeah, it annoys me too. I think it comes across as a bit OTT. they aren't terms I use (hello and bye do for me) I find it a bit silly, and it looks like they are trying to make themselves stand out, or look a bit mysterious and special. sure it's not always like this. in conversation, someone once used in perfect love and perfect trust with me. I mean come on, they hardly knew me. didn't they know what they were saying? so yeah. it annoys me too. there are very few people around that I would call Wiccans. it's a very specific tradition, and the name has been hijacked by people with similar ideals, but who are not, and often have no intention of being initiated into a Wiccan Coven, as required to be part of that tradition.

Although I'm an atheist, I don't find it offensive if someone asks their God to bless me, or offers to pray for me, as long as its sincere. All it means is that someone wishes the highest good they know to touch me, and that can't be bad. I guess your point is, the repetition renders it insincere. I just ignore it, usually.

(please excuse my spellign today. I can't seem to focus and my dyslexia is bad today) Filmbuff I can understand your point of view, but several issues come to mind. First of all (and most improtantly)censorship, If we sya that noone can sign their posts off how they want to, Then the next would be someone saying I don't want to see posts about one topic or another. Where would it end at that point? As far as losing its meaning, I do agree that certian phrases can lose their meaning when overused. However For some people it amkes them feel better, and makes others around them feel better. That can't always be a bad thing can it? I think in this day and age we are becomming too PC. When we start telling people that they can't use certian words and phrases becomeone might become offended by them, we get back into the censorship issue. So like I siad where does it end? I know you get fusterated by it and to be honest there are times it annoys me too, however if we start with censoring this, what would be next? You get one thing banned and the next thing you know you are getting banned for something, and why? Becasue you opened those doors. and Minnie mouse being sexy??? You know whay Micky divorced her right? I know why you did that though, to show your point on how silly you think the whole thing is.

i dont remember seeing this line at end of responces. if i have seen then i not pay attention and so not bother me at all. i dont think i care if people did say something about christ or who ever either. i would like not notice at all. i must not be paying attention.

When ever u repeat a gud phrase again n again it defninitely doesnt lose its value...For me it actually strengths me ..i am home very ususally use Alhumdulillh, mashaAllah, inshaAllah...sometimes people laugh..but it doesnt hurt me at all. I am using it coz i want to be near to Allah..doing all the gud things which would make him happy..After all he is the master of All...The same applies to christians also...I would feel gud if some one tells me God Bless u... hope u will also develop this gud habit.. May Allmighty bless us

OK I am Wiccan and in my defence I do it once in a while as a way of showing people that Wiccans are not as bad as history claimes us to be. I Understand where you are coming from but I have read in quite a few responses Christians stating "In Jesus we love" and a few others. It is not just us Wiccans and it is unfair of you to point the finger at 1 religin when we all do it at some time.

well I would say just ignore the words. Its not a huge deal if people put certain sayings in their posts its just part of their personality. They have the right just like everyone else to put whatever they want in their posts.

I'm not a Wiccan but this seems a completely inoffensive remark. Lighten up dude all the best urban

filmbuff I agree with you. It's almost like they are trying to show that they are special. It truly annoys me.

Not to be rude... but I like that phrase. What could be a nicer thing, than to be blessed by someone? I'm not necessarily Wiccan... but any time that someone blesses me... no matter what religion they believe in, I am honored to be blessed by them. And whatever god or goddess they believe in ~ and honestly, I believe there are many gods and goddesses ~ is watching over me & taking care of me. It is comforting to me. :)

whats the problem you have with that if you have a problem with it just go join a worship group with all of one religion!