I Know We All Make Jokes And Memes About It, Like ‘lol, Trump Said We Are The Gender We Were At Conception,

HelPol Discourse & Ableism

A more nuanced addition to this post - which I made on a low spoons day (if you're just interested in the ableism part then scroll to the bottom).

The Dunning-Kruger Effect

“The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities”

- Wikipedia

The Duning-Kruger Effect was first pointed out to me by another pagan practitioner - and in that context it was used to describe those who claim to know what is “right” or “wrong” for all practitioners within a given tradition.

This fellow practitioner (I can’t remember their name - this was at least 2 years ago) pointed out that those who are incredibly knowledgeable about a given tradition don’t tend to go around policing others practices.

Why?

Because being knowledgeable about any religious or spiritual tradition means recognizing how incredibly human made traditions are. They are loose - flexible - ever changing and ever evolving within both individual and community practice.

Now - that doesn’t mean “anything goes” within a tradition or religion, quite the opposite.

It instead means that the best way to create a cohesive tradition (or revive a cohesive tradition) is through working together as a community to discuss what is and isn’t valid praxis.

One individual (or a small group of individuals) speaking on behalf of an entire community is very rarely a good idea.

Bold “unpopular opinion” posts - telling others what is and isn’t valid praxis - is not only incredibly hubristic, but is also only going to lead to anger and infighting.

It is through conversation that we can get to the root of an issue and try to find consensus as a community.

As an example: I could make a post explaining my interpretation of, and feelings around, people worshipping Medusa. I could explain that I have negative feelings because this type of worship was not seen in antiquity. But then I could also make it clear that this is just my opinion - and that I’d be interested in hearing others points of view*

*some of those caught up in this controversy have done this, and have wrongly been demonized for it - while others have done the exact opposite, stating their opinion as law.

If someone makes a post similar to the example and you’re still going to be antagonistic or cruel - then just block that person. You’re going to save both them and yourself a lot of needless stress.

If someone makes a post that is actively inflammatory - you can do one of two things:

1. If you have the energy and bandwidth, you can engage with them in a discussion or civil debate.

2. If you don’t have the energy or bandwidth, or if OP is unwillingly to engage you in such talks, then just block them. Again - it will save you a lot of needless stress.

Lastly - we as Hellenic Polytheists need to be better about our ableism.

If there is something in our faith that is ableist (example: you must always stand with arms outstretched during ritual) then it shouldn’t be part of our faith.

Just because some people do not have any limitations on their physical mobility or mental energy - does not mean that the able-bodied way of doing things gets to be the default or “correct” way of practicing our faith.

I want to make a longer post on the ableism that is rampant in both the HelPol and wider Pagan communities - but for now I think that will suffice.

Askbox is open, as are DMs - The Temple is always open to community building, community discussion, and (civil) community debate.

Eirene - peace and farewell,

- Temple Hyacinthus

🫂Please stop and listen to my story. Don't ignore me.💔

I am Yousef, 35 years old, married

Please take two minutes of your time and I hope you stand by me and help me save my family from the war

I have three children

They were deprived of their most basic rights as children, their right to education, play and live safely like the rest of the children in the world. They were terrified and very afraid of the sounds of missiles. Our house was bombed while we were inside it and some of us were injured, but we miraculously survived. My house was completely destroyed in Khan Younis and I headed to the displacement camps on the beach. I had a beautiful house and I had clothing stores, but they were completely destroyed during the brutal war on the Gaza Strip, which was a source of income for us. The tent we live in now does not protect us from the heat of summer or the harsh cold of winter and rain. I want you to help me so that I can be with my family again

I have suffered from the war for more than a year and a half. I lost part of my family, my home and my work

We have nothing left here

I lost my dreams and ambitions after I drew a beautiful future

This war is cruel and brutal, we cannot provide the most basic rights

We have been suffering from famine for months and we are still patient

I also need to travel with my family if the crossing opens at any time in order to save our lives

One person needs to pay coordination to the Egyptian side from $5,000 to $8,000, this is a large amount

But I know that thanks to your support we were able to save our lives from death

Your donation is enough to save our lives from death

Things here are more difficult than you see

I hope you do not leave us here alone🫂

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #591 )✅️

gofundme.com

Donate to Youssef and his family need your support., organised by Kirsty Watson

I am kirsty, I am from England, I met Youssef through volunteer work with Ebon… Kirsty Watson needs your support for Youssef and his family

Verified before

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #591 )✅️

@90-ghost

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My Journey to Escape the War in Gaza

My name is Abdelmajed. I never imagined I’d be sharing my story like this, but life in Gaza has become unbearable. I am a survivor of the war here, and in the blink of an eye, everything I once knew—my home, my safety, my community—was ripped away from me.

The war has transformed Gaza into a graveyard of broken dreams. The buildings that once stood as symbols of life and resilience are now piles of rubble. Every corner is filled with the echoes of explosions. Every moment is shrouded in uncertainty. There is no security. There is no stability. There is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Basic needs have become luxuries. Food is scarce. Clean water is even scarcer. Hospitals are overwhelmed and under-resourced, and there is almost no medical care to be found. Every night, families go to bed hungry, praying they’ll wake up to see another day. The cost of basic necessities has skyrocketed, and it’s become a daily battle just to survive.

I’ve seen things I never thought possible—standing in long lines for a piece of bread, rationing every drop of water, and watching my people suffer in silence. I have lost everything—my home, my safety, my dignity.

Escape from Gaza is my only hope, but it’s almost impossible without financial help. The cost of evacuation is far beyond my means, and without support, I’m trapped in a warzone with no way out.

I’m reaching out to you now, in the hopes that someone, anyone, can help. I am not asking for luxury. I am asking for a chance—just a chance—to live. A chance to escape this never-ending cycle of fear, destruction, and loss. A chance to rebuild my life somewhere safe, where I can begin again, where I can find hope once more.

Chuffed

Help Abdelmajed Escape Gaza and Rebuild His Life

My name is Abdelmajed, and I am a survivor of the war in Gaza. Everything I once knew has been taken away—my home, my safety, and the people

Any amount you can give will help me get closer to safety. Even the smallest donation will make a difference—it could be the lifeline I need to survive. If you are unable to donate, please share my story. The more people who hear it, the better the chance that I can find the support I desperately need.

Your kindness and support mean the world to me. You’re not just helping me escape a war; you’re giving me a chance to live, to rebuild, to breathe again.

Thank you for listening. Thank you for caring.

Vetted by @gazavetters

I lost everything... but I still hold on to hope ✨

My name is Mo'men, and I’m a young Palestinian who dreamed of a bright future after high school.

Instead of celebrating, I found myself running for my life, escaping bombs, destruction, and fear.😥

Our home was crushed into dust 🏚️. My brother lost his job. My school and my sister’s university turned into shelters for displaced families.

We fought for survival for six long months under bombs and siege, until we finally reached Egypt, carrying nothing but a few plastic bags... and a lot of broken dreams.💔

Today, we have no home, no income, no safe place to call our own.

My father is suffering with severe back pain and can’t work. Medical bills, daily expenses, even the hope of renting a small home—we simply can’t afford it anymore.🥺

But despite everything, I refuse to give up. I still dream of going to university, of rebuilding my life, of standing on my own feet and helping my family.

This is why I need your help.

Even a small donation—£10—could be the light we desperately need right now.🙏🏻🥺

It can help us rent a home, cover urgent medical expenses, and let me chase my dreams again.🙏🏻

Be one of the first to stand with us.

Be the reason hope lives on.

🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸

Please donate or share our story:

gofund.me/5cdd060e ❤️

🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸🍉🇵🇸

Eros and Psyche for Valentine’s Day! 💘

الرسالة الاولى Hello myfriends,im kholoud , from gaza ‏I am writing my letter, full of sadness and suffering, to you, the owners of merciful hearts. ❤ ‏Your help is what will make us hope for a new life, and build a better future for ourselves. A few cents will fill my heart and the hearts of our children and my family with optimism. 💁‍♂️ ‏Our children are in dire need of your support. Please bring happiness to the hearts of our children ... 🙏🙏 ‏I hope you will watch my campaign and support me, and I thank you very much from my heart https://gofund.me/ae92c65b .

please, please, donate if you can and reblog

Please help my family

My name is Aisha

I never imagined I would find myself in a situation that would require me to write these words, but life has taken an unexpected and devastating turn. My family, consisting of my beloved husband and our eight children, is facing a crisis that we cannot overcome alone. Our home, once filled with love and laughter, has been shattered. The roof over our heads, the walls that protected us, and the place where our children grew up are lost. We lost not only our home, but the foundations of our lives. Now, we struggle every day to survive, with nowhere to go or a way to rebuild without help.

Our children, who should be focused on school and their dreams, worry instead about where they will sleep or when their next meal will be. The weight of their fear and confusion breaks my heart. As parents, we feel helpless and unable to provide basic necessities for our loved ones.

We are urgently asking for help because we cannot do this alone. We need to rebuild not only our home, but our lives. Every donation, no matter the size, will go directly to providing our children with a safe place to sleep, food to eat, and a chance to dream again. Please, if you can find it in your heart to help us during this desperate time, we will be forever grateful to you. May your kindness and generosity be the light that guides us through this darkness.

Chuffed

Help Aisha and her children

I am Elizabeth, and I am fundraising on behalf of Aisha and her family from Gaza. Here is her message:"My name is Aisha Rabah, I am 42 years

‘Now that you are in good spirits,’ said Psyche, ‘you must enter my hearth and home, and let the company of your Psyche gladden your hearts that were troubled.’

Apuleius 4. 28 - 6. 24

shame on all who participated in the movement of removing the T in lgbTqia+

Marsha P. Johnson was erased from the stonewall monument website, along with any other trans activists.

there would have been NO stonewall monument without Marsha P. Johnson.

i am speechless, but also furious. shame on you if you contributed to this.

Adopt my daughter Ilona's story‼️

I don't know where to begin with our tragic story that is collapsing in front of everyone. I am a mother of three children. My first son, Adam Omar, is five years old. He is not well now. Yes, he is now struggling and fighting the circumstances and the nightmare that controls a five-year-old child. He is struggling and fighting these painful circumstances. His body has become fragile and weak. Every day, his condition worsens before my eyes. My heart is torn apart before my eyes. Every day, I look at my child and wonder how long this condition will last. My son is dying before my eyes. Before the events of October 7, I was born with twins Yvonne and Ilona. Yvonne had breathing problems. The situation worsened after the war began due to the dropping of bombs and rockets, and the displacement and homelessness. My daughter died in front of me. I have collapsed until now. I cannot accept the paragraph that she is gone. I cannot see her again. Losing her broke me and made me at the peak of my collapse. Now, my daughter Ilona suffers from the same disease🥹💔

This is my daughter Ilona, ​​this is my beautiful, delicate daughter. I want you to fight for her. Her life is in danger. I will not tolerate anything happening to her. I want you to fight for her treatment so that I can provide my little girl with enough food. I want to provide her with a shelter so that she can protect her body from illness. Today, my daughter survived the occupation’s bombing of the European hospital. We barely protected her from death. Please, I beg you. My daughter is fighting a serious illness. I tremble with fear that something will happen to her. She is the hope that makes me cling to this life. Ilona needs your support, your words, your donations, and your blogging🙏

gofundme.com

Donate to Help Save Ilana: Urgent Medical Support Needed, organized by Ema Aln

Hello, my name is Shaimaa Abu Hadaid. I have been married for four and … Ema Aln needs your support for Help Save Ilana: Urgent Medi

This photo is to document my campaign. I hope that the owner of the documentation page will respond.‼️

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