My Campaing Vetted By @/90-ghost

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

🚫Beware of PayPal links🚫 Scammers steal all the information and images and create a PayPal link.

I only have the campaign link on the Chuffed website.

Chuffed

Help Mahmoud's Family Evacuate Gaza

My name is Mahmoud, and I live in the Shujaiya neighborhood in northern Gaza. I am 21 years old and the oldest of my siblings. We used to li

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #381 )✅️

‼️ its time to help ‼️

🍉 The ceasefire was stopped 🍉

⚠️ don’t ignore my text ⚠️

I am Mahmoud from North Gaza, studying computer engineering. I was working in a programming company during my studies. I got married a day before the war started and I was living in my house with my wife, but because of the war, things changed and I lost my house, my job and my father. 💔

It is very unfortunate and now my family has no breadwinner, so I desperately need your help. My wife is pregnant and we are suffering from famine. My child is my only hope in this world. I am asking you for a small donation so that I can provide food for my pregnant wife, please

✅️UPDATE 17/01/2025✅️

After the ceasefire in Gaza, hope has returned to us once again, giving us the strength to rebuild our lives.

now my wife is five months pregnant. She requires full care, including medications, vitamins, and medical attention.🤰👼

I beg you to help me and save my first child.🫀

My hope is for my child to come into better circumstances than these.

It is incredibly difficult for a child to be born in a tent, in the worst conditions, surrounded by insects and germs.

Please, help me build a new hope for this small family 👨‍👩‍👦

Chuffed

Help Mahmoud's Family Evacuate Gaza

My name is Mahmoud, and I live in the Shujaiya neighborhood in northern Gaza. I am 21 years old and the oldest of my siblings. We used to li

please make a donation 🙏

any amount will make difference to us

$0 Raised Of $30,000

My husband has become a prisoner of the Israeli occupation😭😭

After we were besieged in Rafah for more than four days, the tent was demolished over my heads, my children, and my husband, and we were able to miraculously escape. For those whose story of escape was not complete, because they were able to capture my husband and he is now their prisoner after he was injured in his feet from the bombing. My child was also exposed to danger and underwent a difficult surgical operation that failed. My family is now without a father, without a breadwinner for us, in light of this war and this catastrophic famine. I cannot provide food and drink for my children, nor can I provide treatment for my sick child. Please help us by donating to save us from danger.

Please donate now

I want to thank every person with a humane heart who helped me and my children. I hope you continue to donate to my family.

‼️‼️We will die at any moment‼️‼️

The war has returned after 15 months of death and genocide. We have never rested. We are losing people every day, most of them children and women... The bombing is everywhere. Our children are afraid...The sound is frightening.😭

There is no food, no drink, no medicine, the crossing is closed and everything is expensive.

‼️

"We don't want to die. Please donate and help us buy food and medicine for my husband and save our lives. Just donate."

😭🙏😞🫂‼️😭🙏😞🫂‼️

Please save us before it's too late. Help me donate to us.

Campaign checked by 90-ghost

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💬 69  🔁 5471  ❤️ 1272 · My name is Suheila from Gaza 🇵🇸, a mother of 5 children, living with my family in a tent after the war destroyed ou

Donation link

gofundme.com

Donate to Support Suhaila's family in their time of need, organized by Mickey Dee

Hi my name is Mickey and I'm raising funds for: Suheila, who is a m… Mickey Dee needs your support for Support Suhaila's family in

Please take a look at my story.🇵🇸💔

!! My children and I are in great danger!! Dear, I know you are receiving a lot of messages, but I really need your help 😭😭😭

Hello, I am Hanan Mahmoud from Gaza and my children lost everything from our home, our work and our car💔💔💔 Donate 30 euros

I need to buy medicine for my children, expensive diapers and some treatments

Everything is expensive, food, medicine and all the necessities of life are expensive💔⁉️⁉️💔

We are suffering from severe famine in Gaza, there is no food or healthy water to drink, we live in very cold winter conditions, and we live under terrifying bombing 💔

Please help us, we have nothing but ourselves 🙏🙏

Please donate to us, your donation will make a difference to us 💔💔

Your donation will give us hope to continue living 🙏🙏🙏Your donation will contribute to rebuilding our lives and securing travel costs to get out of Gaza from Yes to protect my children ✅️ My number on the list has been verified by @gazavetters (#270) ✅️

https://gofund.me/0ddcba1c

@ibtisam @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @vakarians-babe @7amaspayrollmanager @fairuzfakhira @fallahsart @sayruq @humanvoreture @kaapstadgirly @sar-soor @dimonds456-art @plomegranate @commissions4aid-international @nabulsi @stil-macher @soon-palestine @communitythings @palestinegenocide @vakarians-babe @ghost-and-a-half @7amaspayrollmanager @kaapstadgirly @annoyingloudmicrowavecultist @feluka @marnota @toughknit @flower-tea-fairies @the-stray-liger @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @vivisection-gf @communistchameleon @troythecatfish @the-bastard-king @4ft10tvlandfangirl

The situation here is beyond tragic. The closure of the crossings and the lack of aid entering Gaza have led to food shortages and rising prices. Death is not only from bombing, but also from hunger. Donate even a small amount; it would mean a lot to me. Thank you all for your support of me and my family. Don't let us down and abandon us in these most difficult times.

You, your family, and everyone else in Gaza deserve so much. You all are incredibly strong and brave💛

Please donate if you can, they should never be abandoned, especially at such difficult and scarring times. If you are unable to, please reblog and share with friends and to those close to you

I love how many things Harry and Draco have in common and also everything that is different about them. Essentially they're both the two sides of the same coin. Both are technically for very well off families, (Harry's parents), and yet how differently they handle that wealth, or just the family name.

Harry and Draco are both put into a situation where failure isn't an option because it not only means death for themselves, but also their loved ones. They handle it actually pretty similar. It consumes their life because of the burden it is. Harry has the pressure of having to save the world because he survived, Draco having to sneak death eaters into Hogwarts or it could be his life or his parents life on the line. They both have this pressure to save people and while it seems they're on entirely different sides they aren't. Draco may have some pure blood ideals but you have to understand he grew up with those ideals engraved into his being.

They both grew up in extremely broken homes and every person in their life saw them for someone else besides their closet people. Sirius saw Harry as James, not for the scared and traumatized kid who was currently fighting in a war. Dumbledore saw Harry as the way to save the world and put that burden on his shoulders. He did very little to help him, and actually kept Harry in an extremely abusive situation. Draco was just a Malfoy, a Slytherin, who is just a stuck up prick. Draco was a child just parroting back what was taught to him. Draco and Harry although very different saw each other in a way no one else could. Draco actually mocks Harry for being the boy who lived and Harry stood up to Draco and in The Half Blood Prince saw the stress he was under.

This probably isn't the best but yeah I just love them so much they got me through my childhood 😭.

I’m watching through the show in order for the first time

🏮IF YOU IGNORE THIS, YOU ARE DOOMING MY FAMILY TO DEATH

I apologize for what I am about to ask. Can you help me and donate to save us?

I, Marah from gaza🍉, My parents are old and I have younger siblings that I am responsible for own many cats in light of this war Can you contribute to the care and protection of my cat children?The only memory of the brother I lost

donation of only 20$ from each person, 20$ will save my family from death in Gaza💔😓

‼️Donate via credit card

https://gofund.me/e82cb476

‼️Donate via PayPal

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Mohammedkatoa95

please donate if you can and reblog, and please make sure to share with close friends and relatives 💛

🕊️ Please Take a Moment to Read Nadin’s Story

My name is Nadin. I never imagined I would write something like this. I’ve always been someone who kept her worries quiet, someone who believed that even the hardest days could be endured with patience and faith. But right now, I am reaching out — not because I want to, but because I need to.

I am a wife, a mother, and one of many women in Gaza trying to survive days that feel like they have no end. There was a short time — a brief ceasefire — where we thought things might start to heal. Where the sound of war faded for just long enough to let us breathe. But that moment is gone now, and the fear has returned louder than before.

My days are filled with uncertainty, and my nights with prayer. We have lost so much. Our home was damaged, our sense of safety taken from us. But through all of this, I try to keep going. I try to hold on to what little peace I can create with my hands, my words, and my love.

I am not asking for much. Just a little help to keep our lives from falling further apart. To fix the small things — a cracked wall, a leaking roof, the pieces of daily life that help us hold on to dignity.

This campaign isn’t just about survival. It’s about holding on to what makes us human in a place that keeps trying to take that away. It’s about showing my daughter — even though I won’t mention her name here — that the world didn’t forget us.

If you’ve ever felt powerless in the face of suffering, please know that even the smallest gesture can carry great meaning. A kind word. A shared post. A quiet donation. These things remind us that we’re not alone.

Chuffed

Help Nadin Keep Her Life Stitched Together

My name is Nadin I’m a mother, a wife, and just one of many women in Gaza who are trying to hold on — to hope, to our families, to any piece

I am still here. Still holding on. Still believing that people out there — people like you — still care.

Please, if you feel moved, consider supporting or sharing this campaign.