h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I will bow to the other Researchers about the title. This isn't PR, although MJ was kind towards me about it. MJ is an excellent and interesting writer, whose judgement that this Update is an improvement over the original, is indeed correct.




I know from personal experience that Navaho medicine men/women who use their singing skills for evil purposes are called 'witches' when a Dine is talking to you about them in English, even though a direct language translation would be skinwalker. English is full of fine distinctions, but it is also delightfully full of synonyms. When one refers to a shaman, one could also be talking about that same someone who is also considered a witch, or not. I remember reading an anthropological account of smallpox epidemics in Africa (called 'water' because it flowed so fast) in which the regular shaman of a particular village who normally had much respect, suddenly acquired a new name, which was translated as 'witch' after much confusion and questioning of the folk by the observer, when the plague hit.

That's why I mentioned the social opprobium thing. I've meet Wiccans who are appalled at the practicality of this, and others who are secretly quite happy about it in the same way that certain Christians in the USA rather enjoy thinking that they are still being persecuted.

Looks like enough for an Entry in itself SC

I'd like to add this info to the Entry, but I just don't know enough about it, or am that good a writer to give it credit, although thank you for the plaudits

A9247629

I'd agree that the skinwalkers, shamans and other "witches" of non-European traditions deserve some entries of their own. But with the new Curators system, it would be very easy to link such an entry once it actually exists, so I feel the title is better off as it is.

And MJ, I really do think you should leave it as "Inquisition" rather than "Spanish Inquisition", since it was really the Papal organisation rather than the almost independent Spanish organisation that seriously hunted witches. So using just "Inquisition" glosses over the whole nitpickery problem nicely.

Azara

sorted

I will get back to you as promised MJ, RL is a bit busy at the moment. Maybe tomorrow.

No worries, I think it's probably due an Entry of its own really...

Have a feeling we may be done and dusted here

*cough*

Sorry for the delay here. Will get this updated straight away - thanks loads for doing this.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Witches' to 'Witches'.

Delay No prob again Jims

hmm, where too next...

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Azara

Congratulations

Coolness!

Congratulations!

Respect

I guess all the witches should get some recognition, whoever, wherever, whatever they are. That's good. I'm more interested in, not witches, but witchcraft, the voodoo, the hoodoo, the little dolls, all them potions boiling on the fire, the hexes you can place your enemies, stick them pins in them dolls, make somebody, somewhere, hurt. That's the kind of witch I like, the kind they have in Haiti, Jamaica, the good witches. The good witches make you mind your manners, show your respect, cause they got the potion, they got them dolls, they've got them stick pins. Look out. Speak careful of them witches.