Towards a new definition of "fluffy bunny" within a Neo-Pagan context

[nontacitare]

Fluffy bunny (noun; adj. fluffy): 1) One who considers morality, kindness, or the Wiccan Rede ("Harm None") central to one's religious beliefs. 2) One whose religious beliefs or philosophy differs substantially from that of the fluffy-caller. 3) One who does not practice "dark" magic, or "manipulative" magic such as love spells or binding

Comments

[the_shampoo]

You darn fluffy bunnies with your...morals and...kindness...and junk.
;-)

[chronarchy]

John Michael Greer appears to have coined the term.

Poor guy. :)

[nontacitare]

So how do Erisians define "fluffy bunnies?" What does a fluffy Discordian look like?

[chronarchy]

Well, the closest approximation that I could give you with any confidence is that they look somewhat like a long-haired bat that has been through the dryer, without the benefit of a dryer-sheet or fabric softner. They're generally dizzy, confused, and making lewd jokes about Eris and the Nimean Lion, or else making lewd jokes about themselves and the Nimean Lion. Sometimes it's hard to tell

[autumnfey]

where did you get that definition? Not really along the lines of what I have commonly seen (luckily - because that one is pretty sucky!).

[staceydc]

I wouldn't say the definion is sucky. It's pretty vague but then again its suppose to be a general definion.

Actually I started laughing as I read it.

Though I do have one question. What's a fluffy-caller? *grins*

Fluffy-Caller

[rfunk]

fluffy-caller (n.): 1. One who calls fluffies. Usually identified by their fluffy-call, "flah-FEEE! flah-FEEE!" Occasionally they may be found at competitive fluffy-calling events. 2. One who labels others as "fluffy bunnies" or simply as "fluffies". Often they know little about those whom they so label, and base the tag on a single attribute of the target.

[nontacitare]

What's a fluffy-caller?

One who calls someone a fluffy bunny. ;-)

[nontacitare]

I made up that definition. As I've seen it used, it's pretty much a catch-all derogatory term. Part of the impetus for that was the following exchange:

http://www.livejournal.com/community/celticpagans/380471.html

Here is one part of a fluffy definition from the answers to that post:

Lastly, there are fluffies in the world of spellcraft. ... People who believe that one should never, ever, ever perform any sort of magic which could influence another person, no matter the reasoning, everI have also seen fluffy bunnies defined as those who 1) Insist on always camping outside, as natural and green as possible, and who look down on those who prefer to stay in a nice, comfortable hotel room. 2) prefer to stay in nice, comfortable hotel rooms rather than go camping and experience nature as real Pagans do. (Separate people doing the defining for the above two examples

[the_shampoo]

I have seen someone called a fluffy bunny for owning a SRW book. Though I must admit, some of her books are a little...um...something or other. But, I do own one or two myself.

[nontacitare]

Oh, I am no fan of Silver RavenWolf. I am disturbed by her appropriation of Wicca as a New Age tool to be used primarily for self-improvement, rather than a fleshed-out religious faith; and there are some stunning errors in the Teen Witch Kit booklet.

However, I don't automatically regard anyone who does get something out of her books as "fluffy."

What I've seen is a disconnect between the standard definition of fluffy bunny (someone who is blithely ignorant) and its invocation ("Um, I don't see that as ethical." "Only a fluffy bunny would say that.") I feel that it's gotten to the point within the Pagan community that we're expected to prove that we aren't fluffy bunnies. Since I have better things to do with the time I devote to discussing Paganism, I decided it would simply be easier to say, "Yeah, I'm a fluffy bunny. Back to the ethics issue..."

[the_shampoo]

This is off topic but, is your avatar a picture of Carmen Sandiego?

[nontacitare]

Yes. Carmen Sandiego is one of my favorite cartoon characters. You can read more about it here:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/nontacitare/6734.html