My response to a comment on wiccan where a 17-yr-old was confronted in a bookstore while examining a tarot deck.
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"The tarot isn't specifically Wiccan, so she really wasn't attacking your religion. However, it was disgustingly rude of her to butt in. If it ever happens again, the best way to throw them is to stare at them with a "is there a reason you're butting into a private conversation?" and then say to them directly, "and this is your business how?" Then just stare at them until they go away.

You don't need to explain or apologize to anyone who sticks their nose in where it doesn't belong. Your turf, your table, you're the one with manners. Even experienced persons can get flustered in this sort of situation, so don't feel bad about your reaction. But the best way to keep control of the situation is to be blunt and short on words. It keeps you from stumbling over anything, and puts rude people in their place by changing the focus from what they've attacked to their own bad behavior."

Tags: conflict, wicca