Comments on: Romania declares witchcraft a legally-recognized (and taxable) profession, pisses off witches http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 14:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jonathan Badger http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985856 Jonathan Badger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985856 This is Romania, home of Transylvania (although some Hungarians are understandably a bit touchy on that issue). You piss off the witches, who's going to protect you from the hordes of the undead? This is Romania, home of Transylvania (although some Hungarians are understandably a bit touchy on that issue). You piss off the witches, who’s going to protect you from the hordes of the undead?

]]> By: drewand1200 http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-986129 drewand1200 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986129 If she weights the same as a duck, she must be made of wood! Tax her! If she weights the same as a duck, she must be made of wood! Tax her!

]]> By: Verre http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-987165 Verre Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-987165 So Christine O'Donnell might find a more receptive audience for her campaign in Romania... So Christine O’Donnell might find a more receptive audience for her campaign in Romania…

]]> By: moosehunter http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985886 moosehunter Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985886 purple? really? like this? (Googol Bordello http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ2RhwQirLk purple?

really?

like this?

(Googol Bordello

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ2RhwQirLk

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-986400 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986400 Actually, this is very wrong. Romanian witches have nothing to do with the supernatural and a lot to do with organized crime, so declaring their activity taxable is pretty creepy. This is how they usually operate: http://theromaniucfiles.blogspot.com/2011/01/not-charming.html Actually, this is very wrong. Romanian witches have nothing to do with the supernatural and a lot to do with organized crime, so declaring their activity taxable is pretty creepy.

This is how they usually operate: http://theromaniucfiles.blogspot.com/2011/01/not-charming.html

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-987431 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-987431 This is kind of BS. The government didnt recognise witchcraft, but these women's ability to make money. This is their trade, and its taxed like any other trade. I'm Romanian and I dont know any superstitious people.. besides a friend of my grandmother that actually does some form of light witchcraft This is kind of BS. The government didnt recognise witchcraft, but these women’s ability to make money. This is their trade, and its taxed like any other trade. I’m Romanian and I dont know any superstitious people.. besides a friend of my grandmother that actually does some form of light witchcraft

]]> By: jdollak http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985897 jdollak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985897 Wrong, wrong, wrong! It's AVOISION. Wrong, wrong, wrong! It’s AVOISION.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-996653 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-996653 Wicca =/= witchcraft. In fact, I think I can safely say a large majority of witches are not Wiccan. And I'm sure these Romanian witches aren't Wiccan if they've ever even heard of it. Wicca is a religion based off of witchcraft, but there are witches of all sorts of religions and some who have no religion. Witchcraft is hard to describe. Some say it's the "use of supernatural or magic(k)al powers," and others would say that it's simple the use of forces not yet discovered by science. Anyway, point is: Wicca and Witchcraft are not the same thing. Your comment is erroneous. Wicca =/= witchcraft. In fact, I think I can safely say a large majority of witches are not Wiccan. And I’m sure these Romanian witches aren’t Wiccan if they’ve ever even heard of it. Wicca is a religion based off of witchcraft, but there are witches of all sorts of religions and some who have no religion. Witchcraft is hard to describe. Some say it’s the “use of supernatural or magic(k)al powers,” and others would say that it’s simple the use of forces not yet discovered by science.

Anyway, point is: Wicca and Witchcraft are not the same thing. Your comment is erroneous.

]]> By: nerak http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985903 nerak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985903 Her name is Bracelet. <_< Her name is Bracelet.

<_<

]]> By: Halloween Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985658 Halloween Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985658 <blockquote>"On Saturday, a witch called Bratara told Realitate.net, the website of a top TV station, that she plans to cast a spell using black pepper and yeast to create discord in the government." </blockquote> Wow, Julian Assange sure went to a hell of a lot of trouble for nothing, eh?

“On Saturday, a witch called Bratara told Realitate.net, the website of a top TV station, that she plans to cast a spell using black pepper and yeast to create discord in the government.”

Wow, Julian Assange sure went to a hell of a lot of trouble for nothing, eh?

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985666 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985666 Sounds fair enough to me. Sounds fair enough to me.

]]> By: Niklas http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985930 Niklas Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985930 No need to be a pagan to talk smack to a pagan. No need to be a pagan to talk smack to a pagan.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985675 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985675 Just another case of a Wicca gettin hassled by The Man. Just another case of a Wicca gettin hassled by The Man.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985681 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985681 Try http://www.realitatea.net/ for the tv stations site. Spelling is not correct on the article. Try http://www.realitatea.net/ for the tv stations site. Spelling is not correct on the article.

]]> By: Spookyland http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985695 Spookyland Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985695 If they tax witches, it proves that their craft <i>is effective</i>, so this is a government endorsement of the supernatural. Awesome. On the other hand, paying taxes is a darn sight better than getting thrown into the <a href="http://spookylandcrypt.webs.com/witch.html">caschielawis</a>, so it sounds like these modern witches have smaller problems than their predecessors. If you can't build a bridge out of her, you shouldn't tax her. If they tax witches, it proves that their craft is effective, so this is a government endorsement of the supernatural. Awesome.

On the other hand, paying taxes is a darn sight better than getting thrown into the caschielawis, so it sounds like these modern witches have smaller problems than their predecessors.

If you can’t build a bridge out of her, you shouldn’t tax her.

]]> By: Ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-986463 Ocker3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986463 The WAPo article works just fine for me. Perhaps it was overloaded? The WAPo article works just fine for me. Perhaps it was overloaded?

]]> By: Philipshade http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985963 Philipshade Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985963 I'm not a practicing anything and I'll still talk smack about pagans (Christians or any other occult cult) all day long. I’m not a practicing anything and I’ll still talk smack about pagans (Christians or any other occult cult) all day long.

]]> By: peterbruells http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985709 peterbruells Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985709 I don't see how this follows. After all, they tax homeopaths and TSA employees, too. I don’t see how this follows. After all, they tax homeopaths and TSA employees, too.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985710 SamSam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985710 <blockquote>the president and his aides wear purple on Thursdays, allegedly to ward off evil spirits. ... . Mauve has a high vibration, it makes the wearer superior and wards off evil attacks, according to the esoteric group Violet Flame -- which practices on Thursdays.</blockquote> Wait, so are we supposed to wear purple, mauve or violet? Damn these articles, they never tell us what we actually need to know!

the president and his aides wear purple on Thursdays, allegedly to ward off evil spirits. … . Mauve has a high vibration, it makes the wearer superior and wards off evil attacks, according to the esoteric group Violet Flame — which practices on Thursdays.

Wait, so are we supposed to wear purple, mauve or violet? Damn these articles, they never tell us what we actually need to know!

]]> By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985715 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985715 Let's see, some possible replies from government spokespeople: "Oh, I'm sooooo <i>scared</i>!!" "Casting a spell on the government is considered a terrorist act, and will land you in prison." "The tax rate is based on number of spells cast, so go ahead, it's just more money for us." "We have already employed a government witch to ward off your hex, using the famous 'I'm rubber, you're glue' incantation." "If you are considering using a dead dog for your spell, please be aware that you don't want to get PETA after you, that is much worse than any hex you could incur." Let’s see, some possible replies from government spokespeople:

“Oh, I’m sooooo scared!!”

“Casting a spell on the government is considered a terrorist act, and will land you in prison.”

“The tax rate is based on number of spells cast, so go ahead, it’s just more money for us.”

“We have already employed a government witch to ward off your hex, using the famous ‘I’m rubber, you’re glue’ incantation.”

“If you are considering using a dead dog for your spell, please be aware that you don’t want to get PETA after you, that is much worse than any hex you could incur.”

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985971 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985971 <blockquote>I'm not a practicing anything and I'll still talk smack about pagans</blockquote> Oh, you're definitely a practicing something.

I’m not a practicing anything and I’ll still talk smack about pagans

Oh, you’re definitely a practicing something.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985718 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985718 <i>She plans to cast a spell using black pepper and yeast to create discord in the government</i> So, if it works, will anybody notice the difference? She plans to cast a spell using black pepper and yeast to create discord in the government

So, if it works, will anybody notice the difference?

]]> By: vancouvergrrl http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-986238 vancouvergrrl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986238 And is there good money to be made from spellcasting? Before taxes? I have a fair amount of black pepper around the house, and I love purple. And is there good money to be made from spellcasting? Before taxes? I have a fair amount of black pepper around the house, and I love purple.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985727 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985727 "If they tax witches, it proves that their craft is effective..." Not so. As far as I can see, these practitioners are little different than business, legal or medical consults, and I see no reason why they ought not to be taxed likewise: that is to say, taxed with a regard given to the size of the profits they derive from practicing their crafts, without any necessary examination of the actual efficacy, if any, of their actions and/or advice. That latter task would be a more suitable job for the Fraud Squad, than the Tax Man. “If they tax witches, it proves that their craft is effective…”

Not so.

As far as I can see, these practitioners are little different than business, legal or medical consults, and I see no reason why they ought not to be taxed likewise: that is to say, taxed with a regard given to the size of the profits they derive from practicing their crafts, without any necessary examination of the actual efficacy, if any, of their actions and/or advice.

That latter task would be a more suitable job for the Fraud Squad, than the Tax Man.

]]> By: desiredusername http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-986263 desiredusername Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986263 Republican witches are going to cacat their tine! Republican witches are going to cacat their tine!

]]> By: ViolettVerq http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-986519 ViolettVerq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986519 They did the same with prostitution in Germany some years ago. Prostitution is legal and you have to pay taxes for the money you get. I like stuff like that. They did the same with prostitution in Germany some years ago. Prostitution is legal and you have to pay taxes for the money you get. I like stuff like that.

]]> By: Glossolalia Black http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985752 Glossolalia Black Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985752 Eh, them religious types are notorious for not wanting to pay their bills/taxes. Eh, them religious types are notorious for not wanting to pay their bills/taxes.

]]> By: Spookyland http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-985757 Spookyland Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-985757 You guys are awesome. I respectfully withdraw my clumsy attempt to validate the supernatural. See how sad you made the witch? Good luck getting them to fill out Romanian tax forms or e-File. You guys are awesome. I respectfully withdraw my clumsy attempt to validate the supernatural.

See how sad you made the witch?

Good luck getting them to fill out Romanian tax forms or e-File.

]]> By: Nash Rambler http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-986525 Nash Rambler Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986525 Hmm, I think this will go a long way in legitamizing the Witches' Union (local 233). Hmm, I think this will go a long way in legitamizing the Witches’ Union (local 233).

]]> By: Saint Fnordius http://boingboing.net/2011/01/05/romania-declares-wit.html#comment-986271 Saint Fnordius Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-986271 You know, I think the one thing these witches are really pissed off about is that they will lose some of their mystique, being demoted to a business like any other. It's a little hard to keep the supernatural air when you have to write up a receipt and charge 18% VAT. After all, it's not all that likely that they will be able to prove that the witches really took money, but it's different if it's a recognised business. And lots of these village witches may now face competition from those witches who play by the rules, and even use their new legal status to advertise. Just another case of people hating change, really. It is so easy to just sit back and gripe. You know, I think the one thing these witches are really pissed off about is that they will lose some of their mystique, being demoted to a business like any other. It’s a little hard to keep the supernatural air when you have to write up a receipt and charge 18% VAT.

After all, it’s not all that likely that they will be able to prove that the witches really took money, but it’s different if it’s a recognised business. And lots of these village witches may now face competition from those witches who play by the rules, and even use their new legal status to advertise.

Just another case of people hating change, really. It is so easy to just sit back and gripe.

]]>