"It would be very difficult to turn that information into anything more than it is and if they did...Oh well. I can always turn off my computer and continue on my study and teaching through other venues."
Glad you have such a cavalier attitude about your personal information and freedom to express yourself, not all of us do. Everyone is different, and everyone has their own view of what is an acceptable level of privacy. Trust me you are naive in this regard. I've been online since 99 and I can tell you, people have a remarkable ability to turn seemingly innocuous information into something else. Your backwards logic that people who simply want their privacy have something to hide is rather absurd. I simply don't want people I chat with that are total strangers knowing things about my personal life, any things. I don't think that's unreasonable.
Like I said, if you are asking or being offered teaching online, my advice is simply to engage the person in chat, and ask questions. Seeing as there are not accredited universities of occult study out there, asking someone about their education in "magick" seems rather stupid and harry potterish to me, as does who taught them. This is not the martial arts world where such things matter, or where certain teachers, or "Sensei" are world renowned, and you garner great prestige and credibility via learning from them. The few such people who might be considered "great" in the magic world are often not so great when you take a closer look at their published work, which is usually their only claim to fame; and their educational background is usually that of an autodidact.I believe there's nothing wrong with that if they possess the requisite knowledge and understanding. Often, though not always, but often, those who are autodidacts can be the most knowledgeable, as they must do a great deal more to learn, often leading to a greater understanding. You also need to question where exactly your teacher may have gotten their knowledge from. It is also foolish to assume autodidacts have not had more mainstream teaching along the way.
You strike me as something of an occult snob rashnu, no offense. Though you feel what you demand is reasonable, you don't seem to get that there is a great sense of entitlement to your attitude.
My advice, leave people be. It's clear you personally are not looking for a teacher. Let others pick and choose who they will learn from based upon what that person knows, or does not. I certainly would not base my choices on a more mainstream "give me your resume" approach. That simply won't work in this area of study, and it may never. Your attitude is just a bit too elitist and snobbish for me.
While I was lucky enough to have some help and teaching along the way, not everyone is. I would not fault those who were not so lucky, or demand they justify themselves or their experience to me, though I would wisely want to know how much they know. That's what is most important. Good bye.
I'm unclear as to how you feel a comment that was general in tone is a direct attack or "psychoanalysis" against you. If I meant to use you as an example to my statement of those I've found who protest, I would have directly addressed you. Since I did not, I would ask that you leave your paranoia out of this thread.
You can see it however you wish to see it and call me a snob all you want.
I understand your point, though I do not agree with it, just the same as you do not agree with mine. Difference being is that I haven't gone out of my way to insult you in trying to get it across. I find this particularly interesting considering all the threads where you accuse others of picking on you.
If you want to let susceptible children fall prey to those who find magick to be a game where they can be play masters of the universe while Mommy and Daddy fail to do their job as a parent, that is your choice. I would prefer them to think twice and check their sources so we can lessen the idiocy in the occult community. Not continue it.
