"They're not a REAL witch"

Have you ever heard anyone say this?
I've been hearing it a lot lately, too much in fact. I hear it at conventions, I read it in blogs, status updates, and
it makes me feel embarrassed of my fellow pagans. Isn't it
nice to know that your fellow pagans are out there judging
you, just like everyone else does?
One of the beautiful things about paganism, and one of it's facets that attract many people who were previously
Christian, is the fact we don't have an almighty power
judging us from above. No one telling us what we can and can not do, and who we are and are not supposed to be. So why is
it, so many other pagans take it upon themselves to fill
this position, when it's exactly what they are/were escaping
to begin with?
I can't answer this question because I have no idea what makes another person judge one of their own. I have never in
my life uttered the phrase "they're not a REAL witch"because how the hell would I know if someone is a real witch or not? I don't know every pagan or witch in the world, and
I find that people who do say things like this, are speaking about a person they have never even met! So what are they
basing this on then?
I've done my fair share of workshops, retreats, and conventions, and I do run across young people who are just beginning to discover their spirituality. Hell, I was one of
those teenagers, and I was even raised pagan! We all go through that corny, awkward, witch phase, and it's okay because this path is about self discovery and self
expression. Their rebellion, attitudes, and innocence make
me smile, are they "REAL witches"? Maybe they are, maybe
they aren't, maybe they are the most powerful, devoted witch you will ever see, they just don't know it yet. Will you be the one standing and judging whether or not they are "real"
or will you go introduce yourself and see what you can learn
and/or teach?
Another venue I hear this in is in classes, workshops, or
stores that are geared towards pagans/witches. You have the
people who insist their ideas are being stolen and their
work copied by people who aren't even "real witches". Get over yourself. Witchcraft has been around thousands of years, sorry to tell you, but you're not the first to do
anything. Who's to say that two people didn't come up with
the same idea at the same time? Or maybe one had it first
but didn't use it in a class or a design right away. My
point is, you can't possibly know. There is room for all of us here. How would you feel if someone was talking or writing about you saying you are not "real" when they've
never even met you? Or that you stole their witchy idea,
even though you've been teaching that way or making that
item for a decade. It's not right to treat others like this, no matter what belief system you are. By doing this, you're only hurting your own connections, business, spirituality, and relationships. Be descent and treat others how you would like to be treated, all religions agree
on that, so why can't witches?