Do people ever treat you differently?

[Skippy]

If you ever tell anyone that you're interested in AP/spirituality/New Age stuff, and that you practice AP, do they ever treat you differently?

I was talking to some people online about it a few days ago, and most of them were completely closed to any of the ideas. Some of them told me that it was a lot of rubbish and that I was wasting my time on it, and in general, they seemed to be unable to comprehend why I would possibly be interested, and why I would want to learn how to AP (which they don't believe in anyway.)

They weren't exactly treating me like I was weird (although I'm sure that must happen a lot with people who talk about this stuff to others who don't believe in it) but there was a general...I'm not sure what it was. It was a kind of, "Why-are-you-into-this-stupid-nonsense" type attitude, and at times, they seemed almost annoyed that I'm interested in this.

Has anyone else ever found that?

[Vilkate]

I think I might be lucky with the people I meet, because I've never been treated as a weirdo because of what I believe in and practice - most of the people I've told it think it is very interesting, and many have now started practicing APing themselves. If anybody has ever thought I'm nuts, they haven't told or showed that.

[Skippy]

Lucky you! Several people have outrightly told me that what I believe in is a load of rubbish. I wish they'd keep it to themselves, really. I think it's quite rude to tell someone that what they believe in is a load of crap.

I just wish some people would tone down their attitudes a bit. It can be tiresome.

[DH]

Lucky you! Several people have outrightly told me that what I believe in is a load of rubbish. I wish they'd keep it to themselves, really. I think it's quite rude to tell someone that what they believe in is a load of crap.
I just wish some people would tone down their attitudes a bit. It can be tiresome.

Sounds like it's time to expand your circle of acquaintances and friends!  I too have had to deal with my share of skeptics.  When they pop up I just let them say their dribble and go on their merry way.  Life's too short to let the idiots get you down.  Be who you are and be happy.  You owe it to yourself.   

DH

[Stookie]

For me it's a personal thing. Outside of this forum, I rarely share anything about my experiences. How I act and my perception of life is directly affected by it, but I don't feel the need to share it with anyone else. Only those who I know would be genuinely interested (such as the good people here at the astral pulse). Life is too fun to bog it down with thoughts of AP all the time.

[Doringo]

Like Stookie I don't usually share any of my experiences with this sort of thing but I did mention meditation to my girlfriend once and she launched into a rant about 'how it's all bovine excrement' (I didn't quite see what she was getting at, but oh well) so I don't think I will continue telling her about that..

[Vilkate]

On the other hand, it is interesting to tell someone your beliefs, even if they are fanatic non-believers, sometimes it happens to convert them into believers.

[Doringo]

I'm happy to put up with it. She's fantastic in every other way (don't want to start babbling so I'll stop there) so it's not a big deal.

[MilitiaMan]

I have had mixed responses.
I'm in senior year at high school here in Northeast Kansas... pretty conservative place if you dont know.

My best bud who I will room with at college next year was the first one I told when I learned about this stuff, and he was shocked.
He is part of this Unity church and he claims to have told me about it a year or so ago (when i too was very conservative) and that I laughed it off. He got really interested in it again, but he is the lazy type of person who never actually gets enough dedication to start something big like meditation daily. He's really supportive of my beliefs obviously.

Another good friend of mine is very conservative and at first he laughed it off too. When I told him about my few experiences out of body, and read some of Robert Monroe's books to him he changed his mind and now thinks it is a definite possibility, but is not interested in practicing it.

About 10 people that I rarely talk to somehow found out about what I do, and were VERY interested, one of them also began practicing it, but he has recently fallen out of belief in AP. I have actually made friends because of how interesting people think I am now hahaha.

There's only one person that i have not told: my ex-girlfriend that I still talk to regularly. Our relationship ended only because she moved to Texas, so there's still feelings between us.

She is not the type of person who would believe in this, at least I don't think so... Maybe someday in the future I'll "accidentally" let her see one of my books and explain it from there.

Overall, maybe 2 or 3 people that know think less of me because of it, but they were not my friends anyhow.

[Clinton]

I was told that it's from the devil.

I only chat with like-minded people, I'm a 39 years of age, "non-white" person in South Africa... so there's only a few people as you guys can imagine.

Many people here know of AP and acknowledge some kind of experience, but discount it as negative.

[DH]

One very wise holy man said, "Don't cast your pearls before swine."

In other words, don't waste your time with those who don't understand, especially those who don't want to understand.  This is not being cruel.  It's just a fact of life that people are on different spiritual journeys.  Some are ready to hear and some aren't.  Don't be judgmental.  We have all been there. There will be a time when skeptics are open to truth.  In the meantime, just share with those whom you perceive to be ready NOW.  DH

[Petal]

I've had a very mixed response.  Sometimes I have been very surprised and people who I thought would be sceptics have been very interested.

My boss at work is very sceptic, however he does ocassionally ask questions and doesn't ridicule so I don't mind that at all.

[Skippy]

My boss at work is very sceptic, however he does ocassionally ask questions and doesn't ridicule so I don't mind that at all.

It would be nice if everyone was like that.

I have no problem with people not believing in it. I can understand why they don't - astral projection seems a pretty weird, freaky thing to many people. I think a lot of people can't conceive the notion.

But I don't think it's nice for people to ridicule those who believe, or make fun of them, or be sarcastic towards them, and insult them because of their beliefs.

[riddled_skies]

Yeah, like Doringo, I told my girlfriend about AP. Seemed like a good idea. She was pretty "weird" herself, and she seemed intersted. While I was telling the story, she even told me, "Usually stories don't get me this interested." and whenever I stopped in the story, she would tell me to keep going on. So, I thought it went pretty good... until she dumped me a few days later

Although she begged me back that very next day, soo 

hmm, need I go on?

[mon9999]

before I tell anyone about those stuff, I observe their personality first. If the person has an expressions like " weird!" or "that was strange" then I doubt the person will ever believe me.