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What? A regular, upright pentagram? And also, you know some of us are actually practicing Ritual or Ceremonial Magick, and this is actually a sacred symbol for

What? A regular, upright pentagram? And also, you know some of us are actually practicing Ritual or Ceremonial Magick, and this is actually a sacred symbol for us? I'd understand if it was upside down, which is part of the laughable LaVeyan Satanic cult, but I assure you there are likely people you know who may be members of very serious Magical Orders. I will not mention my specific associations with any of these Orders, but even Freemasonry, which I was involved in for years, if studied carefully, has its roots in Ceremonial Magick. Their use of the pentagram was highly attractive to me - and, furthermore, funny, and clearly educated in Magick to an extent - the I/O symbol at the top is an adorable nod to that being the node of the Spirit.

schaefer 7y ago
I studied and practiced Wicca for years before settling into Buddhism. I've personally got no quams about the presence of this symbol. but I also have lots of family and friends in rural, conservative, christian USA. I assure you, upside down or right side up... If I tried to show them this video, they would flip out. There would be no talk about privacy or cell phones. All discussion would be hyper focused on the presence of this symbol. Yes, the would equally flip out if the symbol had been a Star and Cresent (Islam), or Swastica (Hinduism, Buddhism, et. all). I know this debate isn't new (safe spaces, trigger warnings, etc.) but the only point I'm trying to make is that some people will always find the choice to include any religious symbolism in a technical talk divisive. (which sometimes is fine if we are aware and choose deliberately...) -- Hopefully I'm allowed brief tangent back on topic - just in case anyone associated with the project/talk notices this post (and grandparent post): I'm super excited about this phone, and as soon as there's concrete data about comparability for US carriers, I would love to purchase one.
- jancsika 7y ago
  > If I tried to show them this video, they would flip out. Flip out because the Wiccan CTO is using a pentagram, or because the CTO is Wiccan? I certainly understand the desire to separate religious iconography from technical slides, but I don't think your example has much to do with that.

schaefer 7y ago

I studied and practiced Wicca for years before settling into Buddhism. I've personally got no quams about the presence of this symbol. but I also have lots of family and friends in rural, conservative, christian USA. I assure you, upside down or right side up... If I tried to show them this video, they would flip out. There would be no talk about privacy or cell phones. All discussion would be hyper focused on the presence of this symbol. Yes, the would equally flip out if the symbol had been a Star and Cresent (Islam), or Swastica (Hinduism, Buddhism, et. all). I know this debate isn't new (safe spaces, trigger warnings, etc.) but the only point I'm trying to make is that some people will always find the choice to include any religious symbolism in a technical talk divisive. (which sometimes is fine if we are aware and choose deliberately...) -- Hopefully I'm allowed brief tangent back on topic - just in case anyone associated with the project/talk notices this post (and grandparent post): I'm super excited about this phone, and as soon as there's concrete data about comparability for US carriers, I would love to purchase one.

jancsika 7y ago
> If I tried to show them this video, they would flip out. Flip out because the Wiccan CTO is using a pentagram, or because the CTO is Wiccan? I certainly understand the desire to separate religious iconography from technical slides, but I don't think your example has much to do with that.