Ask a Dark Sider.

How long have you followed this Dark Path and how old are you?

32. Roughly ten years. Though ive always been drawn to what is commonly referred to as left hand paths since I was 16-17.

Mabye its because I'm left handed? Lol, just kidding. Not about the left handed part, I'm just sure that's not the reason.

Thank you Khaos.

How long have I been a Dark Side Force Realist/Sith?
Roughly eight months.
How long have I been studying the left hand path? Roughly ten months.
How long have I identified as someone on the darker side of things? Nine, ten years? I've only been comfortable with my aberration for the last four or so.

I'm 21.

i've never considered myself sith...
dark? in the past yes,... now? not really...

my path has been like the ocean currents...going here,there, and everywhere

i've studied the "left hand path" most of my life,i wanted an understanding of why i was put through what i was, and how to beat it...however i choose to follow my own path straight through the middle

i'm closing in on 37...but i feel so much older....

I didn't take up this path to understand what I was put through (a lot) or to beat it. Such a reason would be a poor one (as I would tell any initiate) to undertake the Dark path.

Ive also never considered that just because I share this path (Sith/Dark) that it was any less mine/my own. All the branches on the tree share the same trunks and roots.

Some days I feel old when I remember ive been married for sixteen years and a father for nine. I remember when my son more or less fit in one hand.. Lol, i also feel older when and how much I still have planned that hasn't been achieved yet,how much work I still have to do and how to fit it all into one lifetime.

Such is the price of passion though. Mostly I enjoy the feeling, as it means ive been doing something.

Its easy to judge others, not bothering to comprehend how an individual may have been raised or treated in their youth. That's the problem with forums or anything else on the internet, people can cast stones or make comments with 0 accountability.

For me, my judgement is based on the fact that I have no training or ability to deal with such issues if they are in fact issues. I am not a psychologist. Its also a matter of me not being concerned about ones past. I cant possibly change it.Noone I have ever met has had an ideal past whatever that even means. Lol and I cant comprehend how anybody else was treated or raised. Especially over the Internet. I wasn't there.

As such I will not take responsibility and accountability for something out of my scope to help an individual with. Which is fairly responsible.

If someone comes to me for training (or the Dark path in general) there are a few things they have to have together in order before being accepted.

We turn away many....applicants? Actually.

I will however, not let how one was raised/treated, be an excuse, reason, or justification. That's a crutch, and I would rather people walk on there own two feet.

I'd call them aspirants, if we wanted to find a suitable word for it.

Khaos, just on your last comment, don't someone's experiences greatly shape their outlook? Or are you suggesting that people use "I had a <period of time>" as an excuse to be Dark, rather than properly explaining how their experiences put them in the place they are now?

Your past experiences shape your outlook to a degree of course. It still should not be a crutch for change or or against it in the present though. Such is letting the last have much more influence (power) over you presently then it should. You choose how an influence shapes you, what you will take from said experiences. If you use them as a crutch, your choosing to be a victim, and there is very little choice in your decision. Such is a poor way to turn to any path I would say.

I consider those that had a "period of time " nothing more than dabblers. Nothing wrong with dabbling, but it does not take the same level of commitment, sacrifice, and effort for those who immerse themselves in the Dark path. Hence there is nowhere near the same passion,understanding, achievement, and and appreciation.