Magic Forums

Forgive me if this has been talked about before.
Just something I wanted to talk about because I was reading a few harsh articles on the internet about how 'You're fake, you're not a real Wiccan unless you're initiated by a high priestess'. What if you don't know anyone in your area to even be initiated by, nor a teacher or someone who's even Wiccan? Just some of the harsh things people can say to knew people that are genuinely interested in Wicca. It's just discouraging, feeling as if you're being pushed away from something you strongly believe in. So my questions are, must you be initiated to be a 'true' Wiccan? If so what would you even do if you don't go to public places or join a coven around your area because maybe you just don't know anyone that is Wiccan? Maybe someone is very shy and has a hard time going to any kind of public functions, big or small. Or is it honestly okay to learn from books, and be a solitary. Are Solitary Wiccans just as equal as Wiccans that have been initiated in a local coven? Is initiation even required at all? I've also heard people do self initiation by themselves when being a solitary, is this just as right as being initiated by a high priestess? I would love to hear what all of you have to say about all these questions.