Hmmm, how would I describe the mentality of Splane? Not nearly as "out there" as Losch, certainly. Much more careful about his words... perhaps the most careful of the bunch.
I didn't have lots of experience with him, but I had uncertainties measuring him up. Particularly with Linda, and in more public settings, I found David interesting, likable, and knowledgable... as "anointed" should be. However, I had experience enough that I didn't necessarily trust him. I could ask him a question and get an answer. I would think it was all straightforward enough... but... I learned that he is capable of wording things in such a way as to avoid giving an honest, complete answer on what he really knows is the answer to the question. Of course, later, I find out the complete answer for myself. To him, he's given me the "answer" I deserve, nothing more. To me, he was lying and withholding information that I had a right to know and would have saved me a lot of grief. Nice. Using "spiritual warfare" to mislead me.
Splane was a very loyal company man. Kept "organization" interests to the fore, defending whatever rubbish "mother" would put out there. Always hoping for the best. He was very good at speculating, illustrating, and postulating, wording it very convincingly. Able to take any line of reasoning... whether it was "Armageddon now", "Armageddon in a million years", or "Santa is the King of the North"... and turn it into Sheeple Chow that the crowd would swallow enthusiastically as the "whole truth".
From what I'd heard, the conventions this year were mostly about the imminence of the big A. From what Shopa heard it sounds almost like a different interpretation of the same material. Why? I dunno. Was it a choice of Splane or was this something more official from "Teaching"? Well, neither approach is new. They've always said it's imminent. And since it's never come they tell the crowd to be prepared for it to never come in their lives... but it will... or it might not... or it's imminent, etc. However, it could make a difference in contributions. If they convince the dubs that it's imminent, they're more likely to part with more money. But if they have to live another 40 years, they better hold onto as much cha-ching as they can for retirement, so they don't have to eat Alpo when they're 80.
And the drama was indeed, emotionally charged rubbish. Dub-worthy melodramatic entertainment that had no similarity to real-life in the Kingdumb Hall. Pure theatrics.
