It's kind of like Bill Clinton's "It depends on what your definition of 'is' is."
Speaking of "spin", funny story:
One time I was dragged into the back room for daring to exercise any Christian freedom. The elders confronted me with a Watchtower article which grasped at straws for authority and control for elders and the Society. I read the elders a scripture which obviously refuted the excerpt's claim. To this, one elder piped up, "That's your interpretation." This struck me as odd, since I hadn't said anything of my own invention, but merely read a passage from the Bible.
Back on topic:
It appears Rick has taken this oblivious, hard-headed attitude of JWs and run with it. I don't recall if Rick said he was ever an elder, but I do remember him saying he was anointed. With the "fds" status awarded to those who drink the wine (even if the Society doesn't acknowledge it unless you're in the inner elite), it's pretty clear he sought to elevate himself above the rest of the congregation, from the start.
In his sensationalized (albeit rather boring) JC recording posted online, he insisted the elders had no jurisdiction over him, since he was anointed. He even went on to inform them that it was his job to keep them in line and if anybody was going to kick anybody out, it would be him DFing them. I believe his exact words, referring to himself, were "Ezekiel class". Now, he has a cult. Granted his followers are a hand-full of losers and crackpots. But, it seems he has been out for glory since the beginning and he's willing to achieve that goal by any means.
Everyone else posting on this thread prefers to hide behind a ficticious name and a cute little avatar.
Actually, many who are DAed or DFed and no longer have anything to lose have actual photos and/or names on their accounts. Screen names are nothing unique to this forum. My real name isn't associated with any of my online accounts where that information would be available to the public. As I recall, Rick lied about his association with his new church at his JC, trying to avoid problems from that. Only now that he is totally out and knows he'd never be allowed back in and is comfortable with his new cult and his pathetic following (even many of them tend to distance themselves a bit) does he make it clear that he doesn't confrom to JW rules. Now he has a whole new group to be dishonest to.
Nobody wants to be attacked or even confronted by elders, family, or friends. And certainly nobody wants to be stalked by JW weirdos, of whom there are oodles. This forum has plenty of nutters and I can certainly understand why precious few want their actual identity put out there for everybody to see. Rick, on the other hand, craves the attention of nutters, as they are his "bread and butter", so to speak.
I speak my mind and heart just fine to my local elders, people in my Hall, and my Bible studies, Rick. I don't need to fish the online ghettos for people to agree with me. Your whole message is sour grapes: The JWs didn't want you because you really are an apostate. Not only do you reject everything bad and false about JWs, but you reject everything good and true. So you - in turn - pretend that you reject them, when in reality, you didn't leave; they threw you out. Even when you were glory-hounding, you were hiding; playing both sides: Trying to keep your JW friends and gain celebrity among anti-JWs.
(I must be getting upset, because my punctuation is becoming very complicated.)
PublishingCult on your last post you were referring to me as DICK. My name is Rick. Could this be a Freudian slip?