Recently I remembered another example which shows how hateful and unChrist-like the witnesses are brainwashed into being.
A long time ago, when I was a pioneer, I was hanging out with a group of long-time pioneers after the district convention, in the stadium hallway. Some had been pioneering for more than 10 years and therefore were considered to be spiritually mature. A woman who appeared to be a sister was walking by; she paused and greeted us and said something like, "What a great program that was." I did not know her, but the others did and knew she was disfellowshipped. I personally would have said, "Yes, it sure was," and continued on my way. But they said to each other things like, "Did you hear something?" and "No, you couldn't have because there is no one there." and "I did NOT hear something -" and turning to the woman - "because I do not even know you. I don't know you at all. In fact, you don't even exist." The woman stood emotionless, then continued on her way. The pioneers explained to me that she was disfellowshipped, and that she obviously is not accepting her discipline if she's going around trying to talk to people.
Later we met up with other pioneers, and of course this group started telling the other group, "So-and-so is here, she even tried to talk to us..." the other group said yes they saw her too, she is in the process of being reinstated. The first group was saying things like, "She's not ready to be reinstated if she is not accepting Jehovah's discipline..." I tried to explain to them that the program is, we do not share spiritual things with disfellowshipped persons nor invite them to gatherings. Other than that they are still human beings. For example, if one says, "Good morning," it is proper - and Christlike - to respond "Good Morning". If they come to the hall it is proper to hold the door for them, help them find a seat, and treat them like any other visitor (even though they are not a potential Bible study).
I myself have at least been civil to disfellowshipped persons. After all, if they're at the hall or at an assembly that should tell you something right there. It's not like they are still "out in the world" committing gross sins unrepentantly. They know they're disfellowshipped, and there's no need to remind them or look down upon them. I always thought, "There but for the grace of God go I." Or as Jesus said, the one who has not sinned may throw the first stone.
A couple of years later, while walking thru the hall at a convention site, I came across a pioneer sister (from another congregation) whom I had not seen in about a year. I started talking to her, but she suddenly started trembling and crying, and her face turned red. She said to me, "I'm sorry, but I haven't been reinstated yet." She realized that I did not know she was disfellowshipped, and now she was forced to shamefully tell me she was. I felt compassion for her. I responded with something like, "It's good to see you here. I always appreciated your comments, and admired the kind things you did for people in the congregation. Keep coming back. And may Jehovah bless you." Then I continued on my way.
Question to governing body: which approach is more likely to get the "lost sheep" to return to the fold - and stay?
(Hint: read The Greatest Man book.)
ha ha