The problem is similar to 1984. When it was written, 1984 was so far away. It has come and gone. The sad part is that large parts of the world did resemble the novel in 1984.
I used to leaf through old WT lit from Russell's and Rutherford's tenure b/c I was bored. We only had library books, The material was very spooky. Ray Franz has a wonderful example of a failed WT prophecy in one of his books. After decades I can recall it vividly. Some calculation was done in Russell's time. The date came and passed. Bible Students were upset so they revisited the calculations. A new date was selected. The original calculation in the WT was based on when some key Bible Student figure passed from Pittsburgh ot NY. A railroad time table was actually used. The investigator found that the train did not follow the usual route during the period. Someplace in NJ, someplace like Secaucus or Bayonne, the train veered off to another track which lengthened the time.When this information was discovered, all made sense, jubilatin broke out, and Russell was vindicated. Only the second date arrived.
B/c my mom's family was in for so long, I knew of these dates from my mom. She had many questions concerning the WT and God's Word. We were seated in Yankee Stadium when Freddie Franz delivered his lecture heralding 1975 as a significant date. It involves something to do with Eve's reproductive cycle or some other odd thing, not mentioned in any Bible or commentary. Freddie knew the exact date, moment and second. It was my last convention before I left. I was absolutely shocked that with its history the WT repeated its mistake.
No one knew much about WT history when I was young. Few cared. The Internet has created massive problems for them. These past dates can be verified. WT literature is now available online. You don't have to track down a volume at a used book store.
I imagine the average JW knows nothing of the history. What is more few care. I called local Witnesses when I was outraged that a convicted Nuremberg criminal was quoted for his theology. His theology gave credence to the Nazis He was an early comer to the National Socialist Party, not accomodating himself to the times for ambition. Next, Selma and Steve appeared in the WT. Steve beats Selma. Selma is told to have a better attitude. Steve's beatings are justified b/c of her bad attitude toward being beat. I needed to vent or explode. Perhaps it was cruel (I told them that I knew they did not write the pieces) but I also asked the further question how as women they could sit there and not notice. Certainly, it would not be immodest to discuss it with the study conductor or elders after the meeting.
They live on Fantasy Island. Ricardo Montabaln was something to behold. Remember "Corinthian leather?"
Their response was not to challenge my facts but say, so what? So what?