There are apologists who sincerely (I think) try to refute everything, from the UN issue to the false prophesies to the misquotes to the pseudo-science, to the child abuse policies and everything else. I don't doubt that some at Bethel could read everything here and still think they're right. I'm sure if they do assign anyone to the task, they choose them very carefully. Probably not only the most highly indocrinated, but those who would have the most to lose by leaving.
Why has the WT not tried to shut down this board?
by hamsterbait 69 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
notjustyet
Sacrifice one for the sake of many, all they need to do is to be able to justify that it is okay for the masses.
I believe that it has been said that the WTBTS might use this and other sites as a "barometer" to see what troubles the JWs to know what should be
covered in the Watchtower in the future. For instance if they see new members coming here and discussing the disbelief in the new definition of "generation" then it would be in their best interest to write more articles and get out the "caulking gun" to try to plug the hole to prevent more from leaving.
I mean if WE could get some device to be able to listen in on the GB meeting we would do it, right? I believe that the GB and the WTBTS in general views these sites and the biggest hole they have to contend with and if they can 'listen in" on what we are saying, doing, planning etc they have a leg up on the pulse of the ones leaving.
So I think that this might be the reason that they do not attack this site vs some of the ones that are more of a "one way" information sharing. I mena, that's what I would do if I were them.
NJY
-
WTWizard
They use this site to monitor those within so they can ensnare people who find the material and add to it. That works well to rout out anyone within the organization, but it doesn't stop worldly people who are contemplating studying from finding the material and deciding not to study. When that happens, the washtowel loses a soul, and they lose whatever money that person would have brought in.
And, I believe there is a lot of original material here. You get people that post notes they themselves took at a$$emblies, and those notes are original works. (Along with whatever commentaries they offer, preventing it from being simply plagiarized from the outline.) You get plenty of speculation, plenty of discussion about the hardships involved within the religion, discussion about whether it is even Christian and why or why not, and even personal experiences within the congregations. It is pretty hard to claim a copyright on such original material and shut down this site for it.
Not that they won't try--I wish Vangelis would observe them doing that, and sue the crap out of the Washtowel for ripping off Chariots of Fire.
-
cedars
Who says they haven't tried?
I've only been in this game for less than two years, and I've already had a website and a youtube video taken down by Watchtower's legal team. I would be EXTREMELY surprised if Simon hasn't had at least one terse email exchange with Patterson's "men in suits" in all his years of running this site (and its previous incarnations).
I'm not suggesting they have dedicated teams of brothers scouring the internet looking for trouble. Even the Society is smart enough to know that whoever they give such a job to will likely end up becoming an apostate themselves. Still, all it takes is one disgruntled dub to phone Brooklyn and complain that some site or other has information that shouldn't be made public, and I'm sure the army of Watchtower lawyers gets mobilized.
Cedars
-
moshe
The cynic in me says that they know perfectly well they don't have the truth,
They might know this, but they also probably don't think the other churches have the 100% truth , either (like that Trinity doctrine) so it boils down to following our WT errors or switching religions and following somebody else's errors. I also think they publish little disclaimers from time to time so that the JW who is a stickler for the facts can be forewarned that the WT dogma is a work in progress and subject to revisions. Almost 20 years ago they removed the 1914 generation promise from the inside cover of the Awake and in so doing they put thinking JWs on notice that the WT religion no longer promised a paradise earth to it's followers. The JWs should have said- "Oh, Oh", and got out, but the vast majority didn't leave the KH, as I don't think it even registered that the GB had just pulled the rug out from under them-
-
tiki
they would have no just cause or legal right to shut down any site it would seem to me. we do have freedom of expression - and they do NOT rule the world, contrary to their warped self absorbed viewpoint. as for them monitoring the site - if they choose to do that, so what. they have no hold over any of us and our thoughts, ideas, expressions, etc. and what good would it do them? you got some guy at bethel plowing through all these posts and unless he is a stone-hearted moron robot, he's going to realize we're all onto something here. TTATT.
-
jgnat
I've heard it before and it makes sense, it's all about control. It is possible in the leadership's mind that they have the "truth" and still gnash their teeth at this uncontrollable element.
WTBTS has moles // J-W.net has moles . - bats
The difference is, the WTS hides their juicy stuff, and this board is open for all to see. Gee, an investigator doesn't even need to log on to read the posts.
I would believe that the WTS would contract out a service to track what is happening on this board. The response to viral messes like Sparlock and Deaf Masturbation have been relatively swift, wouldn't you say? (I mean swift from the point of view of a large bureacracy that isn't used to responding to the public quickly).
IMHO the WTS keeps a much closer eye on Youtube than here. We're a specialist community, whereas the Youtube stuff has the potential to leak in to the wider community.
As for hackers and disruptors, I thnk this could be accomplished by overzealous Witness geeks without any help from Bethel.
-
unstopableravens
jgnat do you think theres members here who are spys for the wt?
-
jgnat
unstop, like I pointed out, an investigator does not even have to join to know what is going on at this board. It's all open here. No need for spies. No need to fear our neighbour.
-
Heaven
Why has the WT not tried to shut down this board?
Basically, what tiki said. They have no authority to do so.