by JeffT 5 Replies latest jw friends
So I know they have someone monitoring everything that gets said from the platform. What happens if the speaker gets way off script? For example, one of our fading elders decides to just start saying what he knows. Do they shut off the mic and send a couple of brothers to haul him off the stage? It could be a real problem for them.
Thanks for anything you can help me with on this. I'm thinking of rewriting a scene in one of my books.
This was interesting.."Hey I remember my Dad telling me about the brothers watching thestage at the Conventions had to keep their eyes open during prayer b/c legally if someone stormed the stage and took the mic we would have to let them speak if they had the floor because it was a "public" meeting in a "public place". This was in the U.S. Anyone got thoughts on this? I asked him what we would do, he said if theperson refused to shut up we would all just leave and let him talk to empty chairs I guess." From a meeting: "I've seen a few disturbances over the years. A deranged person tried to take control of the podium and give his own speech. He timed it pretty good...he got up right before it was time for the chairman to getup and most of the audience was already in their seats. But he didn't get to say much... he was forcibly removed." http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/157010/4/Your-most-memorable-Kingdom-Hall-meeting-disruptions
QuietOne:
They used to have a "safety" department at assemblies and DCs that was a euphemism for "security." Some years ago it was merged with Attendants Dept. But the main function was providing guards (usually big brothers) to sit at strategic locations at the access points for the stage, as well as a couple of brothers to walk with the sisters as they carried the donation boxes back to accounting.
There was no instructions for letting anyone unauthorized to talk. Anyone trying to get thru was going to be stopped and removed ASAP. I kinda think the Society is more 'legally' aware now, given that DCs are on them. CAs fall under the circuit, and the instructions, from a legal liability aspect are different - Usually lacking or unwritten for a CA, whereas they are written (there is a manual) for the DCs.
JeffT:
They do have someone following talks during DCs. (Not sure for CAs, but I don't doubt the DO and CO, being familiar already with the talks from rehersals would spot a major departure, or even a small one.) But back to the DCs, It seems, from my experience they had one following behind the stage to assist with cues for demos and experiences. And they also had one back in the chairman's office following, line-by-line, for standards reasons.
A few years ago we had a brother (and older gentleman) who gave out during his talk. The attendants, already seeing him having difficulty, had moved closer, and when he started to faint they caught him before he hit the floor. Another brother, the one following from back in the chairman's office, moved right in and took over the talk. He took over at the very thought the older brother was trying to make and continued from there, even completing the older brother's thought. It was, admittedly, an amazing part of that talk. The audience even recognized what he did.
I had one DC talk that was a verse-by-verse consideration. I relied heavily on an academic commentary to try to gain understanding of the passage, as what the WT had in print about it was rather fuzzy. And my research had a great impact on the talk, yet the talk still held to major WT doctrinal points throughout (This was before, or during, the great awakening). Anyways, when I came down and was escorted back to the chairman's office for "debriefing," the DO, who was the convention chairman (not the bro announcing talks on stage) patted me on the back and kiddingly said, 'you were 9 seconds over.' (He did not know I forgot to start my stopwatch and about halfway looked to see my timing, and seeing it not running, just went with it.) But he also said it was a good talk, 'Sounded like you knew what you were talking about.' The brother folowing the talk was sitting there with his outlines. He just looked at me Not sure what he was thinking, but I guess the DO made his statement, so he was probably outranked and couldn't add any dissenting view.
Take Care
On the congregational level if the brother who goes way off script he would be considered an oddball. When the Circuit Overseers, (or what ever they're called nowadays) comes around he compiles a list of good speakers. That's why the Presiding Overseer(Yeah I know they're not called that anymore)assigns the best in the congregation to giving talks and handle parts during the visit. From there the C.O. picks speakers who he thinks will be good examples for the Circuit Assemblies and Special Assembly Days. When they're assigned a talk it is mandatory they attend rehearsals where everyone on the Assembly is there. It's during this time the C.O. and his cronies put their two cents in on what will be heard and what will not be heard. There are a couple of these meetings during the months leading up to the Assembly day, and normally it takes place at the hall where the C.O. stays, so he won't have to travel far.
On the Circuit Assembly and S.A.D. levels there are a one or two brothers assigned to monitor the talks. They have all the outlines and carefully follow along. Normally these are the guys that have been around a very long time. (Each Circuit Overseer passes along to the next Circuit Overseer a bunch of files on the brothers to use, and who the up and coming brothers are.) The speakers are then graded. I forget what the range is, but if he goes way off script, or puts people to bed they pretty much will never have another part, or be stuck at the Circuit level. However, if the C.O. and the monitors like him, the C.O. will then send his name with his reports to, "Mother", for the Big Show.
At the Big Show, there are a handful of monitors. These are the guys in the "Special" booths where security guards in .99 cent suits, and ties that match thier socks, won't let you in unless you have a special sticker, or stamp. These monitors sit up there, sipping coffee, eating doughnuts while following along. If the speaker really F's up, he's done. There are pleanty of Organization representatives who will jot his name down, and make sure he will never get another shot. However, if he does well, follows the script, and is lively he will continue to get assignments. The session Chairman also plays a part in this as well. He has all the outlines of the talks during the session he chairs. If you look carfully, you'll see him to the side reading along with the speaker just in case he has to step in. A long time ago in city far, far away during one of those hellish, hazy, hot, and humid outdoor conventions, our key note speaker suffered from heat stroke, and the session Chairman stepped in and seemlessly carried on without any of the forty-five thousand in attendance knowing.
There really aren't a lot of these guys who qualify. That's why you see the same brothers used all the time. What with that, and you, and your family have to be setting a good example as well. It's a pretty good process for weeding out the disloyal. Although, I know a few who have slipped through the cracks. It also explains why these guys carry themselves in a kind of elitest way because it is a Priviledge.
Wow! I haven't talked about this shit in about six years. I can't believe I remembered it all.
P.S. Where the hell is the spell check?
It's been summed up well and very accurately.
I've only seen one of the "clergy class" DC level speakers that could have potentially gone off on his last DC talk, but he walked away for another woman the next day vs. any doctrinal issues.
Typically any speaker who goes off-script does so by exaggerating WT policy by saying something the WTS would LIKE to say but not like to have "on the record". I'm sure the Stay Alive 'til '75 was "off-script" but it was a prominent CO and his exaggeration was along "company policy" at the time.
Doc
Good solid comments on this topic. I can confirm much of it; when I gave DC parts they monitored all outlines in the chairman's office I watched them doing it, and yes, after my parts they would always bring me back to the chairman's office for a possible de-brief. I never had anything said to me other than "atta boy" myself but I knew of a couple brothers that got talked to about some infraction usually going overtime.
