For those of you who have already faded due to family still being in, have you noticed how the noose is tightening?
If it's not memorial, it's special day assembly. If it's not that, it's convention or the special talk. Right? Well, lately, there are even more traps to keep you on a tight leash.
Let's say you move some distance away to begin your fade. With JW dot org, your relatives can easily look up the KH for the territory you've moved into. Either they can contact the KH and send them your way, or, they can hound you constantly: "how do you like the such & such congregation?" (So as to let YOU know that THEY know where you SHOULD be going, implying further that they can easily find out whether or not you're active).
Second are these constant "special event" deals piped in from headquarters every few months, usually on a Saturday. Whether it's a GB visit to a branch, the annual meeting or some other program, it's just another reason for your JW family to hound you; another thing to pull you in to that will mess up your fade. Turning down a "special event" is a red alert to every JW that something is "wrong." So, they keep having them... frequently... because they know faders can't have red alerts.
Unless you're equipped with a $700 iPad on a window washer's budget, you're also quickly exposed by brining any outdated songbooks or bibles to a meeting (say you attend just to satisfy your family while you're in town on a visit). If you have the old songbook, it's a red flag that you've not been around for at least 9 months. That's the thing! They can time stamp your inactivity based on how outdated the contents of your meeting bag are!
Also, the frequent terminology changes: PO = COBE, district is now region, there's no such thing as "special assembly day" anymore--but all circuit assemblies are only 1 day. Unless you're informed on the latest "newspeak," you're sure to out yourself as a fader simply by saying the wrong thing to the wrong person.
Finally, and perhaps the most sinister, is this new method of having COPIES of your "No Blood" medical directive on hand. This is where we will all be forced into a tough decision. They WILL make sure this comes up--whether it's your old hall, a new one you've faded from or your JW relatives. They will--they MUST--hunt you down if for nothing else than to get this directive signed and have a copy of it. Not having a current no blood card is one thing. Having a KH KNOW it's not current is another. And it's arguably the biggest red flag/red alert one could have. So, when that knock comes, how will you answer your door? When the phone rings and your parents want confirmation of your updated medical directive (or they'll offer to come over immediately, watch you sign it, sign as your eyewitnesses* and retrieve a copy), how will you answer that call?
*didnt I read somewhere that they now want qualified men (elders or MS) to sign as eyewitnesses on medical directives? I swear I saw that recently. If so, that's another excuse for an elder drop-in visit; another reason to pop up on their radar every year!
It's true, everyone. A suscessful fade can only last a few months at most before their cycle of activities come around to bite you in the ass.