When I was in, I could use my own illustrations (which were often better than the crap ones used in the paragraph) or make comments that substantially added to what was in the rag. That's gone.
When I was in, I could debate xians at the door. I have had discussions with Pentecostals, and even born-agains, and held my ground against them. They went nowhere, and were nothing but a waste of time. But I was not afraid of running into Pentecostals because I could hold my own. That's gone.
When I was in, there were two Asleep rags per month, 32 pages each. From time to time, they discussed other topics besides religion. I have seen them detailing cultures in foreign lands (granted with the bias of growth of the witlesses there, and not as in depth as I have had online). I have seen hobbies discussed within those rags. Granted, they are not reliable and were not then--but at least you could learn a little about things. Granted, not as in depth as what I have learned about Chile, New Zealand, and Nigeria simply going online and researching there. But at least you got a little information there. That's gone.
When I was in, you got littera-trash of substance. Granted, rubbish. Granted, the accuracy was very poor. But you got something that could hold your interest, if you could tolerate the confusion they gave. It was like a story book about to unfold. These days, nothing--I get better drama watching the silver market these days (and buying silver) than listening to that crap, which is more about warning not to do anything that remotely resembles fun.
When I was in, they had songs that held interest. Not much, mind you. They were all crappy then, they lied then, and many were wretched. But, a few were passable as bright spots within the year. A few had interesting details that could tie in with other events within the religion. Now, it is even worse. Now, they have been simplified out of providing anything but even worse smut. They were designed to sound like dying cats and cult chants when sung according to the songbook.
Back then, it was fear of dying at Armageddon and/or self righteousness of knowing/thinking I was doing the right thing that drove me in. Now it is the threat of legal threats (remember, when you get baptized, they treat that as a signed contract and could eventually play that card, especially now with Saturn headed for Sagittarius) and being bound by inability to survive outside the cancer that keeps many in. For sure, I get everything I could have within that religion, by going online. I want "end times"--I track the silver market and play that. I want information on foreign lands and hobbies--I go online. I want "service time"--I post here and watch my total post count climbing. These days, there is nothing the jokehovians have that I cannot get here--as long as Internet I remains.
