Strangest thing you were called on the carpet for.

by Icansaylucky 65 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Icansaylucky

  I would like to hear some of the strangest or most ridiculous thing you got in trouble with the elders for. Here is mine.

  Back in the early 70's I was married at the age of 18, typical witness thing to do. My husband who was 6 years older than I ruled me like a overly strict father. I was not allowed to buy clothes unless they were secondhand and my wardrobe left a lot to be desired. So fashion wasn't a big priority of mine only because I didn't have a choice.

  I was not allowed to buy nylons so I had some white ones that I would dye in tea so they wouldn't look too awful. I wore them all the time with my unsightly Salvation Army dresses. One day after the meeting an elder came up to me and said I needed to meet with the elders. I had no idea what it could be for. I honestly thought that they were going to talk to me about the fact that my husband was physically abusive to me, as I had reported the abuse some time earlier to an elder and he read me scriptures on how to be a good wife and to be obedient to my husband. I asked him to talk to my husband as I felt like he was going to really hurt me someday or even kill me. He said he would and never did. The abuse continued.

  I followed the elder back to the dreaded library and I don't remember how many elders there were, but there were more than one. I asked what this was about and the elder said. ''We need to talk to you about your nylons." I said "what about them, I don't understand". He said "we feel you are wearing them to draw attention to your legs". I was so shocked I was almost speechless. Of course I told them that it was the furthest from the truth, and that I wore those nylons because it was all I had and I was permitted to buy more. They said that it was distracting to some brothers. I did not wear my dresses too short, they were the standard 2 inches above the knee or below. I think some wife caught her creepy elder husband looking at my legs and he had to blame it on me somehow.

  I still am amazed that they found the time to talk to me about my ugly off white nylons, but never talked to my husband for the abuse.
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  NameWithheld

  I think the clothing thing was a very common way of controlling people. My mother was 'conseled' from time to time for the strangest things, such as color of sweaters, etc. My wife used to get conseled when she was 13-14 for her dresses being too short or whatever. My question is what in the hell were they doing checking out a 13 yo dress length?

  Goes right along with the 'no beard' rule for guys I guess. Just another way to control the 'flock'.
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  calamityjane

  your comment caught my eye. I had to LOL.

  they were the standard 2 inches above the knee or below

  It reminded me of an incident when I was around 11. I was to be a householder for the first time that Tuesday evening. I was excited to say the lease, that I was going to be on stage. So I got dressed up very nicely, (my mom was the matronly one that always dressed me prim and proper). So naturally everything was in order. NOT. To my dismay, the head honcho elder, prior to the meeting pulled me aside, and told me that I could not be a householder that evening because my skirt was too short. Brother, it was just above my knee, not even two inches (I'm sure 2 inches would have been considered mini) and it was a flair skirt, so once I sat down it would cover both my knees and my legs. Needless to say I was very disappointed, my mom was furious.

  That's my experience

  Calamityjane
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  wheelwithinwheel

  An elder phoned and told me he was coming over with another elder. My sin: someone had reported I had been in service to conduct a home Bible study without a tie. It puzzled me to know who had observed me because I hadnt gone to the group but had gone directly to the study. I told the elders I believed Jesus referred to such situations when he mentioned the helpful person offering to remove the straw from the eye of another. When I asked to know the identity of the helpful soul they refused to divulge his/her name. I told them I thought their time would be better spent dislodging timbers than plucking straws.

  Another time as a MS I made the mistake of confiding my feelings to an elder. I told him the congregation was really upset with a "phantom elder" who was always out pursuing worldly interests and more or less never around. I told him I thought the EB should do something about it and that I was planning on talking to the CO at his next visit.

  Shortly after, I was summoned and got my spiritual thrashing in the library with the CO and EB all present. I was given the old 'broken clock tells right time twice a day' illustration. Learned my lesson; gotta keep the broken clocks around. Even if you dont like it shut your trap and wait on Jehovah. Don't even think of criticizing an elder especially if you seem to be right.

  Edited by - wheelwithinwheel on 22 January 2003 13:40:30
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  RubaDub

  I was with three or four families that went out to a restaurant that featured a great all-you-can-eat type buffet. It was a very nice place about an hour from our home. During the meal, I was drinking what was probably my third beer when I went to the bathroom and was followed in by one of the elders. He proceeded to council me about becoming an alcoholic and why I liked to drink so much and on and on and on. I had received an earful from him but I just nodded and kept quiet.

  He was known to eat alot and was overweight.

  I was in his car on the way home and he had eaten so much he was having trouble breathing and stopped along the road and threw everything up. Then he was fine.

  As long as I knew him after that he never mentioned my drinking again. How strange.
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  Xander

  Don't know how my mom did it, but she managed to get my brother and I hauled 'in the back' for fighting too much. It's not like we ever broke anything, or used weapons or anything. I mean, two brothers. Three years apart. We fought, c'mon, what do you want?

  Well, she thought it should stop, so in the back we went. 2 Brothers conducting the meeting and everything. Didn't really pay much attention at the time, but I'm LOLing now - they not only bitched my bro and I out for being a 'bad example' or 'not showing brotherly love' or 'conduct not befitting a christian' (keep in mind we were, like, 9 and 12 respectively) oh no - they ALSO bitched out mom for not controlling us. She just sat there and took it. Agreeing with them the whole time 'No, you're right, I should be able to control them better', blahblahblah.

  Nauseating when you think back.
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  NeonMadman

  Once I was sitting in my car reading a newly acquired copy of National Lampoon, when this new, young brother came up without me seeing him. He obviously saw the magazine.

  About 4 or 5 months later, I began to notice that I was not being used in the book study to read or say prayer (it took a while to notice, since there were several who were used, and I waited until the rotation had bypassed me 2 or 3 times before I said anything). When I asked the book study conductor about it, he said that it had been reported to the elders that I had been reading pornography. Therefore, they had removed my "privileges".

  More than anything, I was upset that they had taken action without even asking me whether what they heard was true, never mind whether National Lampoon really qualified as "pornography".
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  DiscoSandy

  For having a "seasons greeting" card in my desk drawer at work that I planned to give to a worldly friend. (Gimme a break, at least it wasn't a Christmas card!) I was working for an elder at the time, and he took it upon himself to search through my desk to see if he could find some evidence that I was doing something wrong. He called me into his office, pulled out the card and proceeded to rake me over the coals. I was only 18 at the time and very ashamed of my behavior. Barf.

  I was also counseled for going to the sappy Brooke Shields movie Endless Love (rated R - scandalous!) For reading the Bible and studying the Watchtower in bed (my pioneer roommate thought it was unacceptable to read or study in bed - hey it was a great cure for insomnia ! ). For applying for a scholarship to go to college. For accepting a second part time job to supplement my income, so that I could actually afford a car that ran more than 30 miles without breaking down. For being alone in our house with another brother after a bible study. For hanging out with a black brother.

  I am thankful that I am out, I am free, and that I and my husband can raise our 3 kids with a different set of values. I cannot imagine putting the chains and shackles of a religious cult on our precious kids.
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  twinkletoes

  My husband was taken off the "Privilege" of carrying a microphone at meetings, 'cos he wasn't wearing a suit, he was in fact wearing jacket and trousers, but as they were of different material, it didn't count as a suit! How ridiculous can you get. We still can't believe that we were guillible to put up with all of the mind-controlling rules, dished out by these men (Men ?)

  Twink
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  Texas Apostate

  Well grew up going to a spanish congo in H-town Texas during the 80's & 90's. Now let me what where the stragest things is got called to the back room for, humm...

  1. For wearing Stacey Adams shoes. (patend leather, used commonly by "Lowriders")

  2. For wearing pleated pants.

  3. For wearing pants that tappered down. (I never liked straight pants, which were the prefered pant style to wear)

  4. For wearing dress pants with cuffs on the bottom. (Unacceptable during this time. Last time I went to the meetings I saw some MS's wearing some. I guess they are acceptable now)

  5. For wearing the (don't laugh) skinny ties.

  6. For having long hair. (My hair was just touching the top of my collar)

  7. For having short hair. (That was in at the time)

  8. For letting my mustache, and that part of the beard that grows under your bottom lip, grow out at the same time.

  9. For getting a part time job. (Even though my dad suggested it)

  10. For not getting a 4 door car as my first car.

  11. For getting a loud stereo system in my car.

  12. Oh and last but not least, for having a bumper sticker on my car that said "Just Do It".

  You know that was the slogan used my Nike at the time. The last one won a "Special Needs" talk from the PO, in regards to "the brothers need to watch what bumper stickers to put on their cars." I still remember the example he used it went something like "Some people go as far put bumper stickers that may invite violence such as JUST DO IT, as it come on I dare you to do something to me".

  TA