by Gadget 28 Replies latest members private
I've wondered abou this myself. If the internet is so evil and is to be avoided at all cost, why do JWs own computer businesses and take comp sci degrees?
Perhaps the JW encourages certain "ones" to use their technical skills for a different type of FS, a theocratic warfare type of FS ... monitoring apostate websites could be one activity ...
t
No I don't the GB has enough balls to do something like that, they'd be afraid of it backfiring.
It has been put forward that some of the really nasty ex's might really be active JW moles intent on causing trouble by posting as though they were ex's. I could just imagine some 20- something bethel whizz-kids deciding to try and cause a little mayhem.
Sounds plausable, but to do that the person would have to see the wbts for what it really is and it not to bother them. Do you think the high-ups really believe it all?
if you don't have any proof of something like that ever happening, I'd say this is a typical case of apostate paranoia. Has the expression "apostate paranoia" been coined yet?
btw, I do believe there must be some individual jw's with shady motives out there on the internet though i suspect they feel pretty powerless confronted with the powerful digital apostate community.
Exactly, its all speculation, thats the point of this thread. And there is a heck of a lot of power in the digital apostate community, but as Talesin said there are a heck of a lot of jw's work in the computer industry too...... If the online apostates are too powerful to beat, why not switch tactics to make the effect they have less by making even the minrity who even have a look disregard what they see?
BUT what if one of these Fake Apostate Run By JW's takes a sheep out of the truth?
I depends on their viewpoint. If they believe, then if Jehovah wants you then he will have you, and in theocratic warfare anything goes. If they don't believe, then doing something that loses one person but stops ten from leaving makes good business sense to me, simple numbers game.
It seems most agree that its not very likely to happen, but would it be possible for someone with the right knowhow to get a site built up quickly to make sure it comes up top or near top in most searches? And if they did have the balls to do it, do you think it might work?
I remember stumbling across a website once that was run by someone who said that they weren't a JW and had never been associated with them. He said he felt it was necessary to argue criticisms levelled at JW's and provide a purported unbiased opinion.
It all seemed a bit dubious though as he always came down on the side of the JW's thinking. He was definitely an apologist and was hiding something. I wish I could give a link but I can't for the life of me remember what the address was.
It COULD happen, but, I don't think so. The GB are clever, they see how dangerous 'the rest of the story' is. Like Paul Harvey was fond of saying. What 'uber-jw' could withstand the onslaught of thousands of independant free-thing brains? Minds that 'have been there' and know the JW arguements front to back.
There have been some individual JW supporters here for years, who have slowly, but, surely... stopped arguing when they have seen the illogic of the WT teachings.
Once the Genie is out of the bottle, it's too late.
Rabbit
I really doubt it. just think of how many people it would take to decide exactly what to say, what scriptures to use, how to twist and straight up invent testimonials, etc. Chances are that at least on of them is going to leave the WT and talk. The potential gain isn't worth the eventual scandal.
Once the Genie is out of the bottle, it's too late.
Rabbit,
I have never left my bottle, thank you very much!
Yeah, I think that the whole idea of a stealth 'apostate' website would be pretty hard to maintain. I believe that it would be pretty easy to see the agenda fairly quickly.
Just monitoring this one for clues as to the identity of some has to take a toll on their monitors. I don't know why they'd risk more exposure.
J
The funny thing is if anyone would get caught trying to do something like this, it would be the WTS. How funny would that be? I'm already laughing.
Jeanniebeanz:Rabbit,
I have never left my bottle, thank you very much!
heheh...got me there. You funny gurl.
Nobody's ever rubbed your bottle the right way, I guess !
O-o-h-h...B A' B Y . . . (think Austin Powers)
Wabbit
Greetings!
I understand you are just wondering about the possibility, but really there would be no reason for the Society to set up such a dummy site when there are already plenty of "apostate" sites out there, some of which contain pretty ridiculous claims (e.g. the whole "subliminal messaging/artwork" in JW publications) that most JWs and normal people do see through. Even those that don't go to such extremes are pretty much quite evidently against the Society so the reaction of most JWs would be one of aversion. That is unfortunate because some of these contain some of the best information available.
What are needed are more "moderate" websites or at least what I call "nominally neutral" sites that will not immediately scare away the average Jehovah's Witness that is beginning to look for answers. The fact is that not all of the JW religion is bad and not all JWs are bad people and most sites simply do not recognize or respect that fact. Those websites that do not at least have some respect for the good in the religion will never be attractive to Jehovah's Witnesses no matter how useful or accurate the information they may contain.
I would add that when such ones do visit message boards like this one, that it would go a long way if everyone did not "jump all over" the person with insults and attacks. Ultimately a respectful dialog is more persuasive then digging trenches and lobbing grenades.
(But I suppose there is always a certain level of juvenile participation on these message boards which makes it difficult to maintain such a respectful exchange. Additionally, many have been sincerely and painfully hurt with their own experience and that always makes it a bit difficult even for adults to maintain a cool frame of mind.)
-Eduardo
