NICOLAOU- Very good thread, good discussion topic. I have experienced the very same thing that you have my friend. My niece who has been out of the Witnesses since 1998 when she was 18 wouldn't directly criticize me for trying to open JW's eyes- but her view was that she respected the JW's right to decide what course they wanted to take the same way she wanted to be left alone by them to pursue the course SHE wanted to take.
And I really DO get that reasoning in some ex-JW's and more power to them. However- that being said - I agree with you that it doesn't mean that many of us who WANT to assist JW's to see how they are being mind controlled should be criticized for wanting to help people. As my niece stated JW's have DECIDED to make these decisions to stay- but my theory is that " no, they really HAVEN"T decided on their OWN to stay- they have been conned into staying or coerced to stay by cult mind control and manipulation . " And as time has gone on - my niece has seen that what I've been telling her is true. And she is seeing just how MUCH JW's and WE ourselves were manipulated in our minds as Witnesses . And now she accepts more so that I'm on this board and trying to assist people to see the injustices within the WT Society and open peoples eyes.
As Scully stated there is a right way to do it - not by knocking JW's over the head like Rick Ferron did all the time, but an ex-JW can make really good points with JW's to get them to think as long as we leave them with their dignity intact and don't become too combative just for the sake of becoming combative- if you get my drift.
There are ways to get our points across without causing huge fights which causes us to just be pissing in the wind anyway because then JW's get so defensive we don't accomplish anything but a waste of time and arguments. If it gets to that point when I'm talking to JW's I won't waste my time for hours and hours- I just excuse myself and say " you need to look at the facts and information on the Internet to inform yourself ". Then leave.
Interesting thread, thanks for posting it ! I think it's important for those of us who WANT to speak to JW's to help that we maintain our courage to do so . It doesn't matter what naysayers may think- what matters is caring and helping people