Holy s***.
My first thought is: fisherman - snap the hell out of it already.
It's important to remember what strong forces denial and cognitive dissonance are and this guy is a great example to observe.
I was never a witness but have followed this board for 8 years because of the bizarre and mean spirited behavior of the witnesses in Flipper's family.
I have made so many great friends here and heard all their stories - here in writing and many in person or phone call.
Fisherman - it is something to see just how many similar stories there are from people who live far apart, don't know each other, and whose only thing in common is the jw religion.
This young guy's story doesn't surprise me at all. It's like the closer they get to the top of the organization the worse their behavior - like a pack of hyenas, I swear....
Life Is To Short is one of my closest friends. She is one of the most kind, generous and honest people I know. After what she has been through since birth at the hands of Jehovah's Witnesses in "good standing" it's amazing she has her wits about her and is a high functioning hard working person. And never lost her sense of humor to boot.
She was treated particularly bad for trying to care for and help older or distraught congregation members. It's as if the saying "no good deed goes unpunished" was originally made for the jws.
I spoke to a psychotherapist friend about that - he said people like that will hate you because they know they will never have as much heart as you.
I've seen people treat others that way here occasionally. It's a shame.
This thread really hits home. Thanks, cha ching for posting.
Mrs. Flipper