Hmmm

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Posts by Hmmm

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  22

  American Idol, Who's watching?

  by TheStar in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  am i the only shmuck on this board watching this every week?

  please say i'm not.

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  Hmmm

  Star,

  Yes, I'm watching the show.

  Simon cracks me up, but I think he's trying too hard to be part of the story when he cruelly puts down these young kids.
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  22

  American Idol, Who's watching?

  by TheStar in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  am i the only shmuck on this board watching this every week?

  please say i'm not.

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  Hmmm

  Hello, my name is Hmmm, and I'm an American Idolater.

  It started innocently enough... flipping through the channels with nothing to do. I saw this show where people were competing for a chance to be America's next big pop sensation. But these people were horrible! I had a few laughes, but mostly cringed as teens who undoubtedly sound terrific in their own shower wailed and warbled their way into my nervous system. A stuffy British (isn't that redundant) fellow lambasted the would-be wonders with "awful", "dreadful", and "absolutely the worst thing I've ever heard."

  But then something happened. Some of these people were good. I started rooting for them, and picking my favorites.

  Before long, I was checking out the web site and cruising discussion boards for news and gossip on these hopefuls of hubris. I started missing sleep, and ducking out of work to organize letter-writing campaigns on behalf of deserving contestants. Most recently, my dog left me. He said I wasn't paying him enough attention.

  I'm addicted to American Idol. I need help! I can't get this monkey off my back!

  Edited by - hmmm on 12 July 2002 10:43:6
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  20

  U K ELDER JAILED 2 YRS, TODAY

  by BluesBrother in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  .

  bbc central news have reported that james barrat , an elder in rugby congregation has received a two year sentence for abusing two teenage boys over a ten year period.. the abuse took place at bible studies .. the judge called him an "arch hypocrite".

  the police said he is "extremely dangerous" and one of the victims , now in early 20's,gave an interview and said "do not bother with the elders, go straight to the police

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  Hmmm

  JW or not... the guy abuses two boys over a ten-year period, and gets a measly two years?
• 
  13

  So...how to get UN NGO *book*

  by Xander in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i know i've seen reference to the un ngo listing document somewhere.

  as i recall, the '2002' edition was published before the wtbts withdrew from the un, such that they were still listed in it.

  now, my family (all good jws) are insisting we come over for my mom's anniversary and i'm, like, 100% sure they are planning on bringing up our recent very obviously anti-jw behavior.

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  Hmmm

  Xander,

  I have a scan of the letter by the poor UN official who got bombarded with questions about the WT's decade-long affair with the SCWB. It's on UN letterhead. The problem is that it's a scan, and thus would fall under the "apostates obviously doctored this" excuse.
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  53

  My darn dog died

  by LB in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've had this cowdog for nearly 11 years now.

  today she went out in the sun and got heatstroke and just didn't recover.

  i gave her cpr and brought her back twice but she was too far gone.

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  Hmmm

  When my mother got a new puppy a decade ago, I told everyone in the family that it was not my dog. I wasn't going to be responsible for feeding it, walking it, cleaning up after it--nothing. Whenever I argued with my sisters about taking care of it (especially when it chewed on the brand new wing-tips that I got for the Assembly), or when I inevitably found myself taking care of it, I stressed to them "it's not my dog."

  Three days ago my mother had to have her put to sleep, and I was pissed that she didn't call me so I could go over and say my goodbyes to my dog.

  Hang in there, LB.

  Hmmm

  Edited by - hmmm on 11 July 2002 8:48:23
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  5

  Upcoming WT article - The Pedophile Issue

  by Hmmm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in bibleexaminer's thread (letter read tonight) the question was asked what else we'd like to see from the society, assuming their instructions to canada legal to direct all callers to the police turns out to be correct.. i'd like to see unambiguous declarations in upcoming watchtowers--a public admission of guilt, and clear instructions to the r&f regarding contacting the authorities, so no future crackpot elders could pressure them into silence.

  in an effort to help out the boys in writing, i've written the first few paragraphs and questions for them:.

  ___ 15, 2002 watchtower.

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  Hmmm

  In Bibleexaminer's thread (letter read tonight) the question was asked what else we'd like to see from the society, assuming their instructions to Canada Legal to direct all callers to the police turns out to be correct.

  I'd like to see unambiguous declarations in upcoming Watchtowers--a public admission of guilt, and clear instructions to the R&F regarding contacting the authorities, so no future crackpot elders could pressure them into silence.

  In an effort to help out the boys in writing, I've written the first few paragraphs and questions for them:

  ___ 15, 2002 Watchtower

  The Pedophile Issue: We F****d up!

  1. Because the Governing Body is a bunch of out-of-touch hardasses with little concern for the rank and file publishers, we have in the past instructed elders to exert both overt and covert pressure on victims of child sexual abuse to remain quiet. The Governing Body is very sorry for this selfish and reprehensible conduct, and it will no longer be tolerated. We wish to assure parents that not only MAY you go to the authorities if your child tells you that he or she has been abused, but you SHOULD go to the authorities. There are no exceptions, and no verbal message from elders or travelling overseers should supersede these clear instructions to go to the authorities. We're sure that most of our local elders mean well, but let's face it, they're untrained. This is your child, let the professionals handle it!

  2. Some victims of abuse have even been further traumatized by being disfellowshipped for "slander" when they were, in fact, only trying to protect other members of the congregation by applying the scriptural council at (whatever the hell the scripture is) to not cover over another's sin.

  3. This was a gross failing by the Governing Body, and a personal failing by local elders who allowed common sense to be overridden by a weak desire to 'tow the company line'. Any such victims and/or their familes that have been additionally victimized in this heinous and cowardly way should contact the Governing Body. The Governing Body will personally apologize to each and every victim, and will instruct Branch Overseers, Travelling Overseers, and local elders to likewise apologize and express the GB's intent to make it up to the victim in any way the victim sees fit--including reinstatement, providing help to the civil authorities in bringing abusers to justice, and monetary compensation. Any publishers who scoffed at the victim's claims, called them "whore", or treated them like garbage should crawl on their hands and knees to ask forgiveness.

  4. If anyone approaches an elder with accusations of abuse, and that jackass elder even hints that you should not go to the police (e.g. with some lame song and dance about "protecting Jehovah's reputation") Smack the hell out of that guy! He deserves it, and you'll feel better. Trust us; we're God's Mouthpiece!

  [Questions at the bottom of the page]
  1 (a) Because the Governing Body is a bunch of out-of-touch hardasses with little concern for the rank and file publisher, how have they handled past cases of child sexual abuse?
  (b) How should all cases be handled from now on, and should there be any exceptions?
  2,3 (a) How have far too many victims been further traumatized by well-meaning but clueless elders and publishers?
  (b) What should the first step be in making amends to these victims?
  4 What would a True Christian's reaction be if a jackass elder tried to in any way discourage them from going to the authorities?

  OK maybe I'm reaching a bit, but a guy can dream, can't he?
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  42

  LETTER READ TONIGHT

  by biblexaminer in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  well, the wts has directed all elders in canada to read a letter concerning the child abuse issue.

  it is the same whitewash as read in the us a while back when dateline aired.

  it seems that on the 'eve of destruction' (ie bbc and panorama) the wts has decided to read a letter that was obviously penned weeks ago.

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  Hmmm

  Wow. I'm blown away by HS' revelations. I must confess that--as little as it may end up being--it's rather encouraging to learn that their private instructions match the public PR statements. Could it be real change?

  I think Path raises some good questions, but I don't see it as taking the wind out of the sails of the Silentlambs movement, especially for the upcoming march. The march will, if nothing else, send a "we're watching you" reminder to the GB to actually live up to their new policies. I think the ultimate objectives of SL still stands... to effect change and guarantee that this change is more than a shallow whitewash. Now, if time revealed that the GB was sincere in finally putting the children before their mythical pristine world image... well, you can't take the wind out of the sails of a ship that's docked at its destination.

  What other changes are necessary? I like Simon's idea of clear, no BS, instructions in the Watchtower for parents to go to the police first. Don't slip it in as a QFR, or a little side blurb that an astute watchtower conductor would need to identify as new light. Make it unequivocal.

  Hmmm
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  3

  To Silentlambs and Ranchette...

  by Dino in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many thanks for your hospitality!.

  i had to go on an emergency business road trip to chicago to pick up some equipment this past weekend.

  that drive is a killer from big d!.

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  Hmmm

  Wait, I think I missed something. Is Silentlambs Mr Ranchette?
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  16

  Was Rutherford Really A Son Of A Ditch?

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am frankly tired of hearing the name of joseph rutherford taken to task so regularly and with such little respect accorded to it.

  not everything that this gigolo of freedom said was incorrect.

  in fact any sympathetic jw who is viewing this message would be well advised to take the following words of troubled joe, very seriously indeed : "how may a man "seek meekness"?

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  Hmmm

  No pithy quotes to add. Just wanted to say that HS and Farkel are cracking me up!
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  36

  Good-bye everyone!

  by Billygoat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just wanted to share a few things that are on my heart and mind...hope you don't mind reading.

  the church i'm affiliated with has several sister churches around the world.

  the purpose of those relationships is to encourage and help each other grow in our relationship with god and christ, whether it be by spiritual encouragement or physical help.

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  Hmmm

  Sooooo, you're saying our wedding is off?

  Hmmm