MMXIV

Joined

• started 19 topics
• posted 823 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by MMXIV

• 
  48

  Did you ever feel let down by the Bethel tour?

  by maninthemiddle in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  reading jeff's thread about dress made me think of my one and only trip to bethel.. i can't remember if i was babtised at the time, but i went with a bus load of jws.. like someone said in the last thread, printing presses and empty rooms.

  i was very disapointed, however i don't think i had any pre-concieved notions of what it would be like.

  what i was diapointed in was so much of the "tour" was walking hallways looking at exhibits behind glass.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  London - very antiquated, large rooms with aged but clean decor. I think Bro Bullock tastefully chose shades of brown for longevity.

  Canada - bit deserted when I was there - the landscaping was being re-done so lots of concrete on show

  Patterson - whilst being built got an in depth tour of the water treatment facilities - that was a hoot.

  Brooklyn - I wondered why JW's passing each other in the street didn't all say hello (I must have been young and naive). I was fascinated to see original paintings from the revelation book on the walls. Saw bro Gangas in the infirmary - now that was a real surprise - how could someone so old and with such limited energy be a part of the GB?

  Ireland - it's a house with an ugly extension at the back - it ain't a bethel - there were only 12 or 14 people assigned there and I recall some excuses being given that most of them were away on other assignments.

  MMXIV
• 
  57

  Is the GB setting up to dump 1914?

  by karter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with the "generation change" and them changing it all the time it would make sence to dump it all togeather.. lets face it ,it can be disproved easly.. they dumped 1975 in a heart beat .. this would buy them all the time they wanted as they would just find another date to start the generation from ie: "the u.n year of peace and sercurty'',1986 i belive or whatever else they could think of.. they could sell it to the r&f as easly as they sold 1975,then dumped it when it did'nt happen .. anyone questioning them would be told they are running ahead of jehovah or lacking faith in his earthly org that feeds us food at the proper time .. what do you think?.

  karter..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  They'll just refer to 1914 less and less in publications over the coming years. They're just trying to pre-empt any mutterings of discontent in 2014 (which is an insignificant year anyway but may cause some to reflect).

  MMXIV
• 
  21

  This is my story

  by SAHARA in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  sorry about the mishap on my previous post.

  anyway i've been a member on this board for quite a while but mostly just lerking.

  i've given just a tease about what my deal is on a previous post but this will be a little more in depth.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  SAHARA, very interesting story, your gut feel has been pretty good. It seems that you have been fairly accommodating and non judgemental about your wife's JW family. From their point of view you were only ever acceptable company while you were

  a) willing to accept occasional witnessing (magazines left around) b) they could count their time on you c) it was a show for your wife on what happy families you'd all be in the truth d) a potential JW.

  Stopping that sneaky and rather dishonest method of studying with your child would have, as you said, made you an opposer in their eyes. No need to keep up the pretence of being nice to you, they'd rather punish you and make you feel their disapproval.

  Your wife seems to prefer to avoid confrontations and is happier taking the path of least resistance, or rather the path that least offends people. I wonder if your wife tells her family how irregular she is at meetings. The fact she is irregular shows she has issues with it. If she does ever discuss those issues or her family - listen, listen, listen and ask the odd question that doesn't require a response but will get her to think.

  MMXIV
• 
  19

  Sustainability in the Borganization -- May's Contribution Surveys & new arrangement for getting magazines

  by cattails in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  mad sweeney said:.

  honestly wonder if they really care that people leave.. which got me to thinking.

  it's true it seems that the brass at bethel.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  The Gb are really amateurs at it.

  Agreed, they are good at getting free labour but poor at maximising contributions, although I know locally there was always an effort made for the elderly sisters who had no living relatives - those legacies boosted the KH building funds no end!

  MMXIV
• 
  19

  Sustainability in the Borganization -- May's Contribution Surveys & new arrangement for getting magazines

  by cattails in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  mad sweeney said:.

  honestly wonder if they really care that people leave.. which got me to thinking.

  it's true it seems that the brass at bethel.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  Bethel isn't very concerned with the thousands that leave as long as they have a percentage or two of total increase

  This has just triggered a theory so bear with me. In business this is known as churn - staff who leave (can also apply to customers) that are replaced by new ones.

  When I worked at a specialist company a while ago a new manager came in. He wanted to secure his role in the long term by getting rid of any staff who might want his role. He caused staff churn despite this being expensive for the company (recruitment and training costs).

  He made life so hard for all the people working for him they left when redundancy was offered. He then got new, willing recruits in who had less knowledge of the company and would accept him as an expert and not challenge him.

  If the Borg has increasing churn which I suspect it has, then there are fewer experienced ones who can/will challenge the boys at the top. Anyone who has been recently recruited won't feel hard done by about changes in thought like the Generation. Anyone who does challenge them is removed, anyone who challenges elders on a local level is removed. It's all about keeping those with power in power.

  Oh and as long as the money keeps rolling in...

  MMXIV
• 
  31

  Shawshank Redemption and leaving Jehovah's Witnesses

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i doubt very seriously that i am the first to make the connection of exiting jw's and much of the movie "shawshank redemption".. frequently, the injustice that many experience as baptized members of jehovah's witnesses cause them to want to resign, to leave.. but it is a prison of sorts.

  if you leave and announce it, you are shunned.

  and no one will talk to you.. shawshank is such a remarkable movie to me for its simple, underlying theme; finding meaning in our suffering, and never stopping the fight against injustice, esp against our own freedom.. the best part of the movie is the line "you can either get busy living, or get busy dying.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  Even inside there were those rare good moments... like when Andy got his crew three suds each...

  Red [Narrating]: We sat and drank with the sun on our shoulders, and felt like free men. We could'a been tarring the roof of one of our own houses. We were the Lords of all Creation.

  MMXIV
• 
  31

  Help! Hold Me Back From Voicing My Opinions And Getting Shunned!

  by nextdoorgirl in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i am new to this board after lurking for awhile (thanks so much for creating this place simon, and for everyone's shared thoughts!).

  i am going crazy because i have recently allowed myself to begin thinking (and it is so fun!

  ) and i am an outspoken person, and it is very hard for me to keep my opinions and discoveries about this place under my hat!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  Welcome nextdoorgirl,

  I kept my mouth shut which was frustrating at times. I faded slowly over time and left. I never said anything to my family who are old and I can now see them when I want - no issues - we just don't talk about the truth. I planned it carefully, bit my tongue on occassions but I wouldn't change what I did and very glad of the choices I made. I'm not frustated anymore - it's just great to be free - putting your thoughts onto the forum can help.

  I don't know what it's like to be shunned, but know that the truth was destructive enough in my life without being shunned so in terms of self preservation I just didn't want to lose contact with my family.

  MMXIV
• 
  42

  Why The WTS chooses to shoot itself in the foot

  by besty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  frank and barbara kavelin's recent disfellowshipping for 'apostasy' two years after they stopped going to meetings made me ponder why exactly the wts frequently pursues people long after they have disappeared off the jw scene.

  at first glance it seems a counterproductive strategy to make enemies out of people who would otherwise leave quietly.

  i've had the pleasure of getting to know frank and barb over the last year or so and i know for a fact that frank's story would not be on jwn and freeminds if he hadn't been disfellowshipped.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  Bully mentality that wants to punish for reasons already mentioned and to strike fear in those left behind.
• 
  12

  Opinions Please

  by IMHO in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  <!-- @page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } p { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> .

  a husband and wife have a mutual close friend.

  the husband is working all day and this close friend comes to stay for the week.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  she should talk to her husband.
• 
  62

  What "Bad" Food Do You Enjoy That You Know Is Bad For You?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i love chicken pie.

  the calories are terrible for a pie crusted chicken pie dinner but i love it.. and i love milk chocolate covered candy such as raisinettes or raspberry chocolate candies..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  MMXIV

  Nutella (chocolate spread) - 400g jar with a spoon in one go.

  MMXIV