Posts by Max Divergent

13

what should I do...

by davidsf in

jw
friends

unbelievable... the guy i studied with called my house tonight after 10 years i left.

fortunately my wife answered and told him i wasn't available so i have time to think about my options.

he left his name and number.

When I stopped going, I said I just didn't have anything religious to discuss but they were welcome for a coffee anytime. That worked quite well - they haven't been aggressivly barred from the premises which would piss them off, but they have no motivation to call either (and didn't).

Remember that they have a duty to call on every former JW every 12 months. They usually don't (thank goodness), but even if they do they usually don't expect anything out of it except a tick in the box by your name on their list.

(I used to make some of the calls on the more harmless x-JW's with an elder. It was usually just a mechanical duty, and so long as everyone played their role and maintained the status-quo, all was well. They asked us in for a cuppa, we either accept or decline on the basis of how comfortable the house looks or if we've got somthing better to be doing (ie: somthing even slacker). We chatter about the weather, offer the mags, invite them to the hall or for more discussions, have a second cookie and move on and forget we ever made the call. No-one enoyed it, but it was a break from the door-to-door stuff for us and showed the CO the Congo was doing the right thing)

Or it might just be a social catch-up? Who knows? Did you like the guy? If so - well, catch up with him or don't - your choice. If not, tell him to go hither or ignore him or meet him anyway- your choice.

Well, that's my thoughts anyhow...

Max

5

What teachings from the WTBTS still hang on now that you've left?

by NaruNaruChan in

jw
friends

for example, i think i'm the only lesbian in the world who dates with a view toward marriage.

Max Divergent

I've tried to think of somthing that I beleive that's the same as what the JW's believe... but I can't... Not even a single thing...

That said, I don't do much differnet now to when I was a JW - I just have different reasons for it (I like to tell myself...). And if those reasons changed, so would my actions (I think...). But I don't knowingly do things or catch myself doing things becasue they were what I did or beleived as a JW - although my upbringing and life till 28 must have heavily influenced my general demenour.

Thanks for the question.(and lighten up on those poor girls whydonch 'ya:-)

Max

8

Test your biblical knowledge

by JH in

jw
friends

.

pass this test and win a free pass to the new system.

.

Max Divergent

I got an appropriate score for a born JW: 2/20. When I was active, I may have got a few more, maybe 5 or 6/20? Scary hey!

But I knew all the rules, and that's what counts for a JW.

46

Should the US & Canada use the same currency?

by JH in

jw
friends

since a few years, the euro has been introduced in europe.

many countries share the same currency.. would it be a good idea if everyone in north america would use the american dollar just like everyone uses the euro in europe?

would this be financially beneficial, or would this be a first step in canada becoming a part of the us?

Max Divergent

Hi Pleaseuredome - That's not actually the case that the Australian Dollar is fixed against the USD.

The AUD (which is used by several Pacific countries as legal tender), like the currency of most (all?)first world economies, floats in value against any given currency depending on the whims of the currency markets.

It was floated as part of the economic reforms of the early-1980's known here as Economic Rationalisim, in the US as Reganomics and the UK as... somthing including Thatcher's name...

Max

41

American -vs- European travelers

by Seven in

jw
friends

jwd, .

i've noticed on more than one occasion comments such as this one made in mattnoel's post this morning within the us/patriotism thread: its also very much the world of america, people dont go outside except to canada and mexico.

could it be that we are the only nation out of the long list of major western countries not to have legally mandated vacation days?

Max Divergent

Bugger - the board won't take more than half a line

107

US Patriotism VS the Rest of the World

by Xena in

jw
friends

abaddon and i were having a discussion in another thread regarding the differences between us patriotism and european patriotism.

apparently some people consider the us to be peopled with rabid flag waving, my country right or wrong, ugly americans.

i am wondering what the general concensus of this board would be?.

Max Divergent

IMO, The Western World is the Western World is the Western World...

I think the sooner people get over what seem to me to be trivial differences between the peoples and practices of the industrialised nations the better.

Max

41

American -vs- European travelers

by Seven in

jw
friends

jwd, .

i've noticed on more than one occasion comments such as this one made in mattnoel's post this morning within the us/patriotism thread: its also very much the world of america, people dont go outside except to canada and mexico.

could it be that we are the only nation out of the long list of major western countries not to have legally mandated vacation days?

Max Divergent

Well... I'm doing ok the moment by the look of things... 9 weeks* leave on full-pay and a free airfare each year which I can use as about 75% of an Round the World fare which we did last year (India and the US) and probably will again this year (US, Wales, Italy and Greece)...

But inbetween times, we'll probably take the in-laws somewhere like this for a couple of days. This is 2 hours on the highway and 65km of 4WD track from our place...

or for just a long lunch we'll go somewhere like this...

still, we might just cop out and go to http://www.elquestro.com.au/ instead, that's an hour away...

Mmm... a world of choices when you live in the middle of nowhere...

Cheers, Max

* Naturally, that's in addition to about 12 or so Public Holidays and an extra 2 days for flying time (and extra 5 days if you drive instead - in which case your fuel and accomodation are covered to the value of the airfare). Some who can juggle things take their 7.5 hours off-site work on a Friday for time to time and engage in some recreation or other... (Why am I looking for another job again????). Our current workplace negotiations centre on over-work and are claiming an extra 2 weeks leave. I'm serious.

4

A question for peaceniks and warmongers

by Max Divergent in

jw
friends

after all the discussion recenly and the seeming welcome the troops got in baghdad i'd be interested in your thoughts...

q: would you support your country's government if they proposed committing troops and tax money to a long-term program with a coalition of the willing* to:

1. remove all the very worst and most aggressive regimes from controlling sovereign nations by all necessary means which may include initiating war

Max Divergent

Hi Realist - Thanks again for your interest...

about NK...i think you underestimate them...they perhaps have already nukes and even without that...they have a highly trained army equipped with chinese weapons. have you seen their troops march?

Well, yeah... they certainly look impressive, although in reality they may not be well enough trained or equipped to fight a modern war. I read recently that the government teaches the people that food aid they receive with the Old Glory stamped on the side is a supplication from the weak Americans to avoid being invaded and taken over by NK. Perhaps there's an element of bluff involved? On the economic side, well... there'd be change. Bring it on though. I'm told it would work.

also the US is currently using 25% !!! of the worlds oil. without switching to modern technologies (my heart goes to nuclear fusion! ) i am afraid we would be in trouble.

Mmm... getting a law up that reduces oil use and increases energu efficiency has a hard time in the Congress (or White House... or both... or...whatever) Mmm... Maybe the US could invade itself and free it from the grip of Exxon et al? (Just joking.... really....)

would they advocate the war if bush would clearly say its all about oil, strategical reasons and the weapons industry? i don't think so.

That's not really the point.

Depending who you talk to it's either a law of nature or an ideological position that free trade and free market economcics are the right system for everyone everywhere and are always benificial for teaching, for reproving and for setting things straight with all the countries of the earth that don't have command economies (as dictator ruled countries tend to).... it's just how people are, they say.

So, the oil benifits or bomb makers profits are useful, but the opening up of markets and the increase in the amount of available capital is massivly more valuable than that.Well, that's what the economic rationalists seem to say anyhow...

Oh well, it's bed time for me...

Regards, Max

18

Cost of War

by hippikon in

jw
friends

ive seen estimates that the war in iraq has cost so far $160,000,000,000 us

imagine what you could buy with that kind of money

1,600 hospitals

Max Divergent

Simon - I'm shocked... are you advocating war on bad governments everywhere provided they have no oil reserves, are strategically worthless, and don't train or supply other bad guys?... Ok... Ummm....

I don't know whether to be horrifed at your change to be this keen on war, or puzzle over how these could be fair criteria for the liberation of the people... or even what countries could fit these criteria AND have a government that'd qualify for removal... Oh well...

Max

4

A question for peaceniks and warmongers

by Max Divergent in

jw
friends

after all the discussion recenly and the seeming welcome the troops got in baghdad i'd be interested in your thoughts...

q: would you support your country's government if they proposed committing troops and tax money to a long-term program with a coalition of the willing* to:

1. remove all the very worst and most aggressive regimes from controlling sovereign nations by all necessary means which may include initiating war

Max Divergent

Hi Realist - Thanks for your thoughtful response... Let me play devil's advocate for a moment....

i assume you mean US lead but without US economical interests lurking behind the scenes?!

Not at all... say free market economic interests are right up front. Economic interests have brought those of us in the West prosperity and a lifestyle of such luxury and freedom that it's beyond the imagination of most of the humans who've ever lived....

This system works for people of all cultures. Why hide that those benifits are bing offered to the most oppressed and disadvantaged people on earth? How about ''The de Beers Battle for Zimbabwe'' or ''The GM-Daewoo Korean Conflict''?

a) because some opponents are too strong...take NK for instance

Are they really? When they aquire nuclear weapons then the cost of war will increase tremendoulsy, but they're still a 3rd world conscript army of poorly trained, equipped and fed troops. In any case, should it really matter given the outcome is (or is expected to be) global peace and prosperity?

b) because wars are always faught for only one reason...economical interests.

But what's wrong with that given that the free market economy brings benifits to everyone - it's unevenly distributed, but we're probably all far more prosperous than our parents were at our ages.

c) it may be very debateable what is a bad regime and what isn't. depending on whom you ask....palestinians or israelis you will get different answers.

True enough, this can be hard. But using this as an example... deal with them both. Enforce the Oslo Agreement by force if nessasary on which ever side dosn't abide by the timetable. Advances anyone? Cheers, Max