I would have to say the evidence certainly suggests that sites like theses are having an effect on Wt ability to recruit and retain members. The statistical data taken from year books by jwfacts, shows a dramatic decline since the advent of the internet. I sort of can't help but think if Wt now has regrets about not jumping on the internet band wagon sooner, than they have, and even then is it enough. Their history is history now, and cannot be changed. I think they have to have more pro sites on the net, and just by the shear volume drown out or certainly make it harder for apostate sites to be found by Google searches. But then on saying that, it would then make it easier for the apostate to then question the validity of the witness Web site. Damned if they do and Damned if they don't. It's just a shame that most of the R&F haven't got a clue that the real issue of recruitment isn't about knocking on doors, but that the real battle is raging on the internet. I could speculate that some could have suspicions of where the problem lies. In my own case (although I must admit I did have issues with the Org and hadn't been happy in the religion for some years) I never intended to go to apostate web sites. It all started off with a question, and I thought to myself well if the information is so good from the F&DS then why haven't they provided any statistical data to back their claims up. I earnestly looked for weeks in the society publications for this information. After finding nothing but a series of bible quotations, I google searched it. With in seconds I had an answer, and discovered that it was for good reason that no statistical data had been provided.
I can give another example I know of that is similar to mine. There were a married couple who were studying with the witnesses for a couple of months. He had his own business while she had a responsible position in a government department. These were good, descent middle-upper middle class people that would of been an asset to any organisation they joined. I remember never seeing them again after they told me that they were discussing bible truth with a relative. Just recently I saw them in town and decided to ask them what happened. The reply was simple (1) the relative google JW (2) sex abuse. Sums it up really and I think WTBTS would be foolish if they didn't realize what was going on.
