Were the "Pioneers" in your hall treated with favoritism by the Elders?

by booker-t 26 Replies latest jw friends

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  Mulan

  Yes, all but one of the pioneers, who was a real pain. She was an irritant to everyone, especially the other pioneers.

  I was a pioneer for a long time, both regular and continuous auxiliary, and definitely got preferential treatment. I think pioneers were used on parts because they were available and experienced.

  I know one thing.....the pioneers in the last Hall I went to always knew in advance who was being DF ahead of time and the particulars to the reasons why.

  I would suspect who was about to be df'd because Dave was an elder, and I knew who had been calling the house, and he had been at judicial meetings, and was stressed and unhappy. He never told me though. It just wasn't a surprise. The irritating pioneer also had an elder husband, who was a bit demented and he told her a lot of stuff. She would "slip" to us from time to time, and I think she was trying to win friends with her insider knowledge.
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  dedpoet

  I'd have to say yes. In my kh there were 6 pioneers, I hear there is just 1 now. I was one of them, and we were treated almost like royalty by the elders, got invited to loads of meals at bro's houses, more privileges than almost anyone else, I was fast tracked to ms because I was a pioneer.
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  thom

  ---"I know one thing.....the pioneers in the last Hall I went to always knew in advance who was being DF ahead of time and the particulars to the reasons why."---
  I remember a pioneer who's husband was an elder telling my wife, "**** tells me things if they affect me, and if it's in my congregation it affects me."
  That told me alot about the confidentiality with elders.
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  Dimples

  was it all in my imagination or did pioneer favoritism exist in your hall?

  
  No...it wasn't all in your imagination. They always treated the pioneers with special treatment. I remember when I was a JW when we used to go in field service, every one in the car was expected to pay the driver $1.00 for gas..they would not accept money from the pioneers. If a pioneer tried to chip in for gas they say no you don't have to pay, I won't except it. Everyone pays except pioneers. I always felt they could do no wrong and that they were placed on a pedastal. I guess my measly little hours just didn't add up to theirs.

  

  DIMPLES
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  pratt1

  Pioneers were practically worshipped in my old hall. My Mom is a pioneer and she gets special treatment all the time. She also has an unbelieving mate who keeps her well dressed and always pay for her vacations.

  I may have this wrong, but I believe there are certain asemblies overseas that the requirements are that you need to be a pioneer for a determined number of years to qualify to go as a delegate.

  My Mom has gone to Japan and various countries in Europe as a delegate.

  If that's not treating a group special I don't know what is.
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  minimus

  My mother was a pioneer since the early 60's. Because she went to my inactive daughter's wedding to a "worldly" man, she was dumped as a pioneer. Now, she is given no recognition----whatsoever.
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  daniel-p

  [q]when i was a pioneer, the PO loved parading me around. and then i was apointed as a MS at 18.
  
  PO: "...by holy spirit. but we need to ask you, do you have a problem with masturbation?"[/q]
  
  
  I had one of these experiences myself. Except it was at Bethel, about 2 months after I got there. The department overseers were making the rounds, probing for any brohers who had problems with pornography. Of course, I didn't, no... not at all. "Have you ever viewed pornography?" ME: "Hm, well... there was this one time when I was 7 years old... yes, and I saw this picture on a wall in this autobody shop and there was a woman in a funny position... I didn't really know what it was at the time...."
  And then some bull**** about what we can do to get images like these out of our minds by reading scriptures, blah blah blah. Seriously, did they think thousands of 19-year old men DID NOT have a "problem" with masturbation and most of the time pornography? I remember the chairman on morning worship who was literally brought to tears talking about how they were helping many brothers get over their pornography addictions, how much anguish it caused, etc... and how if anyone had a problem to come forward with it. You just have to experience that sort of thing for yourself - the electricity in the air between the 1000 men and women all sitting next to eachother, all 1000 barely breathing while the morning's council was doled out. I tell you, there was more council on porn, masturbation, violent video games, etc... enough to smother a regular congregation.
  
  Stastistics show that 98% of young men masturbate. And I actually thought that when I got to Bethel, Jehovah's holy spirit would eliminate that "unclean" desire out of my heart. For goodness sakes, I was an idiot....