The Internet: A greater threat to the WTS than we ever dreamed

by Elsewhere 43 Replies latest jw friends

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  AuldSoul

  jgnat: How much farther away is google?

  Unfortunately, for the true believer Internet porn can be rationlized away much more easily than reading apostate material. Many times I have heard, "Attraction to the physical form of the opposite sex is a natural instinct." However, considering "apostate material" would be viewed by many JW readers of it as a deliberate choice to reject God.

  The good news is, I don't know very many young ones who are true believers. Skepticism creeping into the logic patterns of children seems to be a phenomenon occuring at a younger and younger age. The less credulous the subject, the less likely the conditioning will actually control the subject.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  Auld Soul said:

  One of two things will happen: (1) The Internet (free access to information) will affect the organization so heavily that they cannot withstand the strain and it will fall, or (2) it will die out from aging. The only way to avoid one of these eventualities is to make use of the Internet a disfellowshipping offense. Cults cannot survive their adherents accessing the Internet.

  I had thought of that before. My thoughts-

  No.1- This will mainly effect recruitment at first. People will be so accustomed to googling before accepting things, that Bible students will catch the misleading statements and will learn from apostates before continuing a study.

  No. 2- It may very well die from aging. I agree with that, but the rest... The idea of making the use of internet a disfellowshipping offense will have a reverse effect on a vast number. "What are they hiding? I use the internet for valid reasons- hotels, travel, cheap contact with friends. I won't tell them."
• 

  AuldSoul

  OTWO: The idea of making the use of internet a disfellowshipping offense will have a reverse effect on a vast number.

  I agree. It also requires proactive (as opposed to reactive) thinking on their part, and they aren't too gifted with that patricular style of thought. It would preserve a core group, however, of all different age groups that might have a chance to flourish again later. If they don't make some drastic changes to make people terrified of unapproved Internet usage, they will lose everything.

  One other possible solution someone here floated a while back is to have Society approved monitoring software installed on publisher's PCs, if the PC can access the Internet. I would not be surprised if a future version of the WT Library came with an optional Internet monitoring software for parents to use that will red flag access to sites such as this one. Still, this measure would only slow the process down some, it would stop it.

  The org is coming apart at the seams due to easy access to information. It is only a matter of time. Since the waters of information have already started cracking the dam, how long 'til the flood starts?

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
• 

  Dansk

  Hi AuldSoul:

  The only way to avoid one of these eventualities is to make use of the Internet a disfellowshipping offense. Cults cannot survive their adherents accessing the Internet.

  This can't happen while the org itself has a web site!

  Ian
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  Society approved monitoring software installed on publisher's PCs

  I enjoy how you've really thought things thru.

  I could see someone like Fred Franz proposing this. It would take a bunch of readjusting to
  get the average JW to accept this. This is what would happen to most, though-
  They will install the Library at home and access the internet at work, or from a laptop that
  never uses the Library. They would never install the Library, just use the older ones.

  Still, this measure would only slow the process down some, it would stop it.

  You called it pretty good. There is definitely going to be a downward spiral in the organization.
  I get a laugh from current JW friends with every new developement in the News. "See, the end is
  right around the corner, here's more proof that the org. was right." I don't recall school shootings
  or hurricanes mentioned as part of the sign. New students will drop and many will start looking
  elsewhere from the org. starting on the internet.
• 

  freedomloverr

  *****Society approved monitoring software installed on publisher's PCs
  
  
  
  
  get the average JW to accept this. *****
  
  
  I really don't think it would take that much readjusting to get the average jw to accept this. My parents would have jumped all over this *monitoring* device if it had been available when I was growing up. Most jw's (esp. parents or those in authority) seem to have extreme control issues so this would appeal to them a lot. They would justify the whole thing as *loving* and that it was for a protection.
  
  The only thing they fail to realize is that the tighter they grip - the more the jw's (esp. the younger crowd) will wiggle to free themselves of the iron hand.
• 

  M.J.

  Yes, but remember to grasp the point of this article. It's going to become easier and easier to check facts with upcoming internet tools. As this happens, it will become even more and more integrated in the way we process information. To the point that it will alter the way politicians conduct themselves...Any entity that holds a stake in controlling the flow of information to its constituents will be severely debilitated!
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  M.J.

  as for the internet monitoring software, they can package it any way they want, but the those aware of the fact that it's the same control method used by the Church of Scientology will be disconcerted.
• 

  OpenFireGlass

  I've been tryin to explain this phenomenom to my (jw) mom...

  I mean, she's always sayin' how close the end is, cause of how bad things are.. And I try to explain how there are checks & balances in the world, and that the internet is the greates balance ever,,, on the basis, that no matter what might seem bad/wrong in the world, there is a place where people can instantly network and put issues in check....

  But then again, mom just don't get it... prolly cause she doesn't have a computer, nor does she wish to have one... sucks for mom... not to mention, I can't even email her photos of her grandchildren...

  3 cheers for the internet/humanity..

  P{EACE, Mike
• 

  done4good

  The idea of making the use of internet a disfellowshipping offense will have a reverse effect on a vast number. "What are they hiding?

  That cannot work for at least two reasons. The first of which, it would IMPOSSIBLE for the WT to directly make internet usage a disfellowshipping offense, because there is nothing "scriptually" wrong with using information sources such as the internet, in itself. They could indirectly tie it to something along the lines of "causing divisions", "apostacy", etc, but even then, WHERE a person went on the internet would be the issue, not the fact that they logged on in the first place. Outside of clearly drawing the lines of what is considered OK, and what isn't, it could never be enforced. The WT does not have the ablility to police the situation like that.

  Secondly, IF somehow they DID manage to get past reason #1, anyone in the organization who is not labotamized would have enough presence of mind, (hopefully), to seriously question HOW the WT could even suggest such a thing, and the org could only expect people to leave in droves on that basis.

  j