You all know by now that I'm a natural skeptic. I do try and confirm rumors. blondie, too. As others have said, there's enough wrong with the society without having to dramatize or make stuff up. I think the best way to squelch unfounded rumor is to check it out right away.
skyking, I would qualify your statements and distinguish between misinformation and opinion. Opinions will always differ. We all can only have opinions about the origins of life on this planet, for instance. A discussion board will naturally be loaded with opinions. Information, however, can be verified objectively. A statement such as, "The moon is made of green cheese", can be checked. That statement is dead wrong, and the author can repeat it until they are blue in the face. It is still wrong.
r6laser, I disagree about the impact of Barbara Andersen's big news last year. I think the ripple effect from that single legal essay will eventually force the Watchtower to change it's blood policy. And thereby save many, many lives. So it was big news, but the impact will not be instantaneous. Real life is not a thirty minute sit-com. I think the only error Barbara Andersen made was in the way she introduced that article to this board, which built a hype I doubt she intended. I was also severely disappointed in this board's response to Barbara, who has done so much for the ex-Witness community.
The board also failed to recognize Jourles on his return from a year's hiatus. Jourles was the first to post all the BOE letters, and more, on the internet. Shortly after he posted the letters, the WTBTS hunted him down and disfellowshipped him. And how did JWD treat Jourles on his return a year later? Most posters here didn't remember him, and initially doubted his sincerity.
This is another failing of boards like this. We have pathetically short memories.
