Phobias, Taboos, and Perversion (page 2)

BabaYaga

Great thread, Jgnat.

The question is really more what ISN'T taboo for Witnesses? When I visit with beloved family, the taboos just keep comin'. Most of them are so odd I really don't even think about them before I have made things awkward yet again.

*clinking glasses, for a "toast"
*anything with fairies or elves
*scary movies
*of course, as has already been mentioned, "luck"
*also "knock on wood"
*anything voting related

Really, I could be here at this list all day.

Love, strength and hope to you in your ongoing mission!

Love,
Baba.

BurnTheShips

BTS: …magic mushrooms…
OK... tenuous connection with OCD there...I think I'll stick with the cognitive therapy.

Phobias?

insearchoftruth

Great post, and your explanation of phobias and your husbands reactions gives me some insight on my wife.....I notice when she sees Christmas advertisements or decorations going up, she gets sort of nervous, and if enough of them, will eventually pick up some WTS publication, even if she does not spend time reading it, almost like a security blanket.

IHaveADream

Oh yes I do remember the whole weird thing about saying the word "luck." I had someone really lay into me one day when I said how "lucky" I was. They told me that we should use the word fortunate in place of the work lucky. So I looked up the definition for the word fortunate and found out it was just another word that had the same meaning as lucky.

So, next time I saw that sister, I told her that I had looked up the word "fortunate" in the dictionary and it had the same meaning as lucky. She was very taken aback by my remark. The next time I saw her she told me that she looked up the two meanings and that...yes they are really the same!!!! So silly anyway making such a big deal over such a trivial thing. But then that's life as a JW.

jgnat

BTS: Phobias?

Absolutely. I'm terrified of losing control. Besides, I've got enough mentally ill people in my family to open my own institution. I've seen the effects, up close and personal, of uncontrolled drug abuse and the uncontrolled mind. In the throes of a drug or mind enduced euphoria, the person is tricked in to believing they've reached a unique and superior state. Too bad they can't remember their dazzling insights the morning after. What they don't remember, and don't see, is the terrrible aftermath of their euphoric behavior. That's for family to pick up.

I'll take an orderly functioning mind, thank you very much.

Finally-Free

I think an imposed taboo also gives rise to cravings for what we cannot have, and associated bingeing.

I started drinking at 14. I looked older than I was, and could get served in beer and liquor stores as well as bars. When I turned 18, which was the legal drinking age at the time, it wasn't fun anymore. Any sense of "getting away with something" was gone.

W

SPAZnik

Interesting thread, jgnat.

sweetstuff

Who said anything about eggshells? Hubby gets as good as he dishes out.

I don't doubt that for a second. You strike me as someone who can hold their own, no problem. But I do think alot of people living in a situation similar aren't as adapt at standing up for themselves and their beliefs when confronted with hurting/diappointing someone they love. That could fall under the guilt phobia for sure.

White Dove

I ruined the fun of experimenting with alcohol for my kids. I let them have it anytime they want as long as it's at night, at home, and we aren't going anywhere. It's just not a big deal in our family. My kids don't even like most of it.

I grew up with it and never understood why kids saw it as such a big deal. There are no alcoholics in my family. The liquor bottles have dust on them. I forget I have it in the house.

White Dove

Sweetstuff,

I thought of Oompa when you mentioned fear of hurting someone else if you stick up for yourself. Kind hearts can really suffer.

Phobias, Taboos, and Perversion

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