ex-JW Community Not An Activist Community? (page 2)

Billygoat

RR,

craw (krô)
n.
The crop of a bird or insect.
The stomach of an animal.

Idiom:
stick in (one's) craw
To cause one to feel abiding discontent and resentment.

I think the term crawfish came from here somehow...

Andi

Seeker4

Mike,

Not sure exactly what you're looking for from this on-line community.
Contributions? What is it that your purposing?

If you're attempting to put together a press release that will go out to a variety of newspapers, TV stations, radio and so on, that can be done relatively inexpensively via email - avoid the printing, postage and envelope costs.

You seem articulate and able to write a good sentence - so write the release, go to the library where they will show you where you can get the email addresses you need (you can probably do that yourself via the Internet), and then send it out.

It helps if the press release is coming from a specific organization - so you may want to team up with the folks that Randy posted the release on this issue from earlier in the week. It's on this board.

My problem is that some of the folks shouting for action aren't always very clear. You write well, but I can't quite figure out what Celtic is trying to say most of the time. And the earlier press release I mentioned, well, I had my say about it on that particular thread.

Papers and other media get stuff from angry cranks and folks with causes all the time. If you don't make a clear, professional and unbiased sounding statement, you'll just be dismissed as another wacko letter writer.

And there are folks here working behind the scenes, and some quite publicly like Silentlambs, who have made a genuine impact on the media. The average Joe Witness is still unaware of all of this, but the public in general is getting an earful.

If you do this, make sure you send copies or web-links with the Guardian articles on this UN/WTS subject. THAT will make a bigger impression as far as the legitimacy of the story than probably anything you could say.

What's holding you back? Good luck!!
S4

mikepence

I think that I explained what I would like to do, in this story, http://xjwnews.com/article.php?sid=25&mode=thread&order=0.

Over 280 people have taken the time to read this idea. One has acted on it.

The issue is bigger than this one example. I am coming to try to come to terms with the entire community's level of commitment. It appears to be lots of bitching, lots of commiserating and peer support (I feel your pain) but no action or unity.

If that is the way it is, fine. I look on this as an educational process. It just seems a shame that we can't organize and get behind something. We could be much more effective.

This is not about me, it is not about money, it is not about this one call to action. It is about the much broader issue of how much the whole community REALLY wants to affect some change. Which, unfortunatley seems to be not at all.

Peace,
Mike

XJW User Submitted News & Views at http://xjwnews.com

Billygoat

Mike,

Although I appreciate your willingness to step out and do something, please keep in mind that not all people have that goal. Many are like Joel and I. We come to this board to heal ourselves, learn, and maybe encourage one another. That is all. And there is nothing wrong with that. Please do not patronize or belittle or try to make us feel unworthy for not having the same goal as you. I can't speak for anyone else, but I can't help but feel you are pushing your own agenda on the members of this board. Personally, I don't like it. I've had enough of that done to me as a JW and I did enough of that to others as a JW.

If that is not your goal, then please forgive me. Re-clarify your point.

Andi

mikepence

Andi,

What are you believing about yourself that you are choosing to take this personally?

I said:

The issue is bigger than this one example. I am coming to try to come to terms with the entire community's level of commitment. It appears to be lots of bitching, lots of commiserating and peer support (I feel your pain) but no action or unity.
If that is the way it is, fine. I look on this as an educational process. It just seems a shame that we can't organize and get behind something. We could be much more effective.

I love and respect you and Joel and everyone who has supported and helped other ex-JW's like myself through the very painful process of separartion form our abusive Mother. If commiseration and support are what you are here for, fine! I am not belittling that. Peer support is wonderful.

I am not trying to "make" anyone feel anything. I am trying to promote an agenda, an agenda of unity and organization. Dirty words, I know, but we have to get past that. That is what I am encouraging.

You, my dear, are taking this as a personal attack, when it is not. So, again, I invite you to examine what it is that you are choosing to believe about yourself that would cause you to think in that direction.

Peace and Love,
Mike Pence

XJW User Submitted News & Views at http://xjwnews.com

OUTLAW

Hey Mike,Alot of people here already have enough on their plate,and some are up to their ass in alligators.Some come here to socialize and heal.Others wouldn`t mind a fight,just not your`s.You`ve done your best to recruit and it didn`t work out.Thats the way it go`s.Good Luck to you..MERRY CHRISTMAS...OUTLAW

SixofNine

What Seeker4 has the experience to verbalize in his post above, was something that my gut told me earlier when reading your post about the press release; these things take time and effort, but they don't take much money. Sure there may be a service out there to disseminate press releases, but it can also be done by oneself, utilizing the resources Seeker mentioned.

As for unified action, if I see a way to utilize it to do some real good, I'm interested. But what comes to my mind is apostates picketing conventions. Obviously, those who rally around a flag of religion after leaving the org may have more motivation to do things as a group. Perhaps it is just my perspective, but I did not see that as a credible threat to the org when I was a witness, and I don't see it as one now. Admittedly, they may have done some good that I was not aware of.

Similarly, I think many things could be done by apostates as a group, which would make a lot of noise, but in the end be harmful to the cause, or stiking the wind at best. That said, I am impatient to see that tower crumble, but I agree with the earlier poster who said that it is more likely to die the death of a thousand cuts.

Convince me your onto something. My mind is open on this matter.

Celtic, I really hate the language you couch your ideas and proposals in.

Mommie Dark

Amen, and amen again Andi!

Trying to make us all 'activists' in one cookie-cutter unified mold just smacks of neocultism.

We each do what we can, as we can, as we want/need, in regards to how we relate to Watchtower-related issues. One person may feel a pressing urgency to become very active in disseminating information; another may feel an equally pressing need to reach out personally to others in similar circumstance; some of us just want to find friends.

I have found over the years that many of us retain the need to zealously exhort others to join us, join us, join us in whatever we find most urgent. That preachment thing is tough to beat; as Jdubs it was ingrained in us pretty deeply wasn't it?

Mike, perhaps internet discussion boards are not the best place to look for activists. Seeker made some very fine suggestions. I might add the thought that a public-service notice will be printed in most newspapers for free; you could reach like-minded people and form a group to achieve your aims that way, in your local vicinity.

It might help if you concentrate on doing what you think needs to be done, and quit wasting time chiding others for not sharing your personal goals.

As always,
Mommie Dark

Nannygoat

Mike,

I love and respect you and Joel and everyone who has supported and helped other ex-JW's like myself through the very painful process of separartion form our abusive Mother. If commiseration and support are what you are here for, fine! I am not belittling that. Peer support is wonderful.

Thank you! I appreciate that.

I am not trying to "make" anyone feel anything. I <i>am</i> trying to promote an agenda, an agenda of unity and organization. Dirty words, I know, but we have to get past that. That is what I am encouraging.

You yourself admit you have an agenda to promote. We have to get past that? Says who? What's there to get past?

The issue is bigger than this one example. I am coming to try to come to terms with the entire community's level of commitment. It appears to be lots of bitching, lots of commiserating and peer support (I feel your pain) but no action or unity.

Level of committment to what? Your agenda?

If that is the way it is, fine. I look on this as an educational process. It just seems a shame that we can't organize and get behind something. We could be much more effective.

Seems a shame? For what? Your agenda? Effective for what? Your agenda?

This is not about me, it is not about money, it is not about this one call to action. It is about the much broader issue of how much the whole community REALLY wants to affect some change. Which, unfortunatley seems to be not at all.

Why is this unforunate? Because it doesn't meet the needs of your agenda?

Perhaps it comes across that I'm taking this personally. I really don't think I am. My point is that not everyone has your agenda. Not everyone wants your agenda. To say that it's unfortunate that we don't stand up behind you and get more organized isn't unfortunate to those of us that have a different agenda.

Please understand, I'm not trying to be catty or snotty here. But Joel said it wonderfully...

Well, the burden is on the appealer not those who are appealed to. Either you are drumming to the wrong audience or you are drumming the wrong tune

Just a few of my thoughts...

Andi - who's used up her posts as Billygoat today. Slow Friday...

Nannygoat

Ack! I just realized I used up my posts just ONE POST before I hit JEDI! Hahaha! It'll just have to wait until Monday!

Andi

ex-JW Community Not An Activist Community?

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