I know my view certainly changed for the better I feel after leaving the witnesses 5 years ago. In part, thanks to my current wife as well ( who has platonic guy friends in her life she has known for years ) it helped me to see it is healthy, normal and natural which in my opinion helps both sexes add more insight into the thinking of men and women enabling a more balanced view of life.
Most of us as ex-witnesses know of the tight control which was hammered into our brains about being " just friends " with the opposite sex. I mean, it was ridiculous. Remember the " Youth book" had some nonsense chapter called , " Can a Boy and a Girl Just be Friends " ? The suggestion was that a boy and girl could not be " just friends " because the sexual temptation would be too great . ( Shows you how much trust the organization had in us, eh ? ) Being a born -in witness it made me paranoid growing up thinking in my 20's that if I developed even a platonic "friendship with another witness woman aside from my witness wife - I'd be strung up by the proverbial nuts and dragged into a " kangaroo court " JC meeting ! That's not too far fetched believe me ! Perhaps some here have heard horror stories like I have about some 25 year old single brother getting lambasted and counseled from elders for driving home a 45 year old married sister alone out in service. Hell, as a magazine servant I was even careful about how I handed change back to the sisters for fear one would say I " grazed " their hand a little too long !
So paranoia generally ruled in congregations I attended and it fostered a great lack of authentic trust between people really - wondering when the shoe would drop off if someone even looked at someone's wife or husband or someone else saw a man or woman talking for a relative long length of time at the kingdom hall - the gossipers would start anew ! It really was unhealthy . And of course if someone did occasionally stray and commit immorality against their partner with another witness - then all of a sudden you'd get the , " this is why it's good for a man and woman not married to avoid being alone. " The WT society didn't even trust the elders - that's why 2 brothers were always required to call on a single sister , or any female. So essentially every one of us was considered pond scum in the witnesses who were expected to sin at any moment because, oh yes , " the flesh is so weak ". What a croc of $hit. Let's see- and what sexual sins have some of the governing body done ? Greenlees- O.K. you get the point. Won't go there.
So I just want to say that it's been delightful getting to know you ex-JW ladies on the board here in a platonic way as a good friend ! This has been a new, interesting learning experience for me the last couple of years as I never thought I could have good lady friends without feeling " guilty " about it. You have all taught me something special every day I read this board - and I value your friendship . After going through 44 years of " cult mind control " to view it in such a rigid way - the last 5 years of my life has been more balanced in friendships with females and males as well . After getting out you see the real light - and everything as it should be. I really look forward to your views and what you experienced as a Jehovah's Witness in regards to this subject ! Take care all