This is the Internet, simply put, none of you know anymore about who the other really is or should judge them by the lack of emotional smiley faces in their sentence structure.
First to Danny,
We have spoken on the phone and exchanged a few emails and I consider you a good friend. You are much like Alan in many ways and in others very different. I'm not completely sure but I think that's called "individuality." We are all different in ways and in a common bond sense we are the same. I know for an absolute fact that if Alan, you, and I got together for a few cocktails away from this emotion filled discussion board you two would be the best of friends. I know this because I have shared a few drinks with mister butthead Alan and I consider him one of my closest friends.
Sure he can be a prick, we all can. But you have absolutely no idea what he is going thorough in his life right now, I do. Does this give him an excuse to talk nasty to you? No, but personally knowing what he is going through I can understand why he says some of the things he says and why he is so defensive. You can't know what all he is doing and he can't tell you. When someone makes a comment about those who are doing things exJW-wise that can't openly be talked about it becomes frustrating to them because of their tireless work seems to be unnoticed and unappreciated. Alan has given up many hours with his family to help in these efforts and so have several others. When those who do this kind of work are even slightly attacked, they ban together and take out their frustration in the only way they feel they can. It's a very tough spot to be in.
The next time you speak to someone about something you have learned on this board just remember that there are those who spent a lot of personal unpaid time gathering information so that you can state with certainty what you have learned. You should see Alan's library of old JW publications, it's enough to make you puke. He has spent thousands of dollars putting it together and it gives me the damn willies just looking at it. It's like being in a kingdom hall back library without the smell of baby poop and the feeling that you did something wrong. For all those who have done that work, I say thank you, I appreciate your work, well.....except Kent, I'll explain later.
There are just a hand full of people doing the work to expose the bullshit religion that has brought us all together on this board. They don't get paid, they don't get reimbursed and they get very little recognition by most of us. All we see is their frustration. We see them as the elitist, the so called secret list. They like most of us are pissed off. The difference is, they are working tirelessly to try and bring the truth out. I fell bad a times that I don't do more, but as many have said, I'm not that angry anymore to care enough to do something about it. Iv moved past that in my life. Does that make me any better or worse, No. It's just where I am in my life. But I am still extremely grateful to know if I ever did need to discuss the JW crapola with any one I could easily benefit form the work of people Like Alan. Does that frustrate them, at times it does, but it is their choice just as it is mine not to join in and help. It's all about choices, level of commitment and sometimes purely being pissed off enough to act. No one is better for doing the work and no one is worse for not doing it, period!
As far as you thinking that Alan has not done any of the things he claims to have done and continues to do, you are dead wrong my good friend. If you know him personally like I do, you would not only understand his abrasiveness a little more you'd down right love the guy. Yes, there is a little group of activist like Alan and Kent and a few others that spend endless time doing work that each and every one of us benefit from. Alan and Kent are good friends and work together on many projects. Personally I think Kent's a pig but I admire his work and applaud his efforts. I also know that if he and I ever got together we'd both end up on the floor laughing our asses off and I would have the honor of adding him to my "very good friend" list. Right now I am having more fun thinking of him as a pig. I care what he thinks of me as much as I care about what kind of thong underwear Jolebear wares. I like Jolebear for who he is, not what he chooses to do with his buttcheeks.
Alan is a very intelligent and complicated person. He is also very loving and caring for his family and friends. It is hard to see that when he starts using some of the more colorful expletives that creep into his defensive posts. I consider this my fault. His wife Julie whom I love like a step sister has asked me on several occasions to try and teach Alan how to be cool. This is no easy task. The man wears a brown "T" shirt with green Bermuda shorts, short black socks with Berkenstocks, IN PUBLIC! Alan also is comically handicapped and it is my job to try and transfuse a respectable sense of humor into him. Again, he's a MIT graduate, do I need to explain?
Alan and July spent 10 days at my house this past summer. TEN DAYS! That's only ten days I had to work with. That is not enough time to do much personality tweaking but between the four bottles of 18 year old scotch and having Wassasister try and convince us she knew how to mix drinks it was very hard to get his full attention. Alan and Julie know that I know how to hypnotize people. Julie wanted me to try and hypnotize Alan. Without going into a big long story I'll just say it was like trying to massage a 6 year old with a feather. The dumb ass couldn't stop laughing. I don't know how in the hell I am supposed to teach this guy how to develop a sense of humor when he is laughing all the time.
I just want to say he takes his exJW work very serious. In his wife's point of view he takes it too serious. But I can tell you straight from the heart, it is because he cares about each and every one of us on this board. Whether he thinks we post fluff or not. He would be at the side of any of us with his intelligent brain and huge heart if anyone asked. He cannot go into all of the stuff he is doing exJW-wise on this board. But I can tell you, and I think you know me well enough to believe what I say, he is what he claims to be and he has done what he claims to have done. I'll stake our friendship one it and friendship is something I do not take lightly at all.
Now Alan,
Ya see, ya got your big ass berkenstock stuck in your butt again. UncleBruce was just trying to say "be nice" and don't sweat the small stuff in a very long drawn out way. Quit reading what the hell he wrote and start reading a little between the lines. I don't care about who said what to who and who is strong, weak, whiney or bold. So what if he likes to read the fluff posts, he's a damn Australia, they live for that shit. Prisca is a sweetheart wheather the borad braintrusts think so or not. If I had the choice of having brains or personality I'd take the personality in a second (lucky for me I have both). I personally like to read a lot of the more bullshit posts, in fact, I read more of them then the long drawn out bible scripture quoting kiss me jesus crap that many love to argue about. Does this make me a fluff or an unintelligent person? Well....you know better than that. Remember Bonzi Alan? I love to laugh, it's more fun then trying to be right or show how much you studied or how much you know in life. The most intelligent people don't need to try and prove it all the time. You can be the most intelligent person in the world and still be stuck in a wheelchair and not be able to speak. The key here is balance Bubba, be smart when you need to be and play when you need to play. Have some fun damn it!
Your work is winding down. Learn how to have a little fun and enjoy the pleasure of getting to know some of the people you have helped. Just because they don't know you have helped them doesn't mean you need to call them names if they make a post that is made without the knowledge of what you have done. Quit being so damn sensitive. Let Kent take care of himself, pig's are very resilient animals and the man does have a sense of humor. Granted, it's a bit sick, but I like sick sometimes.
Before you post something like you work for the NSA or FBI or HOOTERS, run it by me first. I'll tell you if it is funny and if someone without an electronic engineering masters degree from MIT will get it or not. Alan, I hate to tell ya pal but you don't know funny. We have talked about this, remember the beach house? How many times did I have to tell you, you weren't funny. I will teach you funny but you need to kill a few billion more brain cells before you get it. That is what the scotch is for bonehead. You need something like a breast reduction operation for your brain. Dannybear is one hell of a nice guy and you should be nice to him. I know the guy and he's pretty damn smart too. He has a wife like you.....well, no one is like Julie, but he has a nice wife. You guys could be great friends if you know a little more about him and he did the same for you. So both you guys, KNOCK IT OFF!
Alan, if you read and commented a little more in some of the semi-fluff posts ie. Bonzi Alan people would realize how great of a person you are. You say you don't have the time, well, just like your wife keeps riding your ass about, "make the time." You have put in your time with the exJW stuff, you have made the world better from all your hard work, now take a damn vacation.
Don't come back with any nasty words to me for jumping on your ass or I will tell the entire board about what you and Julie did on the third floor of the beach house. I swear to god I will, Libfermiltich and all, and then Julie will hate me and Rilla will hate you for making Julie hate me. Then we will really see who wears the green shorts in your house.
Alan, say your sorry for being such a nasty ass to Danny.
Danny if you want to understand the real Alan give me a call, you might want to retract what you said about the work he has done.You two are both great people, if you gave it a little chance you would both know that and reap the benefits from it.
Make friends not enemas!
And you wonder why I don't post much anymore.
Here is a thought from favorite quote:
"You can always judge the character of a person by they way they treat others who can do nothing for them at all".
-Author unknown.
Dave