The Watchtower Society has changed over the years.
When I first became associated it was in the late 1950's during Brother Knorr's presidency.
It was laid back and pleasant to be a JW.
There was a push for 10 hours a month and you filled out your stats on a piece of paper and put them in a ballot box for computation.
But, other than that, it was okay.
When the 60's came around they conspiratorily took young brothers into the library and counseled them against taking Alternate Service if drafted.
That was very illegal and they kept it hushed up. But, the message was clear: you DON'T take alternate service.
Well, I know brothers who did. Nothing happened to them except their "privileges" were restricted.
Then, the 70's came along and the mad rush toward 1975 was like a Macy's Day Sale! Pushing and Shoving and turmoil ending in the collapse into silence.
That is when it really turned nasty.