The four stages of growth of JWD/JWN (page 2)

stillajwexelder

I was an asshole in the early days - I like to think I have matured a little

LongHairGal

Lady Lee, You are a great poster and have much to offer. Simon has done a great service to everybody. Thanks to all.

cognizant dissident

Great analysis of group dynamics, Lady Lee!

I must confess, the 4th era of JWD has not interested me as much as the first 3. I missed the first but enjoyed going back and reading the old theological research posts.

I guess the 4th era doesn`t interest me as much because my social skills are not something I feel I need to work on. (I could be kidding myself on that, though). That`s why I don`t read or post much anymore. I`m more focused on making a living right now. However, just because the group is not in a place that is working for me right now, does not mean that there is anything wrong with the group. It is still evolving and serving a useful function for many.

I think that`s what so many posters get confused about. If you have outgrown a group, that does not mean the group needs to change. This is even the case with JW`s. Many of us outgrew that religion for many different reasons. If we are honest, though, just because we are through with it does not mean it has to be destroyed. On some level, it still provides something many people are seeking or needing at the moment (or think they need). That`s why they still have so many members. They are getting some payoff from the social group or religion.

Trying to bring down the organization is a bit like trying to turn back the time on JWD. It`s just not going to happen. The org could die a natural death if enough members outgrow the need for it and so could this forum. The mostly likely way that will happen is through education, education, education!

snowbird

Lady Lee, imo, you did a superb job of encapsulating and distilling the premise of this discussion board.

I lurked for like 7 years before I got up the nerve to post something, and the welcome replies took me totally by surprise!

I still recall with a warm and fond feeling the posters who took the time to welcome me - Mouthy, Junction Guy, A-K Jeff in particular.

You are also sooooo right when you state that people just want to talk sometimes. I love the quizzes, words of the day, and CoCo's beautiful and stirring short pieces.

In a nutshell, I simply love this board.

Thanks to Simon, you, and all the others who make this such a wonderful place.

Sylvia

dgp

Marked.

Terry

I always find myself wondering what I would have thought and how I would have reacted if there were such a thing as JWD/JWN when I was an active Pioneer fresh out of prison!

Would I have turned up my nose?

Would I have been shocked and compelled to investigate?

Would I have simply looked for something to disagree with and dismissed it as the rantings of doomed Evil Slaves?

I can't know that for sure.

But, it motivates me to try and write something almost everyday for that 23 year old Terry "out there" to stop and read and make him think about what he's gotten himself into before he wastes his life!

Thanks to JWnet for that opportunity!

Lady Lee

OUTLAW you always make me smile and sometimes lol

Gayle

It seems as many members having gone through these stages

I never had any interest in looking at the teachings. I came here just before the abuse scandal exploded on the internet. So I was far more interesting in my story and that of others and helping others to recover. I've not been a whole lot interested in the social threads. But recently I am beginning to find a lot more of the history of the WTS interesting. And while I don't have a lto of the answers for people I think I have alot of the questions that the researchers can take off with to do what they do best.

stilla

I was an asshole in the early days - I like to think I have matured a little

Must have missed that

cog

If you have outgrown a group, that does not mean the group needs to change.

BINGO Maybe it simply means you need to find a new group or go start your own that meets your present needs

snowbird

You are also sooooo right when you state that people just want to talk sometimes

People discount them but they do fill a great need. I recall how out of my depth I was fresh out of the WTS and trying to relate to people at school or work. We used a different language and there were things I truly did not know or expressions that I heard for the first time that made me look like a fool when I first heard them (whole other thread). A place liek this would have helped me learn some of this stuff and prevented a lot of embarrassment.

Terry

But, it motivates me to try and write something almost everyday for that 23 year old Terry "out there" to stop and read and make him think about what he's gotten himself into before he wastes his life!

Mad Sweeney

A discussion board is a reflection of its members. If the board has changed it is because the members and our needs have changed. There is still a place for discussion of issues from stages I, II, III, but since the information is archived and easily found there is less demand for new threads on those subjects.

Rather than view JWN as stage I, then II, then III, then IV, I prefer to view it as I+II+III+IV because the old posts aren't gone and their value isn't diminished. Old posts never die, they just fade away until somebody needs them.

Violia

Exactly LL. This has been such a learning experience for us all. Learning how to disagree was huge. Coming from jw land where we all had to think alike and there was only one right answer -all the way to this board where we were allowed to debate . It has been a ride.

The four stages of growth of JWD/JWN

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