Writing a Book About JWD/JWN

Rapunzel

As practically everyone knows, this website is a vast treasure-trove of information on just about any topic imaginable about the Jehovah's Witnesses and the WBTS. This is probably the most comprehensive source of information in English on the Internet.

I just want to know people's ideas/opinions on writing a book whose subject is this website.

It would be daunting task, to say the least. It would take a lot of intellectual effort to simply establish an approach - a methodology or structure. Just figurring that out would be - in iself - an considerable achievement.

One example would be "The Effects - Both Passed and Those Anticipated in the Future - of the JWN on the Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Sect."

Or maybe, "The Evolution and Development Over Time of the JWN Website."

Maybe it's just a stupid idea. Maybe issues concerning coppwright would - in themselves - pose an obstacle which is insurmountable.

And yet, this website is a vast compendium of information. There is so much knowledge and useful information to be gleaned.

Oh well, thanks for giving my [crazy?] idea your kind consideration.

Scully

The site is copyright protected. See Terms of Use and footer at the bottom of each page.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/Home/TermsOfUse

About Us / Contact Us / Terms of Use / Help

Simon

Yes, I wouldn't want the site just copied into book form.

I think it's an interesting idea though - let me know if you need any help (esp. re: stats and such)

The new software will have a complete full-text index that will link similar topics together which should make it easier to follow a theme. It's easy to forget how many things have happened and been featured over the years.

What-A-Coincidence

This site is the book ... save the trees

Rapunzel

I figured that copyright would be a huge problem.

I should mention that I was just tossing my ]apparently silly] idea "out there." I should make it clear that I, myself, personally never had any intention of even attempting such a task. I have neither the ability, nor the intelligence to pull it off.

Also, I was not thinking of "just copying" the site into book form. That was why I devoted so much of my original post to finding an over-arching theme, a unifying thesis, as it were.

It's hard for me to put into words, so I'm hoping that people will intuit what I mean.

It was probably a silly idea to begin with.

Which is a pity, however. In a "perfect, pre-lapsarian world" [You know, before that wily, walking snake tricked A @ E into eating the apple], there would be an archivist specialist with the time and talent enough to analyze and synthesize the "data" in some form.

I intend no irony at all when I write that this collective effort contains a vast amount of priceless information. A lot of very intelligent, talented, sincere people have, throughout the years, made this website into something of immense cultural value and significance. It's a pity that this invaluable "cultural artifact" - or rather "multi-cultural artifact" cannot be made available, in some form or another, to a larger reading public.

Make no mistake about, this website IS already of an extremely significant cultural value. It has been a wonderful source of information, aid, and emotional succor/"salvation" to a great number of people. Moreover, in the future, it can only increase in value.

Best regards to all,

R.

Aussie Oz

dont think of it as a silly idea...

perhaps not a practical idea though.

many including myself have and do think of ways we can contribute to waking up the brain dead, to producing some work whether on-line or on paper to logicaly present all we have found...

oz

slimboyfat

Hey Rapunzel it is so good to see you posting again. I never realised you were still around!

A book about this site sounds interesting, a task for an ethnographer perhaps, using a 'thickly descriptive' approach, or a discourse analysis.

I once asked about whether anyone had written a 'history' of the board:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/119432/1/History-of-this-fine-Board

Maybe one day Leolaia will write a history of the board in haiku.

compound complex

It was probably a silly idea to begin with.

In agreement with Aussie Oz, I say NO!

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let your thoughts flow. Whatever shape your literary ideas may eventually take, you must, naturally, start at square one and not allow yourself to be deterred.

Love,

CoCo

Rapunzel

Dear Slim - Thank you very much for your kind words; I'm truly touched.

Although I still read some posts here everyday, it's true that I have not written much at all for the past year or so.

During that time, I have writing letters to the edior of the "Taipei Times," a newspaper published in Taiwan. The newspaper is owned by the Soros group. The island of Taiwan is to the south of Japan, to the east of China. Taiwan is close to China, too close for many people.

The editorial stance of the Taipei Times is that it calls for the establishment of the Republic of Taiwan - no more "Republic of China" bull****. Like many people on the island of Taiwan, I want nothing less than total sovereigny for Taiwan. And nothing to do with China at all. Taiwan must never become a vassal state of China - like Hong Kong, or Tibet.

I lived in Taiwan for about 20 years. Since the deaths of the dictator, Chiang Kai-shek and his son, Chiang Ching-kuo, too many people have shed their blood and sacrificed their lives in effort to bring democracy and prosperity to Taiwan. Too much has been invested, too much to see it all go to hell because of annexation by China.

I returned to the U.S. in 2007. I have been publishing articles in the Taipei Times since October of 2008 - articles critical of the current president of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou. Ma Ying-jeou is basically a Chiang Kai-shek redux. He's got the same anti-democratic, dictatorial mindset as the "generalissimo." The only difference is Ma wears expensive, Western-style suits, and spends a lot of money on haircuts.

In the 1960's and 70's, the Chinese "nomenklatura" were infamous for their cheap-ass, lousy "Mao suits" and "piss-bowl" haircuts that made them look like idiots. Now they were designer suits by Armanni, and spend lots of money on hair cuts. What has not changed is their ruthlessness and willingness to kill at the drop of hat anyone who crosses them. The 1989 Tienanmen Square Massacre was proof positive.

Best regards, or in the words of Flipper, "peace out."

R.

oompa

you cant write about about a moving target really....this is ever evolving truly...but i love your idea....try something overall in general....or just contribute as much as you can until you burn out.....that would also be nice...............................oompa

plus few could or would buy it or see it....think about it...this is the best place to express anything jw

Writing a Book About JWD/JWN

Share this