You know when we used to go from house to house and we kept records etc of not at homes and what have you? Surely the general public would be concerned to know that so much personal information is taken and kept by the JW congregations. If I was them, I certainly would be. Anyone else with any views on this?
Keeping House to House Records??? Joe Public
by Celtic 17 Replies latest jw friends
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expatbrit
Celtic:
YES! I'm positive that if "householders" were informed of the records being kept on them, when they are and are not at home, it would create a kerfuffle.
For one thing, keeping records of when someone is not at home poses an obvious security risk.
But now link this to the paedophile issue. JW's keep detailed records of when they talk to kids when the parents are not home. And, as paedophiles are still required to go in field service, they will have access to records such as this!
I think that is a pretty explosive combination of information. And I remember being told many times by elders and CO's that our record keeping in service should be done "discreetly" so that householders didn't see it happening. The WTS also knows that people would react strongly.
Expatbrit
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Celtic
Exactly!!
To be perfectly honest, I think Joe Public would go up the wall about this if this practice was made common knowledge, cheers expatbrit.
Anyone else share this concern?
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expatbrit
Celtic:
What do you think would be the best way to make it common knowledge?
Expatbrit
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Celtic
Let me think about this for a day or so and I promise to get back to you about the matter.
Kind regards.
Mark
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expatbrit
Righto.
Expatbrit
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KenUK
Wouldn't the UK Data Protection come into play here. For example you are allowed access (as I understand) to see not just computerised records held on you by any organisation, but now manual records.
Ken
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nicolaou
Celtic, Expat' Ken
Like your thinking!
What do you think would be the best way to make it common knowledge?
Unless anyone can afford 'air time' or press advertising rates then I still believe that (big gulp) door to door flyer campaigns can be very effective.A flyer needs to be short, punchy and to the point.
There's a link at the DNC site marked 'volunteer'. ( http://www.do-not-call.org/volunteer.htm ) You will find there a freely available A5 flyer to print off and distribute. In the UK photocopy rates run down as low as 2p per A4 copy so for example, 5000 A4's would produce 10,000 flyers for £100.
Okay, so we haven't all got 100 quid to blow - how about just starting out with 2 or 300 leaflets just for your neighbourhood?
Also I'd like to ask for some help. I don't actually like my flyer too much, I think there's a lot of wasted space. If anyone would like to re-design the leaflet and email it to me (or post a link here) I'd be more than happy to host it.
You can view the current flyer here: http://www.do-not-call.org/WARNING.doc
Talk is cheap people - we all need to get BUSY!
Nic'
edited to correct 'forum code'
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NeonMadman
Aren't we getting a bit panicky here? I mean, the reality of the fact is that house-to-house records are not turned in to the congregation or logged in any central record. No one can generate a list of when certain householders are or are not at home, except the individual JW who is responsible for working the territory at that particular time. H-to-H records are kept only for the purpose of completing the territory assignment, and then discarded. It's not like someone is using them to compile a huge database. Nothing short of an ongoing Bible study is even reported to the congregation; the H-to-H records are personal notes only, for the sole purpose of completing a personal assignment. And there's nothing illegal or even questionable about an individual keeping a record of work that he himself is doing. The fact that the Society provides a form to use in doing this doesn't change anything in that regard; the notes would be just as effective if kept on a small memo pad, but people wouldn't get all "up in arms" about it.
Tom
"The truth was obscure, too profound and too pure; to live it you had to explode." ---Bob Dylan -
Celtic
First off, Talk Is Cheap? Lets see some action. Excuse me, but I lead quite a busy life as it is, my life does not anymore revolve only around Witness issues, so thankyou for the tip, but your'e not doing my time management and juggling of 101 other issues, plus project management exercises. Cheers all the same.
To Neonmadman, I appreciate the point you make, but whatever the motive and intention of taking house to house records I think is completely besides the point. That such practice is undertaken by ordinary people, especially the times that a householder is absent, I find particularly quite worrying, and believe that the British public too would share this grave concern, regardless.
Certainly, if I am correct, the poster above is correct in stating that the public by UK law, should be able to see these records of their choosing under the rights given by the UK Data Protection Act.
Leaflets? Ummmmm more junk mail? Effective? No.
Give us a few days and I will post regarding this.
Respect