An experience I had that reminds me of some Witnesses mindset

by sabastious 7 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  sabastious

  About 10 years ago I was hanging out with this guy. For about 6 months we were attached at the hip, we both had our first cars and wanted to explore our area like no others. Sometimes we'd take his car, sometimes we'd take my truck.

  Before we'd embark on these adventure quests, we'd always stop by a local bank ATM. My friend would go to the ATM and withdrawl enough money from his account that he felt we needed for the day. He had a job and I didn't, was still living with my parents.

  He did this all the time. We'd stop by an ATM and he'd grab 40 bucks here, 60 bucks there 20 bucks there. Finally I asked him "When is your account going to run out of money?"

  He said, "I don't know."

  I aksed "How do you not know how much money you have in your account, can't you check the balance anytime you want from the ATM?"

  He said "Yes, I can."

  I told him to check it!

  He said "I don't want to check it because I know the first time I check it I am going to find out I don't have any money left."

  I have always remembered this experience because I thought it was funny. But now I see symbolism in this experience. It is similar to the way Witnesses act when they start doubting what they have been taught. They hold onto the proclaimers book and "truths" told to them by other people. They are terrified of looking on the internet about Jehovah's Witnesses not only because the Governing Body demonizes it. They are also terrified of what they may find. Their subconscious knows that there things to see that cannot be unseen.

  So, just like my friend foolishly not paying attention to his balance for fear of running out of money the Witnesses do not pay attention to people speaking out against the Organization for fear they might actually make sense and they will have to consider the words.

  -Sab
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  ziddina

  Hah!!! EXCELLENT analogy, Sabastious!! Thanks for sharing that!!
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  wasblind
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  LostGeneration

  Some people just want their thinking done for them. So much easier (in their mind).

  Then they wake up one day, 70 years old and dirt poor. Their family busted apart because half of them decided to think for themselves and the other half remain dedicated to the cult.
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  pianodavy

  It's really an effect found in loss aversion. All members of all cults are periodically faced with a decision to investigate the mechanics of their beliefs and this is simply because, as you point out, media such as the internet and TV are part of most modern culture. There is an actual release of dopamine in the decision making segments of the human brain whenever it is believed that losses are avoided - not if actual losses are avoided - just perceived losses (of course, this could be actual losses, as well, but it is a matter of perception either way). Witnesses fear losing association of family and friends, which is an actual reality if one decides to face the facts that this cult is based on BS. So once the opportunity is at hand to secretly investigate it, and the Dub decides to avoid it, they get a shot of dopamine and instantly feel pleasure. Scientists have found that human brain activity is stimulated far more by a sense of loss than a sense of gain. So why do others find their way out regardless of this phenomena? Well, it could be a sign of malfunction in the dopamine delivery or a lower count of dopamine. Or, somehow the person realizes that the true loss of freedom to think freely is the worst loss that any human could ever face. Somehow, I believe the last reason is probably the overwhelming reason why some Dubs finally free themselves and find a worthwhile life.
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  miseryloveselders

  Good illustration Sab. Very fitting. It's amazing what fear can cause people to avoid. With this religion, its a combination of fear and inconvenience. Fear that everything you've been raised to believe was all bull crap. I guess pride would play a role too. One would have to be humble to admit their thinking was off. Heck, I don't like being wrong! Inconvenience plays a role in the sense that many JWs just readily except being spoon fed nonsense, and are too lazy and incapable of logical criticism of what they're being fed. It demonstrates a lack of personal responsibility as was the case with your friend and the MAC machine. They're too scared to find out the truth, and too inconvenienced to take the steps to correct their thinking, or at least to see the other point of view.
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  sabastious

  It's really an effect found in loss aversion. All members of all cults are periodically faced with a decision to investigate the mechanics of their beliefs and this is simply because, as you point out, media such as the internet and TV are part of most modern culture. There is an actual release of dopamine in the decision making segments of the human brain whenever it is believed that losses are avoided - not if actual losses are avoided - just perceived losses (of course, this could be actual losses, as well, but it is a matter of perception either way). Witnesses fear losing association of family and friends, which is an actual reality if one decides to face the facts that this cult is based on BS. So once the opportunity is at hand to secretly investigate it, and the Dub decides to avoid it, they get a shot of dopamine and instantly feel pleasure. Scientists have found that human brain activity is stimulated far more by a sense of loss than a sense of gain. So why do others find their way out regardless of this phenomena? Well, it could be a sign of malfunction in the dopamine delivery or a lower count of dopamine. Or, somehow the person realizes that the true loss of freedom to think freely is the worst loss that any human could ever face. Somehow, I believe the last reason is probably the overwhelming reason why some Dubs finally free themselves and find a worthwhile life.

  Faciniating! Welcome to the forum as well.

  -Sab
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  sabastious

  Heck, I don't like being wrong!

  In the illustration my friend is dead wrong in his attempt at money management. I don't mean wrong in the cosmic sense (I really don't believe in a cosmic right/wrong at all, actually) I mean it has been well documented that if you ignore your finances yet continue to withdraw funds you will face very specific results.

  My friend would not have liked being told that, but he would listen to reason. It would be very humbling for him to accept the fact that he had acted very thoughtless in his actions.

  Just like our muscles, we have to damage them in order to allow for growth.

  -Sab