Social Networks are a threat to the Watchtower Society

by FrankWTower 23 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  FrankWTower

  In recent months there have been massive protests and demonstrations against autocratic rulers in the middle east and north africa. Many of these were possible in part because the protesters used social media services like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter to get the word out and let the world know what was going on. These services are so threatening to many governments that they're blocked in order to control their people. In Libya and Egypt's case, the entire internet was blocked.

  Jehovah's Witnesses face a similar situation, although nowhere near as obvious or violent. The Watchtower for years has discouraged the use of the internet and social networking sites which are inherently a threat to its control. I remember older Watchtower studies that argued that we should always know what we're logging in for, then as soon as we're done (like checking email), log off from the internet. And now there's talks that warn us of the "dangers" of social networks. There are real dangers on the internet, which we should all watch out for. But, there are also dangers that are only dangerous to the WT. Be sure you know the difference.

  Facebook is an unbelievably useful communitation tool. With over 600 million users and counting, it is the largest social network in the world. It is changing the world, like it has in the aforementioned places. I urge any active JW who wants to help others out of the WT organization to encourage them to join the zeitgeist. Who knows? Maybe we might have a rebellion of our own and leve en masse.
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  miseryloveselders

  At the KM School, one of the experiences that made me howl was some party organized online, and young JWs from multiple states went. I guess it was like a Rave. I guess a whole lot of wrong doing by JW definition occured, and multiple judicial committees were arranged. After the first wave of young JWs got DFd, Reproved, or whatever, they went online and informed others who might be potentially facing the same thing. So via Facebook amongst other social networks, those partiers were able to avoid dealing with judicial committees. I could tell by the way the Bethelite was relaying this to us at the KM School, that this made him mad. He pretty much used this amongst other reasons as sufficient enough for elders to closely monitor entertainment and social activities of those in their congregations.

  Not that elders monitoring those things is anything new, but one can tell that the ballgame has changed significantly and the WT isn't too happy about it. I've been hoping a young person who's aware of or attended this party and familiar with its aftermath would give some details on what happened. I don't mean at the party, but how they took steps via Facebook to protect themselves from judicial committees. I thought what that Bethelite was relaying was fascinating. He said something like 4 different states involved, like fifty something congregations, it was outragous, but I don't think it was made up.
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  Reality79

  Social Networks are a threat to the Watchtower Society

  Good! It's a pity social networking didn't exist many moons ago. If there's anything that brings an end to this loco group of nutballs once and for all, the internet will have A LOT to do with it!
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  DanaBug

  Oh, facebook is a danger to active JWs. There used to be a lot of Witness pages that anyone could join, you'd just get kicked out if you were suspect. But they got overrun with apostates, lol! And now they're mostly private, you have to apply to join. The apostate pages are all public though.

  Faders should be very careful though. It's easy to get outed on facebook.

  ETA: Sometimes I see an active JW "debate" with apostates on there too. But it always happens, they get to a point they can't argue with and then leave and delete all their posts. Have to wonder how that affects them.
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  onemore

  Misery.

  I believe that the experience is true, because something very similar happened in my circuit. A group of JW youth from the congregation arranged a party and sent the invitations via facebook, the party turned into a mild-rave, there were JW’s from different circuit and districts, even a few non-witness kids… and guess what? Yep, you guessed it. There was underage drinking, “brazen” conduct and a few JC afterwards.
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  DanaBug

  God forbid teenagers actually act like teenagers!
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  onemore

  DanaBug,

  God forbid teenagers actually act like teenagers.

  many JW parent and the GB seems unable to understand that.
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  miseryloveselders

  Misery.

  I believe that the experience is true, because something very similar happened in my circuit. A group of JW youth from the congregation arranged a party and sent the invitations via facebook, the party turned into a mild-rave, there were JW’s from different circuit and districts, even a few non-witness kids… and guess what? Yep, you guessed it. There was underage drinking, “brazen” conduct and a few JC afterwards.

  I'd love to have details on this first hand from someone. There has to be a lurker aware of this situation. This has the makings of a teenage comedy like American Pie, or Ferris Bueler's Day Off, albeit with Service Meetings, and Field Service intertwined throughout the film.
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  troubled mind

  The Society is losing control over the youth because of social networks . Kids no longer delete friends that are DF'd they just hide their posts or start another account under an alias .For every rule the Elders try to impose, the young ones are finding a loop hole around it . The internet gotta love it !

  Remember when calling a girl on the phone was considered dating ??? now there is private chat ,texting , pm's,facebook ,myspace .......
• 

  pirata

  A friend of mine also heard the same story at his KM School. Except his spin on it was that facebook helped the elders to track down those who went to the party.