The Watchtower Society is addicted to numbers and growth. The problem is that their very existence is justified by a preaching work that is intended to result in growth. Other religions don't have that kind of pressure. Another problem is that their growth is slowing down. They have done much to continue their perceived growth such as change their reporting requirements and invest in areas and demographic groups that don't result in much income or many high quality publishers. Nevertheless, they will have to face the fact that their growth is slowing and may even stop or become negative in a few years.This is especially a danger when 2014 comes and the "last days" become the "last centuries". It will be hard for them to maintain the zeal they have had in the past.
My thought is that if they can try to manipulate and boost their figures for their own purposes, why can't apostates also try to manipulate their cherished statistics for our own purposes.
This isn't easy because we can't report negative numbers on the time slips. However, it is possible to artificially boost our reports during strategic times and then withdraw this support when it is likely to do the most damage. The situation is something like a country that tries to manipulate the price of its currency. Japan, for example, likes to have a cheap yen to help exports. It will occasionally sell vast quantities of yen in order to lower it's price. Of course, in order to sell these vast quantities of yen, they must first buy them which tends to inflate the price of yen. However, if they do this carefully and strategically they have a chance of encouraging lower prices, or at least giving the impression that they are committed to lower prices which may beneficial politically.
Apostates may have a never to be repeated opportunity to do something similar. In order for the statistics of the Watchtower Society to decline, they must first reach a peak. We can help this to happen sooner and make the eventual decline more dramatic.
The 2014 report will be very crucial and interesting. If the growth is disappointing or even negative, then it will only compound other problems they are already having. It would make sense for those who are currently stuck in that organization to reduce their reporting that year. If they can not turn in a time slip for August, 2014, that will be especially valuable since August is usually the month when the peak amount of publishers is reached.
This effect can be even more dramatic if the time reports are padded during 2012 and 2013. This isn't hard and may even reduce the pressure on those who are still in, but don't believe.
Some may feel this is dishonest. Others may just look at it as "theocratic warfare". After all, if you or your family are being held hostage by an evil corporation, a little deception may be called for. However, even a completely honest report could account for the fact that most businesses start paying when you show up for work (instead of when you knock on your first door) and make allowances for short paid breaks. I also don't see why you couldn't count time for talking about Jehovah's Witnesses and the Bible on JWN.
In any case, the idea is out there. It doesn't require any coordination. People can just make a personal decision about whether they want to do this. Even if it doesn't do much on a worldwide level, it could still have an important effect on the country or congregation level. I hope the Bethel spies will read this and start to wonder if their stats will be manipulated in a way that they can't control. It could also call into question whether any increases in the next few years are real, even if this plan isn't implemented.
I welcome your comments.