Recent post regarding the Unthank family and persecution cited

by wha happened? 29 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  smiddy

  Steve 2

  To reply to your first paragraph ,is that question directed to me ? or to steven.If it is directed to me ,I`m sorry I`m old and not computer literate ,and I`m on here usually for a breif spell and then get off ,and i often forget to check back on what i have previously posted , or follow up .and I`m sorry for that .you will know what I mean when you get as old as me.my apologies.

  If your question was directed to steven unthank ,then may I ask ? have you e-mailed steven and requested a reply ? And has he refused to answer your e-mail and questions ? And if you have not contacted steven personally why not ?

  Steven Unthank is not a member of this board ,he does not post here ,he has his own website ,blog twitter ,e-mail address and to my knowledge he will answer any questions put to him.Why is he not a member of this board ? I dont know ! thats his business , ask him.

  Ok , I see your P.S. Please clarify .Have you used his e-mail ? Blog ? Twitter ? website ? or have you just posted on this board expecting him to reply...seriously . A mans credibility is at stake here .

  Last year he took on the WTB&TS over their failure to obtain working with children checks in the state of victoria in the magistrates court of morwell , Victoria ,after many appearances where the WT failed to defend the allegations , the D.O.P.decided to not proceed ,because it was not in the interest of the children.If you think that was unbeleivable so do I nd I was their. smiddy
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  steve2

  Thanks for your clarification smiddy. Yes, as stated in my earlier post, I actually emailed Mr Unthank using the email address provided by a poster on this forum.

  And to be perfectly clear: I have never expected Mr Unthank to answer my comments on this forum. That said, I think it is revealing that he"allows" other posters to disseminate his verbatim accusations against the Watchtower on this forum. In my opinion, anyone who freely makes accusations about others needs to, at some level, answer questions about those accusations, especially if they are gravely concerning in content.

  If I came onto this forum and accused a known organization of "unprecedented" and "vicious" persecution against me and my family, I could expect at least some posters to ask, What exactly has the organization done? Are you and your family safe? Have you notified the appropriate authorities? I do not think I would view these kinds of questions as impertinent.

  Similarly, I'd like Mr Unthank to tell us, What specific "unprecedented" and "vicious" acts does the Watchtower continue to inflict on him and his family? What steps has he taken to protect his family from this persecution?

  I have come to realize that this aspect of questioning is not welcome by either Mr Unthank or his sympathizers. I will not hold my breath expecting helpful replies, but perhaps should brace for posters accusing me of negative intent and even "defending"the Watchtower. And still we do not know what those acts of persecution against this man and his family actually consist of.
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  Witness My Fury

  I think it's just his OTT style letting him down yet again.... his style from the start has been to exaggerate and embellish, I wish he'd stop doing it and just stick to facts, but then this is a propaganda war I guess so when should truth and facts get in the way of that eh?

  I think a more measured and careful approach would scare off fewer people tbh
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  yourmomma

  yeah, i agree with "Witness My Fury" he has "six screens" syndrome. But with that said, if he cant be part of a way to do damage to watchtower, then so be it.
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  steve2

  I think a more measured and careful approach would scare off fewer people tbh

  I think you are right. When people's communication style is on the hyperbolic and even dramatic side, all their good points get watered down because the reader is constantly trying to sort "facts" from exaggeration.

  Mr Unthank has clearly got a valid and even compelling story to tell - one that needs to be heard and good on him for having the drive and determination to take this as far as he is legally entitled to. It has obviously been a huge cost to him and his family. For that I admire him because he is putting his money where his mouth is.

  That said, he seems to let himself down by over-the-top language and strident demands that at one level are unintentionally laughable (e.g., in legal prose, demanding that the faithful and discreet slave be made to apologize for a raft of charges, and making it seem like this is judicially determined) and at another level, revealing an outlook that struggles to remain reasonable and balanced.

  Not everyone is a cool cucumber under pressure and I suspect Mr Unthank finds it hard to temper his language and to dial-back his righteous indignation.

  For me, the real disappointment though is other well-regarded ex-JWs eagerly spreading his verbatim accounts and who claim to be "only" passing on his messages. yeah, right. It betrays an eagerness to spread anything negative about the Watchtower and perhaps a vulnerability towards sensationalism. I'd like evidence that my conclusion is wrong. If my comments are so readily taken to task by some ex-JWs, why aren't at least some of Mr Unthank's?

  Trouble is, JW-friendly people get one whiff of his over-the-top accusations and turn away from even the compelling points he is making. I get the impression that members of the Victorian state parliament and the judiciary view him as a bit of a crack-pot. With good PA, Mr Unthank could have mounted a compelling case against the Watchtower Society. Now all he has left is high-strung claims of "unprecedented" and "vicious" persecution of him and his family by the Watchtower Society. In any other context, this would be viewed as subclinical paranoia.
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  Marvin Shilmer

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  I have no direct contact with Unthank (that I know of) and have never attempted it. That said…

  From what I’m told the persecution is of various natures. First there was failure to address ongoing and historical child abuse. Then threats from Watchtower lawyers to ruin him if he caused waves. Then ruination at the hands of Watchtower lawyers as promised. The latter is, as I understand it, financial.

  One thing that always bugged me was Unthank’s hesitancy to tell his story directly to the public. It was explained to me that the peculiar legal process at work in his jurisdiction prevented him from speaking publicly about his claims. To be honest, I still find this a little over the top. But maybe it’s true. I don’t know. As I said already, I’ve never inquired directly to Unthank. Maybe I’m completely wrong in my understanding of what’s been told me. My time is very limited and I have my own work. So I’ve not bothered to check things more thoroughly.

  I trust Barbara Anderson because she’s earned it from me. She’s a top notch researcher who’d not take kindly to manipulation by a dishonest individual. I’ve presented my questions to her. Right now here’s where I’m at: I believe Barbara. I don’t know Unthank. That’s the best I can offer, if anyone cares to know.

  Marvin Shilmer
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  Tylinbrando

  I would say the prospects of "Waiting on Unthank" or more promising than "Waiting on Jehovah".
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  Tater-T

  I remember it being in the form of financial.. his ablity to work.. and such.. from the orginal posts on this, last year when it was going on
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  Londo111

  Marked.
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  steve2

  From what I’m told the persecution is of various natures. First there was failure to address ongoing and

  historical child abuse. Then threats from Watchtower lawyers to ruin him if he caused waves. Then

  ruination at the hands of Watchtower lawyers as promised. The latter is, as I understand it, financial.

  Marvin, we are back to generalities again. For starters, how is "failure to address ongoing historical child abuse" "unprecedented" and "vicious" persecution of Mr Unthank and his family"?

  As for threats from Watchtower lawyers "to ruin him": Was that a verbal or written threat? What does "ruin" look like in terms of what actually happened?

  Frankly, if you're bold enough to take an organization to court, expect tough talk from their lawyers - but for goodness sake, how does it constitute "unprecedented" and "vicious" ongoing persecution of Mr Unthank and his family?

  Let's not forget that Mr Unthank made numerous extreme-worded statements about what he intended to see have happen to the Watchtower Society through legal processes.

  Did he really expect the Watchtower lawyers to just roll over and do nothing in response?

  Provided their responses were within the law, and do not constitute criminal behaviors, where's the "persecution"?

  Mr Unthank portrays himself and his family as victims of "vicious" persecution by the Watchtower Society without once acknowledging he himself has been doggedly pursuing the organization through media channels and law courts.

  Context, my friend, context - it is everything. None of this excuses the Watchtower for the claims Mr Unthank has brought against them. But it helps readers appreciate that there is much more to this than Mr Unthank implies by his over-the-top claims.