I've seen it mentioned many times in many threads: "The Society monitors JWD, don't post anything you don't want them to know etc. etc."
I have even made that point myself in the past.
My question is this: Does the WTBTS monitor this discussion board?
Or have we all been propagating our own XJW urban myth?
Is there any direct or indirect/circumstantial proof that the boys in Brooklyn are keeping an eye on us?
People mention "monitor" like we are the mafia and they are the police with a constant, ongoing operation, to listen in to our little community.
The more I think about it, the less likely it seems to me. With all the headaches the GB has trying to keep their sinking ship afloat, why would they waste any manpower/resources to monitor JWD? Do they want to DF the "fade aways" that badly? That would just accelerate the reduction in their ranks, causing even more negative growth.
I could see someone in the Legal Dept. checking in on silentlambs.org or ajwrb.org occasionally, to see if there are any actionable slanderous statements.
But to imagine them taking the time to listen to us -- people they already consider "bird food" -- talk about our favourite CD or what we named our pet or whether we're visiting the Spring Sex Show ( http://www.springfeversexshow.ca) -- I really think that they think they have better things to do!
Don't get me wrong, there are many in-depth, well researched threads on this board, many have provided material for new sections of my own little web page. I just don't think anyone in those Ivory Towers in Brooklyn gives a rats ass about anything that goes on here.
When stirrings of problems arise among the congregations, whether started by posts here, or simply reported on by posts here, Brooklyn will find out the old fashioned way: the R&F ask their elders, and the elders will telephone Bethel to find out what the "correct answer" is.
In summary, Watchtower doesn't need to come here looking for trouble -- they get enough of that through their official channels.
Having said that, let me close by stating the my skepticism on this matter is, like all solid skepticism, provisional, not dogmatic. Reasonable evidence will sway my opinion.
So, if you have evidence of an ongoing "monitoring" operation of JWD, post it.
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