The sound of one Dub clapping

OUTLAW

As I was growing up,I noticed the dubs at assemblys would clap at the slightest provocation.It looked like a beach full of seals.As soon as a few started,the rest would join in.For some it looked like they just woke up and figured they should start clapping so no one would know they fell asleep.Most just looked like seals clapping for a fish.Kids notice funny things.Did any of you notice dub mass behaviour you found funny...OUTLAW

Edited by - OUTLAW on 20 July 2002 2:51:40

Edited by - OUTLAW on 20 July 2002 2:59:1

kenpodragon

I only clapped if I was friends with the speaker and thought he did a good job. Otherwise I just kept my hands busy doing something productive like drawing pictures to keep time going by faster.

Vivamus

When I first came into the Kingdom Hall, I would only clap when I thought it was a good speaker (and there weren't too many of that). But then the sister who gave me bible study told me that was unkind. The speakers were all brothers in service for Jehovah, and if I clapped for one, I should clap for all.

So I became a good dub and clapped like a madman.

Viv.

Francois

Viv, it seems that we were all in training to become good little socialists. I wonder if the GB and their ilk realize how Marxist some of their teachings are?

I notice you're new. How long were you in the Borg? Are you out? What was the straw that broke the camel's back for you?

Are you from around here? Where?

You know, all the stuff us gossip-mongering apostates wanna know. Fill us in. Give. We can't wait.

Francois

LyinEyes

Oh that is funny, clapping like seals!!!

At one assembly I went to I really embarrassed myself with a clapping incident.

One of my kids was really showing out and I leaned over to whisper in his ear to please be quiet and stop kicking the seat. The talk ended just then and the clapping had begun. I don't know when I noticed that I had continued to clap after everyone eles stopped. I was so involved with talking to the kid to notice the clapping had stopped. Boy , one clapper can really draw alot of attention.

Remember how the speaker would try to be funny and everyone would roar in fake laughter? I would just look at my husband and laugh at how pitiful the speaker was in his humor and how all these jws around me must have thought he was lame too.

Vivamus

Hey Francois, yes I am new, signed in yesterday and to my surprise I just graduated to junior member... this forum is wonderful, you'll have to drag me away from my computer right now.

Yes, I am out. I was officially disfellowshipped on last Valentines day! So, that day will have an extra meaning for me from now on.

The last straw? All of a sudden I just realised that there was no real truth in the truth. Insight came to me like a lightning bolt, and I decided to get out. I was disfellowshipped three weeks later. Me openly criticising and questioning the truth, did not fall well with the elders. They don't like people who do not clap....

Viv.

Elsewhere

What I remember most was the Reluctant Growth Mass Applause. That is when only a few people start clapping, and then a few seconds later a few more join in, and then like dominos, the who assembly audience catches on and starts clapping too.

Another one is the Reluctant Growth Fizzle Applause. This is the same as above, only the whole audience does not catch on, so the group that started clapping gets embarrassed and quickly stop.

SYN

What an excellent thread! Elsewhere, I recognized those two forms of clapping...brought back some pretty bad memories of my Dub days...sigh...once again, the Dubs can be seen to be behaving like seals and a collective mind.

Vivamus: This board is like cocaine - once you post here, you just have to do one more post, I promise this will be my last post, OK just one more for the road, and one more to chase that one down, and then another post to see where the other two have gone, OK a fourth one to see if they're all still OK....you get the idea LOL!

Quotes

I recall a few occasions where some of us younger ones would attempt to deliberately start unnecessary applause.

That was fun. Sometimes it would lead to Reluctant Growth Mass Applause, sometimes it would lead to Reluctant Growth Fizzle Applause. Either way it was fun.

One of may favorite impressions I do for my close friends is Freddie Franz delivering a talk, anytime, anywhere:

"Brothers..."

"...Do you not... appreciate..."

"...The fine spiritual food..."

"...Provided to you..."

"...by Jehvoah..."

"...through his appointed channel..."

"...who have faithfully carried out that mandate since 1919"

teejay

OUTLAW, you're a mess!

Clapping. Who'd a thought such a mindless activity could bring up so many thoughts!!?

One memory stands out. It was six or seven (maybe 10?) years ago, back when I was really 'out' but still technically 'in.' It was the final talk of the convention Sunday afternoon. The gb member was giving his final little pep talk to the drones. He said something like, "do y'all wanna hear what great and fear-inspiring plans we have coming up in next few months?"

An elderly sister in the next section over almost jumped to her feet with applause. God, she was PUMPED! I tell ya, she was hanging on every single word the man said. She made me sick. At the same time, I felt very, very sorry for her. "Get a life, sister. Get a life," was all I could think. She had, and this was it.

--------------------

Funny post, Elsewhere, and very accurate. I'm happy to report that after 30+ years of association, I was never the first to start a roll of applause.

Well, except once when I was a teen... as a gag me and some buddies started it rolling two or three times. Got my ears boxed for that. Mom didn't see the humor. Moms are that way, sometimes.

The sound of one Dub clapping

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