Disassociating tells them that you're no longer afraid of them and the hate-god that they worship, and it may embolden ones who are having doubts.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure I believe that's true. It was, in the early days of disassociation, when anyone who DA'd was considered to be "rejecting Jehovah". But in the years since, it has become fairly common for people to DA themselves, in effect, to 'avoid a messy trial' (as an elder friend once put it to me). So one who DA's today may not create the shock waves in the congregation that he once would have. Many may just assume that he did something wrong, knew he was going to get disfellowshipped anyway, and DA'd to avoid the hassle of answering the elders' questions.
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I agreee DAing oneself for the most part gives the person perhaps a feeling of closure which if that is what one needs go for it- but to think that one is MAKING A STATEMENT is a joke
most former jw for some reason seem to forget that the avg jw has been indoctrinated in some cases 20-40yrs for the day that a fellow member REJECTS JAH AND HIS ORG
so when they read off a person name as DAing themselves the avg jw says O my goodness they have left JAH
I have been on the net for 6 yrs and i have not hears ONE POSTER relate of how they DAed themsleves and later that night they got a call from a long time jw friend of 20-40yrs who called and asked or said somthing to this effect:
Jim tonight they annouced that you no longer want to be a jw, now Jim i have known you and your wife for 20=yrs our kids grew up we served where the need is great during the summer, we both got appointed as elders the same night, we have given many conventin parts together, my wife and your wife are best friends we have gone fishing each summmer, MAN YOU GOT TO TELL ME what is going on, while i may not agree with you, I AT LEAST NEED TO HEAR IT FROM YOU WHAT DID YOU READ OR HEAR THAT MADE YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON JAh"
i have never seen anyone on the net who say that they have ever recieced such a call from an old friend upon hearing that they had DAed themseleves
and the reason is simple DA lettters in my view have no or little impact on current jw since they have been PREPARED FOR THE DAY THAT someone DA themselves and they have been trained how to respond--
in my view most jw are not prepared for the fallout, and i have read and spoken to so many who may have DAed themselves in the end but they admit THIER TIMING WAS OFF
but each must decide, but like i always say
I would not waste the paper or stamp to send a letter to a group of men who hand out "CHEESE CRACKERS" AT WALMART FOR A LIVING,
if they want me they will have to come and GET MY BLACK A$$
SMILE