1000 leaving Bethel - Why?

by spider 23 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  wasasister

  I must point out that it is not always leagal to tap phone lines in your own home. Depending on state law, it may be illegal to record the other party to a telephone conversation.

  I know this, because my ex-husband tapped our phones prior to my obtaining a court-order for him to vacate the home. His illegal activity played a major part in the court order. It also scared the heck out of the elders that he had involved them in this.

  If New York is a two-party consent state, it may indeed be illegal to tap phones at Bethel.
• 

  joeshmoe

  Who's more likely to take Bethel up on the "voluntary" offer? I would suspect the liberal minded ones who want no more of the bethel extremism. And I'm sure that some will be actively forced to "volunteer" due to threats and harrassment. So whether it's considered voluntary or not, I'm thinking it'll serve its purpose.

  And so what? If this wasn't happening, do you really think those few liberal-minded souls would set matters straight? Please.
• 

  Francois

  The Supreme Court has ruled that there is NO expectation of privacy when you are using your employer's telephone, fax, computing, or other systems. And the WTBTS is the employer of everyone at Bethel.

  What is and is not allowed in each state in domestic situations is, I'm afraid, irrelevant. In some states, one of the parties to the conversaion must know of the taping. In some other states, BOTH must. In no state I can think of can neither party be aware of it absent a court order.

  But in employment situations, where it's not your equipment in the first place, all rules are off.

  Sorry.

  -francois
• 

  metatron

  You must understand the Byzantine world of Watchtower leadership
  where truth is wrapped in many disguises - so much so that NOT
  EVEN Bethel overseers may completely understand what's going on.

  As to downsizing, yes, the plan is to shut down ot transfer various
  machines in the pressroom or bindery. We all already know about
  subscriptions going away - which means labor is surplus or reduced
  by attrition.

  Spying on people and searching their rooms is old hat at Bethel.
  I wouldn't be surprized at phone taps, etc.

  They may chose to combine two purposes - reducing expenses
  (very necessary) and reducing security risks by losing 1000
  expendable Bethelites. ( What isn't expendable in the organization
  these days?).

  They already talk this way about stopping subscriptions
  'We'll reduce expenses, increase return visits, and encourage
  the friends to attend the meetings to pick up their magazines'.

  I would remind such Pollyannas of the end result of their
  wonderful 'voluntary donation' arrangement!

  metatron
• 

  wasasister

  I stand corrected, Francois, however.....

  I wonder how the law works considering the "employement" location is also a "residence"? Is there an expectation of privacy in company-owned housing?
• 

  spider

  Thanks for your comments. Yes it is astonishing the lengths the leadership are now going to keep control. It is sounding more and more like 1984 all the time with the spy cameras etc - who of us as mr average joe witness could ever have imagined it?

  If they are using such measures to eliminate discontented factions, thereby breaking them up and moving them from the centre of power, then perhaps this shows that the leadership conceieves that there could be a revolt. It would after all, not be the first time.
• 

  writerpen

  It seems that they are really trying to relocate out of Brooklyn. Didn't they move the Governing Body to Patterson some years ago; moved alot of other crap there too I think. And, a thread was started a month or so ago about their petition to the authorities in Patterson to expand there. Looks like they are trying to get out of the City.
• 

  plmkrzy

  They stopped mailing out WT and A's via subscription. You now must go to your local KH and pick them up your self.

  They have been downsizing for economical reasons. Or to basiclly CUT COST. No conspiricy. Its all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  JUST

  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
• 

  nancee park

  And I repeat that Bill is correct. It's not just money but also to boot out those they fear may be apostates, i.e. opposers, even if but by leaking information. You are the one who used the word "conspiracy." They themselves probably call it something like "a plan for action." Words are words but deeds are deeds.

  Edited by - nancee park on 16 August 2002 17:47:55
• 

  Stephanus

  I see the liberals being expelled as a good thing for the cause. Why? I don't want to give the Bethel lurkers any clues, so I'm not saying! Besides, I've retired from this board!