by punkofnice 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
...there are very few if any, that I would have willingly associated with.
My 'worldly(tm)' friends are all brilliant people. They are nothing like the weirdos I had to put up with in the congregations.
What is your take on the people in the Jobos as opposed to your associates now?
I don't think it's fair to say all JWs are weirdoes. I had some decent friends.
But I agree, my 'worldly' friends I left behind are much better.
I've since friended 11 of them on FaceBook. Some of them, I asked, some of them asked me to be friends.
One woman who's the same age as me, asked to be my friend on FB ... she was my friend from age 12 to 15 - we hadn't spoken in 24 years!
But not one of my JW friends have hit me up on FB.
Not one, and I did a gentle fade, I didn't become an Evil Apostate TM. That says something.
LUHE - I don't think it's fair to say all JWs are weirdoes.
I probably should have qualified that better, I admit.
But not one of my JW friends have hit me up on FB.
Yes. Shows their mindset, I believe.
I think I'm getting more choosy about associates as I get older. My tolerance of people is not what is was. I just look back and think, blimey O'Reilly, why did I associate with so-and-so? I hope they feel the same way.
I really missed my close friends when I left, they meant a lot to me. It was hurtful to be shunned by one of them. Fortunately half of them have also left and therefore I have some very good old friends still.
Nowadays most of my associates who were not JWs are a mixed bunch they include a vicar, a broadcaster, a magistrate, scientist, farmers, metallurgist, botanist, thatcher, several doctors, handy man etc. One of my closest friends is a PIMO JW. It's so much better than being stuck in a cult!
PUNKOFNICE:
I had almost nothing in common with the uneducated housewives, sheltered born-ins, die-hards and holy roller anointed types. Maybe there were one or two other working women I could understand but that doesn’t mean I wanted them as a friend.
Now that I’m out I realize that nobody needs this boatload of friends in real life. Just a few will do.
At this date, I have one JW friend left and I don’t see this person much..But that’s okay, because much of what women tolerated in the religion were people with ‘issues’.
I’m not trying to be unkind but I notice as I’m getting older that I am very discriminating about who I want in my life. The fewer the better.
Nearly every Congo I was in had a number of people who were highly talented, smart, financially well off etc...
I noticed that the dubs that were poor or emotionally / mentally scared seemed to associate with each other.
I disassociated and many of my friends still keep in touch with me and are members of my blog. One very close friend of mine even came to my vow renewal ceremony.
Most JWs are decent people just trapped in a poor situation.
I reached out to a few of them some years ago and while i had a good conversation with one of them he never got back in touch with me after that .
one other person whose house was where a book study was conducted back in the 1960`s tried to convince me to go back to the meetings because the end was so close now ?
I asked him about his two boys one of which he said left the religion but the other one he was proud of .
Nana - I'm glad you have such a diverse base of friends. Good for you, especially after the Jobo trauma.
thatcher
She still about?
Hairy - I had almost nothing in common
Yes. That's a superb way of putting it.
I’m not trying to be unkind
I'm sure you're not but reality is reality. Good on ya.
Silent one - Most JWs are decent people just trapped in a poor situation.
Yes. Isn't that a shame. Religion really is a snare...
Smiddy - two boys one of which he said left the religion but the other one he was proud of
Good grief. Yuk!
Oh god, there’s loads of people I would never associate with in the real world.
Since leaving I made it a rule to raise my standards of who I associate with. Closed minded people are out. As are homophobes and people who go out of their way to remain miserable.
Some of the asshats I used to associate with in the congregations over the years:
A guy who used to get very annoyed at other guys who managed to get girlfriends. He was a joy to be around as you can tell.
A family who used to turn up to conventions in African clothes. And they weren’t even African. They were white.
A girl who went to university in secret while her elder daddy told others she was only doing an apprentiship while pioneering where the need is great. (In Hull?)
There were some (some) who were great people and I hope they leave so they can enjoy the real world. My ex-brother in law or example and some friends from my late teens.
Paley - Hilarious stuff
A family who used to turn up to conventions in African clothes. And they weren’t even African.
Reminds me of the 'Hindi group(tm)' here. Dressed in Saris but white sisters(tm). Why? Even as a brainwashed Jobo-rat, I thought it was madness.
the need is great. (In Hull?)
It's never dull in Hull,
But it's always grim in Grimsby.
