Keeping JWR up and going was a great accomplishment. I had been there from 2012 onward and I thought, overall, it was very well moderated. There were some folks who were rightly kicked off chat and then the board itself. I think overall what was best for the site's constituents was done.
I went for more than 15 years without speaking to anyone who was a fader or DF'd and really spoke to few about my doubts but those I did speak to really didn't understand my JW background and I'm very grateful I had a site like JWR to pour over.
I don't agree how Rifter ended the site & I like the idea of keeping up an archive (maybe with names removed) but it looks like that it was his baby and his decision to make and that he told the other moderators what he was doing beforehand out of his respect for them. What I don't understand is how he picked some of the moderators and why some didn't do more to help out DS, Palimpsest, Rifter and Borgia. Maybe there was some behind-the-scenes work I didn't see from some mods but I always thought someone like Fugue should have been a mod and for whatever reason, he wasn't. Anyway, it was Rifter's choice in the end and that's his right.
I would have liked to print my intro thread and a couple of other comments I wrote but that was on me and you know, c'est la vie. I know I got closure faster from being there but when I joined I don't think JWFacts was up and running and now there's this site and other recovery spots that's great to have. I think there's different levels of recovery and I think the key is to keep searching and talking to others if you know there's an underlying fear or shame you have that's not being resolved. Even though I feel much better and my life is pretty good, I still go to therapy. I'm not saying that this is for everyone but I still find some value in going and as long as I can afford it and find some value in it, I consider this personalized help that goes beyond JWR or any recovery site that can benefit my life. Some of the things I accepted as a JW or with a JW-mindset covered up other things that were my own personal problems or emotional crap of others like parents that I accepted as my own personal problems. It all comes down to handling your own personal crap.
I will say that after reading and commenting for four years on JWR, I grew a lot and became an ex-ex with a different perspective than I did even two years ago. I don't plan on participating here much since I do feel I should move on but I'm grateful this site is here.
I would like to publicly thank DS who I think was the hardest working moderator on JWR, as well as Palimpsest and Rifter for keeping the site going while I was there. I also learned a lot from Borgia and wish him peace, love and happiness. I am grateful for the ex-ex JW friends I've made there as well. There were some fabulous commenters who also made the site the great site it was and well, you know who you are if you're reading this :)
Much love,
Ladybug Girl
