old technology and internet

by lurk 3 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  lurk

  how did the org cope with the invention of tv radio and film magazines/the printing press and photography.

  was watching a prog on early movies ..at the seaside there were movies machines with films like "what the butler saw" servanats and mistresses making whoopee in the larder. not like today but must have been pretty daring in the old days and rude for the old days. This was really really old brown and flickering film.so something objectionable to the early congregations? and then theres photos- really early on they were dirty photographs .

  so how did any memeber of the org ever get to own a camera or watch tv or see a movie how did the org cope with that stuff ,was it like they are with the internet? i mean how can they use these things when it must have been like it is with the internet today . any articles you know off?
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  Gopher

  The WT Society has, at times, been on the edge of communications technology.

  In 1914 they created the "PhotoDrama of Creation" which combined colored slides with moving pictures and sound. It created quite the sensation for its day, as it sold out various theatres where it played (according to WT Society accounts of the events).

  In the 1930's they hooked up some of the largest radio networks of their times to broadcast Judge Rutherford's assembly speeches.

  And they had their own radio station, WBBM, up until the mid-1950's.

  As far as advice to their membership, they have always warned of the dangers of television and movies, to the extent that the more conservative of their members actually avoided ALL such entertainment rather than being selective (which is the advice they give today).

  It is similar with the internet -- they're warning of the dangers, and many of the conservative JW's avoid even logging into e-mail, as if it were the devil's tool.

  But the more moderate or liberal members of the group will go ahead and select what they want to enjoy from any new medium that comes along.
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  Elsewhere

  They only like mediums they can control 100%... this is why they "discourage" the use of the internet so much.

  Regarding television and radio... you might notice that they almost completely stopped using them once recording and reproducing technologies became available to the general public. They want to broadcast, but they don't want anyone to actually record and review their materials. This gives them deniability... they can deny that they ever said anything they want. Even if you do manage to make a recording of an assembly talk, they will make accusations that the recording was doctored.
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  SadElder

  I think the old boys in Brooklyn just can't believe the power of the internet, nor can they out figure how to control it. Hence it must be evil for the R & F to use it.