Styrofoam Personalities at the Kingdom Hall

by Nosferatu 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  Nosferatu

  I think it's absolutely amazing how people strip off the old personality, and put on the new personality when they enter the Kingdom Hall. Everyone looks incredibly phony. Those smiles aren't genuine. They're trying hard to look like the pictures that they see in the Watchtower.

  My mother was so "spiritual" and "happy" when she was at the meeting, but at home she was quite worldly. Curse, swear, no praying before eating, miserable, etc. It was depressing watching the whole charade at the Kingdom Hall, knowing that other families were exactly the same. I was probably the only one who didn't go along with it all. I normally didn't have a smile on my face at the KH. I was too real. I didn't go along with being fake happy. That's probably why hardly anyone ever spoke to me.

  Did anyone else realize this when they were still attending meetings? Didn't it start to disgust you when you saw through it all?
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  freedom96

  This was easier to distinguish when you knew these people away from the meetings. I think many witnesses simply do not have time for socializing with all the requirements, not only to keep food on the table, but all the meetings and service. That being the case, many witnesses will call another witness a friend, but really, the only time they see each other is at the hall. I bet that there are many secrets of individual witnesses, that no one will ever know of the other, because they simply don't see them at home and their everyday life.

  So yes, they all put on the smiling faces, and put on a show at the meeting.

  I know this is the case of my ex wife. Evil in the purest form is her normal personality. She could make a sailor blush with her language. Her ethics are horrible, very vindictive and hatefull. Pretty much nothing that the bible teaches one to be like. But yet, she goes to the meetings, and acts like everything is great, while she screws people left and right out there in the real world.
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  DevonMcBride

  I've only been to a Kingdom Hall once but noticed the people weren't happy at all. Many were stone-faced
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  razorMind

  Most of the folks at my old congregation just look dead-tired; everybody just looks worn-down and beat-down. Everybody gets older and older but still wears the exact same meeting clothes, same hairstyles, same bookbags. It's very weird.

  Some do, however, plaster on the ol' "I'm Oh-So-Spiritual" facade. My mother (who's a nervous wreck) is especially good at that, though the plaster cracks more and more with passing time, with desperation and hysteria taking its place.

  That being the case, many witnesses will call another witness a friend, but really, the only time they see each other is at the hall.

  I agree with this. My congregation was one of the more staid ones--not much outside socializing at all.

  I don't see how people do it. I just can't be fake.
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  Dawn

  I notice some of this same thing at other Churches - but not to the extent as what I seen at the KH. I think it's probably because at other Churches you don't have to fear being marked and df'd.
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  Prudence

  Yes, Nosferatu, I remember. The have a nice day smile look. Once an elder said to me"maybe Jehovah will strike him dead." talking about a brother whose behavior he didn't approve of. When he told me this he had the biggest and a wicked laugh to go with it. Now, that was scary and thinking about it now makes me want to
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  blackout

  Yes, Nosferatu, I remember. The have a nice day smile look. Once an elder said to me"maybe Jehovah will strike him dead." talking about a brother whose behavior he didn't approve of. When he told me this he had the biggest and a wicked laugh to go with it. Now, that was scary and thinking about it now makes me want to

  OOOh scary....
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  azaria

  I can only comment on what I've personally seen. On the surface they seem to have the answers and say that they are loving (as if they are the only ones with that trait) and honest. But I've only seen the opposite. As a group (JW's) there are people that I have no desire to see again and there are some who seemed friendly; who I could spend some time with; as long as they didn't talk about their org. (like the Elder who wouldn't allow Psalm 23 to be read by a non-JW in the Kingdom Hall at my fathers Memorial. I think he was callous, insensitive, going by the law. Another was so depressed I would never want to spend time with her) Even my mother, she talks like she has the truth but if you talk to her for any length of time, you see that she is very mean spirited (talking about the people in her past and present) Last week she mentioned that she was so proud of herself because she didn't steal something. If I had ever considered stealing anything I would be mortified even thinking it, yet she was proud because she resisted. I do hope that in time she will fully open her eyes to the real truth; that the JW org isn't the truth. But I will not try to persuade her: I think that would be callous under the circumstances. As a family we have all been very loving towards her and I hope that she will eventually start to think on her own. (my dad was very opinionated and overpowering) For those who read my last post (re: my dad passed away) the congregation never (apart from the one lady) brought prepared food for my mother. One couple did bring a bottle of brandy. Even my mother couldn't understand that one. When a family member passes on I believe that the congregation needs to supply any necessities (food, doing any housework etc) while the person left behind is grieving. Is it only this congregation? or they all like that?
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  Prudence

  Did anyone else realize this when they were still attending meetings? Didn't it start to disgust you when you saw through it all?

  Yes, I was disgusted and it made me really mad at times too.

  I would sit at the meetings and wish I could have stayed home, but my husband (now ex) would make my life miserable if I didn't go. He would be so.. spiritual at the hall and just the opposite when we got home.