Update on the JW Coworker

berylblue

James did not show up today. So the seat next to me in my pod remained vacant.

In his absence, my pod members (some of whom are new to what I call the "pity pod") trashed him. I had no idea he was so disliked.

Now I don't know if any of this is true, but most likely there is a modicum of truth in the things I heard.

There was much eye rolling when his name came up and some disgusted moues (is that how it's spelled?), and Angela said, "I don' think I'm going to be able to take being near him. I can' t stand him."

One woman lamented, "He is going to break Sue's heart."

Another, who is best friends with Sue, "She gives him all kinds of money all the time. He is using her."

Jenn (Sue's best friend) said, "He knows she will do anything to please him, she's so grateful to have him. She has no confidence because she feels she is too fat.) She is starviing herself just to hold on to him."

Angela: "Why on earth does she want him."

I exclaimed, "I think Sue is just beautiful." (She is about 50 pounds over weight, nothing wrong with that except the health concerns, for she is stunning.)

Meagan: "Why do they sneak around the way they do?"

Sharon (once again bringing up the point the JWs may not date non-JWs,) "He doesn't bring her home to his parents because he can't. Witnesses are not allowed to date wordlings." (She actually used that word.) "He can get kicked out if the elders in the KH find out, too"

That's where I made a fatal error. I blurted out, "You speak Watchtowerese?"

"Yes, unfortunately." She both laughed and rolled her eyes at the same time. "I can't stand that stuff. I can't stand him."

But then the conversation turned to another topic (albeit related).

Angela: "I heard that Witnesses are not allowed to date members of another race."

Sharon: "That's not true. They are not allowed to date non Witnesses" (I wonder how she knows so much.)

Angela: "No, they can't date members of another race. I know that for a fact." (Sue is white; James is black.)

This is where I stupidly stepped in. "That is simply not true. I know quite a few racially mixed Witness couples." (I do.)

Then a call came in, so I don't know what happened.

I am afraid that I've said too much; shown I know a lot about Witnesses. But no one seems to be keeping track and no one suspects I was one.

The comments were very unfavorable to James, and I felt bad for him, why I do not know. But now I am worried about Sue in more ways than one. I don't want him to hurt her. In any way. It's not that we're great friends; she just seems nice.

Then, later, Sharon came over to me and said, "You must never tell anyone what I'm going to tell you now."

"Sharon, I have never broken a confidence. (So why am I doing it here????? Well, you don't exactly know the persons, so I guess it's okay.)

"James has been hitting on me for a while." Sharon is married. She has not ever lied before, as far as I know, though she is given to exaggeration.

Then, of course, a call came through and I was not able to get the dirt.

I guess why I'm a little upset: James is a Witness in good standing. I am considered not even worthy of the dust heap at Armegeddon. I may be living immorally, but I have never used anyone. I am not saying I know for sure the allegations of my pod members are true; but generally, at least some of the negative things people say about others are true. And Jenn is not known to lie, and she told us about all the money he has "extorted" (her words) from Sue.

Gosh this sounds so petty!! Sorry to rant.

Now I feel ever MORE uncomfortable sitting next to him. A JW - and a bad one at that. Not that I have any right to judge or believe the gossip.I just hate the sight of the WTs on his desk. It skeeves me.

gumby

Rosemarie,

His behavior is so normal for a witness it isn't funny. A witness can lead a double life and yet hold loyalty in other areas.......which has always baffled me. You would think a witness who is sinning in a way that they know is a disfellowshipping offense.....would not follow other areas with such strictness. It would seem they would throw in the towel and let their guard down in other ways........but many do not.

I remeber when I was using tobacco for the forst time as a witness in the middle seventies and then turned myself in later......that while I was using the tobacco......I made every meeting, shunned disfellowshipoped ones, commented regularly, went out in service regularly also. Why? I guess some feel that if they can at least lick whatever problem they have......at least they won't be too far out in left field when they do straighten up, and one sin is better than a bunch ( at least in a believers mind)..........There may be other reasons....but I think that was mine.

I'm not buckin for the guy you speak of.....just ramblin about how religion screws with peoples heads and makes them behave strangely

Gumby

Nickey

This why I don't want an office job. Too much drama and gossip.

rocketman

Assuming that what is being said about James is true, this is alarming but not surprising. gumby makes an excellent point - many jws live double lives and routinely violate the very standards they claim to hold dear.

berylblue

I have to say that as a Witness, I was scrupulously honest. No double life for me. I had many faults, but deception was not one of them. My cigarette was literally still burning in the ashtray when I turned myself in.

Panda

Rosemarie, When the guy comes back to work bait him. Tell him you heard he's a JW and you believe Jws are a cult. And in Illinois we had some older brothers who still claimed that inter-racial marriage was wrong, because it depended on the conscience of the congregation. Now we're talking about 15 years ago so maybe those old guys have changed their minds? NOT. It's the same with so much stuff. I also know a family in Wis. who still believe organ transplants are cannibalism. No kidding!

Panda

jgnat

Rosemarie, I thought I would point out that Sue is not a total victim here. He is misrepresenting himself and misusing her. She is allowing herself to be treated very badly. You are not personally responsible for any misery she is setting herself up for.

berylblue

I know, jgnt, but I will now how have to watch the interactions a mere few inches away from my desk.

The pod is tiny, and seats 8. I am in the back (four seats); everyone around me quit. (It's a running joke that I scared them all away but it's the job and the low pay which suck). James is a few inches away from me; Sue about three feet from him.

Sigh.

I like talking to pod members while not taking calls (although usually there is no time between calls, we do chat while we're in "wrap" (we have to write down the gist of the caller's comments, code everything, and if there was a problem, prepare a letter and send coupons. My average wrap time is short, however, because I'm nothing else if not fast.)

ANYWAY, this is a dumb story and I'm sorry for posting it now. I just don't want to sit next to him. What shall I say if he starts witnessing? I was thinking of saying I don' t discuss religion at work....

Rosemarie

cruzanheart

Rosemarie, it is absolutely inappropriate (and illegal, I think) for religion to be brought into the workplace. I think it violates your First Amendment rights or something to have to listen to someone preaching. You could always speak to him quietly and tell him that you had family who were Witnesses or something like that, and then tell him what a really bad witness he's giving by his behavior.

On the plus side, he IS showing these women exactly what kind of duplicitous behavior is condoned and encouraged by Jehovah's Witnesses, so you could drop in something like "*sigh* I just don't think Jesus would approve of that kind of behavior. What do YOU think?" And let them decide for themselves if he's a good example of a Christian man. Might get Sue to thinking he's not such a great catch after all.

Nina

berylblue

Thanks. I did slip in a, "If that is true (him taking all kinds of money from Sue), how is that, in any, shape or form, Christian?" Then I felt bad. I have no proof of anything, and it's a terrible thing to indulge in rumours and gossip. I'm going to keep my mouth shut and my eyes open.

I have, myself, been the victims of rumours. I will keep an open mind about James and try not to readily believe anything bad because it suits my purposes.

I am ashamed of myself for even starting this thread. At this point in time, I would have hoped I'd be better than that.

I went OTT; this is my first encounter with a JW since I've been DF (I've seen a few and they've always run and hid.)

I don't know how to react.

Update on the JW Coworker

Share this