Internet use and the dubs

by William Penwell 28 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  blondie

  First, as to tobacco products, if you work as a cashier at a store that handles cigarettes among hundreds of other items, you will not be DF'd. If on the other hand, you worked in a store that sold only tobacco products, you would have to quit or be DF'd.

  That out of the way.

  I can remember when VCRs (or the equivalent came out). It gave people access to all sorts of objectionable films and TV shows. There was concern then about owning VCRs and the dangers to Christians. The same concern was expressed about TV. But even the WTS recognizes some value from VCRs (since they produce videotapes) and the TV (since they produce PSAs). The same thinking will prevail with the Internet.

  Will they DF? No, unless,

  A lot of people will freely post their name and congregation name. After all, what do they have to fear from Jehover's Loving Channel on Earth(TM)? The WTS then writes to the local body of elders who then "ask" the person to stop the activities. If the person refuses, then they will be DFed for "interfering with Jehover's arrangement".

  I don't see anything newer that the WTS will be using. Outright forbidding is impossible unless people are going to be required to get jobs that have no access to the Internet. In this world, that is getting harder and harder.

  Blondie
• 

  ClassAvenger

  Shutting off privately owned websites sounds kind of difficult for the WT to accomplish, but not impossible. The person will feel the pressure of taking down the webpage even if the elders don't know he has one, and besides, what kind of witness would go into a JW page knowing that those pages shouldn't be around. The only ones would be people just surfing through the net, but I doubt there would be any use in the webpage. If they are 'worldly' people, they'll most likely consider information from other sources such as this site. I have some friends who turn very defensive when I tell them that there is some information on their religion on a website or something, I can imagine now how they'll be. Are they also taking down the website watchtower.com? That'll be kewl. Has any ex-JW here found this webpage by luck, then just read some part out of curiousity, then later leave the org from the information they found here? -CA
• 

  Singing Man

  Now that would OK by me if they thru a tittie, and tried to send the elders to my house or at the very lest contact me in any other manor for the purpose of asking / making me to stop posting. I would create a living hell for them in ways that would baffle even Steven King.
• 

  xjw_b12

  Simon was encouraged to shut down this site, and look how succesful that was !
• 

  RubaDub

  I don't think it is possible for them to ban Internet use. Lots of JWs rely on it for their businesses and kids have to use it at school, for example. The Internet has zillions of legitimate uses, it's not just porn and anti-JW stuff!

  Others on this board have suggested that the WBTS may introduce some sort of nanny software that JWs will be 'encouraged' to install on their personal PCs to 'protect' them from apostate sites.

  The internet is already too ingrained into society to stop it. I do agree that the Borg may introduce some software that will restrict access to certain sites, similar to "child-friendly" products already on the market.

  ***** Rub a Dub
• 

  integ

  The Society has ALREADY strongly discouraged the witnesses from starting or participating in Jw web sites, whether they be obviously apostate, or "friendly" to the cause. They keep doing it though. It was discussed recently in a Kingdom Ministry. I'll try to dig it up to quote from. It's out of their control at this point. I really wish the GB would outright try to ban all internet use by the witnesses, in a huge gamble to to see how loyal the rank and file is. I wonder if the GB is disillusioned enough to really believe the rank and file would actually go along with it. If the GB really think they can fully control the lives of their 6 million adherents, this would be an interesting test. What would make it even more fun would be if they (GB) made it a disfellowshipping offense to get on the internet. That would be great to see. Although realistically this is pure fantasy fluff. On one hand they think whatever they say will be heeded by the r and f, but they know they can't push it too far so they comprimise.. I thought we were'nt supposed to "comprimise". If they really have control, what would they be afraid of. GO FOR IT.

  Integ.
• 

  BluesBrother
• 

  BluesBrother

  What would make it even more fun would be if they (GB) made it a disfellowshipping offense to get on the internet.

  Come on, as D/mouse said earlier, there is too much business and educational use of the net for that to happen.I even heard a recent remark by the C/o that he had received an e mail about a certain subject. Do you think the writing dept dont use the net to research their articles?

  The cost conscious publishing company that is the WTS will certainly use a chep and effective means of getting info and communicating

  Perhaps another reminder is in the offing about the dangers of our sites. Lets hope it insires others to try them , as it did for me ....
• 

  AnnOMaly

  Dubs don't tend to be as easily controlled as in yesteryear. The WTS cannot conceivably control internet activity. They might try - through fear and guilt-tripping - but it would be like trying to stop a waterfall with a cork. They could never make it a df'ing offense - there would be uproar, else everyone would go deeper underground.