Hello Fellow Screen Junkies,
I have had a number of messages in recent days concerned about my posting style having changes in recent weeks. As you may note I have become a little more combative in my replies of late and have imbued a new sense of tenacity when dealing with certain issues. I have done this deliberately and for a number of reasons and I am pleased that it has been noticed. Let me explain.
Having been a participating member of this Board for two years I have noticed that a regular diet of WTS bashing can make one sickly and withered and unable to see both sides of an issue. What happens is that a sort of back-slapping, tribal mentality develops such as is noted in English Soccer tribes. Each tribe has its own colors, songs, and 'in crowd' membership. Nothing the team does can be criticized by outsiders, without a melee, flashing fists and teeth adorning the pavements.
The problem is that after a while, the tribe begins to think it is invincible, that all its viewpoints are at the center of the universe and all statements bashing the opposing team are cheered wildly and accepted as accurate without much scrutiny. The reason for this is that no one person dares challenge the status quo, for fear of brutalization. It mimics a scenario, rather well known to us all, within the walls of the WTS where differing opinions are quickly stifled by majority peer pressure. It would be very sad for example, if people on this Board were actually scared to admit to believing in God, or frightened admit to having gained something positive from the WTS, or even admit that they feel swearing is crass and vulgar, without fear of the tribe leaping on them and given them a good pounding. For example, I am forever grateful to the WTS for giving me the most beautiful and loyal wife on the planet. For helping to keep me on the straight and narrow in my earlier years while many of my peers succumbed to death by drugs. I am grateful for the many good people that I met as JW's. The good-hearted souls who even while locked in a dismal doctrinal prison, found time to show genuine love and kindness and who took care of my sick non-JW parents while I was overseas. I even thank the WTS for the ugly Witnesses, the arrogant unfeeling ones. For they taught me in clear definition, what I must not become.
You see, chanting in unison and wearing the correct tribal clothes, is no substitute for reasoned argument that sees both sides of any issue. For an argument developed on a sound basis leads to growth, one that is not, leads to further ignorance.
In the interests of truth it behooves someone to break the mold and actually present other sides of the WTS issue. For example, I recently and deliberately challenged, at great length I might add, the absurd assumption that all or most elders were ?unloving and uncaring?. A generalization that could only be sustained by prejudice and not by fact and universal experience.
So no, I am not ill as one mailer suggested, I have not lost my marbles and nor am I returning to the WTS. For the person who thinks that I am still a ?JW elder in my mind?, think what you like. Those who know me know the absurdity of your notion, those who do not, welI, you simply do not know me. I have never been a team player, either within, or without the WTS and if it takes a thick skinned person like myself to play the Devils Advocate and actually present some uncomfortable realties, then I have no problem doing that. At least for the next week before I return to my work.
If my recent posts have upset anybody I apologize without reservation for this was not my intent, if I have surprised anybody - good!
Best regards - HS