Does the sensationalism on this site help anyone? (page 2)

Logan... your question strikes at the heart of the issue that keeps cropping up... is the purpose of this site to help current Witnesses leave, or is it to provide support to those who have already left?

The fact is, people need to vent. If someone goes on doing nothing in their lives but venting, then yes, they have a problem. But I don't think that anyone else can judge when someone should be ready to move on from the venting stage. It's a very individual thing.

So, as long as people need to vent, there needs to be a site that allows them to do it, in company with like-minded people who will understand their frustration.

At the same time, I do think that sensationalism and irrational bitterness do give a very negative impression. A current Witness who has doubts and comes and reads this site might very well be turned off, thinking that they can't really get help or answers here.

Personally, I think that's the price we have to pay for having a site where we can 'cut loose'. I think that the purpose of helping current/doubting JWs might be better served by a more conservatively moderated site. But I know that opinions vary on that subject.

logansrun

Euphemism -- Very good points and I agree with your assesment. I think that controlled venting -- and some occassional sarcasm -- is beneficial. But, I simply believe many go overboard on it.

Here's a solution to the problem: have a very strict, "members-only" section to the forum in which we can vent. Heck, you could even call it a "members-only venting section"! Everything else would be more palatable for the JWs.

Bradley

stillajwexelder

The thing is the WTBTS do not mind using sensationalism -- so what is the difference -- we have a new date for armaggedon brothers --1975,, Millions Now Living will never Die. Religion is a snare and a racket -I could go on

Phantom Stranger

I suggest that letting vents live in writing is not neccesarily good. Venting - the blowing off of steam, the releasing of anger - is an in-the-moment activity. Giving these feelings, which are usually justifiable, a life that is extended past the moment of their usefulness, and exposes them to the kind of analysis that they are not intended to endure, is not neccesarily a good thing.

avishai

Perhaps I'm just being overly serious. Perhaps. But, here's something to think about: the more sensational and "angry" the topic, the more we appear to be what the Society has depicted us as.

I don't give a flying you-know-what how the society depicts me. Nobody else in the "real" world cares. So what, everyone else thinks they're a cult, too.

logansrun

stillajwexelder,

I think rising above the "eye-for-an-eye / they do it, so can we" attitude would do us all nothing but good. Fighting sensationalism with sensationalism seems counter-productive.

B.

logansrun

avishai,

I don't give a flying you-know-what how the society depicts me. Nobody else in the "real" world cares. So what, everyone else thinks they're a cult, too.

But, what about individual JWs -- all 6,000,000 of them? Do you care how they view you and other ex-JWs?

Bradley

Gretchen956

This is an interesting topic. I have been on two separate ex-jw sites and this comes up now and then. It seems that there is a period of anger after you leave. Not too surprising considering it is part of the grief cycle. Why are some angrier than others and lash out? Why do some people feel the pain more from a paper cut than another person might? Each individual is different. You have to release that anger and then move on to the next stage. Getting stuck in it is a problem.

People just need to understand that we all heal at different rates. This site seems to draw in people at all stages of that cycle. Personally if I see a topic that looks a little "out there" I just don't read it.

As far as the getting revenge thing, some of what I see is a bit passive agressive, and personally I think therapy might be appropriate. In fact a lot of people need a lot of help with the deprogramming process. I know people that have been in therapy for years to release all of this crap.

On one list I was on I really got tired of it after awhile because it brought up a lot of anger I had thought I had already processed through. So I quit the list for about a year. Then I went back after I had a chance to get some help with healing. Now I just try to help where I can or ignore what I can't.

Well I guess I'm rambling......sorry.

Gretchen

SanFranciscoJim

Well I guess I'm rambling......sorry.
Gretchen

Please don't apologize, Gretchen. You eloquently said precisely what I was going to say. I can add nothing more......

Since you've come over here to JWD, I consider you a real asset here. Thanks for your posts. Ramble on!

Does the sensationalism on this site help anyone?

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