Anyone Remember the Skating Parties From the 70's ?

by Perry 30 Replies latest jw friends

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  Perry

  Here in the USA during the late 70's, witnesses would rent an entire skating rink and hundreds of kids would show up. It was great fun and a chance to socialize without quoting scriptures. It seems like just because some were engaging in fornication and smoking in the parking lots that the society put a stop to it.

  Of course, this left a HUGE social vaccuum for dubbies' kids. From what I saw, they simply migrated to the discos and most were quickly out of the truth.

  I always wondered why the event had to stop just because some were engaging in wrongdoing? Did anyone else feel like they were being punished for the sins of the few? Why didn't they just have better supervision?

  I don't believe the society ever really cared for the needs of kids, and parents reflected that apathy.

  Comments?
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  Blueblades

  Hi Perry! I remember those days.It was a good time to get together and have some fun.You are right about how it was put a stop to ie.large gatherings etc.So, the friends migrated to the disco clubs.

  I remember when right after the evening meetings the friends would go to the local gin-mill for a few drinks,we had a bar right down the block from the hall that we wold go to after the meetings and play the oldies and relax before calling it a night.

  Blueblades
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  blondie

  I remember those days. The end came from high up because too many elders complained about their being ended. They were having a good time skating too. Some tried to have smaller parties in homes or bowling parties. But it was a big battle over what was too big...no one would give an exact number, thus any party over 1 person was suspect.

  Blondie
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  drwtsn32

  In the early 80's, the dubs in my cong used to go skating every Sunday night. What fond memories!!
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  Big Tex

  I didn't go because they would often play that evil disco music. Remember the Awake article on the evils of disco? I did, and idiot that I am, believed it and avoided anyplace that played it.
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  Country Girl

  The kids in our Hall, and those congregations that shared our Hall, would go skating every Friday and Saturday night. They didn't rent the skating rink, we all just showed up. We also had tons of parties and ski trips. The young people also had their own Watchtower study on Wednesday nights, with some visiting afterwards. I think our congregation might have been a little more liberal than most.

  CG
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  sandy

  But it was a big battle over what was too big...no one would give an exact number, thus any party over 1 person was suspect.

  LOL Blondie..... That is funny but true I am sure.

  My older sister used to go to those skating rink parties. She was pretty wild but never got caught. When I became a teenager she would always lecture me about "gatherings" and other social events I attended.

  This always bothered me though I never said anything to her.

  I hate it when people who "live it up" in their younger years then act all "high and mighty" and "holier than thou" when they are older.
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  Tinkerbell4125

  Perry, are you sure you're not from my old congergation! We would go staking EVERY friday night! That was our big thrill for the week!!! lol

  *but we didn't rent the rink, we just skated with all the worldly kids*
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  primitivegenius

  oh yeah definately. someone would have to set it up and rent the place but then everyone who came would pitch in and cover the cost. unfortunately it was to random of an event cause it didnt happen but once every couple months or so. i always had a lot of fun there at them. the elders never jumped on us over them tho.......... but eventually they did say that you couldnt charge for people to attend, instead you had to pay for it all, this put an end to most of the partys there abouts........ formal dances, swimming partys ect ect. so that sucked....... seemed they lived to ruin all our fun didnt they.
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  franklin J

  LOL--thanks for the memories.

  In the mid 70s all the kids in my congregation used to get together with several congregations to the Levittown rink on Long Island. But we did not rent the rink; we just skated. It was fun, and I wonder what has happend to all the JWs friends I had, grown now, and obviously doing something with their lives