Lol, for some reason, I was thinking back to all the many "characters" that were often so prevalent in Kingdom halls back in the day. They are, I am sure, still there now, but fortunately I haven't been in a KH for like 20 years.
Anyway, I remembered this one brother, who was DYING to be made an Elder. He could not believe he wasn't an elder yet, after sooo many years. In his mind, he did, and was doing, everything right. It just did not make sense, lol.
I remember watching the "progression" of his trying to get appointed. At this time, I was only around 10 years old, but I remember observing, from a distance, and for years, his "desperate" attempt, and how it evolved into "lunacy" over time. I was even privy to some "private" conversation because my father was an elder at the time, and one of the ones being harassed.
I must admit, this "brother" was actually a nice dude, and never did anything wrong to me personally, but his "journey" to become an elder, was quite comical.
First, he made his wife become a pioneer. That's what she was, a complete and total pioneer, with the personality of a flea. She always looked so miserable, with a "puss" on her face, like she just smelled sour milk, BUT she pioneered. She was also, like 15 years younger than this brother, and the brother was often looked down upon, as a sort of "cradle robber", so this didn't help his "elder goal".
Then he would constantly be harassing the elder by telling them, whenever he saw them, that he was " ready for more privileges". He would always be saying things like, "whatever you brothers think", and "whatever I can do", and "whatever you guys decide", it was just ridiculous.
He would try so hard to kiss ass, that he was constantly introducing new "gadgets", and electronic equipment, to try and make the meetings "sound" better, and "clearer", and more "modern". What the brother didn't realize was that he was constantly buying the newest and most expensive, electronic gadgets, and that he looked "materialistic" to the Elders. Then, sometimes, the brothers would give in, and "adopt" his latest electronic, and change over the microphones, and they wouldn't work at the next meeting, and brother and sister "so and so's" comments would fade in and out, lol. That's 2 strikes, not only did brother "materialistic", make the elders spend money they didn't have to, but the stuff work like shit on top of it.
Then he would continue to harass them for more privileges, all with the goal of being an elder just out of reach, until they would give in, and give him some more "privileges". He was put in charge of the magazine counter, and running this thing or that thing. The problem was, this brother had the WORST lateness problem ever. He was constantly late for every meeting, talk, field service, and even the "privileges" he was put in charge of, he was late to run it. I remember he would show up to the meetings, in his work uniform, at least twice a month, cause he was sooo late all the time. One time the CO was visiting, and practically yelled at him from the stage, for strolling in during the prayer.
All this time, he still doesn't get why he still ONLY a "lowly" ministerial servant, and not an elder. The next "phase", was him and his wife had children. 2 cute little girls, and finally a boy. They would be dressed in all the best, and fanciest meeting clothes, and became "pawns" in his elder aspirations. He would concoct these long winded, and "wordy" answers for the kids to read for their Sunday Watchtower study comments. Everyone, would "oooh and aaah", how cute, and he would sit there with a proud look, waiting any day now to be "appointed elder", but the elders weren't biting.
You see, because, he LOVED to spend so much money on all the latest gadgets, and new car, and dressiest clothing for the kids, him and his wife, and 3 children, were stuck in a 1 bedroom apartment, above his in laws house, lol. Not "elder" material, if you asked them, but he still didn't get it. So finally, after all the years, and years of ass kissing, and pioneering wife, and perfect children, and constantly harassing the elders, his ass kissing turned to "anger".
He now started to talk to the CO, behind the elders backs, when the CO would come to visit. He would tell the CO that the body was "holding him back", and "snubbing" him. Well, of course, we all know how well that must have went over with the elders. It was the same old thing year after year, but now he was starting to "bully" the elders into appointing him.
After years of letters to the society, and backroom, private talks to the CO's, and "crying" to the elders in other congregations, he finally snapping one day, and literally after calling all the elders into the backroom, and asking "why haven't I been made an elder yet", he was FINALLY made an elder.
I remember, the night it happened, and as it was being announced, he sat there, knowing very well that everyone would be looking at him, and he was nodding his head up and down, in the "yes" motion, to say that "yes that's right I am finally getting what I deserve". Not humble, or quiet, or even happily smiling, nope just shaking his head up and down, in an I deserve this manner. Heck, it only took him 15 years, lol.
Anyway, he was an elder for a few years, but always in a "backseat", kinda way. More like a bottom of the ladder type of elder, not in the "trenches", with the other assholes. He lasted like that a few years, until he moved about 1500 miles away to a new congregation. Well, guess what, he now had to be made an elder in THIS new congregation. Yes, he was an elder currently, but for some reason, it doesn't always carry automatically when you move to a new congregation. He figured he would be an elder very quickly, or at least during the next CO's visit. Well, it didn't happen, now these elders, were NOT appointing him, and were "dragging" their feet, another "conspiracy" against him.
What he didn't, and never realized, was that he was not "elder material", and only got it by bullying himself into the position, and these elders saw thru his bullshit too. I heard that eventually, after so many years in his new congregation, of not being made an elder again, he made the old PO elder from my original congregation, write a letter to "help" these elders see that he should be an elder, lol. I don't know the status, as of now, though.
Its just so crazy, when you put all this in perspective, on how some men will literally OBSESS over this elder position. It consumes some people, and they want it for their own selfish, and personal reason. Its a position they covet, but for all the wrong reasons. Finally, when they all get it, what is it really, other than a bunch of men, appointing each other into a bullshit, hypocritical "club", where they can judge other people. Its all a bunch of nonsense.