Kneel before me, for I am an ... Activist!

by Simon 32 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  Simon

  It's not activism that most ex JWs provide, it's support, encouragement and exposure.

  It's also not what most current or exiting JWs need - again, that would be support and encouragement.

  For instance, I gather Simon wouldn't consider himself an activist

  Correct. I think one key part is that I have no desire to "make" people leave the WTS. Why would I? What right do I have to try to force someone else to follow my beliefs? If they are happy, leave them be. I remember many many years ago being in a chatroom (are they still a thing?) with some current-JW who was telling me how wonderful and helpful the local congregation members were helping her with her severely disabled child in an isolated community (I think it was Australia). Should I have told her "it's all lies, flee to the outback immediately!"? I didn't, because I didn't think she needed saving from anything - the local religious group was working exactly as they should in that case. Even if I had been aggressive trying to convince her it was all lies, would it have helped? Would it have accomplished anything or just made her feel attacked and maybe upset?
  

  IMO this is why "activist" has such negative connotations. Fundamentally, for all the noise, they end up supporting the thing they claim to be against. Nothing makes me want to get in a car and drive than a climate activist (even more so if they are willing to lie in front of the car). Nothing makes me want to eat a burger more than hearing a vegetarian activist. Nothing would have made me less inclined to leave the WTS when I did than someone aggressively harassing me for being in, or ridiculing me for who I was.

  Many times (not always) an "activist" is really doing things to work out their own anger, not to actively help anyone or even stop the thing they claim to be active against. Sometimes it's just an excuse for someone to be a dick.
  
  
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  stan livedeath

  i'm an xjw activist.
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  Phizzy

  "stan livedeath
  

  i'm an xjw activist."

  Not sure I was ever an Activist, I used to be far more active than I am now, on here, on FB and some other places. I really can't be arsed most of the time now. The J.W org and individual J.W's are of little real interest to me, the subject is boring.

  I am now virtually an XJW Armchair Activist.
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  stan livedeath

  i know there is another ex dub with a ?666xjw reg plate.
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  Vidiot

  Personally, I think genuine, positive “for real” activism can take many forms.

  I’ve stated several times that simply participating here could be viewed as a kind of activism.

  It’s when one becomes a professional “activist” that things start to get weird.

  Just my opinion.
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  dozy

  I sometimes wonder if those that brand themselves "activists" are , consciously or sub-consciously , looking down on those who share their beliefs but aren't as vocal or "active" as the "activist" is. A bit like the self righteous pioneer / elderette etc types in the congregation who always seemed a bit dismissive and sometimes openly critical of those who didn't do as much ministry as they did.
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  MeanMrMustard

  Whatever you consider an "activist," the point of that survey, it seems, is that when most people think of an "activist", it brings to mind something akin to "asshole".

  To be fair, this undoubtedly has to do politics.
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  stan livedeath

  when i think back to when i was an active dub--late teens: pioneer; servant; public talks home and away etc---i tried to hide my religion from people i worked with and others who may have asked me. I was embarrassed and ashamed of it.

  Now--i'm only too willing to talk about it if the occasion comes up..such as local public facebook groups. Its surprising how often the subject JW comes up in discussion groups.

  No need to bad mouth the cult--just present the true facts as against the usual myths and misinformation.
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  Dagney

  Boy does this bring back memories.

  Remembering that whole messy Cedars/AAWA time when they added hundreds of Facebook accounts to their “Activist” page. I had family/friends and former Bible student who was on my FB page I was trying to keep a relationship with. I do/did not consider or want to be an activist. I merely was trying to navigate leaving a life I was raised in, losing my family and friends because of it, desperately trying not to make things worse for a devoted JW mom who I continued to take care of etc etc etc. I found a community of people navigating though the same issues. That’s it.

  I sometimes wonder if those that brand themselves "activists" are , consciously or sub-consciously , looking down on those who share their beliefs but aren't as vocal or "active" as the "activist" is. A bit like the self righteous pioneer / elderette etc types in the congregation who always seemed a bit dismissive and sometimes openly critical of those who didn't do as much ministry as they did.
  

  ^^^this is exactly it with some folks. People carry their same attitudes to no matter what group they are in…be it work, religion, politics. I wanted to stay as far away as possible from that toxic AAWA group. That being said I do have dear friends who are very much activists without the previous drama.
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  Biahi

  I’m not an “activist”, as such, not on you tube or social media, but I do “anti witness” whenever I can, like I did when I voted once (small election), and I was thanked for voting, because it was a low turnout. I explained why voting was important to me, and the people working the polls were dismayed. They were not aware that JWs don’t vote. And, believe it or not, one of the poll workers was being called on by witnesses. I referred him to Jwfacts.com. I’m quite sure once he told them what he learned, they stopped calling on him. Ha! 👍🏻