Jws seen to be anti-social

by badboy 13 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Corvin

  As I was raised in the organization, I developed a phobia of social gatherings with large groups of "worldy people". Til this day, I find it very hard to be in a social setting without having an anxiety attack, which ranges from moderate to semi-severe. I only do well in social gatherings if I am working at them in some capacity, MC-ing, performing, whatever. As long as I have something to do I am fine.

  I have had to really fight and learn how to cultivate friendships with others. I attribute much of this to my JW upbringing.

  Corvin
• 

  EyeDrEvil

  My wife and I recently got to know a lovely couple living next door to us for over a year now. Same age as us, no kids, much in common, but we never ever felt comfortable as Dubs to actually get to know them because they were "in the world." (Even though keeping them at a distance felt so alien and contrary to our nature as human-beings).

  Well, as we spent a few hours with them the other week, sharing a cold frosty one on their back porch, as well as sharing with them our "life changes" (both disassociated this year, birthday party for my wife), they admitted that they had discussed the fact that they hoped that some other new neighbors across the street weren't as stuck up as we were, as we never really spoke with them!!!

  They also remarked that they had recently noticed several recent changes about us since coming out of the Org...

  1) we were home more often

  2) our kids seemed to be happier, AND they were playing in the yard more often

  3) we seemed more relaxed, outgoing and happy

  They came to our party, had a great time, and we were invited to her 40th birthday party next month!

  So yes, JWs, as a result of the culture that is fostered in the "Society/ Matrix" ARE indeed antisocial.

  So glad we finally got out of that bizarro-world.
• 

  blondie

  It all depends on how strongly the JW or JW family applies the cautions.

  I find that JWs have no problem going to an amusement park surrounded by non-JWs or to the supermarket or to the zoo or to the library or to a park. I find many associate with non-JWs as long as they don't smoke or swear a blue streak and have other values in common. The same goes for kids at school.

  I grew up in a "divided" household so had many opportunities to socialize with non-JWs, actually more than with JWs who thought we were bad association because our father wasn't a JW. Half of my relatives were JW and half were not. They agreed early on not to discuss religion or politics. I can remember many happy family occasions made up of both JWs and non-JWs because they respected that.

  Blondie
• 

  XQsThaiPoes

  JWs in general are not anti-social they are pious extroverts. This turns most people off. It is really more of people don't like to associate with JWs more than JWs don't wana associate with them. Because when a JW gets around a non-jw the most common conversation they want to have is why do you believe your stupid religion and if the person is an atheist why are you to stupid to believe in my God? This is mainly because JW like informal witnessing so they don't have to do FS so the try to cram 15 minutes of qausi religious talk into every conversation.