Has anyone else observed or even taken part in the strange phenomenon of defending something even when you have doubts about it? It's not a new phenomenon; I think Freud called it "reactive formation". I notice every now and then, JWs and/or their supporters tentatively surface on the JW discussion board. At first, they may only write a couple of negative things about ex-JWs which invariably draws a robust response from other forum members. Before long, the doubting JW comes back with even more negative, shrill-toned and wounded comments about mean ex-JWs. A common theme is, "How can you people be filled with such hate towards the Watchtower Society?" And it goes down hill from there. Curiously, in typical JW fashion, they don't seem to bother reading answers to their exasperated questions. They soon exit the scene by delivering some patronising sermon imploring us to come to our senses.
I think these people are the mere tip of huge numbers of doubters within the JWs who are ambivalent about the organisation. One part of them is closely emotionally aligned with the organisation (i.e., it gives them hope and helps them make sense of their lives), while other parts of them are curious or hurt or angry about stuff they have experienced in the religion. One way they cope with the torn feelings is to defend the organization, because to them it "proves" that underneath it all, they're not as bad as the apostates.
I guess I do have some empathy for the troubled JW "believers" who troll through "forbidden" websites so they can periodically offer their self-righteous denunciations about apostates. But, increasingly, I am more inclined to "encourage" them to take some responsibility for themselves: If you believe the Watchtower Society is God's channel, what on earth are you doing here castigating others? Get ye back to the Kingdom Hall, confess your sins and start underlining your latest Watchtower!