HI Metatron & All: Good post and good catch of the WTS style. I had to think about this one, because on the surface, the article could be one of those that merely exhorts some moderate good advice.
The test will be if the WTS keeps up several more rounds of this type of material, and make all sorts of additional applications. They did this with numerous rounds of anti-apostate articles.
What is working against them right now is time ... the Dateline show is sooner than they think ... and they need at least 5 to 10 articles over a six month to one year time frame to work it in.
My gut instinct tells me that they are trusting a lot in the years of preparation up to now in controlling the JWs sense of loyalty, and they are going spend more time in damage control after the Dateline program. If I am correct, then this article is among many is such a series. The WTS will look to see the level of effect that Dateline and subsequent news accounts have on the average JW ...
I recall a major news story hit the air a few years ago over child custody cases. I don't recall what investigative program it was, but something like 60 Minutes or 20/20 ... and many ex-JW were looking for more fallout than what actually resulted. I watched the program and had to agree with the ex-JW man interviewed as the key person. But, as I recall, the Society allowed a couple of local Elders and a JW attorney deal with the press, but I forget how well the WTS did. All I recall is hearing the ex-JW man say, 'WHen you fight a JW for custody, the Watch Tower Society sends in attorneys at no cost to the JW ... it is like an ex-Catholic trying to fight the Pope.'
Amazing