"Laughter trumps fear every time" - another method to chip away at WT's authority?

by sir82 11 Replies latest jw friends

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  sir82

  Saw this article on Slate.

  
  It  got me thinking - the WTS are certainly providing lots of ammunition for spoofing. Talks about tight pants, singing trolleys, rubber faced buffoonery from Lett.....
  

  What if we start encouraging JWs to laugh at their leadership, instead of kowtowing in reverential awe?

  From the article:

  The idea was really very simple. As we chatted, someone kept talking about how Milošević only won because he made people afraid, and someone else said that the only thing that could trump fear was laughter. It was one of the wisest things I’ve ever heard. As Monty Python skits have always been up there right with Tolkien for me, I knew very well that humor doesn’t just make you chuckle—it makes you think.

  I think a lot of JWs are wanting to laugh - maybe with a little encouragement, they'll see that the "spirit anointed" GB are just a bunch of old, tired, dull men with nothing to offer. Once the fear is gone, the hold is released.
  
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  StarTrekAngel

  Might be up to something here.
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  OneEyedJoe

  Interesting article, and I think there's something to it, while the situations are somewhat different.  The average JW doesn't realize that they're trapped by fear, and they often aren't consciously disenfranchised with the leadership the way people were with Milosevic.  

  I think one thing that really helped me think, though, was stand-up comedians like Ricky Gervais, Louie CK, Bill Burr and countless others that would incorporate bits about how absurd religious beliefs were when viewed objectively.  

  I also love to use the bit from the movie Office Space, where someone says to Peter "I've noticed you've been missing work a lot lately" and his reply was "well, I wouldn't say I've been missing it, bob."  This has become my stock response anytime someone notices that I've "missed" a meeting and it's quite enjoyable to watch their reactions.  Usually it's a sort of uncomfortable laughter as they recognize the reference while simultaneously trying to figure out why I'm not acting like the miserable wretch that I am and giving an excuse for my terrible behavior.

  Another fun one is if someone observes something relating to multiple generations (this works at family gatherings, or just when people talk about the next generation of iPhone) I like to correct them that it's one "overlapping generation."  
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  Giordano

  A while back someone invited me to the memorial. I said "thanks but no thanks........It's just one more occasion I can't wear sweat pants."

  We had Mormons and JW's on our block going door to door........ the two bumped into one another. I was sitting on my porch and thought this should be interesting.

  "We don't step aside for apostates" said one of the Witnesses.

  "We do!" said the Mormon as they stepped around the Witnesses.

  A young JW knocked on my door. I invited him in. He started to look uncomfortable. I said "Well what did you want to talk to me about?"

  He said "I don't know.............I've never got this far before".

  On another occasion A JW knocked on my door. This fellow was better prepared........... after a lack of response from me he ventured that I looked interested in his message. I kindly replied "This look on my face wasn't that I was interested just that I was wondering when your tornado of bullshit was going to end".

  
  
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  Vidiot

  Lett's rubbery lip movement is pretty funny; I keep expecting him to say "preciousssssss"...
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  Mickey mouse

  I totally agree. Far more effective than getting into a doctrinal argument. 
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  undercover

  I think there's some truth in that.  Going by personal experience...once you get someone to irreverently laugh at something once held sacred, they tend to not have the reservations of being offended, or abstaining from ridiculing the absurd or ridiculous.

  The problem is getting them to aim that irreverence at something a little more indoctrinated into their personality, such as the JW religion, it's silly traditions, indefensible doctrine, fellow members, or it's authority figures.  But, once that seal is broken, then it opens up the potential for them to see the futility of it all.  But it's baby steps.  It won't happen overnight. 
• 

  Phizzy

  I agree, it won't happen overnight, but Humour is THE most powerful weapon against jumped up bullies who have no foundation whatsoever for their claim to authority.

  The last twelve words of the above sentence apply 100% to the GB of the JW's, and all of their Elders.

  Let all of us on JWN make a conscious effort to ridicule and lampoon them. 

  Just simple things like taking the piss out of the " overlapping Generation" shite, or calling the GB the "not so Magnificent Seven", or whatever slightly subtle thing you can think of, has a terrific effect, that will yield results later.

  I think back now to just one simple sentence that had an effect on me, a guy who had been "studying" with an Elder, and attended quite a number of Meetings, was asked by the Elder why he stopped any association, it was not actually that humorous, but it was a real challenge to my whole respect for the Org, he said :

  " But it is all so very silly!".

  The Quip is mightier than the Sword.
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  done4good

  I think this will happen all on its own with tv.jw.org.
  
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  smiddy

  I think Aposta chick does a very good job of this , as do comedians who pick up on JW`s absurd posts, like the Deaf masturbation film.

  Tony the turds tight pants homo rant ,

  The mentally defective , contagious diseased ones who have left the organisation ? Don`t have anything to do with them even if they are family because you may be contaminated by their disease ?

  The more these old codgers speak on JW.ORG the more I like it , they are digging their own grave . Bring it on.

  smiddy