Let me share a bizarre experience I had about 4 years ago.
I was newly disfellowshipped, had moved to another state and was with my fiancee. I decided I want to go to the the local Kingdom Hall. I had at that moment been disfellowshipped about 1 month and still believed in most of the JW teachings; yes even disfellowshipping treatment. Well my fiancee and I entered the KH and a few JW's were in the back, all walked inside and one sister turned to us and welcomed us, and starting asking questions. I told her politely I was disfellowshipped, well before I could say anymore this sister started screaming shaking her hands in the air and dancing back and forth on her feet looking terrified because she had shook hands with me. Well Howard and I just stood there stunned. Howard looked at me and I looked at him then she fled into the main part of tha hall with her hand over her mouth. Well by then because she was screaming everyone had turned to see what the heck was going on. There we stood, and everyone thought we had done something to her. She rushed in and sat with I guess was her family, they immediately starting whispering back and forth as we sat in back. They would turn and stare at us once in a while with interest and fear. Well the talk started and we followed along, and then a brother came up and handed us some Watchtower magazines for the WT study. Well Howard was freaked at this sister behavior, and frankly I was too. What the heck was with that? Anyway when we left during the final song. Howard when we got outside said what the heck was that all about. I told him I had no idea as I have never seen anyone ever in 30 years behave that way. He was creeped out. He said what the heck kind of religion would create such a reaction, he was not impressed with JW's.
We went to that same congregation on Sundays perhaps 3 more times before we moved out of state. We recieved a few disapproving looks. The weird thing is no one even knew us, we were strangers. Why would a congregation treat visitors in such a way. One very nice Elder came up the next visit and intoduced himself. I again said I was disfellowshipped and that Howard was my fiancee and I hoped they would make him welcome. Well this Elder and his wife were just outstanding, they always smiled at me and always shook Howards hand and welcomed him from the second meeting on. They were the only two welcoming people we ever met there that treated us nice.
After we moved to NC with Howard, we attended two more meetings here. Only one incident of a sister I had known giving Howard dirty looks. She thought he had taken me from the so called "Truth", but she didn't know all the facts. She did hug me when I first saw her even though I told her I was disfellowshipped. About 6 months later I started reading Crisis of Conscious, and haven't been to the Hall except for the Memorial one time.
The screaming incident was absolutely the most bizarre reaction I've ever had as a disfellowshipped person. Still don't know what the heck that was all about.
At a walmart a brother I knew was working there. I was disfellowshipped and was with my youngest son. This brother was a walmart greeter. As my son and I walked out this brother jumped in front of me and stood with his hands on his hips staring into my face. I told him "get the heck out of my way Johnny you moron". I had to put my hand on his chest and force some distance between me and him, he was about 4" from my face. The idiot thought he was intimidating me. My son got really mad and was going to punch him. Never saw him again after that. Most witnesses I had known would see me and throw hate filled looks my way. I would just laugh, as they were just a joke.
I am guilty of shunning disfellowshipped ones myself over the 30 years. So I don't think much of it as they are reacting to their teachings.
