sparrowdown

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Posts by sparrowdown

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  51

  Your favourite dog breed ...?

  by LoveUniHateExams in

  1. social
  2. family

  in an earlier thread, i mentioned that i wasn't a particularly doggy person but that my parents got a husky last year that i've come to regard as a kind of brother.. huskies superficially resemble wolves and for me it's been fun to compare and contrast husky and wolf behaviour.

  huskies howl but rarely bark, and seem to have a strong prey drive and a strong pack instinct - a nod to their wild cousins.

  this is why i love huskies, i think.. do you have a favourite dog breed and why?.

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  sparrowdown

  Cavallier King Charles for their gentle friendly nature.

  I just loved the little dog from the movie As Good As It Gets starring Jack Nicholson, not sure what breed it was.
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  26

  Any elders out there? How to Local needs talks work?

  by Letts Party in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  so a local needs talk was lovingly given at our hall last week that i'm positive targeted me specifically.

  it had to do with missing meetings for work.

  they even had a demo on what we should do if our boss asks us to stay overtime on a meeting night (basically say "no" and risk losing your great job which you have no desire whatsoever to lose)... so i'm aware that there's a sort of protocol the elders follow when someone in the hall needs to work on something.

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  sparrowdown

  To be honest, I left pretty much every local needs part scratching my head wondering what or who they were talking about.

  For the most part these talks were so general they really could have been talking about anyone. Add to that, most

  witnesses are feeling guilty about something, then any part/talk/article could apply to anyone to some degree.

  Just play it cool.
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  16

  the Wt Study last Weekend

  by thedog1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wasn't at the study at the weekend, the reason was family health problems, but even if that had not been the case i wouldn't have been there.

  has anybody else who was there or read the article noticed the unbelievable begging bowl being produced for the pioneers and cos and bethelites, etc?

  maybe this has been commented on already but in effect witnesses are being asked to financially support, not only pioneers, but circuit overseers if they need medical help, and to fill in with dealing with aged parents if missionaries are abroad.

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  sparrowdown

  What ever happened to "each one will carry his own load"?
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  5

  JW's and Ambient Abuse

  by Jehovanomics in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ambient abuse is the stealth, subtle, underground currents of maltreatment that sometimes go unnoticed even by the victims themselves, until it is too late.

  ambient abuse penetrates and permeates everything but is difficult to pinpoint and identify.

  it is ambiguous, atmospheric, diffuse.

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  sparrowdown

  God, yes.

  That atmosphere you have an inkling is not healthy, but you just can't put your finger on it.

  If you try to analyze it verbally you are told you are being negative, fault-finding etc.

  Very cultish.
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  27

  Elder Appointments

  by MaybeSo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  doing some research as to what qualifications someone needs to meet to become an elder, i came up with one conclusion: it's who you know and is very subjective.. funny thing is too, if you searc the wt online library there are not recent articles that describe and outline the requirements.

  which makes me think that there were too many requirements and as we all know, it is based now on how close you are with the current co and not necessarily on being a model jw in the congo.

  so the borg decided to leave it up all to the co and not tell the rest what to look for on these appointed men.. you could do your hours, be early to the meetings, be prepared, keep your car and house clean, family in good reputation, etc but if you are in the circle then you can forget it.

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  sparrowdown

  From what I can gather the main "qualification" is whether or not the alpha-elder likes you.

  From there it is just a matter of convincing the other elders that your'e elder material.

  Then, before you know it your'e having the "come in here dear boy, have a cigar, your'e gonna go far" speech.

  The rest is technicality, they make anyone appear 'qualified" on paper- if they like you enough, or

  you are connected.
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  19

  How to disassociate? HELP

  by Mandrake in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm looking for a way to disassociate myself, now i'm thinking to make a "public declaration" before a civil law notary (i'm in chile), but i need some ideas about what to put in that declaration, i would like to look the "ks" book to cover all possible sides and make a solid declaration... any experiences?

  my plan is to make that legal declaration that would say "i'm no longer consider myself a jehovah's witness nor want to be linked to any of the wt organizations or legal entities, and want all my personal records to be erased"... any orientation will be helpful :).

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  sparrowdown

  Sometimes a clean break is best for closure.

  Someone with law background might help with the wording of such a document.
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  12

  Letter to BOE - "Cautions Regarding Shepherding of Sisters"?

  by berrygerry in

  1. social
  2. humour

  one gets so used to jw speak.. re-read that question as an outsider.. would the shepherding of sisters be similar to the herding of cats?.

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  sparrowdown

  "Herding of cats" ??

  Well they can't have pussies running riot can they.
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  12

  Letter to BOE - "Cautions Regarding Shepherding of Sisters"?

  by berrygerry in

  1. social
  2. humour

  one gets so used to jw speak.. re-read that question as an outsider.. would the shepherding of sisters be similar to the herding of cats?.

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  sparrowdown

  Oh yeah, gotta watch out for those she-devils in spanx, they incite all kinds of impure thoughts and behaviors.
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  10

  My views.

  by ivanatahan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is more of an introductory post discussing my views and background than anything else, really.. i was, unfortunately, born into this religion.

  my mom was, and still is, a pioneer (or as some call it: "piousneer"), and my father is an elder.

  admittedly, up until a few months up to a year back, i was indeed a zealous "servant of jehovah".

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  sparrowdown

  You are on the right track ivan, read as much as you can, continue with your formal education, for it is key to a better life.

  Whether the GB are sincere but delusional or scamming everyone for personal gain doesn't really matter- wrong is wrong.

  I believe the purpose of the org is the same as any other org- to keep itself alive financially, that's all.
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  14

  Double-life, sounds like a prison sentence....or maybe not?

  by sparrowdown in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  question: do you think the "double-lifers" have the best of both worlds?.

  just asking, because i have wondered, if i had an outlet to express my utter.

  disgust and general dissatisfaction with wt teachings and cong-life while i. was still in, ie on forums etc, maybe i would never have left.. just a thought, anyone else have any?.

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  sparrowdown

  A recurring theme seems to be staying until family wakes up.

  What if that never happens, what if this is as good as it gets?

  I am the only one to wake up and cannot bring myself to go any more. I'm not disfellowshipped but I know,

  they now view me as weak, which makes for some awkward moments when you run into one of them and

  they look at you with that mixture of pity and contempt, and try to "encourage" you with the latest news from

  the cong, the obligatory "we miss you" even though it's obvious they feel that you have to come back to

  meetings before they will actually show it. The ball is your court for them to show their conditional love.

  I have to ask myself at times "wouldn't it be easier to just go and pretend, until I know what to do?"

  So I appreciate that there are those of you who say it is just not worth it. Thanks.