Posts by Paris

147

Your views and ideas on forum areas and organization?

by Simon in

this may come as a shock to some people, but the current forum structure was kind of thrown together without much real thought and then evolved a bit over time.

there are a few things that particularly grate on me and areas where i don't think the subjects work particularly well.

'friends' is a bit vague and becomes a dumping ground, news & world events vs politics & current affairs is hard to decide sometimes, child abuse is a scandal but isn't contained withing 'scandals & coverups' etc.... with a new forum platform imminent, it's a good time to solicit ideas to improve things.

Paris

Really? You can't see that is insulting? Imagine someone saying "Have you ever met any [Jews / Black people / Nigerians] the [Hamas / Ferguson cops / Ebola] are doing us a favor" and then claiming that it's not too bad ..

I do see your point here Simon.

Simon - I told you what I said honestly- and if you go to the thread you will see , I EDITED and REMOVED the comment immediately when it offended someone. Which brings up the EDIT issue. Having more time to think through a post or being able to edit it anytime, even the next day, like you can on Facebook ? It would add to the civility factor and improve overall quality I think. There must be function to link comments with posters? And allow them to edit or remove their own comments any time ?

147

Your views and ideas on forum areas and organization?

by Simon in

this may come as a shock to some people, but the current forum structure was kind of thrown together without much real thought and then evolved a bit over time.

there are a few things that particularly grate on me and areas where i don't think the subjects work particularly well.

'friends' is a bit vague and becomes a dumping ground, news & world events vs politics & current affairs is hard to decide sometimes, child abuse is a scandal but isn't contained withing 'scandals & coverups' etc.... with a new forum platform imminent, it's a good time to solicit ideas to improve things.

Paris

Gee, I feel so loved by all you guys. I actually do like men DJS.

I am dying to meet villagegirl and we could go out for a beer with Cofty.

I also think new avatars woud be great. Cartoony, but a little more humanoid and less monstery. Or even animals or flowers.

Simon, I have no desire to turn the site into a Christian site. Its an ex-jehovah's Witness site. And it seems to attract a lot of JW's still attending meetings and searching for a way out.

Simon said: " which dumfounds theists who claim something hasn't been proven" and " Just being insulting during a civilised discussion is rude"

Is calling me dumfounded, rude ? Let me see there is people who think, and then Theists ? Dumfounded at simple science ? Nah that can't be construed as rude can it ? I see the problem, the former poster, talked about science, and she was a Theist ? and therefore, she should have been "dumbfounded" and frightened by science ? And you see similar evil traits in me ?

Have I been rude? Can you enlighten me or when and where I was rude ? I wasted years on a dumb religion, so how can I know that and think I had or have anything all figured out ? I don't. I confess, I like science. I subscribe to Scientific American, a great journal.

Simon you have my personal email: to which is attached my real name, thats what I meant.

34

If you still believe in God, what are your thoughts on the Bible?

by ilikecheese in

jw
friends

do you believe it's inerrant?

do you believe it's based on things that happened, but a lot of it may just be stories and it's not perfect because men wrote it?

do you think it's just a good guide?

Paris

I like reading the Psalms and other passages and the book of James and the very mystical things Jesus was reported to say. I also think the Torah, the Law, is important because of it is the basis for contract law, personal property rights and levels of guilt in the justice system, based on intent, and rules on humane treatment of animals and the responsibilty of the community towards the widows and orphans and the law of the Gleaners that provided for the poor in the community.

57

Are we starting to treat DF people differently?

by Quarterback in

some may remember the time when the private study edition of the wt wasn't to be made available to outsiders, and the df'd.. now, with the recent boe letter, sept 1, 2014, it specifically states that jw.org is making the km available even for df'd individuals.. do you sense a new trend developing?.

Paris

Shunning is even practiced on this site. People get banned and its permanent. And their offenses can be minor or momentary. And you cannot contact them by messaging. So isn't that like disfellowshipping ? Just saying, it seems weird to me.

8

Could it be

by bobld in

the aug. ad.

campaign of their web site was a lead in or preparing the r&f to use modern media for preaching.

an in the not to distance future dump the public watchtower and awake.save $$$$.

Paris

They could make not having Internet access, a disfellowshipping offense.

147

Your views and ideas on forum areas and organization?

by Simon in

this may come as a shock to some people, but the current forum structure was kind of thrown together without much real thought and then evolved a bit over time.

there are a few things that particularly grate on me and areas where i don't think the subjects work particularly well.

'friends' is a bit vague and becomes a dumping ground, news & world events vs politics & current affairs is hard to decide sometimes, child abuse is a scandal but isn't contained withing 'scandals & coverups' etc.... with a new forum platform imminent, it's a good time to solicit ideas to improve things.

Paris

I am not villagegirl. When I signed up here I had to give my real name and email and wait till they checked me out. I read some of villagegirl's posts before and after they called me that, posts and I did agree with a lot of them. Yeah I admit it. May be we have things in common ? I am sure you all have your "favorites" and social "clubs" or groups you feel more akin to? Many of you seem to hold identical views. So I am allowed to like some people better than others ? I actally knnow some here in the real world.

I am an ex JW therefore excuse me if I do not like Elders for various reasons. I do not think this site should be all one type of person. I went to a "Christian site" and quite frankly it was loony-tunes. DJS all I can say about the call for "empirical data" and "evidence based" is that as I posted on another thread, even science, that is theoretical science is not, "evidence based" Like the Higgs Boson particle theory that was an idea, a Hypothesis a mathematical mechanism, with no proof at all, for 40 years. Science does not start with "proof" it starts with a QUESTION and a question with NO ANSWER. Art starts that way, creative process starts that way. Dance, music. I have no need to "prove" anything to anybody, I am not trying to convert or preach to anybody about anything, but I assume ( unlike the WT ) that women are allowed equal respect to speak and say what they think and believe here ? if I see someting I do not agree with, I say so. Unlike at the KH.

147

Your views and ideas on forum areas and organization?

by Simon in

this may come as a shock to some people, but the current forum structure was kind of thrown together without much real thought and then evolved a bit over time.

there are a few things that particularly grate on me and areas where i don't think the subjects work particularly well.

'friends' is a bit vague and becomes a dumping ground, news & world events vs politics & current affairs is hard to decide sometimes, child abuse is a scandal but isn't contained withing 'scandals & coverups' etc.... with a new forum platform imminent, it's a good time to solicit ideas to improve things.

Paris

Like calling atheists a "pack of wolves " ? Is that what you mean? - shirley

Trying to think how I could have put this nicely - "like a pack of wolves" is what I said the meaning is hounding someone. Like demanding they answer your questions. Or using name calling directly at an INDIVIDUAL, or your right it could be a group, like refering to a whole group as: "bleat our endless baselesss claims without anyone challenging them or asking for evidence".

Heres the problem with this thread: This is clearly NOT a Democracy. Asking for our opinins, suggestions and input is like the Governing Body asking for your opinion. Simon apparently has the power, single-handly, and right, by his sole ownership, to banish, shun and ban anyone here, when and why, he so chooses, without any Democratic process, or even a judicial committee that might be made up of representatives of various persuasions. So it places everyone at his mercy. The banishment is opaque and not up for discussion. Its a disfellowshipping process.

The site presents itself as a refuge for disallusioned ex-witnesses to find safe haven. It is also presenting itself as a public forum. And is supported by Advertisers who place Ads here. The greater the number of participants the greater the income to the owner. So we are all volunteer workers to this end. When I arrived here, shortly after I was accused of being villagegirl and called vindictive girl and vg and hounded. I looked up this person up and she is still listed as a Member in good standing, and her posts are all here by the hundreds. Cofty said she was "banned" and seemed to dislike her greatly. I wondered why she still is listed as a Member ? and then it occured to me, her "dead body" serves as a statistic to boost the numbers on this site ?

If the site is to expand, then there must be ,(in my useless opinion), more volunteers of a variety of philosophies to create balance and ensure civil conduct. Then the $$$ from advertisers would have a chance to increase. The fact of the matter is ex-jw's go off in all directions, they often become atheists but they also become Catholics, and they become Buddahists, Muslims, Baptists, Anglicans, Evangelicals, Quakers, Methodists, Episcopalians, or Mennonites. Or no religion, but still believe in God.

Statistics ( Cambridge University )show 88% of all people on the planet believe in God and only 12% do not or are undecided. Even 79% of Canadians, although not religious responded they believe in God by a National Post survey. 2007 Gallop Poll said 86% of all Americans believe in God. So to say only atheists are "thinkers" seems to be somewhat out of touch with reality.

147

Your views and ideas on forum areas and organization?

by Simon in

this may come as a shock to some people, but the current forum structure was kind of thrown together without much real thought and then evolved a bit over time.

there are a few things that particularly grate on me and areas where i don't think the subjects work particularly well.

'friends' is a bit vague and becomes a dumping ground, news & world events vs politics & current affairs is hard to decide sometimes, child abuse is a scandal but isn't contained withing 'scandals & coverups' etc.... with a new forum platform imminent, it's a good time to solicit ideas to improve things.

Paris

We could divide it into Theists and Thinkers ...Simon

Simon - By this very statement you reveal your bias. Do you think you "pander" to atheists ?

Since here you have stated that atheists think and all others do not ? Isn't that pandering to one side ? Isn't that predjudice ? Do you think if I said the world is divided between Ukrainians and people "who can think", would I be insulting and biased ? I think many would believe I was insulting the Ukrainians.

if you think religious people cannot think, then why invite them here at all ? Why is there no mention of athesist discussions? I would think if people were curious, they would look at those arguments and perhaps participate and ask questions even if they did not self identify as athesists.

Why present the site as a "religious site" when if fact it is biased and truly believes religions are nonsense and no believer has any thinking ability. Why not just come out and say that up front ?

Not one of the headings even suggest that atheists are in charge here. It would be good to know.

As far as my comments on the Ukrainian thread, they were in reference to a Ukraine woman landlady, not directed at anyone here. And all I said was "Have you ever met any Ukrainians, the Russians are doing us a favor" I should have not have said it at all of course. It was flippant, in the context of the discussion. Ukraine is a divided nation, with some actually welcoming Russian intervention and there are Hungarians and Bulgarians there as well as Romanians and Carpathian and Russians. However name calling is never appropriate. Refutation can be accomplished without name calling.

147

Your views and ideas on forum areas and organization?

by Simon in

this may come as a shock to some people, but the current forum structure was kind of thrown together without much real thought and then evolved a bit over time.

there are a few things that particularly grate on me and areas where i don't think the subjects work particularly well.

'friends' is a bit vague and becomes a dumping ground, news & world events vs politics & current affairs is hard to decide sometimes, child abuse is a scandal but isn't contained withing 'scandals & coverups' etc.... with a new forum platform imminent, it's a good time to solicit ideas to improve things.

Paris

bohn - I understand your concern - But the group think is already ingrained - when atheists call believers names they drive people who came here to discuss religion and the watchtower, right off the site by their hostility. Atheists need some recognition and their own heading, instead of stalking and hunting like a pack of wolves, those people whose religous opinions they hate. Newcomers often find themselves suddenly surrounded by a group telling them the Bible is nonsense, Jesus never existed and there is no God. Is THAT what this site is REALLY about ?

147

Your views and ideas on forum areas and organization?

by Simon in

this may come as a shock to some people, but the current forum structure was kind of thrown together without much real thought and then evolved a bit over time.

there are a few things that particularly grate on me and areas where i don't think the subjects work particularly well.

'friends' is a bit vague and becomes a dumping ground, news & world events vs politics & current affairs is hard to decide sometimes, child abuse is a scandal but isn't contained withing 'scandals & coverups' etc.... with a new forum platform imminent, it's a good time to solicit ideas to improve things.

Paris

Simon

SIMPLE is more difficult than complicated, your right, simple is best.

The best sites are brilliantly simple to use. Like Amazon.

I find the site a bit confusing and often end up places I do not want to be.

I feel the site is heavily atheist and inhabited by mainly atheists. And I agree; there is an atheist agenda to "convert" or bully any and all believers, by insults, mocking and name calling which is not monitored or controlled at all. The dominence of atheists is a common complaint. Athesist tend to interrogate and demean believers. Atheists need to be recognized with their own heading subject and there needs to be safety and freedom from harrassment and bullying for believers and newbies.

I go to Active Topics and I suspect most people do simply because you want live bodies, people who are really there and will respond. I do think the presence of atheists should be announced in some heading. Here is my list :

Subjects

Atheist Debates and Information

Christian Debates and Information

Safe Zone for Believers

General: Religious and Atheist Topics

Science and Medicine

Tracking the Watchtower in the News

(Scandals and child abuse)

Watchtower History

Changes in Watchtower Teachings and Policy

Beliefs Doctrines and Practices

Personal Life Growth and Self Improvement

Humor Jokes and Funny Videos