I went for a pint with an old JW friend who is now an elder, just a couple weeks ago. I made it clear before our meet that I wasn't going to discuss our 14 month absence from the KH but JW's being JW's he couldn't keep 'da troof' off the subject list altogether.
He basically told me about his parents who had gone to help with the new UK bethel build some months ago. Then he mentions how they will likely have to come back soon because the society is making cutbacks and they don't even know if they're going to finish the branch to the full original specification as they just don't need it all.
There was no sign of questioning whatsoever by this 32 year old elder. He even mentioned the layoffs in bethel and said how they're being told to concentrate on the ministry as we're 'sooo close to the end' hahaha.
There are plenty of people taking this BS hook line and sinker.
Another elder stopped me yesterday as he wanted to ask if some of his customers had approached me yet, as he was cutting back and he'd passed my number on to them. He then proceeds to tell me that the reason for this (and he told his customers this) he wants to concentrate more on the ministry! This man is around 40 with 3 home schooled kids who will likely spend most they're time out knocking on doors, poor things.
I see lots of individuals who are ratcheting up they're cult like persona, really believing the hype the GB has conveyed over the past few months through JWTV. So sad.