Posts by OrphanCrow

52

Deaf Aotearoa flooded with complaints about Jehovah's Witness church

by OrphanCrow in

deaf aotearoa flooded with complaints about jehovah's witness churchkashka tunstalllast updated 15:22, october 6 2015deaf aotearoa has asked the jehovah's witness church to respond to claims of a deaf information database.new zealand's deaf community is fed up with unsolicited house calls, claiming the jehovah's witness church is targeting deaf households.deaf aotearoa has received multiple complaints from around the country and says church members visited certain homes because they were aware a deaf person lived there.

the organisation released a statement on monday, saying it was looking into the possibility the church holds a database listing the details of members of the deaf community.jehovah witness spokesman rod spinks said there was no such database and deaf people were not being targeted.the deaf aotearoa statement was posted on the group's facebook page, and received a flood of comments from frustrated people.one woman said a group of jehovah's witnesses had come to her house and asked "for the deaf person who lives here.

" she said they refused to explain how they had her details and didn't visit her neighbours.another said church members had turned up at her work and asked for her by name.hamilton man royce flynn said he had been visited six times over the last nine months, despite repeatedly saying he was uninterested in the house calls.he said the church members were always able to sign and also brought deaf people along, which lead him to believe he was being singled out.flynn said contacted local police, who told him it was a privacy issue and referred him on to the office of the privacy commissioner.he said he had been been in contact with local labour member of parliament sue moroney.deaf aotearoa acting chief executive jill dean said complaints about the church were a recurring issue.

OrphanCrow

tim310rd: While I don't think that there is an issue with JWs having a database of those who are deaf (all of our names and addresses appear on some Compagnie's database), ...

Tim, I don't think that the JWs are sensitive enough to understand that keeping personal information on other people is a violation of privacy. Keeping notes on a person's physical condition is intrusive. I think there is an issue with JWs keeping information on deaf people. If they want to keep that information on their members...go ahead. But it is extremely insenstive and ignorant to keep notes on whether people in your territiory are deaf, blind, disabled, etc.

Londo: If the general public, not just any particular specialize territory like this one, knew the data collected by JWs going door-to-door, there would be an outcry: names, personal details, notes of discussion. Even if a person does not answer, data is collected on the ‘note at home’ slip.

I have always thought that keeping notes and documenting details about householders is creepy. I have never liked it, both when I was a door knocker myself and since. Every time that the JWs have come to my door, I have been creeped out because I know that they will be making notes about who I am and my behavior and then sharing that information with other JWs.

It is a creepy practice.

Umber: Rod Spinks
Orphan! You spelllededed that all wrorngly.......It's Rod Sphinckte mucscler. Please get yoor spellink under control.

Oops! You caught my spelling mistake! Damn...I must edit better. :)

12

No-See-ums bug bites, have you experienced these little pest?

by James Mixon in

jw
friends

the wife and i here lately have received little unknown bug bites, on our legs and arms.. so today in my senior class the instructor ask if anyone received any unknown bug bite.. there were 75% that raised there hand and everyone ask, what the hell is it.. these insects are ferocious biters.

they don't spread any diseases, but they will keep you indoors.. they are called valley blacks gnats, they feed on blood.

in my research i found they are active in.

OrphanCrow

No see ums are also called sand flies. Lots of them in Northern Saskatchewan. The sandy soil of the Boreal Forest is a big attraction for them.

And they bite like hell...very itchy. Awful when you go fishing. They actually take little bites of your skin - they don't sting like a mosquito.

102

Finished Mystery (1917)... The book that Jesus approved...

by Alfred in

so a few months ago, a friend sent me an actual copy of finished mystery which was published in 1917 (not a pdf download... the actual book).

i must say, this was the most disturbing book i have ever had the displeasure of reading.

but i only read it because this was the main publication that was being distributed worldwide when jesus supposedly chose the watchtower in 1918 and i basically wanted to see for myself what jesus saw in the wt that would compel him to choose this religious corporation over all other religious denominations.. anyway, if anyone is interested in knowing the actual contents of this book, here are some bullet points i put together from some of the notes i took as i read the book:.

OrphanCrow

notjustyet: Was this the one written by Rutherford?

Rutherford had a hand in the publication of The Finished Mystery, but he did not write it. The Finished Mystery was published after Russell's death but it contained some of Russell's writings.

The Finished Mystery was actually written by Clayton Woodworth and George Fisher - both men were textbook writers for the International Correspondence School - it is unknown as to how much of the material in the book is actually Russell's or how much has been modified/added by the co-authors Woodworth and Fisher.

52

Deaf Aotearoa flooded with complaints about Jehovah's Witness church

by OrphanCrow in

deaf aotearoa flooded with complaints about jehovah's witness churchkashka tunstalllast updated 15:22, october 6 2015deaf aotearoa has asked the jehovah's witness church to respond to claims of a deaf information database.new zealand's deaf community is fed up with unsolicited house calls, claiming the jehovah's witness church is targeting deaf households.deaf aotearoa has received multiple complaints from around the country and says church members visited certain homes because they were aware a deaf person lived there.

the organisation released a statement on monday, saying it was looking into the possibility the church holds a database listing the details of members of the deaf community.jehovah witness spokesman rod spinks said there was no such database and deaf people were not being targeted.the deaf aotearoa statement was posted on the group's facebook page, and received a flood of comments from frustrated people.one woman said a group of jehovah's witnesses had come to her house and asked "for the deaf person who lives here.

" she said they refused to explain how they had her details and didn't visit her neighbours.another said church members had turned up at her work and asked for her by name.hamilton man royce flynn said he had been visited six times over the last nine months, despite repeatedly saying he was uninterested in the house calls.he said the church members were always able to sign and also brought deaf people along, which lead him to believe he was being singled out.flynn said contacted local police, who told him it was a privacy issue and referred him on to the office of the privacy commissioner.he said he had been been in contact with local labour member of parliament sue moroney.deaf aotearoa acting chief executive jill dean said complaints about the church were a recurring issue.

OrphanCrow

Deaf Aotearoa flooded with complaints about Jehovah's Witness churchKASHKA TUNSTALLLast updated 15:22, October 6 2015

Deaf Aotearoa has asked the Jehovah's Witness church to respond to claims of a deaf information database.
New Zealand's deaf community is fed up with unsolicited house calls, claiming the Jehovah's Witness church is targeting deaf households.
Deaf Aotearoa has received multiple complaints from around the country and says church members visited certain homes because they were aware a deaf person lived there.
The organisation released a statement on Monday, saying it was looking into the possibility the church holds a database listing the details of members of the deaf community.
Jehovah Witness spokesman Rod Spinks said there was no such database and deaf people were not being targeted.
The Deaf Aotearoa statement was posted on the group's Facebook page, and received a flood of comments from frustrated people.
One woman said a group of Jehovah's Witnesses had come to her house and asked "for the deaf person who lives here." She said they refused to explain how they had her details and didn't visit her neighbours.
Another said church members had turned up at her work and asked for her by name.
Hamilton man Royce Flynn said he had been visited six times over the last nine months, despite repeatedly saying he was uninterested in the house calls.
He said the church members were always able to sign and also brought deaf people along, which lead him to believe he was being singled out.
Flynn said contacted local police, who told him it was a privacy issue and referred him on to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
He said he had been been in contact with local Labour member of parliament Sue Moroney.
Deaf Aotearoa acting chief executive Jill Dean said complaints about the church were a recurring issue.
"Certainly the concerns that have been raised recently are about how do the church know where deaf people are."
With the number of deaf who primarily sign only around 4000, Dean said she found it "an almighty coincidence" that a "minority church" would have turned up at the number of deaf homes they had with a signer in tow.
"It's beyond reasonable to think it's a coincidence," she said.
Dean's main concern was for privacy of the community.
"Deaf people value their privacy very highly," she said.
"I think a lot of that is around that it's very difficult for people to have a private conversation … usually there is a third person involved."
"It's a very precious thing. Any kind of breach of that, it just feels very much worse to a deaf person."
"It's difficult, people are isolated and it can be quite an intimidating to have several people on your doorstep."
She said she would be waiting for a response from the church but if the answers received were unsatisfactory, the organisation would escalate the matter to the privacy commissioner.
Spinks said he was unaware of the allegations and said there was no database.
"I think it's well known that Jehovah's Witnesses call on every house in the community," he said.
"We certainly are not targeting deaf people, we call on everyone and we speak many languages."
Spinks said thousands of church members has taken the time to learn sign language and it was common for people to have basic signing skills.
He said groups who went out visiting did not intentionally knock on the doors of deaf people.
But, he said, if the church members met a deaf person and couldn't communicate with them, it was likely that somebody who could communicate would return to the house - if it was felt the person was responsive.
He said the claims of "targeting" sounded like a misunderstanding, and should he see a complaint, the church would "take it seriously straight away."
Dean said deaf people who felt harassed should contact the local meeting house of the church and make a complaint.
"[Let] people know they're not welcome to call in any unsolicited way," she said.
"If people are wanting to make a complaint, we've got staff around the country happy to support them."

22

How to Read Financial Statements

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i just put an entry on my blog.

thought it might be useful in all the discussions about money.

feel free to post questions or comments either here or on my blog.. http://pathologicallyintellectual.blogspot.com/.

OrphanCrow

Marvin: The Euro is heavily driven by the German economy. My money would have gambled the Euro would make gains against the US dollar in the months ahead. But this VW (German!) thing that has recently become known changes the math for me.

Hmmm. I wonder how much this recent German "thing" has affected certain prominent German JWs. You know...the ones who recently got long term funding from an undisclosed source.

I wonder if those JWs have had to change their math, too.

22

How to Read Financial Statements

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i just put an entry on my blog.

thought it might be useful in all the discussions about money.

feel free to post questions or comments either here or on my blog.. http://pathologicallyintellectual.blogspot.com/.

OrphanCrow

Thank you, Jeff. I guess that is one of the advantages of being an international organization when just moving money around between countries can result in a profit. Nice gig.

17

Annulment of baptism for a minor?

by Tornintwo in

jw
friends

i've seen references to baptism annulment on a few websites, does anyone know if there has ever been a successful annulment of a baptism?.

eg.

a minor claims they didn't understand a key wtbts teaching prior to baptism, is there any realistic chance of annulment?

OrphanCrow

Question:

Does a JW child require parental permission to enter into the baptismal agreement?

17

Annulment of baptism for a minor?

by Tornintwo in

jw
friends

i've seen references to baptism annulment on a few websites, does anyone know if there has ever been a successful annulment of a baptism?.

eg.

a minor claims they didn't understand a key wtbts teaching prior to baptism, is there any realistic chance of annulment?

OrphanCrow

A dunked duck.

22

How to Read Financial Statements

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i just put an entry on my blog.

thought it might be useful in all the discussions about money.

feel free to post questions or comments either here or on my blog.. http://pathologicallyintellectual.blogspot.com/.

OrphanCrow

Sorry about that, Oubilette. It is Sunday morning wake and bake time here and my funny bone is happy. But, I feel bad you spilled your coffee and I will buy you a Timmy's if you ever make it up to Canada.

JeffT, I have a question for you, our resident financial guru. This has been in the back of my mind for a while and I can't seem to find the information on it.

It concerns the international transfer of funds. Can someone take advantage of fluctuating exchange rates and make a profit by simply moving money around between countries?

There is an awful lot of money that flows into the New York coffers from other countries and, some of that money flows back into the other countries. It seems, though, that always the larger amount goes to New York.

22

How to Read Financial Statements

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i just put an entry on my blog.

thought it might be useful in all the discussions about money.

feel free to post questions or comments either here or on my blog.. http://pathologicallyintellectual.blogspot.com/.

OrphanCrow

Oubilette: Can you imagine what it must be like for someone with actual business sense to try and give financial advice to Stephen Lett? What a nightmare that must be!

Either that, or it could be a total cake walk.

Just imagine how simple you could make it sound..."Just put this dollar in this piggybank, and later, much later, you might get a dollar and ten cents back. The money will come from an overlapping piggy bank...down in paradise island."

Along with..."Just trust me. I am an accountant. And the lawyers said it is a good deal."