Posts by Sail Away

56

The Latest Thing Waking People Up...

by pale.emperor in

since i woke up and left i've been contacted by others i knew from my youth who've also left the cult.

also people around the world on facebook adding me out of the blue because we have mutual friends and they occasionally ask me stuff or share their story.. what i've noticed in the vast majority of cases, is that people are waking up not because of the arc or doctrine but apathy.

active jws are becoming less and less interested, less and less bothered.

Sail Away

Pale.emperor, this is exactly why I walked away after 42 years! Nothing was ever good enough-- constant reminders to do more in the ministry, because so many people (including my children) were going to die and, most importantly, there was no way I was going to shun my son.

Six months before I left I had an Intensive Out-Patient (IOP) hospitalization for severe, recurrent clinical depression and PTSD. I wouldn't call it apathy. I was in tremendous emotional pain and simply couldn't live life that way any longer.

I chose life here and now with my family over a promise of living forever without them. Best decision ever. I'm seven years out now and am off all prescription medications. I do still struggle with mild depression and PTSD, so I see a therapist, meditate and use medical marijuana as needed.

36

Go Bags, Safe houses and cartoon of two kids.

by scruffmcbuff in

i have been out a good 10+ years and until recently didnt pay much attention to what the jehovahs are up to.. why have they taken this turn with the bunker videos and making all the brainwashed people like my parents pack a go bag.

now let me just clarify.

im a military man i believe everyone should have an element of preparedness canned goods,bottled water and a bug out bag is a great addition ( ill stop waffling on about that now).. but what concerns me is the fact they are advising elderly people to bug out.

Sail Away

^^ perfect example ^^

36

Go Bags, Safe houses and cartoon of two kids.

by scruffmcbuff in

i have been out a good 10+ years and until recently didnt pay much attention to what the jehovahs are up to.. why have they taken this turn with the bunker videos and making all the brainwashed people like my parents pack a go bag.

now let me just clarify.

im a military man i believe everyone should have an element of preparedness canned goods,bottled water and a bug out bag is a great addition ( ill stop waffling on about that now).. but what concerns me is the fact they are advising elderly people to bug out.

Sail Away

I understand PIMO. But how can one be POMI which ive seen mentioned a few times?

I've seen this. If some one drifted away or was DF'd, they are physically out, but may still be mentally in. They haven't examined their beliefs or done any online research. They still believe that it's "The Truth", but they just can't live up to it. They are the problem, not the belief system. They are still captive.

There is a strong possibility that if some life event left them feeling vulnerable, they might return. Also, when a POMI has a chil, they may feel the need to return in order to save the child's life at Armageddon.

7

What you reckon? (I'm talking in my normal accent)

by punkofnice in

there was this really lovely old geezer in a congregation i was in here in the uk.. he was an old bloke and very frit of giving talks and that.

when he was on the platform he'd be bleedin' scared...like an elephant near a bloody mouse.. so, 'ere's my question, right?

blimey.

Sail Away

For all the years I was a witness, I experienced extreme anxiety, panic attacks and even disassociated when on stage giving a talk. When I couldn't take it anymore, I will would come off the school. Eventually, the school overseer would guilt me into going back on the school by telling me I needed to rely more on Jehovah and pray for his spirit. He should have left me the hell alone. It was pure torture.

15

GDPR Congregation Record of Processing Activities

by Fay Dehr in

gdpr congregation record of processing activities: https://1drv.ms/f/s!amcrvjcxi6m6gx7oc1gksxolaeae.

...and associated files.... .

letter to boe dated january 6, 2017: https://1drv.ms/b/s!amcrvjcxi6m6gxyqlciog-dt815_.

Sail Away

Stuckinarut2, would you be willing to share your (redacted) letter?

18

Ministry experiences

by Freedom rocks in

hi does anyone have any bad ministry experiences to share or really funny ones?.

some of mine were:.

- having water sprayed on us with a hose.

Sail Away

I remember a few more. This one makes me smile--

Going door-to-door in August-- hazy, hot and humid. Standing in the hot sun talking with two Catholic women accompanied by a rising star, former drug addict, later to become Substitute CO brother. I was in my first trimester-- no one knew except Mr. SailAway. I grew faint, started to black out, but was able to grab an iron railing nearby in the shade. I pressed my forehead to it.

One of the women asking in an accusatory voice, "Is she pregnant?" Newbie JW says, "I don't know! Don't look at me!" She got me some orange juice.

29

Are YOU Shunned By JW Family or Friends?

by minimus in

jw
friends

some who are not disfellowshipped are still shunned i also know there’ are disfellowshipped ones that family still associate with..

Sail Away

I guess I would go with ToesUp's soft shunned. When I cross paths with the locals, including elders, former COBE and MSs, they are warm and chatty (with the exception of one former elderette b*tch). That said none of them initiate contact. This hurts the most coming from one especially dear former "friend".

It's all a little strange. I walked away in 2011. I am clearly on the Do Not Call List at my adamant request-- no contact for official congregation business. Ever. I wrote a letter of resignation threatening to sue their sorry asses if they made an announcement from the platform, so not officially DF'd or DA'd as far as I can tell.

I sent my letter of resignation to the secretaries of two local congregations I attended. Not sure if I would greet them should we meet. One is the elder that led the hit squad to DF my son. I might have a few choice words for him. Hypocritical, self-righteous b*stard comes to mind.

My husband's parents shunned him (and by proxy me and our children) for most of his adult life-- necessary family business only. He was neither DF'd or DA'd. Faded before we knew what that meant.

Now that my MIL died and my FIL is rapidly declining, my husband has daily contact with him by phone. His father lives 500 miles away and has been targeted by a scam artist. We are trying to protect him, but he is stubborn and won't listen to his son, lawyer or accountant. We have hired a lawyer to advise us, and my husband travels out to see his father about every other month.

18

Ministry experiences

by Freedom rocks in

hi does anyone have any bad ministry experiences to share or really funny ones?.

some of mine were:.

- having water sprayed on us with a hose.

Sail Away

Being given a tour of a home owner's pet goat cemetery in her front yard. Creepy.

Didn't happen to me, but I was in the car group when a naked woman wearing only a trench coat jumped out of the bushes and flashed an elder. He returned red faced and stammering. His wife, a FT Pioneer, teased him mercilessly for the rest of the morning.

18

Since You Left The Organization Do You Celebrate National and Religious Holidays?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i know of people who were disciplined because they observed the fourth of july fireworks celebration.

and i know many people who celebrated thanksgiving but just didn’t call it that because they could get into trouble with the elders.. do you now celebrate birthdays and other holidays or is that something you really don’t care about?

?.

Sail Away

Yes, I celebrate holidays. For me it's all about family, especially my grandchildren. They are visiting from Guatemala this month, and my daughter, son-in-law and husband gave me my first birthday party ever for my 60th birthday today.

We had a picnic at the beach, playing in the waves, a raspberry cream tart with candles, presents and happy birthday songs in English and in Spanish. So much love and fun!

We also had a barbecue at the town beach and watched the fireworks for July 4th. We celebrate Thanksgiving here in the States with our son and Christmas in Guatemala. My husband is uncomfortable with holiday, but he makes an effort for me. I don't care too much about Easter or Halloween, but might get into it if my grandchildren lived nearby.

27

Re: the woman parking attendants and real life

by carla in

with much amusement i read the thread on women parking lot attendants and it got me to thinking about life at home for the average jw.. i believe i am correct in thinking that anything to do with jw-ism requires a penis, except all the leg work (fs & pioneers).

meaning the mic's, talks, etc... but yet the same guy who thinks his wife (or any other woman) is not bright enough to run the sound system for example doesn't mind his wife hauling hay, digging in the yard, managing the checkbook and other various physical jobs as well as jobs that do in fact require a brain larger than that of a gnat?.

let's say a guy is a bit technologically challenged but he can manage the sound system at the kh ok. i imagine he feels proud that he is getting to do this great privilege?

Sail Away

JWs (sisters) used to tell me when a sister's unbelieving mate became a JW (seldom) the sister was DTR (down the road) -- done! ~LV101

I've seen this happen twice.