Posts by exjdub

108

How Far Up The "Ranks" Did You Go In The Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

at age 18, i was a regular pioneer.

at 20, a ministerial servant.

at 24 an elder.

exjdub

ITs like how I up in the Nazis Party did you get............"Oh I got to put the guys in the ovens"

Well said new boy. I was so proud of myself that I finally stopped being irregular and that I gained acceptance by being "one of the boys" and now I find it embarrasing and shameful that I followed along with the garbage and put up with so much. That is probably my biggest regret now. I can handle that I bought in to the Borg for so long...most times...but what I turned into when I was an MS really disturbs me. Something I will have to live down.

exjdub

14

Help! My fade about to be blown by my wife's obituary

by lighthouse19something in

jw
friends

my wife of 27 years is about to pass away, she's requested do not revive or resuscitate, and she is no longer conscious.

her sister wants to put which church she's been attending in her obituary, i don't want to make things difficult for my jw mother, (she knows about our fade) by other jws.

exjdub

Lighthouse,

I am so sorry about the loss of your wife. I have been married 25 years and I can only imagine what you are going through right now. Your pain is unimaginable.

My question to you is: What would your wife have wanted you to do? If my wife's wish was to have an obituary mentioning her church, I can tell you that the obit would have her church in it...I don't care what would happen to me. It is all refuse after that...

exjdub

42

Name a bar/pub

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

need a great name for a bar/pub a family member is opening........soon!!!!!.

can't believe he can't seem to come up with a name........ so help me .....help him out!!!!.

thanks in advance, .

exjdub

There is a pub in Chatanooga, TN called "The Hair of The Dog." I always thought that it was a great name for a pub.

exjdub

30

LOTS of New Ones Continue to Join Us!!!! Let's WELCOME them!!!!!

by Lady Liberty in

jw
friends

dear new ones,.

sometimes you post your first post in the middle of a thread, and you slip by without being properly "welcomed"!

so we want to welcome you and thank you all for stepping forward, for sharing your comments and your stories.

exjdub

Welcome Newbies!! I can't wait to read your stories and look forward to hearing from all of you. Some new ones are afraid to post, thinking that nobody will reply. Others think that they have nothing to offer. Please don't feel that way. The more opinions and experiences the better. Jump right in!

exjdub

62

Should I wait to be questioned by the elders? or take my leave in advance?

by Thinking of Leaving in

hi everyone, i recently joined this forum as i'm close to being df.

i am suppose to meet with a judical committee soon but was thinking that i don't want to go through those personal questions that i'm sure the elders would ask.

does anyone know, is it better to just tell the elders before, say like on the phone, that i want to be df and not go through the committee?

exjdub

Thinking,

I wouldn't even tell them you are unrepentant. Why use their language? Who are they to determine what your mindset is, or to judge what you have done? When the PO calls to set up the time for the judicial meeting, I would tell him not to bother and that you don't want to be considered a JW anymore. Why go out on their terms?

exjdub

108

How Far Up The "Ranks" Did You Go In The Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

at age 18, i was a regular pioneer.

at 20, a ministerial servant.

at 24 an elder.

exjdub

It just seems crazy to me that the Watchtower convinced so many honest people to put their faith in an organization that holds no academic weight in the outside world at all.

I hear you Anitar. Believe me, I marvel all the time at what they were able to get out of me. You really have to stand back and admire them for what they have accomplished, as negative and despicable as it is. How do you get so many people to work so hard for free? The poor JW's slave away out in service, going to meetings, giving talks, handling microphones, etc., while at the same time being "beaten" emotionally and verbally from the platform and from the elders. It is an amazing accomplishment. And, as you mentioned, has no value to the outside world. I still shake my head in disbelief when I think about it.

exjdub

9

Interesting family supper on the weekend

by Paralipomenon in

jw
friends

well last night our family was invited over to my brother's place for supper and my parents were invited as well.

my brother is an amazing cook and wasting that talent with a menial job, but that is another story, we get to benefit from his cooking.

so the conversation eventually comes around to the blood issue and the sextuplets, it has been so long since i have had a conversation with active dubs that this was very interesting to watch.

exjdub

My dad has always been a really hard person to read regarding the organization. He drinks, he swears, he plays the lottery but is an elder and faithfully goes in service and to meetings every week. He seems to flipflop on whether to shun my sister or not. But he's definitely not towing the company line on the blood issue

Paralipomenon,

Your Dad sounds like a cool elder. The "Society" would shudder if they knew what he was up to. Good story...thanks!

exjdub

108

How Far Up The "Ranks" Did You Go In The Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

at age 18, i was a regular pioneer.

at 20, a ministerial servant.

at 24 an elder.

exjdub

I was baptized at 14. Had a flurry of activity for about 6 months.

Deadbeat for many years.

Started "reaching out" in my 30's

MS for a couple of years.

In charge of sound dept.

Auxiliary Pioneered a few times

Survived a year of hell in Wilton, NH during some crazy stuff.

Survived the Special Committee that was brought in. Was told I was the "next elder". Got my first public talk outline. Was removed 6 months later.

I am so grateful that it happened. If I had not been removed as a servant I would have continued the facade while enjoying the ego boost of "privilege". What a TOOL I was. And by tool, I don't mean a useful object used to fix something...LOL!

exjdub

108

How Far Up The "Ranks" Did You Go In The Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

at age 18, i was a regular pioneer.

at 20, a ministerial servant.

at 24 an elder.

exjdub

1st Post, 3 years of lurking!!!!! You guys have helped me on my journey out a lot!!!!!!!!!
Elder 21 years
Secretary 10 years
PO 8 years
Book Study Conductor 23 years....2 years while MS
250+ Public Talks, 3 years while MS
29 assigned parts @ the Circuit & District level (including 6 consecutive years at the DC)
Parts assigned for elders school
Many apppeal committees.....how sick!!!
Regular Aux, 3 years
Regular Pioneer, 6 years
Branch appointments, RBC 4 years................involved as department head for 20 years.
Hospital visitation committee
You name it I've been involved in it, all the way to the top, 5th generation in the org.
Four different congo's, the last three assigned by the CO
DC convention department overseer, 6 years
Other areas as well

Wow...that is one heck of a first post ImFreeNow! Welcome to JWD.

exjdub

25

Bluetooth Headsets: Geeky or Sexy?

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

as a programmer i am exposed to high technology all the time and ironically this has given me an odd aversion to it!

i like gadgets and gizmos like anyone else; however i demand it be discrete.

when i'm out-n-about i want to be connected, but at the same time i don't want anyone to be able to see it.. for years i have avoided the bluetooth headsets that appear to be gaining in popularity, however im still not quite ready to get one because of the obvious geek factor and the simple fact that many people who wear them appear to be making the "look at me, i've fancy" statement.

exjdub

Well this may come as a shock, but Im probably the last person left in the free world who doesnt even own a cellphone, and I never have.

That's not a bad thing Junction-Guy. I hate the things, but they are a necessity in my line of work (sales). When I get home from being on the road, I put the cell phone on the kitchen counter and don't touch it all weekend.

Elsewhere,

I have tried 4 different bluetooth devices. The Plantronics works best with my Treo, but I have been told that the voice quality is bad when I am speaking with people. I believe this is probably when the battery gets low, which is not a very long stretch of time. I am thinking of going back to a wired headset, as geeky as it looks, out of frustration with the Bluetooth headset. I don't think I will buy another one until they perfect them. Save your money.

exjdub