Posts by exjdub

24

JW Get-togethers

by Nosferatu in

jw
friends

do you have any good memories of jw get-togethers?

a lot of my good memories of them have tarnished with age.

i vaguely remember them.

exjdub

I have a memory of a gathering that stands out:

The first one was in Keene, NH a few short months after we arrived in the Congregation. The Congregation was at the park picnicing and everyone decided to play softball. I was able to get past the fact that there were 20 people per side, which made the game endless, what I couldn't take was what happened next:

Exjdub (offering encouragement as opposing team scores run): "It's OK, just one run, we will get it back when we get up!"

Elder Dumbdub (approaches Exjdub from pitcher's mound...Elders always had to pitch...) : "uhhh...brother...we don't keep score."

Exjdub: "hahahahahahah. That's a good one Brother Dumbdub, you almost had me!"

Elder Dumbdub: "I'm serious, we don't keep score."

Exjdub: "What the????? How do you know who wins?? What is the point of the game if you don't keep score?"

Elder Dumbdub: "The society has been very clear about competition and the negative effects of competing...so we don't keep score."

Exjdub: "Elder Dumbdub, I believe what the Society was referring to was...

Elder Dumbdub: "Brother, we are not keeping score and that's all there is to it.

Exjdub (mutters to himself as he quietly exits the field. Heads home, gets his basketball, and proceeds to play ball at the local court with the non-mutant population of the earth ["worldly people"].)

126

Why I think Bush is scary

by Simon in

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4767542/ in woodward's portrait, president bush is single-minded, and possibly simple-minded, in his resolve.

he seems to have relied more on divine guidance than the considered opinions of his top advisers.

bush told woodward that as he approached the final decision to go to war, "i was praying for strength to do the lord's will ... i'm surely not going to justify war based on god.

exjdub

Simon,

I agree with you. I think anytime you have a religious leader that claims to be doing God's will for war, and or, have his blessing to wage war, is very scary. The other thing that scares the heck out of me is the personal freedoms we are losing under the mantle of the "Patriot Act." Fear of the unknown is causing the American people to give up their rights without even a wimper.

Farkel,

Since when does someone have to offer up an alternative solution in order to express an opinion? I for one am not happy with either choice, but because my choice is limited to either Bush or Kerry (that is unless one wants to throw a vote away on the Independent ticket), I will vote for Kerry. I don't hate Bush, but I do hate his politics. I don't trust him and I would like to see him out.

I think John Kerry is a liar and lower than pond scum

Lower than pond scum? A liar? Well, I haven't met too many politicians that aren't and I would put Bush right along with Kerry on that score. Once again I will be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils when it comes to election time.

I have a few final questions...Why is it that every Bush supporter I know gets upset and refers to it as "Bush Bashing" when people call him on what he said? Are there not legitimate questions about whether there were WMD's in Iraq in the first place? Are there not legitimate questions about Bush's motives in connection with Iraq? Does it not concern you that his religious beliefs are always at the forefront of his politics? It sure troubles me, but then again, that could just be because I abdicated too many rights and failed to question the powers that be when I was with the WTBS. Our past has an effect on our future! Regards.

Exjdub

32

I'm I the only one here that..................

by reganashe in

jw
friends

just hate religion all together.

i don't want to have anything to with it, it makes my skin crawl.

i don't want my daughter to be exposed to relgion in any form.

exjdub

Reganashe,

Because I am new to the board I was wondering the same thing, so I am glad that you brought it up. I also have no interest in religion. My distrust of organized religion is complete since I left the WTBS. Anytime men want to "organize" something, regardless of the original motive, it gets corrupted and is used as a tool to control people. What intrigues me is that after 36 years of being in the Org I feel no desire to search for anything to replace what supposedly is missing. I say that without the slightest regret or sadness. I find that I am far more accepting of people and I enjoy them more. I enjoy my life far more than I ever have. I have not prayed since I left the Org and I have not opened a Bible since then either, not for any other reason than I just haven't felt the need or desire. I think that surprises me sometimes, but I don't have all of the answers...just a lot of questions...still.

Exjdub

16

Kill Bill, Vol. 2

by copsec in

went to see kill bill, vol.

2 this afternoon and it was fantastic!

i was highly disappointed in volume 1 but they had to do what they did in it to make this one.

exjdub

I am a big Tarantino fan and I really enjoyed both Vol. I & II, although for different reasons. The one thing that did throw me was the final battle with Bill. Once again Tarantino caught me by surprise. I was expecting a long battle and when she did "the move" (not wanting to ruin it for those that have not seen it yet), it happened so quickly that I almost missed it! I will have to buy the video and put it on slow motion. The battle with Elle was great. Regards.

Exjdub

10

Ozzie's Weekend Poll #90

by ozziepost in

jw
friends

what a week it's been!

here on jwd deep and meaningful threads have proliferated, the age-old trinity debate continues to be played out, and heart-rending experiences have been told.. how's it been for you?.

mrs ozzie and i have been kept busy, mrs ozzie had a small operation and it's a case of 'so far, so good'.

exjdub

I Would:

1. Open it first

3. Drop it in the bin marked "Apostate Literature"

6. Tear it into tiny pieces

7. Put it in the shredder

Then I would:

12. Other (please detail) Wipe my A** with it.

Then, and only then, I would:

4. Take it to the elders.

Exjdub

39

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 4-18-04 WT Study

by blondie in

comments you will not hear at the 4-18-04 (week of 4/12-18, 2004) wt study (march 1, 2004 issue)

review comments will be in black and parentheses ().

wt quotes will be in red and quotes "".

exjdub

LOL RR.

Blondie,

Remind me to never become your enemy. Your research and material is incredible. I am glad somebody has the patience, cuz I don't anymore. Studying the Revelation book cured me of that! Nice work!

Exjdub

17

How Do You Make Friends Now?

by exjdub in

codeblue's thread about the teenage years made me start thinking about another aspect of being raised jw.

in the org we had ready made "friends" by virtue of our affiliation.

i found that after leaving jw's it was hard to meet people and it took me a long time to make friends.

exjdub

Codeblue's thread about the teenage years made me start thinking about another aspect of being raised JW. In the Org we had ready made "friends" by virtue of our affiliation. I found that after leaving JW's it was hard to meet people and it took me a long time to make friends. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, how do you make friends now?

69

How many were raised as a JW during their teenage years?

by codeblue in

.

and how many of you feel because of that, you never really got to be a "teenager"?

codeblue

exjdub

Codeblue,

Great topic.

I was raised in the Org since I was 5 years old. I guess I have bittersweet feelings about it and have to say that, were it not for the Troof, I would not have met my beautiful wife (23 years and still going) and had the wonderful kids that I have. On the flip-side...I got married the first time at 17 years of age to a "Sister", not for any other reason than to have sex within the proper confines of the Org (I know, how stupid huh?) and I wanted to get out of the house. Also, it was made clear by the Org, my mother, and stepfather that I wasn't going to go to college, so that left prospects for any type of normal life pretty slim. The marriage lasted a year and a half and I had the chance to live a little bit after that because I became inactive and did not go to meetings. I did return some time later and then left for the final time years ago. I can tell you that I am not wasting any time now. Freedom is awesome...

I am still angry about the college ban and that definitely had an effect on my teenage years. It would have made my life easier, even now, if I had gone to school. I have done well for my education level, but it could have made things a lot easier over the years if I had that piece of paper. As far as being a normal teenager... I guess anytime you are as different as we all were you are going to be, at the very least, a little screwed up. I guess I have looked at it that who is to say what my life would have been if I had left earlier? If I had been able to try out for the school teams, or go to dances, would I be a better person? I don't know. Could I have run into a lot of trouble? Maybe. Hardship and bad things shape and form us, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, and one thing for sure is...I can't change the past, but I sure can make sure I don't repeat it. Regards.

Exjdub

27

Gave up studying with them!!

by natalienu in

i recently gave up studying with the witnesses after they told me off for going sailing with my family!

what a crock!

i said it was the easter long weekend and i needed to get away for a few days on the boat.

exjdub

neyank

the Hare Chrisnas (spl?) were singing and trying to place-sell literature.

I guess the only thing we were missing to make our humiliation complete in the JW cult were the tambourines and the singing???? Maybe someone should suggest it to the Society!

19

Son came home last night with a new "Faux-hawk" haircut - I LOVE IT

by seeitallclearlynow in

jw
friends

that's right - he's been needing a haircut and laughingly said as we parted ways to go to our respective salons, "mom, we seem to basically have the same hairstyle right now.

" lol!

it was true - we both needed a new "do".

exjdub

I'm with you Ozziepost

The thing that was so aggravating was how arbitrary the rules were. In the 70's, when long hair was everywhere, I remember getting hauled into the library by the elders because my hair was just past the tops of my ears. They hammered on me and told me that I had a "bad attitude" and that I could not carry the beloved microphones if I didn't cut my hair. Meanwhile, a brother who was "reaching out" had hair that covered his ears, but they liked him, so that was OK and he was carrying the microphones the very next meeting. ARRGHHH! Damn Hypocrites! Because of the fine counsel... I decided to embrace the attitude and grew it longer!

Exjdub