Posts by ohiocowboy

423

I have just been disinvited to my brother's wedding - Thanks AAWA!

by Sic Semper Tyrannis in

i am an inactive jw.

i havent been on this forum for a few months and have been lurking in others.

i have met a few people in real life and online, both on this forum and on others.

ohiocowboy

I understand what you are saying, StillThinking. It shocked me too that there were threats from the "President" of AAWA bordering on blackmail against the owner of this board, and an intentional "Outing" of someone they were pissed off with (Besty) to name a couple. On top of that, the day before yesterday the "President" insinuated that perhaps people were making everything up.

This whole issue isn't just AAWA vs JWN either. I've been looking on some other EX-JW boards, and am seeing the same types of comments there too about the new group. Something needs to give so that we can all move on in a healthy manner and work with one another instead of against, but it will require the admittance of previous errors to those negatively affected and then compromise from then on.

I really hope something can/will be done, as I am worried for those in the group that have good reputations for helping people throughout the years, and don't want to see them forced or stuck in the middle of all this negativity that could have been easily avoided to begin with had the main leader(s) in the group used tact.

Every day of fighting or holding grudges is a day less that people aren't getting the help that they need. It's sad.

423

I have just been disinvited to my brother's wedding - Thanks AAWA!

by Sic Semper Tyrannis in

i am an inactive jw.

i havent been on this forum for a few months and have been lurking in others.

i have met a few people in real life and online, both on this forum and on others.

ohiocowboy

I would also like to mention that even though the "President" of the AAWA may display an air of stubborness, manipulation and inflated ego as some have mentioned does not mean that everyone else in the group feels or thinks that same way. There are some very great people in the group, LL, JWFacts, Juan Viejo etc, who are well respected and have devoted themselves to helping others for many years now. Maybe some of them aren't being allowed to say anything. I imagine that even though there are several on the board of directors, the President usually has the final say in things. I feel really bad for those who are truly wanting and trying to help, but are being impeded by others.

I hope things can be worked out to everyone's satisfaction so that we can all be on the same page, and that is to help those who need help escaping the Watchtower.

423

I have just been disinvited to my brother's wedding - Thanks AAWA!

by Sic Semper Tyrannis in

i am an inactive jw.

i havent been on this forum for a few months and have been lurking in others.

i have met a few people in real life and online, both on this forum and on others.

ohiocowboy

I was added to this group months ago, when they were organizing - though I do not belong to any other antiJW groups on facebook, one of my friends thought it would be something I might enjoy getting involved with - a group that was ORGANIZING, with the purpose of exposing the WT.

After only 2 or 3 days, I saw posts in this group which led me to believe that the group was both radical and malicious.

All along, I thought that this whole ordeal was something that happened within the past couple of weeks and that AAWA didn't join facebook until a couple of weeks ago on April 3. Hearing that someone was added MONTHS ago without their permission whether it be by AAWA directly or a third party needs to be addressed by AAWA, not to mention the malicious and radical posts they were allegedly making even back then.

I'm sorry that this has been happening to so many good people, and I hope that all of this can be corrected in a dignified manner so that we can all join together in helping people escape the harm that the Watchtower is causing.

115

Public Apology Nathan Natas

by Simon in

i'd like to offer a public apology to nathan natas for making a wrong decision when i deleted him.. i allowed a combination of previous issues we'd had and input from other forum members to bias my decision which lead me to what i now, in hindsight, believe to have been a mistake.. whether you want to come back and post here or not i wanted to at least say sorry and will reactivate your account..

ohiocowboy

I always really liked Nathan, and over the years he made a lot of informative, well written, and positive posts.

Come back, Nathan, it would be nice to hear from you again!!!

62

25 YEARS of compiled yearbook statistics

by 88JM in

jw
friends

hello again folks - as promised in my last thread here, i've been working on turning yearbook statistics into excel spreadsheets.. coincidentally, today is my 25th birthday (spare a thought for a fader).. i've now updated the spreadsheet with yearbook data all the way back to 1988 (the year i was born), therefore it now contains 25 years of statistics.. there were a lot of countries changing around and for some it was possible to create a continuation of data.

some are a simple change of name like south-west africa to namibia.

others, for example - in 1993 with czechoslovakia splitting into two countries (czech republic and slovakia) i have added an extra row that provides a continuation of the data, combining czech republic and slovakia back together as if they were still one country.

ohiocowboy

Thank you very much for your time in compounding all of this info!

The part that makes me want to puke is the fact that they are slated to hit the 8 Million mark in the next year or so...

34

U.S. Chronic Pain Patients -- No More Pain Meds

by Lady Lee in

jw
friends

the american pain foundation has closed its doors due to lack of funding and a growing hostile environment towards those who suffer with chronic pain.. with deep regret and heavy hearts, we sadly inform you that due to irreparable economic circumstances, apf must cease to exist, effective immediately.

on may 3, 2012, the board of directors formally voted to dissolve the organization.. the board and staff have worked tirelessly over many months to address a significant gap between available financial resources and funds needed to remain operational.

unfortunately, the economic situation has not changed in any meaningful way, despite our best efforts.. apf hopes to be able to transfer content from various information, education, and support programs to other organizations so that you may continue to benefit from the value these programs have provided to thousands of individuals and families across the country.. your personal experiences in living with pain and seeking compassion, empathy and medical care often against the odds -- have driven our efforts over these many years.

ohiocowboy

I don't know what my Partner would do were he to be cut off from his meds. Even with them, he cries out in his sleep all night long, and when he is awake, he can't even be still because he hurts. I fear that there may come a day when a disaster or something else happens where people can't get the medications they need to survive. We both make it a point to sometimes take a little less of our different meds (Heart meds, depression meds, etc) so that we can put a few aside in case something happens and we aren't able to get them anymore or if we accidently run out. The thing is, a person can't put too many away for an emergency for fear of being accused of being a dealer or something even if you do have the proof that they are yours. It's just like storing food for an emergency, the Gov't tells you to store extra in case of an emergency, yet in the next breath they say that you are a potential terrorist if you have too much food saved up. They make it to where you just can't win no matter what you do.

There's going to be a lot of people with legitimate pain issues who are going to suffer not only with pain, but terrible withdrawal because all of a sudden they can't get their meds, and they didn't get a chance to wean themselves off of them to avoid some of the negative effects of withdrawal. It's sad and scary.

56

If you started an organisation (related to exposing the Watchtower, helping Jw's who are disfellowshipped, or any other worthy cause).. What would it be called and what would you aim to achieve?

by The Quiet One in

jw
friends

...?.

ohiocowboy

Witness My Fury, If someone wanted to use the name you came up with (WARN) would you allow them to use it if they asked you? All last night, I kept thinking about that name, and it really is pure genius! I would hope that someone decides to use it, if not now, someday soon!!!

56

If you started an organisation (related to exposing the Watchtower, helping Jw's who are disfellowshipped, or any other worthy cause).. What would it be called and what would you aim to achieve?

by The Quiet One in

jw
friends

...?.

ohiocowboy

WARN: Watchtower Abuse Recovery Network.

Incredibly AWESOME name and acronym!!! Simple, straight to the point, not negative sounding, and easy to remember. Great job!!!

3

A Letter to My Mother :-(

by StinkyPantz2.0 in

jw
friends

hi mama, im bridget gaudette, your 34-year-old daughter.

we havent talked much the last dozen or so years.

i know its because i rejected my religious upbringing and you felt you had to choose between god and me.

ohiocowboy

Hi SP! I remember you from several years ago when you used to post here. From your avatar, you are as pretty as ever! I hope life has been treating you well! I send you wishes that your Mother responds positively to you. It's been so long since you have heard from her. My Mother still refuses to talk to me too, and I haven't seen her in over 25 years! The Watchtower sucks, and I will never forgive them for tearing so many families apart.

Reading your letter, which was very eloquently written to your Mother, I see that you have done a lot to help others by being a volunteer and doing Social Work. You've also had a good education which has allowed you to do a lot of things that you wouldn't otherwise have had the opportunity.

Going to Egypt and other places overseas must have been incredible!

Wishing you the best!

CJ

28

RIP Annette Funicello

by Dagney in

jw
friends

the cutest mouseketeer and beach party girl ever.. .

ohiocowboy

RIP to a beautiful Lady.