fiddler

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Posts by fiddler

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  61

  David Bowie

  by smiddy in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  i just heard the news david bowie has died ,so sad .

  rip d,b, .

  smiddy .

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  fiddler

  I have loved David Bowie since I first heard him in 1972. Afterwards, I realized that it wasn't exactly acceptable among Jehovah's witnesses...I think I once emulated his 'Ziggy' haircut and was criticized for it...oh well. It wasn't until the 1980's and the release of Labyrinth that he came into my life again and later I found that my own daughter adored him. It was with profound sadness that I texted my daughter Monday morning of his passing. We watched Labyrinth together on Tuesday and yes...smiled at the thought that we both have existed at the same time as David Bowie. What a genius he was!
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  12

  Share Your Personal Experiences Please!

  by LaurenM in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so since leaving the borg i've made quite a few stupid mistakes, hurting myself a lot..but i finally feel like i've learned and i think, in time, i'll find my happiness again...even more happiness that i could've ever had being a jw.. but my question to you guys is, what was your experience like leaving the borg?

  did you struggle at all?

  how long have you been out?

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  fiddler

  I've been out since 1999...too lazy to do the math...but in that time, early on, I lost my religion, a husband in death due to cancer but gained 3 of my 4 children in leaving the religion. That was a definite plus!

  There were certainly rough patches for me and my kids learning the ropes of just being human...not some elite group entitled to life everlasting but just human having the human experiences that sometimes were great and sometimes were unpleasant. It's not like there were never unpleasant experiences in jwdom. In my life as a wife and mother in the JW religion I can truly say there was more unhappiness than happiness.

  Upon leaving, although there has been unhappiness, there has been much more genuine happiness. I have one daughter still in the JW religion and I can tell you, that is the one truly unhappy point in my life and when I look at her I see a daughter who has given her true personae, her authentic self, over to a group of men (GB) who have become synonymous with Jehovah...one and the same! She actually believes that if she disobeys the governing body she is disobeying Jehovah, which to her represents the creator of the universe. How sad that a group of men can reek such damage on a human soul by impersonating the creator!
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  46

  Can somebody explain the songs and songbook obsession?

  by careful in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've been out a while and have only put in a rare appearance at a memorial or brief visit at a convention/assembly to keep people off my back, so i haven't kept up on the songbook.

  but one thing i've noticed that the org.

  has been doing that they never did when i was in is all these "supplemental songs" that keep appearing.

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  fiddler

  The singing of songs, especially propaganda and brainwashing type songs, gets more strongly entrenched in the psyche in this way. I think that is what's going on here. I mean, how many of us after 10 or more years out of the religion still remember the words to many of the JW songs? I won't mention any because I know what insidious ear worms they can be!
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  113

  I just found out that my youngest brother committed suicide

  by SnakesInTheTower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my middle brother called me a couple of hours ago.

  our youngest brother, josh, who was 38, was found by his friends in his apartment.

  he hung himself.

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  fiddler

  Snakes, I almost don't have a right to post because I don't post here often but...feel so sad for you. This will impact you over the course of time. Those folks with the 'go fund me' account...let them go and do what they need to do. It is for your brother. As for the JW thing....they will do what they have been instructed to do; not what their heart tells them. Let them go...do what they do.

  You on the other hand, need rest. Do what YOU have to do. Running around doing stuff you don't feel is not what you need to do. You'll figure it out.
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  49

  Who would you vote for Today?

  by James Mixon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  d. trump or h. clinton and why.. i would vote for gun slinging trump..

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  fiddler

  After seeing those here who would vote for Trump I am just shaking my head in disbelief! Have you learned nothing? After all you've been through in your life with a disingenuous organization you would vote for this disingenuous person. Slap yourselves and focus!

  I am still listening to the men and women in the race (not counting the clowns and religious whack jobs) I will decide closer to election time who I will vote for.
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  46

  Just read this on JW Talk......

  by WHATSGOINGON in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just saw this on the public area of jwtalk (i am not a member).

  here is the link.. http://jwtalk.net/forums/topic/23523-privvy-news/.

  such a shame - i do feel for these ones - i just don't know what to say.... wgo.

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  fiddler

  I didn't look at the link...sorry...just can't. But I think I pretty much know the content.

  Magnum, you mentioned someone thinking this was the 'going around Jericho 7 times'.

  already been there and done that with the kingdom news tracts in the 1970's!

  So sad that another generation is falling for this scam.
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  27

  No longer wanting to attend meetings

  by breezy in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello everyone.. first post here.

  long time follower of this website, probably 4 years now.

  i've known about ttatt since ive been 18, im now 22 going on 23 but still go to meetings because of parents.

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  fiddler

  Hello breezy, and glad you entered into this community of people that understand what you're saying. That said, I'm an older 'born in' but my story is quite different. You will, however, find plenty here that are at very similar points of life.

  What I can maybe offer is the thought that this story, your life and all, is such a bigger picture than the small insullar picture you have been shown by your JW upbringing.

  The so called 'world' is not an altogether evil place. It's full of compassionate people and wonderful adventures....in short, you were lied to. There is so much good 'out there'. Choose your associates wisely and with care. There are many that are good and worthy. Prove mostly to yourself these things and then let your family and old friends see you doing well. That is the best answer and defense to give to them without really saying anything. Yes, I know...the shunning sucks! It is on them.
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  33

  UPDATE on moving in with 4 guys

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  living with 4 other guys.

  "good morning, richard!

  richard is almost never in the house.

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  fiddler

  I just recently moved into a roommate situation after being on my own with just my dog for the past two years. My roommate is actually someone I roomed with several years ago so know her quirks and she knows mine. Still, it's a change when you're older and been alone for awhile. Before this my roomies were my son and two of his friends, exJW twins who were forsaken by their JW parents and family. They just called me 'mom'. As for temp settings...ahem...I like it cool with the window cracked in the winter. My roommate likes the heat on.

  You sound like a great roommate, Terry!
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  48

  OF DOGS AND BITES AND BIKES AND THINGS

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the thought suddenly struck me plain and obvious: "these dogs won't stop until i'm good and bloody.".

  there were two of them; a mixed breed of boxer and pit bull; clean, white--collared, tagged and--for some inexplicable reason, ferociously intent on tearing me to shreds!.

  ah, but i'm getting ahead of myself.

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  fiddler

  Terry, so sorry for your traumatic experience. I love to ride my bicycle and I love dogs and have never considered anything like this happening but in reading your account I now know it could. I will be investing in some pepper spray (and the knife isn't a bad idea either!)
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  37

  This morning's magazine trolley encounter..

  by GodZoo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  was just out shopping and came across two middle aged female witnesses with their magazine trolley..

  i approached them and they were all glee and smiles and ready to hand me a couple of magazines.

  one moment ladies i have just a couple of questions..

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  fiddler

  I went to a Farmer's Market with a friend last night and just before we were ready to head back to the car I spotted a trolley tucked up under a booth. An older guy with a frown and another man were sitting beside it. I didn't notice much about the other guy but the look on the older ones face stuck with me...he didn't look too happy. This particular Farmer's market was in a university town and had a lot of students shopping and manning booths encouraging everything from organic farming to getting out and voting. It is also home to a fair amount of what I would lovingly call, 'aging hippies'. The musical duo playing were probably both in their 60's and playing some pretty good renditions of CCR and 70's - 90's rock. All in all it was a very positive and upbeat bunch of folks...except for the frowning old JW. I didn't say anything to him. I figured that everyone walking by with smiles on their faces were informing him with all he needed at the time. Sad.