Posts by Terry

127

I'm sitting here listening to a JW try to recruit somebody

by Terry in

jw
friends

i'm at starbucks .

just outside in the courtyard.. i'm trembling.

my hands are shaking.. wow!.

Terry

I really want to be no part of any decision a 19-year-old young man makes which will affect the rest of his life.

That is--I don't want to tip the scale when he is in a vulnerable state. The worst decisions are made at times

where there is stress.

All I want to do and be is a sounding board for his consideration of alternate views.

____________

I keep repeating to Jordan, "Don't believe anything I tell you on face value. Please, investigate and satisfy your own mind."

The ability to make decisions does not come naturally when you've been under Authority for most of your life!

I do know until now Jordan's idea of "research" has been exclusively Watchtower publications.

Learning how to go beyond that doesn't happen overnight.

____________

I suppose what I am afraid of is crossing over from friendly sounding board to steering him.

Let's do some calculation here:

If he remains disfellowshipped he loses all the rest of his family. (Remember he's still reeling from the loss of his deceased Dad.)

He loses his "spiritual" anchor and probably his faith.

Suddenly he is raw meat. EXACTLY HOW does that "help" him?

_____________

To me, the wisest course of action is for him to take a kind of "Timeout" to collect himself. During this abeyance, he can learn to be on his

own to determine how possible/feasible such a life might well be.

Burning your bridges is almost always foolhardy.

Further, he will develop rebuttal skills and resilience as the JW buzzards begin to peck at him.

Secondarily, he might through his obstinant quest for really truthful answers, awaken in others the alarm bell that something doesn't smell right.

_______________

If I can walk the tightrope of responsible mentoring without undue influence (a fool's errand) I will have a clean conscience.

127

I'm sitting here listening to a JW try to recruit somebody

by Terry in

jw
friends

i'm at starbucks .

just outside in the courtyard.. i'm trembling.

my hands are shaking.. wow!.

Terry

Update from Monday. . .

At 3:36 in the afternoon yesterday, I received a text from Jordan asking me when I would be available.

I asked him how he was, and mentioned I'd be available whenever he needed to talk.

He said, "Honestly not so good; like I just need to open up. I guess I feel like I'm holding a lot in and it's stressing."

I recommended he set up a time and I'd listen to anything he needed to say.

He replied: "That sounds great! I work two jobs now so I'd have to figure out when I can see you, but it will

definitely be soon."

I told him I thought is wasn't at all unusual for a person who is "waking up" about the "truth" to experience extreme stress.

I joked that it was like suddenly finding out your Uncle Fred was a serial killer.

He texted, "Hahaha exactly and Uncle Fred keeps stabbing me in the back. I'm seriously glad you understand me like that.

It sucks to feel how I feel because sometimes I feel alone."

I offered that the pressure he was getting was because the use of FEAR is almost always involved.

He said, "Well, I definitely feel it. The fear."

I told him there were thousands--even millions of people just like him and he definitely was NOT alone.

He replied, "I know when I feel alone I read former JW life stories and it kinda calms me, but still makes me feel bad at

the same time. Lol."

That was an extraordinary response!

I offered a parting thought: "Take assurance that truth isn't afraid of questions, but false information tries to hid behind

the blame-game."

He responded: "I will remember that."

53

TYRED OF SPELING ERURS? SIK OF BAD GRAMMUR?

by Terry in

jw
friends

.

"In my opinion, the use of good grammar is a way of showing respect to yourself, your listeners and the language. It elevates the topic and gives it more value, even if only in the mind of the writer."

Hey, I like that!

3

AREN'T BOOKS really a perfect GIFT for seasonal giving for opening fence-sitting JW minds?

by Terry in

jw
friends

i spent about 6 years working at half price books.. i know people who are readers are passionate about reading.. the choice of what to read is personal.. _____________.

when i've been given a book as a gift--i take it as a personal gift.

kinds of gifts (i.e.

Terry

I wish I had thought to include a Watchtower subscription as incentive!

551

Officer Wilson not indicted in killing of Michael Brown

by Simon in

after a thorough investigation and weighing of the evidence the grand jury has decided not to indict the officer.. the reaction so far seems as predicted - people refuse to accept that the result represents justice despite claims that is what they wanted.. there is now violence and vandalism, including gunshots.

let's hope the police contain the troublemakers.. .

Terry

If Michael Brown's supporters in any way reflect the attitude and conduct of the person they claim

to support--perhaps the police should pack it in and leave the town of Ferguson to vigilante mindset and

see how much better everyone will feel.

I have a difficult time connecting a sense of "injustice" with rioting, looting, and anarchy.

Somebody clue me in, please.

"I'm so angry I'm going to break things and steal something." Really?

3

AREN'T BOOKS really a perfect GIFT for seasonal giving for opening fence-sitting JW minds?

by Terry in

jw
friends

i spent about 6 years working at half price books.. i know people who are readers are passionate about reading.. the choice of what to read is personal.. _____________.

when i've been given a book as a gift--i take it as a personal gift.

kinds of gifts (i.e.

Terry

I spent about 6 years working at HALF PRICE BOOKS.

I know people who are readers are passionate about reading.

The choice of what to read is PERSONAL.

_____________

When I've been given a book as a gift--I take it as a PERSONAL gift. Perhaps more so than most other

kinds of gifts (i.e. Gift Cards).

I think to myself, "Hmmm, this friend of mine is sharing ideas, thoughts, entertainment with me."

I always smile when I receive a book.

______________

I'd like to risk appearing self-aggrandizing for a moment and suggest either of my books as gifts.

First, I'll tell you why.

There are so many kinds of anti-JW books available today (hundreds!) in high contrast to ten or twenty

years ago. Some are written well and others less so. When I wrote my books I endeavored to make them

easily readable, filled with fresh presentation of ideas, context, and factual (non-technical) demonstrations

of how the Watchtower Corporation is a blight on society.

_______________

I think there are probably many of us who have friends, acquaintances, and family who might "enjoy" one

of my JW-bashing books :) It's not the same old same old.

Especially is this true of my Sci-fi novel, THE MONORAILS OF MARS.

On the other hand, the personal story of going through my JW years and ending up in prison may well open

a few eyes and minds too.

_________________

http://www.amazon.com/Monorails-Mars-Terry-Walstrom/dp/131236033X/ref=sr_1_2_twi_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416864353&sr=8-2&keywords=terry+walstrom

_____________________

http://www.amazon.com/Wept-Rivers-Babylon-Prisoner-Conscience/dp/1492902063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416864353&sr=8-1&keywords=terry+walstrom

53

TYRED OF SPELING ERURS? SIK OF BAD GRAMMUR?

by Terry in

jw
friends

.

Terry

The internet generation (yes, I'm indulging in the blame game) has sacrificed a great deal for brevity of form.

It's perfectly okay to break rules IF YOU KNOW THE RULES YOU'RE BREAKING.

__

I'm constantly experimenting with the way I compose words on a page.

The esthetic (or aesthetic) of words on a background has always struck me as an opportunity

for organizing and displaying thoughts with an artist's eye.

For those who understand, no explanation is necessary.

For those who don't, no explanation is possible :)

_______

In my recent Sci-Fi novel (THE MONRAILS of MARS) I experimented with very brief chapters

and compact paragraphs. Why?

I think when your eye falls on a page, it should be inviting with bite-sized information.

Jumbo paragraphs and dense words (like clowns in a Volkswagon) repel my eye.

____

If I see a Topic Header on JW-Net and the spelling is mangled--I confess--I automatically

judge the person's level of awareness. I should not use such knee-jerk pedantry, I know.

It's just this; I've really tried to pay attention to words and their proper use my entire life.

Not to be boorish, but there is great beauty in the meticulous crafting of language.

Not all posts require this, certainly; perhaps the majority do not--but important topics suffer

from sloppy wording, oblivious punctuation, and clueless spelling.

___

If I sound judgmental, I apologize. Please take these words with loving tenderness implied. I don't like

anybody demanding I measure up to their arbitrary standard any more than you do.

I'm saying the technology of apps such as GRAMMARLY take the sting out of being perspicacious.

Nuff said.

53

TYRED OF SPELING ERURS? SIK OF BAD GRAMMUR?

by Terry in

jw
friends

.

Terry

I notice many Topic Headings seem like they were composed on the fly in a tornado.

The text often reflects a grade school attention to basic writing skills.

I've been browsing through available APPS which can help with this for ALL OF US.

See what you think of GRAMMARLY.

http://online-grammar-check-review.toptenreviews.com/grammarly-review.html

____________________

If this topic pisses you off because you think I'm on my high-horse--maybe YOU are just the person who most needs it :)

Seriously though, isn't it worth a teeny bit of effort to represent the so-called APOSTATE community with the best

possible expression?

I know JW's aren't allowed to engage in book larnin' but Apostates are free to be correct.

I'm using Grammarly right now. When I deliberately typed the word "larnin'" I got a small box floating above my text

which said: HOVER OVER UNDERLINED TEST TO SEE CORRECTION OPTIONS.

I did it on purpose to test the program. IT WORKS!

_____________

I'm just trying to be helpful to myself, to you and to our public face.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled lives:)

18

CAN WE BE BETTER THAN THE GOD WE SERVE?

by Terry in

be careful what you say god is and what he wants; you may be saying more about yourself than you realize.. it may well be our personal taste in religion is revelatory of our basic character.. _____.

look at the devout islamist whose worship consists of blowing people up or cutting off heads.. contrast that to those hindi who sit with legs folded in their own lap contemplating bliss.. now contrast both the above to somebody who believes service to god is visiting the sick in hospitals.. _____.

instead of there being 3 different gods served--there might only be an extraordinary unveiling of each person's heart and mind!.

Terry

And then, there are those who have no compulsion whatsoever to seek supernatural explanations.

If your life is full, and you are well-educated as well as not over exposed from youth upward to superstition--it is

possible to create your own space in life filled with fine friends, meaninful occupation, and a happy, extended family.

How sad, others of us--myself included--saw fit to bother ourselves to distraction with invisible sky people.

I'm not proud of the wasted years marching in lockstep, sharing one brain belonging to old men in Brooklyn.

Nope, not proud at all.

18

CAN WE BE BETTER THAN THE GOD WE SERVE?

by Terry in

be careful what you say god is and what he wants; you may be saying more about yourself than you realize.. it may well be our personal taste in religion is revelatory of our basic character.. _____.

look at the devout islamist whose worship consists of blowing people up or cutting off heads.. contrast that to those hindi who sit with legs folded in their own lap contemplating bliss.. now contrast both the above to somebody who believes service to god is visiting the sick in hospitals.. _____.

instead of there being 3 different gods served--there might only be an extraordinary unveiling of each person's heart and mind!.

Terry

We might conclude our God is made in our own image, eh?

Then, recognizing the familiar, we are attracted naturally.

It is a variant of the saying, "Become the change you want to see in the world."

JW's want to see everybody dead in the streets, with them alone cheering from the safe sidelines.

Way to go, Jah--kill one for me!