Posts by under the radar

11

Memphis, TN

by asilentone in

jw
friends

i have been to memphis, tn for breakfast on the way to tulsa, ok from georgia more than few years ago, someone would like for me to move to memphis, but i did not find memphis very appealing at all.

is there anything good about memphis?

i might reconsider, but for now, i am not so sure..

I moved to Memphis from GA in 1973. Have lived there ever since, but nowadays spend a LOT of time with the love of my life up north in New England. My work is based in Memphis and I still have a couple of houses (one for sale), a wonderful adult son, and an ex down there.

There are definitely areas of Memphis to avoid like the plague. But there are very nice areas, too. Try looking in Bartlett, Cordova, or Germantown. All abut Memphis and are very close to all the major shopping and business centers.

In my opinion, for tax purposes, try to get a place that is NOT within the Memphis city limits or likely to annexed any time soon. The city of Memphis is always trying to expand its tax base by absorbing unincorporated areas. What really happens is the most productive citizens move out as soon as possible and the lower class and criminal elements move in. Read any edition of the Memphis newspaper Commercial Appeal and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Memphis has plenty of fun things to do and good places to eat. Visit Graceland. You absolutely MUST experience the dry rub ribs at the Rendezvous (it's been in several movies). While you're downtown, check out Beale Street. It's amazing. Brad's is a very good, inexpensive barbecue place in Bartlett. Abbey's is a little restaurant across from Wolfchase Mall (out east) that features delicious southern home cooking.

I was more or less "active" till about 2000. Just stopped going or participating in anything "cold turkey." Went to all the meetings at the Memphis Assembly Hall and the Mid South Coliseum from the early 70's through the 90's. Knew lots of people in the northern Mississippi and west Tennessee congregations. My sudden "fade" went great. No one has bothered me or even tried to "follow up." Wouldn't do them any good, of course. I will NEVER go back to that Orwellian world.

If you're really thinking of moving there or just have any questions, PM me and I'll do my best to at least point you in the right direction. Good luck!

126

MY BROTHER-IN-LAW HAS DIED

by Mary in

jw
friends

this is one post i had always hoped i would never have to do, but after a long and brave battle, my beloved brother in law has died.

i have done a couple of threads on this in the past, so many of you know the battles he was facing.

he had been diagnosed earlier this year with myelodysplastic syndrome and the mortality rate of this disease is quite high.

under the radar

Mary, I was shocked and saddened to hear of your brother-in-law's passing. My deepest sympathies are with you and your family. I too have had loved ones sacrificed on the altar of the Watchtower. I believe the perpetrators of this false, irrational doctrine on the medical use of blood are in for special punishment. They're certainly bloodguilty in my eyes.

So sorry for your loss,

Mark

13

Has anyone dealt with custody issues after leaving?

by ~Jen~ in

i left my husband at the end of june.

we were having a lot of issues in our marriage that i tried to talk about and he refused to see or even acknowledge.

me leaving was the final straw but to him i just up and left for "no reason".

under the radar

I'm no lawyer, but if your hubby's attorney (the lady JW) was once in your congregation, knew you personally, and/or if you ever told her anything personal or confidential, you might be able to have her removed from the case on the grounds of conflict of interest. A non-JW lawyer might not be so determined to screw you over just because you dared to leave the Truth™.

I would definitely make sure your lawyer has a copy of the JW preparing for child custody cases strategy document that someone else referred to. Nothing like having the other guy's playbook. They may deny such a document exists, but if you prove they're lying by producing it in court, things may go more in your favor.

Good luck!

Illegitami non carborundum! (Don't let the bastards wear you down!)

103

My life ... and how JWD came to be - Part 5

by Simon in

my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 1. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 2. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 3. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 4. i swear, i thought it was only a couple of years at most since i wrote part 4 of "my life and how jwd came to be".

i re-read it after someone posted to it and brought it back on active topics and it was kind of prophetic in a way ... well, i had the 5 years part right if nothing else:.

it would be nice to visit the site (or whatever one is around then) in 5 years time to let people know how we're doing and find only a few of the same people still around.

under the radar

Thanks, Simon. I look forward to listening to your JC tapes, whenever you find time to hunt them down. I know you're very busy right now, but I'm sure they'll be worth the wait. My best to you and yours.

Radar

103

My life ... and how JWD came to be - Part 5

by Simon in

my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 1. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 2. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 3. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 4. i swear, i thought it was only a couple of years at most since i wrote part 4 of "my life and how jwd came to be".

i re-read it after someone posted to it and brought it back on active topics and it was kind of prophetic in a way ... well, i had the 5 years part right if nothing else:.

it would be nice to visit the site (or whatever one is around then) in 5 years time to let people know how we're doing and find only a few of the same people still around.

under the radar

Hello Simon and Angharad!

Thank you so much for continuing your story and posting links to the previous four parts. Reading them in order made it easier to follow the story line and get a better sense of what you (and yours) went through. It was very moving, and I thank you for sharing it with us.

Though I read almost every post in every section nowadays, I don't post much because I really don't have anything to add. Others have gone through much harsher times than I, and suffered and endured much more than I ever did. I am embarrassed and ashamed that I was ever a part of an organization that could allow such things to occur in its name. Of course, some peoples' families and friends went way beyond what was strictly "required," but still, the Organization fostered the atmosphere of fear, suspicion, and revulsion (if not outright hatred) that led to such travesties. And in spite of the blatant hypocrisy of the July 2009 Awake! article that said, "No one should...be made to choose between his beliefs and his family", they seem to actually be ratcheting up the pressure to do exactly that. Or, as my sister said (paraphrased), "That doesn't apply to US, because WE have the TRUTH!"

I do have two questions. First, would you ever consider posting the recordings of your Judicial Committee? I would very much like to hear them, and I'm sure a lot of other people would too. Second, and this is for Angharad, how do you pronounce your name? I was wondering if it was derivative (or perhaps a source) of the name Ingrid. Just curious...

Again Simon, thanks for your story, and especially for all your hard work in creating and maintain this site. There's simply no telling how many have been helped to shed the shackles of "ze Organization" and discover there is indeed life after the Watchtower.

Regards and best wishes,

Radar

14

Excellent place for "field circus" breaks

by under the radar in

jw
friends

i was walking around downtown manchester, nh this afternoon and almost fell on the sidewalk laughing.

there's this coffee shop right next to subway that i had never noticed before.

the store's name is....... wait for it........... .

under the radar

Hi everyone!

I was walking around downtown Manchester, NH this afternoon and almost fell on the sidewalk laughing. There's this coffee shop right next to Subway that I had never noticed before. The store's name is....... wait for it..........

j. dubs

I could hardly believe it. I don't have a photo posting account anywhere and could not post it directly from my computer, but if anyone wants to post the pic here for everyone's viewing enjoyment, just PM me and I'll email it to you and you can do the rest. I can assure you this is a real business that was open earlier today. I have no idea where they got their name or if it has any connection to "ze Organisation." I seriously doubt it. That would be entirely too ironic, seeing as they hate any of the nicknames we "boggie men" have given them.

4

Bogus church signs

by under the radar in

jw
friends

i have been lurking on jwd for years and not posted much, but i have always enjoyed keeping up with you all.

some of your experiences are heartrending, your comments priceless.. a friend (still a jw, unfortunately) sent me a picture of some church sign that said "jws are right!".

(i tried to paste a copy here, but could not figure out how to do so.

under the radar

Thanks, Clam, for the link. I'm gonna have a lot of fun with this one!

Does anyone has a link to the previous thread on JWD that had some Kingdom Hall signs with funny notices? I want to send my friend a Kingdom Hall sign that says something like "We're full of crap. Get out now!". He may not appreciate my humor, but he will get the point. Maybe he won't send me any more bogus "experiences."

My thanks to everyone who looked at my lame thread and responded. I am new to posting, but plan to be more active in the future.

Regards to everyone,

Radar

4

Bogus church signs

by under the radar in

jw
friends

i have been lurking on jwd for years and not posted much, but i have always enjoyed keeping up with you all.

some of your experiences are heartrending, your comments priceless.. a friend (still a jw, unfortunately) sent me a picture of some church sign that said "jws are right!".

(i tried to paste a copy here, but could not figure out how to do so.

under the radar

Hello all!

I have been lurking on JWD for years and not posted much, but I have always enjoyed keeping up with you all. Some of your experiences are heartrending, your comments priceless.

A friend (still a JW, unfortunately) sent me a picture of some church sign that said "JWs are right!". (I tried to paste a copy here, but could not figure out how to do so. Sorry.) I do believe he thought it was real! I knew it was a fake, and told him so.

Earlier on JWD, there was a thread about fake church signs and some of them were hilarious. I have searched and cannot find this thread. Can anyone here help me locate it? I want to send him some examples of how signs can be made to say anything you want...especially Kingdom Hall signs.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me find this elusive thread.

Regards to all,

Radar

78

MY PROJECT IS (FINALLY) FINISHED!

by Mary in

for those of you who are interested, the project i've been working on for the last few months is finally finished.

i originally did a thread about it back in april: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/156497/1.ashx.

it seems that alot of us still have family members in the religion and have not infrequent arguments with them about some of the beliefs and practices.

under the radar

Thanks, Mary, for all your hard work and your generosity in sharing it with others.

9

J-Dubs and hypocrisy.

by corproal in

i went to reno for father's day week-end and stayed at the grand sierra resort (formerly know as reno hilton or the mgm grand many years ago) and i happen to decided to head downstairs to do a little bowling and lo and behold i saw all of these men and women walking back and forth in ill fitting suits and dresses and was wondering what was going on.

i decided to investigate and found out they were having a conventian at the hotel and casino.

i though it a bit hypocritical for them to have the convention at this place so i went over and asked a guy who looked as if he were an elder and asked him why out of all places they decided to have a convention at a casino.his answer was there was no ther space available for that particular week-end .i know this to be an all out lie.the convention center is down the street a few miles and i inquired about availability and was told that there was space but the group that originally requested ,decided to go elsewhere.. so my question is doesn't this sound a bit weird?you should have seen how miserable the teenagers were having to sit through hours of boredom.. by the way i'm not a witness,my wife was ,but decided not to go back after being disfellowshipped for the last 15 years..

under the radar

What a coincidence! I, too, was in Reno that weekend and stayed at the same hotel. My company sent me there on business and that's where they put me up. I saw the same folks when I was walking around downstairs and knew instantly that they were Witnesses. Later, I saw such-and-such Circuit of Jehovah's Witnesses listed on the Schedule of Events TV channel in my room.

The building does have a casino, but it is confined to the main floor. Other parts of the bulding have different purposes, such as the world's largest auditorium. The room the Witnesses were using was a large conference room on the bottom floor, one of many such rooms on various floors that are rented out to just about anyone who will pay the tab. Hey, a Ron Paul splinter group of the Republican Party had their phantom convention in a similar room one floor up. It may have even been the same weekend. I don't remember, I was out there twice recently, two weeks apart, and the details of those weekends kind of run together now.

Anyway, I am totally inactive, have been for years, and am NEVER going back, so I'm not an apologist for the Witnesses. It's just that what could be an invalid criticism weakens the many, many valid criticisms that could and should be made. Kind of like how those overblown "fantastic experiences" Witnesses love to pass around that turn out to be bull crap undermine whatever "real" experiences might come later.

By the way, I didn't see a single lapel card in the bunch. I don't know if they don't use them at "circus assemblies" anymore or if they were told not to wear them because of the venue and the fear of "stumbling" someone. I did see a lot of the dubs upstairs in the shops on the same floor as the casino, but none in the casino itself. I guess peer pressure and the fear of being seen there kept them all in line. I wonder if any of them put on their "real" clothes later and came down for a little fun and excitement...

Reminds me of that old joke about the 3 great religious truths of the world.

One: Jews will never recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Two: Protestants will never recognize the Pope as Christ's Vicar on earth.

Three: JWs will never recognize each other in the casino.