under the radar

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Posts by under the radar

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  51

  My Dad's passing

  by happyexjw in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  quite a while ago i wrote about my dad who has been living with prostate cancer for 13 years with secondry bone cancer for the last 2 years.

  we all thought he was going to leave us back in april when he had a bad chest infection.

  i was talking about wanting to be able to say some words at his funeral.

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  under the radar

  Dear happyexjw,
  
  I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I hope you find some comfort in that he went peacefully in the end, surrounded by his loving family.
  
  I am appalled, but not shocked, by your treatment at the hands of your JW relatives. Their whole lives revolve around their version of the "Truth" and they are taught to treat with disdain any who do not fit into their little mold of how a "True Christian" should think and talk and act. I am so sorry you had to put up with their self-righteousness... especially at a time Iike that.
  
  I lost my own father in May, his brother the previous February, and the brother's wife in June. I was specifically disinvited to the customary gathering after my father's service, even though it was to take place at a restaurant open to the public. I was warned there would be a "scene" if I showed up. Since the vast majority of those who would be there would be Daddy's friends from the congregation anyway, I gracefully bowed out without a fuss. But it still hurt. Mind you, I am neither DA nor DF (though truth be told, that's only a technicality). It just alternately saddens and infuriates me when ordinarily kind and loving people turn into cold unfeeling martinets just because one no longer shares their precious beliefs and superstitions.
  
  You would think a person truly "Christian" at heart would suspend his judgmental, self- righteous attitudes at a time like that, particularly when it comes to other family members. I grieve with you that the words and actions of some in your family actually made a time of sorrow even worse.
  
  Please accept my condolences in the loss of your father. May you find some measure of peace in the knowledge that he now knows the truth about the "Truth" (whatever that may be) and that he is no longer suffering.
  
  Radar
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  211

  Ray Franz has had a stroke

  by coffee_black in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just setting the record straight.

  there is another thread that notes a claim on wiki that said that ray has died.. he had a stroke yesterday, and is in the hospital.

  he is still alive.

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  under the radar

  I am so sorry to hear of Ray's stroke. I truly hope he is not suffering, and that his wife can be comforted by her friends and family. I, too, believe that Ray is a good man, faithful to what he believes to be true, and that he has tried throughout his life to help others as best he can. His seems to have been the sole voice of reason and sanity in the Watchtower hierarchy. If only the leadership had heeded his advice and adopted his attitude to truth (as opposed to The Truth®), they wouldn't be experiencing the mass exodus they're seeing now. And sites like this wouldn't be necessary.

  I began seeing the discrepancies and outright ludicrousness of certain Watchtower teachings over 20 years ago. But Ray, through his books, helped me to see "behind the curtain." From him I learned how the Governing Body actually works, and verified what I already felt in my heart: that this really was a man-made religion, more and more focused on maintaining their control of the masses rather than dispensing real truth. If the worst happens, this strong and reasonable "voice in the wilderness" will be stilled, but the message (through his books) will continue to ring out, and will never be forgotten.

  Godspeed, Ray. And Cynthia, all my love and respect are with you. May the peace of God sustain you in your hour of grief.
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  16

  Reverse Witnessing - 101

  by Jim_TX in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  on the weekends, i am usually found - in the mornings - at the local coffee shop - where i study - and madly write my new ideas - or expand on old ones.. it is a time when i put to paper all of the thoughts of the past week - and dream up new ones for the next one.. anyway, on sunday mornings, there is a retired schoolteacher lady who - with her husband show up after their church services and have breakfast.

  she will usually try to find an open pair of seats at the counter next to me - to talk with me.

  this morning, they sat next to me, and she began talking (which usually interrupts my solo quiet time).. during the chatter, she asked me if i was into sports when i was in school.

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  under the radar

  Hey Jim,

  I guess your JW childhood experience was more intense than mine. And I thought I missed out on things! My dad was a very zealous but good-hearted elder who did in fact have a thoughtful and reasonable side. I played in the band in Jr. High and was the Class Salutatorian at my High School graduation. But college was never encouraged or even seriously considered as an option, despite my 4.0. Of course I would Pioneer! It was just expected... almost inevitable.

  Just wondering... why were you not allowed to march across the stage at your graduation? I've never heard of a Witness family prohibiting that before. Did yours give you any kind of reason? There are plenty of weird and pointless no-can-do's in JW world, but that's going way beyond anything the Society ever said in print. I'm very surprised.

  Anyway, my condolences for what you went through as a child. And congratulations on coping so well and putting it behind you. You're a survivor!

  Regards,

  Radar
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  35

  I miss my Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer 2

  by garyneal in

  1. social
  2. humour

  was reminiscing with a friend on facebook about our past and the thread concerning windows 7 got me thinking about the hours i spent writing programs for my trash 80 computer.

  any other nerds like me who miss the old hardware?.

  or does anyone miss anything from their younger days (not necessarily computers)?.

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  under the radar

  I am surprised so many of us had computers "way back when." My first was a Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1, which I bought in '80 or '81. It had the Expansion Interface, which allowed you to bring the memory all the way up to a whopping 48K (yes, that's right kids, "K") and connect floppy drives. I started out with 2 of the official Radio Shack TRS-80 35-track single-sided drives (5.25" floppies) and later upgraded to two 80-track double-sided floppy drives (I don't remember the manufacturer, maybe Siemens). Back then, disks came in single- and double-sided AND single- and double-density. A double-sided, double-density drive was a good as it got.

  My first game cost me about $10 (and I still have it!). It was a "shoot down the aliens" kind of thing, but it could simulate a human voice and say, "Die, Human!" Remember, that was before there was any such thing as a sound card. TRS-DOS (the operating system) had its limitations, and I upgraded to something called DOS Plus when it first came out. I think I even have the old disk and manual for it up in my attic somewhere.

  I learned how to write in BASIC using Dr. David McLean's book. Never was much good at it, but I did write a passable work scheduling program for myself and a very elementary computer version of the MasterMind game I already had. That was a cool game. You can still buy the real MasterMind game, both the electronic and the physical versions) in stores today.

  Don't remember if I still had the Model 1 by then or had upgraded to the Model 4P, but I got a 300 (!) baud Hayes modem as soon as I could and signed up for CompuServe. Kind of an early internet. Later got a 1200 and then a 2400 baud Hayes modem. Still have them, mint condition. Bids, anyone? Anyway, I joined and experimented with several BBS's those first few years, but CompuServe was by far the best and most user friendly. Wonder if they're even still around? I think my UserID was something like 71143,54. Weird...

  Anyway, thanks for the memories. I haven't thought of that old first computer of mine in years. I eventually sold it, and I'm sure it's in somebody's attic even as I type this. Model 1's still show up on eBay once in a while, and I know the Smithsonian has one.
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  73

  RANDY WATTER'S DAD JUST DIED

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  randy watters, owner of freeminds.org father just died a couple of hours ago from pneumonia and alzheimers.

  he was 86 years old.

  as randy has been tireless in his efforts to help countless people come out of the wts, i would like to express my sincere condolences to him at this time.. .

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  under the radar

  Randy,

  I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I too have learned a lot and benefited from your efforts to free others from Watchtower tyranny.

  Your writings about your father and your relationship with him ring very true for me. Indeed, my own father is at death's door. Today we are moving him to a nursing home for hospice care. Nothing more can be done but to keep him comfortable.

  Please know you have a great multitude of friends who wish to comfort and console you in this hour of grief and sadness. And we will be here for you in the days and weeks ahead as you learn to cope with your loss. May your memories of the wonderful times you shared and the love and wisdom he bequeathed to you sustain you as you mourn his passing.

  My best to you and yours,

  Radar
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  13

  FAA: Pilots allowed to take antidepressants on job

  by Sam Whiskey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you *need* to take antidepressants *during* my flight, i like to know about it before i board...... good lord, what are these people thinking?

  or not thinking?

  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100402/ap_on_bi_ge/us_pilots_antidepressants_5.

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  under the radar

  I know it sounds preposterous, but it's really not, if you read the whole proposal. I happen to be a commercial airline pilot, and I would have no problem flying with another pilot who had been cleared to fly after taking this kind of medication. They have to have been on it for a whole year with no side effects that could affect aviation safety. If you've been taking something for a whole year with no appreciable side effects, the chances of something untoward suddenly springing up is pretty much nil.

  Pilots are people just like everyone else (albeit with very good jobs), and as a group generally have the same problems in the same proportions as the general population. Fortunately, there are several levels of safeguards to detect individuals with medical, emotional, or mental issues that must be addressed before they can return to flying. No pilot in his right mind would knowingly fly with another pilot who was impaired in ANY way. To do so would be a career decision, if you get my drift. There are several ways a pilot could avoid this without being a "narc," and still get his fellow aviator the help he or she needs. The public may not be aware of all this behind the scenes business, but believe me, all professional crewmembers are. Their jobs depend on it.
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  35

  I'm new here

  by Diamonds in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i stumbled across this website a few months back and have often read the topics posted but this is the first time that i've posted anything myself.. all my family are jws - i got baptized when i was 17 but started to fade when i was about 20 and finally left at 22 when i managed to escape to university and move away from home.

  ten years on and i am still out of the org but never disfellowshipped (although i would have been if they'd have known what i've been up to!).

  the relationship with my family is not great - i get on with some members better than others.

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  under the radar

  Oops! Sorry, Diamonds. My mistake. I do look forward to hearing more from you. Thanks for introducing yourself.
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  35

  I'm new here

  by Diamonds in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i stumbled across this website a few months back and have often read the topics posted but this is the first time that i've posted anything myself.. all my family are jws - i got baptized when i was 17 but started to fade when i was about 20 and finally left at 22 when i managed to escape to university and move away from home.

  ten years on and i am still out of the org but never disfellowshipped (although i would have been if they'd have known what i've been up to!).

  the relationship with my family is not great - i get on with some members better than others.

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  under the radar

  Welcome Diamonds!

  Congratulations on breaking free from the chains of the Watchtower. That's very hard for most to do, and can take decades. So happy you got out while you still have most of your life ahead of you. Enjoy your freedom!

  When you have time, would you consider posting a copy of your class paper on cults for us all to read? I'm sure it would make for very interesting reading. Your perspective of being raised in a cult, realizing the trap you were in, and then freeing yourself from it only adds power to your words. It can be very therapeutic for others who had similar experiences to see how you dealt with everything. It shows them that freedom of thought is an achievable goal after all, and a worthy one.

  Again, welcome aboard. Looking forward to hearing from you again.

  Regards,

  Radar
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  33

  Dating a JW :-(

  by MIADanny in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been dating a jw for 2 years now and everything has been going great other than the fact that she is in a cult.

  she at first tried to convince me to join but she quickly realized i wasnt believer.

  in this age of information i just dont see how so many people can fall victim to this religion.

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  under the radar

  Hi Danny,

  The problem is that she may be willing to "break the rules" now in order to date you, and may even seem willing to leave the Truth™ to be with you, BUT there is at least an even chance that later she will want or be pressured by family or others to "come back." There would be unrelenting coercion and emotional blackmail to convince you to join her. If you don't, the marriage (and she can't be with you openly unless you do get married) will be under enormous stress. And if there happens to be children involved by that time, multiply that by at least two.

  Being raised a Witness seeps down into one's soul, and it's extremely difficult to completely extricate oneself from that cult mentality. Many "go astray" for awhile, but family pressure or guilt feelings eventually drive a certain percentage of them to return to what they view as "the Truth." That could easily leave you "holding the bag."

  Be gentle, be kind, but be firm and RUN from this situation as if your life depended on it. Your long term happiness DOES.

  Just my two cents worth,

  Radar
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  63

  Judical Committee- FUBAR decisions

  by Think About It in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i had posted this as part of another thread, but thought it might make a good separate thread.

  here's a jc fubar decision that i experienced.. i dealt with a brother who threatened to kill his family, my family, and then himself.

  this guys' secret sins were becoming manifest and as an elder some things came to my attention, including wife abuse and according to her, allegations of possible misconduct with the young daughter.

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  under the radar

  Hey Wildflower! In WWII, FUBAR mean "Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition." SNAFU was more a Navy term that meant "Situation Normal - All Fouled Up."

  Some insist on substituting another "F" word for "Fouled" but either way, you get the point.