Posts by under the radar

18

QCS Telecom signs up with Allied Fiber

by StarTrekAngel in

i don't recall seeing this come up after the document regarding qcs telecom.. leasing 288 miles of dark fiber is not cheap.

in fact, it borders in the crazy.. http://www.alliedfiber.com/news/press-releases/qcstelecom-signs-20-year-lease-agreement-with-allied-fiber/.

under the radar

I don't exactly how this would work, but I am certain the Society would love to be a sole source internet service provider to all Kingdom Halls, Assembly Halls, etc. If they could do so, they would then offer the same to individual households. They would couch this as a way to protect the brothers from apostate sites and internet pornography, since these would be conveniently blocked by the loving brothers administering the ISP. Gotta protect the family from accidentally encountering such filth, ya know...

Over time, other undesirable sites could be blocked as well. The brothers must be shielded from atheist sites, web pages that advocate higher education, or those pesky unauthorized JW social media sites where individuals might engage in unmonitored conversations that could lead to independent thinking or (gasp!) criticizing the Governing Body and its ever-changing policies and interpretations.

It would also allow the Society to monitor which sites individuals visit, how often, and when. That's the only way to help the brothers avoid wasting time on frivolous entertainment or disloyal research from worldly sources.

You heard it here first, folks! Kingdom Internet Services, coming soon to cult compound near you.

7

Don't be afraid to go to college

by LevelThePlayingField in

i thought this was a good video showing how the logic is faulty from the gb.

just bare with lett for a minute.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1otsrp0bp4.

under the radar

Very nicely done video. Thanks for posting it.

11

Taped Broadcast of March 10, 2017 ARC hearing - youtube

by OrphanCrow in

thank you to john redwood for making this available so quickly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzqvj0z7_ya.

under the radar

Many thanks to wifibandit and WTS Archive for posting these links.

Anybody watching these hearings with an open mind will clearly see that Watchtower has made absolutely no substantive changes in the way they handle allegations of child abuse. Oh sure, a minor may not have to personally face their abuser now, and they can even have a woman (gasp!) present for moral support during questioning. But the policy remains that no woman can exercise any authority in the investigative process and certainly not in the judicial process.

Spinks and O'Brien dodged every direct question with mumbo jumbo and doublespeak, all the while doing their best to appear cooperative and humble, if not downright obsequious. I haven't seen this much tap dancing since the last Fred Astaire movie. (Of course, Fred was much better at it.) Those two Watchtower stooges (meant in the sense of being a shill or a puppet totally controlled by someone else) just couldn't bring themselves to give a straight answer. They insisted on dancing around every point until Mr. Stewart was finally able to drag an answer out of them.

On the most important points, they gave disingenuous and misleading, even downright deceptive, responses. For example, when asked about why abuse victims who feel compelled to disassociate themselves must be shunned by all faithful Witnesses, they tried to deflect the question by saying that Watchtower has never said that abuse victims should be shunned. They missed the point, on purpose. They refused to acknowledge that some could be so traumatized by the organization's handling of their case that they might conclude the only way to protect themselves going forward would be to formally leave the organization. They refused to admit that a victim in this situation should be allowed to formally withdraw from the organization without having to lose all their JW family and friends. They continued to deny that Watchtower is essentially a captive organization, that there is no honorable way to leave and no way to leave at all without dire consequences.

I thought Spinks and O'Brien were mealy-mouthed and nonresponsive throughout. I don't think their testimony will serve the Watchtower well in the end. It's clear to me that the Commission sees right through their duplicitous and evasive responses and is just waiting to drop the hammer once the formalities are done. I hope Watchtower pays a heavy price and is forced to finally change their ways and do things the way every decent organization is already doing.

24

What not to say...

by joey jojo in

hey guys.

i was recently talking to a old friend who is a very active elder.

i was talking about ' the truth' and he suggested i sounded like an apostate because i used terms like ' the society' and ' watchtower '.. i am aware that ' dubspeak ' has changed over the years and i am pretty sure that someone posted about it here but i can't find the thread.

under the radar

When I want make my point come across crystal clear, I refer to ze Organizaaaaation in the best Gestapo voice I can muster. (Think old World War II movies.)

And pale.emperor is right. They practically explode with rage if I dare use the word "cult."

Pretty ironic, seeing as how the organization has most of the traits that they themselves say defines a cult. See the February 15, 1994 Watchtower articles "Cults - What Are They?" (pages 3-4) and "Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult?" (pages 5-7).

24

My Son's wish granted from Make A Wish

by azor in

jw
friends

we leave friday for his disney cruise wish.

he's also a big star wars fan, and they have a star wars day on one of the seafaring days.

to say we are all looking forward to this is an understatement.

under the radar

Best wishes to you and your family. I hope y'all have a great time. Bon Voyage!

23

Memphis, TN - Memphis, Light, Gas, & Water sued in federal court over allegations of religious discrimination, harassment & retaliation

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.fox13memphis.com/top-stories/mlgw-sued-for-religious-discrimination-harassment-retaliation/496547868.

news video included.

mlgw sued for religious discrimination, harassment & retaliation.

under the radar

Personally, I think political correctness under the guise of "religious accommodation" has gotten way out of hand. Stores have been forced to hire or pay off people who insist on wearing religious costumes that are completely opposite to the style of clothing they sell or the brand image they want to present. Some demand multiple prayer breaks at fixed times throughout the day that must be granted no matter how busy the store is at the time. Then they want special facilities like foot baths and prayer rooms where infidels dare not enter. Fork 'em all!

If a person's religious practices are not compatible with working at a particular job under the same rules and conditions as any other worker, they should look for a different job and not seek to impose their superstitions on other workers or the employer. No one has any "right" to be hired into any particular job, especially if they think they are so special that the company and other employees have to adapt to their needs instead of the other way around.

In this specific case, MLGW was not interfering with Mr. Small's being a Witness. They didn't tell him he couldn't go to meetings or out in service. Despite Mr. Small's efforts to portray it differently, Witnesses have no "religious obligation" to attend meetings at a specific Hall or go out in service at a specific time. They are encouraged to do so, but it is not a religious obligation in the sense that most people would define a religious obligation . No one is beheaded for going to a different congregation's meetings.

There is no excuse for intentionally missing work or clocking in late without prior approval. It sure sounds like MLGW has bent over backwards to accommodate Mr. Small. Now it seems he wants to "stretch the envelope" and make the company kowtow to him even more.

In my politically incorrect opinion, when a company, regardless of size, has a certain image they want to project or has a standard way of doing things that applies to all employees in a certain position, they should not have to make religious accommodations for anyone. I think it's arrogant and presumptuous for anyone to insist that they do so. My motto would be: If this job would conflict with your religious obligations, it's not the one for you.

12

Self Brainwashing

by OnTheWayOut in

so i would love to hear and make more comments here on how "self-brainwashing" is done in jehovah's witnesses and how it becomes a problem when trying to wake up our loved ones.leah remini was on bill maher's show on friday, feb. 17th.

she had some great comments about things said on her series about scientology.

one was how members are "self-brainwashing" because they spend some hours every day doing self-study.

under the radar

As everyone here knows, there are many many close parallels between Scientology and Watchtower theology. I hope so much that one day someone with enough celebrity to attract a wide audience will expose the Watchtower the way Leah Remini has exposed Scientology.

Every cult I have ever heard of uses "self-brainwashing" to keep control of its members. It's a matter of psyching yourself out to keep believing what you've already decided to believe. It's not really study or research at all. It's nothing short of self-imposed indoctrination.

10

Nashville Public Radio: Lack Of Education Leads To Lost Dreams And Low Income For Many JWs

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/19/510585965/poor-education-leads-to-lost-dreams-and-low-income-for-many-jehovahs-witnesses.

february 19, 20176:51 pm et.

heard on all things considered.

under the radar

Thanks once again, Barbara, for posting this. I would have missed it. I've already forwarded it to someone who I think will "get" it.

I considered sharing it on Facebook, but decided not to because I still have a few JW Facebook friends and I'd like to keep them. I have no doubt they would consider it persecution and "apostate lies." There are none so blind as those who will not see. (John Heywood, 1546)

The full saying is: "There are none so blind as those who will not see. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know." (Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings)

Sounds like Heywood defined a form of cognitive dissonance without ever having heard the term.

10

Nashville Public Radio: Lack Of Education Leads To Lost Dreams And Low Income For Many JWs

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/19/510585965/poor-education-leads-to-lost-dreams-and-low-income-for-many-jehovahs-witnesses.

february 19, 20176:51 pm et.

heard on all things considered.

under the radar

Good eyes there, darkspilver. Could be a spelling error or a simple typo. Either way, it originated with someone at NPR and not necessarily a JW.

Or it could be a case of Autocorrect being autowrong. That "feature" has been known to completely change the intended meaning of a sentence, sometimes with hilarious or shocking results. If you ever need a giggle or two, check out "damnyouautocorrect.com". It's addictive.

42

Happy Birthday to Me!

by Iown Mylife in

jw
friends

there's a beautiful sky this morning.

it's my birthday, today i'm 64 and look every inch of it, but i appreciate my life and feel fortunate to be cult-free.

also very fortunate to have a purposeful and entertaining existence here in gorgeous north georgia (in the usa).

under the radar

Happy Birthday! And congratulations on such a wonderful family life. Having your mom and her sister still around is so nice. And I bet you're excited that your granddaughter will be going to college and has the luxury of pretty much being able to select where she wants to attend.

FYI, yellow cake with chocolate frosting is my absolute favorite. It may be a Georgia thing... I'm from Georgia, too!

Thank you for starting my day off with a smile.