Posts by Toronto

Every time I went to a meeting, book study, or whatever, the great majority of people looked as if they were truly happy to be a JW. Their smiles looked genuine. They seemed to love talking to each other.

I agree that some seemed like this, but there were others who didn't seem happy, they just seemed to be "faking" it. They would never have admitted that though.

The more I attended meetings and did personal study, the more doubts I had and the more I wanted to give it all up.

I found this too. When I started having doubts, I tried really hard to do more study, and pray more, etc. But it seems the extra study just made the doubts worst. Finally, I just tried to suppress and ignore them.

I was born into the borg, and I can honestly say from that first day in kindergarten when I realized I was different and had to stand in the hall for the pledge of allegence I hated the borg. I hated it for everything I had to miss as a child, sports, holidays, birthdays, etc. I remember my mother getting down on me because I didn't hide my hatred for the whole thing, ever.

I guess I was a strange kid, cause I was the exact opposite. My most enjoyable years as a Witness were as a kid, up to the age of 12. I liked being different at school, and I really liked service. I think to be honest part of it was the fact that I was well respected in my cong as a kid b/c I was looked upon as a good example. I think it was the positive attention that I liked, being able to impress others - although I was sincere in what I did.

As a kid I really enjoyed it. The meetings were boring, but I quickly got some responsibility (adjusting the volume for the microphones and playing the records) so that made it fun. That's where all my friends were.

I was never bothered by what I missed at school because I was a jw. When I was depressed I actually looked forward to meeting nights and it would get me out of the depression.

My thoughts as well.

Then once I had a child it was terrible. Only then did I see what it does to a child.

Interesting point! I wonder if I will feel the same way one day when I have kids... Toronto_guy

17

Did anyone know Charles "stay alive til '75" Sunutko?

by IronGland in

jw
friends

what was he like?

would he be amused to hear that talk he gave now?

Toronto_Guy

I don't have the date but I came across a recent Watchtower or Awake a few months ago, and his life experience was it...no mention of "stay alive till '75"...;)

4

Storing of information on 'Studies'.

by Gill in

jw
friends

could anyone tell me if the witnesses still hand in and complete study reports giving the name and address of the person they study with, what they are studying and a remarks commenting on the 'study'?

i would also like to know who gets hold of this information, where it is stored and does it get as far as that country's bethel or all the way to brooklyn?.

gill

Toronto_Guy

As of Feb. 2004, when I was df'ed, this arrangement was still in place. I was a regular pioneer and conducted an average of around 10 studies a month, and each month I was supposed to fill in those slips for each study. I usually didn't fill in the comments, couldn't really think of what to put. As far as I knew those slips were never passed on to Bethel or anywhere else. They were just kept by the service overseer or secretary. There were a few months were I forgot to fill the slips out, but it wasn't considered a big deal. The bible study slips were not nearly as important as the sheet used to report one's time, magazine placements, etc. I'm not sure the purpose of the bible study slips, but it seemed to me to be a way for the elders to keep an eye on what was going on in the territory...

toronto_guy

4

Tell us your story if you went to seldom worked territory

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

tell us about the results, the fun, the friendships you made and those that broke.

did you meet your current spouse there?

what was your team captain like?

Toronto_Guy

I almost went once, but didn't work out with my job schedule.

My former pioneer friend went with a Bethelite to a Native Canadian reserve in Northern Manitoba. He was planning to get caught up on his pioneer hours there with something like a 70 hr week...lol...anyways it didnt' work out that way, he didn't get nearly as much time as he was expecting...at least he was honest about it ;)

toronto_guy

57

Would you date or marry outside of your race?

by Dimples in

jw
friends

i am bi-racial and was wondering would you date or marry outside of your race?

how would you feel if your children dated or married outside of their race?.

dimples

Toronto_Guy

Actually, I'm somewhat biased...

I've only ever dated people who are a different race than myself ;)

53

Jehovah's Witnesses as "a people......"

by ScoobySnax in

jw
friends

who out of all you nasty old apostates (tm) will agree with me, that if you take the gb that you dislike so much, and the watchtower that you hate out of the picture, will agree with me that at the end of the day, and on the whole, jw's really are a good bunch of people.

i did my same old rekky last sunday at the gillingham convention, and will have a good look around next sunday at twickenham convention.

i've been in lots of crowds, at stadiums and arenas, but an assembly is something else, it is somehow unique, its somehow different from any other crowds, there is a deep sense of "togetherness" i've not see any where else.

Toronto_Guy

Hi Scub,

I think you make a valid point...

I am only 26, but up until age 24 was an active Witness (before being df'ed!)

I certainly don't agree with it now, and am shunned by all my family and former friends. However, I didn't have a problem with the vast majority of people I knew when I was a Witness. I enjoyed spending time with most of them and had alot of good friends. I feel fortunate my experience was not as negative or bitter as many on this board. I guess if I had been sexually abused as a child I would feel differently. That being said, I'm glad to be out now!

toronto_guy

9

"National Companies", a MLM scam?

by Fatfreek in

jw
friends

i attended, with my wife, a meeting last night.

the mlm company is called "national companies", and sells two packages, each a two year agreement.

i can't find any internet dialog, pro or con, about this company which is supposed to have started up mid 90's.

Toronto_Guy

You certainly do have to be careful...

I have done alot of research into MLM over the years and believe that it is not as bad as most people paint it out to be. Some good books include "Your first year in network marketing" by Mark and Rene Yarnell, and "Multiple streams of income" by Robert Allen (Allen has one chapter that focuses on MLM - he was skeptical at first too). There is no doubt that it is not easy. It takes hard work and there is alot of rejection. Here in Toronto I have met people who tried it and were turned off, but I have also met quite a few people who made a significant income doing it (and they proved it by showing me their cheques! hehe). Most of those people, by the way, were Chinese immigrants who didn't even speak good English.

toronto_guy

40

hello all - new here

by GoingGoingGone in

jw
friends

hello everyone, this is my first post.... i'm in the process of fading after being a jw my entire life (almost).

i don't go to meetings anymore..... hubby's an elder, and boy, is he mad.

he still makes the kids go with him to meetings, service, etc... they hate it and i feel sorry for them, but there's not much i can do about it.. i've been feeling lonely today, i do miss my friends sometimes, and i have really good friends, but since i don't go to meetings i never see them much anymore.

Toronto_Guy

Welcome to the board!

toronto_guy

Toronto_Guy

Posts by Toronto_Guy