tim3l0rd

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Posts by tim3l0rd

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  20

  It's easy to gloat about WTS problems ...

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .. and fun too !

  :d. what?

  were you expecting a "but"?

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  tim3l0rd

  I think it will take some time for all of these changes to sink in. Many of those that I know are excited about the layoffs and think it is a sign that the GT is near. They don't yet know about the changes after the annual meeting, but since the 3 TMS talks are being replaced by 4 talks (1 bible reading followed by 3 student presentations) I think that they will take this change as further evidence of the push toward preaching and teaching because the end is near.

  Some will eventually re-examine these changes and come to the realization of TTATT, but it won't be immediate for many.
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  15

  More rumors, 500 families laid off from South African bethel.

  by bohm in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  from a recent reddit thread:.

  i just received confirmation from a very trusted source in south africa bethel that up to 500 "families" (i imagine couples or singles) are getting let go from that branch.. also confirmed is the special pioneer cull.. what really strikes me about the layoffs is that the south african bethel provides literature and other needs for most of africa, a huge growth area for the org.. .

  link:.

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  tim3l0rd

  Africa may be a growth area for the Dark Lords, but they are without a doubt going to be the most expensive and the least profitable customers to serve, from a business standpoint. And the Dark Lords are running a business. These are 'customers' no business would pursue until they could develop a profit model. And that doesn't appear to be possible in the near or long terms.

  That would indicate that they are aware that they are running a business and aren't just deluded religious zealots. I don't believe that is the case. I think they are all drinking the kool-aid even at the top. They can still provide literature from other branches and sending 500 people "into the field", in their minds, may help grow the congregations in that area.
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  37

  On the realization you will not "live forever"

  by problemaddict 2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  something struck me last week.

  i have been dealing with what i can only describe as a fear of death.

  i'm not old and not in bad health.

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  tim3l0rd

  I came to that realization as well recently. It's like hitting a brick wall. Now I feel that there is so much that I want to do that I've put off. I get anxious with every day that passes.
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  59

  Why don't you do anything?

  by WireRider in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i'm not jw, so i see this all standing up and very clear from an outsider perspective (i am still seeking my path).

  i joined the blog a few weeks ago.

  i dated a divorced jw (jw from birth) for a couple of years recently.

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  tim3l0rd

  If there really are around 35% disgruntled JWs, I'd love to be involved in an organized walk-out. If 1/3 stood up and walked out half-way through the public talk it would make a huge impression. The problem is uniting everyone. Everyone is afraid of being found out and losing family. Even finding those that disagree with the org is hard enough let alone organize a protest that all could agree on/live with.
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  35

  Watchtower Society: something terribly going on - scenarios

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if an (aggressive) real estate fund is stopping it's operations directly,.

  and if an publishing house is minimize the portfolio,.

  and if a member of it's board of directors is telling the costs are higher then the profits,.

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  tim3l0rd

  James,

  Think about all the expenses that the average JW has: gas for field service, providing hospitality for visiting speakers, travel to conventions and assemblies, greasing the palms of COs, working for free on construction projects, etc. Combine this with lower than average income and increasing cost of living and their disposable income is quickly reduced to almost nothing. It's even worse for pioneers and especially pioneer couples.

  I know many JWs who feel that they contribute quite a lot to the "work" by all of the above and so contribute very little through direct monetary contributions.
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  6

  How many people are there at Bethel?

  by bohm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  rumor has it 1600 people are going to be re-allocated to the field from bethel (which i assume refers to the brooklyn complex?).

  does anyone know how many people will then remain?

  i have tried to find figures for the number of employed people but i am coming up with nothing.

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  tim3l0rd

  I am becoming more and more convinced it might make sense to create some sort of WT-timeline wikipedia which track key stats and events in the WT history for instance sorted as: doctrinal changes, printing statistics and reduction in staff.

  ^^^^THIS^^^^

  I would love to see this!
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  14

  What will you do?

  by Defianttruth in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been thinking, "what if it does fail and there is a mass exodus?".

  i have been wronged and damaged greatly by these ones.

  every one needs to handle this situation in his or her own way, but as for me if it does happen, i will meet them with open arms.

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  tim3l0rd

  I agree. Matching unkind words and actions for unkind words and actions only perpetuates the bad actions. I will help and assist any who leave regardless as to how they treated me. Kind words and actions, especially in the face of unkindness, always leaves a lasting impression.
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  37

  I'm a coward.

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since the move, it has been so enjoyable to not have jw's breathing down our necks asking why we didn't make the meeting, or having to pretend to be "spiritual" in front of family all the time.. 90% of my week is virtually stress free.

  then, my mom calls or texts wanting to talk to her grandkids.

  every dang call, she asks about the new congregation, if we went to the meeting, etc.. why can't i tell her to fk off?

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  tim3l0rd

  I understand your predicament to some degree. While I don't feel that my mother is toxic, I dread the conversation about my fade. I've seen it said before, even by those with toxic mothers, that moms, especially for sons, have a special kind of hold on us.

  I hope that your mom eventually gets the idea and lessens the pressure. My mom eventually lessened the pressure on my brother when he faded.
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  71

  Any thoughts on the real reasons for droppng the 'school"

  by sparrowdown in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my thoughts are.

  1. they want to avoid being made to comply with any laws that come with anything classed as a "school" especially a school with children enrolled.. 2. the mid-week meeting has been dying in the ass for years and needs a revival.

  i predict happy -clappy-sing-a-longs to be included in the program.. anyone else have any thoughts ??

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  tim3l0rd

  It's mostly a rebranding of the existing meeting. They are still going to have 3 presentations that will be between 3 - 5 minutes each. I'm sure they won't be entirely scripted and the presenters will have to do some research and adaptation. I think they will still be counseled on various points just like they were on the TMS.

  Someone over on Reddit said that it was just announced that the BE book has been translated to ASL and will be released soon. I doubt they would translate it, announce it's release, and then shelve it in just a few months.

  The most interesting part of the letter to me is the reduction, yet again, of the WT and Awake. I can't see how most JWs can accept that this is how Jehovah would "speed up the work".
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  8

  What is going on

  by Aleph in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  first of all thank you for the nice welcoming messages i received !.

  as you know they are reducing bethel families to the minimum, services etc...here s what i heard from 2 different sources (one from africa, one from europe).. - "official" reason given : "end is now, no more time to build, we all need to preach!"..

  - all members are invited to go and support where the need is great in the congregations (not necessary their own), missionaries aren t sent back to their counties of origin.. - i have no info regarding huge kh building program...is it still on?

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  tim3l0rd

  From what I've seen, there is definitely a lack of incoming funds. Many of their members are young teens that have little or no money (only ice cream money), are elderly people living on a fixed income, are pioneers who rely a lot on assistance from others to even meet their own needs, or are living in third world countries where $100 would be a weeks or even a months worth of pay.

  I think the lack of incoming funds is the largest reason for the reduction in printing. Even though the labor is free, the cost of materials, electricity, and maintenance (repair parts, etc.) are not. If they were being truthful back in 1990 that $0.25 per WT or Awake just covered the cost of printing, then today (with inflation) each magazine would cost ~$0.46 and each set would be ~$0.92. If each congregation is receiving well over a 150 sets of the public edition and around 100 of each study edition, each congregation is costing the org ~$184/month just for printing the WT & Awake. Add in the books, brochures, and special order items and that number could easily double.

  The amount I have seen collected each month seems to fall short of covering those costs. The fact that several letters have been sent to the congregations asking them to reduce their standing orders and that many congregations (mine included) had their orders (even of special order items) automatically reduced seems to indicate that WTS understands that the printing costs are outpacing their donations.