Posts by PoliticallyNeutered2

Much better than mine. I took it myself in front of the bathroom mirror with no lighting. I thought I would show a yellow version for contrast, because I was tired of being called yellow... (Just kidding. :P)

22

Ready for 2005 to be OVER! 2006 resolutions...

by wanderlustguy in

jw
friends

this year has sucked like a hoover for me.

i'm so ready for it to be over...2006 has to be better.

here's my resolutions so far.... get in better shape (something other than round).. spend more time with my kids.. grow the business i'm a partner in.. purchase some property in/near asheville, nc.. how about you?

PoliticallyNeutered2

Here I resolved, among other things, to start a little website where I would post publicly about whether I had been following my own reinforcement schedule and resolutions:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/104628/1811255/post.ashx#1811255

Here is the extremely simple site:

http://home.earthlink.net/~empatheticthinking/

Has anyone else tried something like this, or other motivational techniques which they would like to share? :)

Thanks for letting me post this. Now that this thread is started, I don't intend to let it die! Muahahahaha!!!!

30

Did any of you head off to University after leaving the org

by yaddayadda in

one of my biggest regrets is not getting a degree, due to the jw brain-washing against higher education.

i feel a strong sense of never having reached my academic potential and having been restricted in many ways by this.

i was a high achiever at high school + some teachers were bemused that i never went on to varsity.

PoliticallyNeutered2

From Zagor:

"...professor tells me that with my grades I should perhaps apply to go straight for phd, I'm not sure if he is teasing me though, probably is..."

I think he is telling you the truth. I've done a little reading in the book "Getting What You Came For" about graduate schools. From what I recall reading about the history of the Master's degree and its relationship to the Ph.D., it sounds as if those with good enough grades can often skip the Master's degree. After I read of its history, and if I were going to pursue a Ph.D., and if I had the qualifications, I think that I would skip the Master's too, unless it were a requirement at an institution which I had researched well and at which I strongly wished to research. Reading a little about the history of the Master's degree (at least in the U.S.) was enlightening for me...

30

Did any of you head off to University after leaving the org

by yaddayadda in

one of my biggest regrets is not getting a degree, due to the jw brain-washing against higher education.

i feel a strong sense of never having reached my academic potential and having been restricted in many ways by this.

i was a high achiever at high school + some teachers were bemused that i never went on to varsity.

PoliticallyNeutered2

Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert. The stuff in this email could be false. If you use it, use it at your own risk. Also, since about 7/05, I've earnestly tried to keep my large-scale internet presence politically/religiously neutral. Stepping on big toes with such new and powerful technology seems highly incautious in my case.

I did something similar to that. When I was about 21.5, I told the elders in a private meeting that I was leaving the organization. A conversation with them convinced me to stay for a while longer. They even let me keep my position as a Ministerial Servant. After all of this happened, I went to something close to a University for the first time. West Georgia College became the State University of West Georgia around that time. Now it is UWG. Mr. Hester, captain of the debate team, said that the second one looked as if it should be pronounced "sewage" (SUWG). About 7 months after I first attended a "university," in late February, I stopped attending meetings and "witnessing." I was no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses; and, I said so. A while later, an Elder showed up at the front door and asked for a letter of resignation from my position as a "Ministerial Servant." He even coached me on how he wanted it worded. Twice. I gave it to them, as he requested, although the wording was a bit of a stretch. However, note that I told them I was leaving before I ever went to a University; and, I was never counseled about anything, except perhaps a quick discussion when I first told them I was leaving. In all of this, I haven't said why I left; and, I haven't given other people a reason to go or leave, so I feel that I have not sacrificed "neutrality."

The University is a topic I like to talk about! Yes, it was worth it, I think. I did quit a good full-time job to go there; and, I accumulated some student-loan debt; but, I believe that these things were well worth it. Later, I got a much better job as an engineer, which I quit to go back and finish the degree. That SECOND job I shouldn't have quit. Instead, I should have seen a therapist or a psychiatrist about the way my rage flared when anyone, including my boss, seemed to try to manipulate me without my conscious and informed consent. Messed up in the head I was, Yoda say... I don't get so angry when people try to manipulate me now. I just like them less sometimes. :)

I'd be very happy to talk more about my university experience, if you like! I am the "Clinton" listed on this page as a UPE Alumnus:

http://www.cs.westga.edu/UPE/Alumni

Also, that website has pictures of me competing in the 2002 ACM Southeastern Regional Collegiate Programming Contest. I'm posted those on this forum in the following thread on "post your awesomenesss:"

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/103922/1806408/post.ashx#1806408

Overall, I should probably mention that jobs are much more important than I gave them credit for back then; but, I'm still glad that I finished the degree. I just should have tried to finish it more slowly while trying to keep that second job, after getting psychological help.

45

36 years ago today, I was born (PHOTOS)...

by Funchback in

these are photos from my 36th birthday.

i was born january 1, 1970.. but, we partied on december 30!.

ps...i'm the man with the leather jacket.

PoliticallyNeutered2

Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert. The stuff in this email could be false. If you use it, use it at your own risk. Also, since about 7/05, I've earnestly tried to keep my large-scale internet presence politically/religiously neutral. Stepping on big toes with such new and powerful technology seems highly incautious in my case. From Funchback: "Thanks, PoliticallyNeutered2 (is there actually a PoliticallyNeutered1 on this Forum???).

And, welcome to the Forum. Happy New Year! " Thanks for the welcome! :) Happy new year to you too! :) In answer to your question: It's a boring story. I tried to register as "PoliticallyNeutered" on a Sunday morning around the time that the "Big News" was released. I think that extremely high forum traffic and lag must have caused some kind of malfunction; because, I was never able to log in as PN. Furthermore, I wanted to avoid the confusion of the forum owner seeing two dissimilar login names from the same IP address. So, PN2 seemed to be an obvious choice. Also, I thought it might get a chuckle for a few reasons, including the one you gave. Again, Happy New Year and Birthday! :)

39

Your first talk at the Theorcatic Ministry School, do you remember it?

by JH in

jw
friends

i do, i had to read ezekiel 9: (1-11)

and he proceeded to call out in my ears with a loud voice, saying: have those giving their attention to the city come near, each one with his weapon in his hand for bringing ruin!

there were six men coming from the direction of the upper gate that faces to the north, each one with his weapon for smashing in his hand; and there was one man in among them clothed with linen, with a secretarys inkhorn at his hips, and they proceeded to come in and stand beside the copper altar.

PoliticallyNeutered2

Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert. The stuff in this email could be false. If you use it, use it at your own risk. Also, since about 7/05, I've earnestly tried to keep my large-scale internet presence politically/religiously neutral. Stepping on big toes with such new and powerful technology seems highly incautious in my case.

From LDH:
"Politically N2 and Lady Lee, great stories. PN I'd like to hear more about the home schooling, maybe you could start a thread?"

Thanks. :) The "story" was just a collection of couple of facts; but, I'm glad that you enjoyed them. :)

What would you like to know about the home-schooling? Unfortunately, that is a controversial political topic too. It has involved extensive legal battles. I've recently begun to learn that it is difficult to try to communicate "neutrally." :( However, if you just want to know a few things about my personal experiences with it, I suppose that couldn't step too much on big toes. :)

So, more specifically, what might you like to know? :)

Thanks again. :)

45

36 years ago today, I was born (PHOTOS)...

by Funchback in

these are photos from my 36th birthday.

i was born january 1, 1970.. but, we partied on december 30!.

ps...i'm the man with the leather jacket.

PoliticallyNeutered2

Happy Birthday! :)

39

Your first talk at the Theorcatic Ministry School, do you remember it?

by JH in

jw
friends

i do, i had to read ezekiel 9: (1-11)

and he proceeded to call out in my ears with a loud voice, saying: have those giving their attention to the city come near, each one with his weapon in his hand for bringing ruin!

there were six men coming from the direction of the upper gate that faces to the north, each one with his weapon for smashing in his hand; and there was one man in among them clothed with linen, with a secretarys inkhorn at his hips, and they proceeded to come in and stand beside the copper altar.

PoliticallyNeutered2

Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert. The stuff in this email could be false. If you use it, use it at your own risk. Also, since about 7/05, I've earnestly tried to keep my large-scale internet presence politically/religiously neutral. Stepping on big toes with such new and powerful technology seems highly incautious in my case.

From the start of Psalm 83 including at least verse 18. I think I was 10 or 11 years old. My cheeks were shaking so badly that I could barely read the Bible.

Around the same time, I won the school-wide public speaking competition at Eastside Elementary School in Coweta County, Georgia. However, I refused to compete at the next level, because that would have conflicted with a Thursday-night meeting.

About the same time, I was removed from public school in favor of home-schooling.