done4good

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Posts by done4good

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  20

  Breaking news: US mass shooting

  by Simon in

  1. social
  2. current

  it's getting to the point where cnn should start announcing "breaking news" if there *hasn't* been a mass shooting !.

  it's crazy.. i was watching the 70's documentary they are running and that's the point when media hype about mass serial killers seemed to begin the danger-gun-solution hype cycle.

  sure, people had guns before then but nowhere near like it is now.. when will it end?

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  done4good

  Guns, are not the problem. The amount of non violent gun owners far outweigh these acts carried out by these people. Take the guns away, and a psychopath will find another weapon whether it's knives, cars, bombs, etc, etc.

  Understand probability theory, and you will understand why you are wrong. More guns = greater probability they will be used, and misused, regardless of the majority of ownership being of those who are non-violent and responsible. This is science, and something right wing nuts just can't get their heads around.

  No one is saying most gun owners are violent. We need to re-frame this discussion as a narrative, so non-math and non-science folks can understand. Too many in the US that just don't know how to understand numbers, so I suppose we need to dummy this discussion down, aka WT style. Maybe then it will sink in.
  

  d4g
  
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  23

  Facing up to the reality of the world

  by purrpurr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since becoming atheist i have been paying more attention to world events and issues.

  this is giving me some worry's when i see what's going on.

  as a jw i could just dismiss stuff saying "armageddon is coming, jehovah will look after us" etc etc now of course i can't do that.

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  done4good

  This is a normal response to existential fear(s). Religion plays a role for some in allying such. This may be good for some, but really does little more than provide a drug for most. Very fundamentalist religions, (i.e. like JW), are very black and white when it comes to things, (such as world events), and as such provide a powerful catch-all drug, (they social equivalent of heroin), for explaining them. In the case of JWs, this would be their Armageddon and Paradise doctrines. When one leaves such an extreme belief system, it is very common to experience withdrawal, and respond to negative world events with existentialism and with a certain amount of fear.

  As others have pointed out, when the bigger picture is considered, (all known human history), today is a much safer and happier time to live in on a world wide scale, than any other time in human history.

  Hint: Reading a lot will help.
  

  d4g
  
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  43

  Yet more trolley (in)activity

  by konceptual99 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am currently having to spend a little time waiting for an appointment in the vicinity of a central london station.

  whilst waiting i am catching up on some work in a cafe.

  i can see a couple of trolleys and have been watching them for around an hour now.. not one person has stopped to take literature.

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  done4good

  I have to say, I work in NYC and have yet to see one of these things.

  I also have not even seen JW in my neighborhood in NJ in several years.

  d4g
  
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  40

  JW Broadcasting is dying.

  by John Aquila in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  once a month about 15 to 20 elderly jw publishers would meet at the kingdom hall and one elder was assigned to set up the system so they could view jw broadcasting.

  these publishers were long time pioneers, former elders, and long time publishers who know nothing about computers or the internet.

  they are the last batch of those expecting the generation that saw 1914 or understood it--- to not die off.

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  done4good

  The cavalier attitude towards the elderly is disgusting. WT just does not care.
  

  d4g
  
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  36

  Band Green Day and JWs

  by hardtobeme in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  a few years ago i heard of a story about two jw's being at a green day concert.

  i think that the witnesses were bethelites.

  the person that told me that story said that the band was about to play but they couldn't.

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  done4good

  JW urban legends have a way of repeating themselves in different contexts. While all urban legends have a bit of that facet, the JW type seem to repeat over and over.

  I remember the Gloria Estefan, John Denver, and Don Ho nonsense from the 70s and 80s. There may have been some offhanded comment made by these folks at one time or another, (Just as Green Day made a record about losing one's faith, etc.), but clearly it amazes me that JWs don't recall the similarities of these stories. Talk about a persecution complex.
  

  d4g
  
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  36

  Band Green Day and JWs

  by hardtobeme in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  a few years ago i heard of a story about two jw's being at a green day concert.

  i think that the witnesses were bethelites.

  the person that told me that story said that the band was about to play but they couldn't.

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  done4good

  To edit, I still doubt it much, (it is just too much like other JW urban legends, and I know better), but that album in particular was very important to my exit.

  d4g
  
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  36

  Band Green Day and JWs

  by hardtobeme in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  a few years ago i heard of a story about two jw's being at a green day concert.

  i think that the witnesses were bethelites.

  the person that told me that story said that the band was about to play but they couldn't.

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  done4good

  The story is true. Green Day went on to write an album about the JW's.

  It started when an elder called on Billie Joe at home, prompting "American Idiot"
  Then he heard about all of the failed prophecies - "Boulevard of broken dreams".
  He read Fred Franz Bible chronology - "Wake me up when September ends".
  Finally saw some trolley witnesses - "Jesus of Suburbia".

  Prior to all this it's rumoured that Greenday met Stephen Lett - "Basket case".

  WOW! If that is true, it is the coolest thing ever....That album was played often and loud when I left the JWs! Yes, I took the same losing one's faith message from it.
  

  d4g
  
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  25

  So much "growth"! JW Land double sided coin

  by thedepressedsoul in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'm finding it more and more funny how every wt article for the public or congregation, including jw broadcast talks about all this "growth" and how fast jehovha's organization is speeding up!

  yet everything behind closed doors, insider information, elder letters and sales paint a very different picture.

  i have news for you gb members!

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  done4good

  OrphanCrow is likely right. (Yes, both times)...At least an icon exists for one of the imbibements mentioned.
  
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  113

  New letter, re: Fully Utilizing Kingdom Hall Auditoriums

  by suavojr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  let the merging begin!!!.

  to all bodies of elders in the united states branch territory.

  re: fully utilizing kingdom hall auditoriums.

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  done4good

  Oh, and the terms, "auditorium", and "Master Plan", are not accidents...

  Really, this is good news. Cash flow problems or not, this is about decline, and preparing for more of it.

  d4g
  
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  113

  New letter, re: Fully Utilizing Kingdom Hall Auditoriums

  by suavojr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  let the merging begin!!!.

  to all bodies of elders in the united states branch territory.

  re: fully utilizing kingdom hall auditoriums.

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  done4good

  I have been saying since the communication came about the book study being eliminated in 2008, that this is where it was leading to. They would never eliminate a meeting without an economic purpose for doing so. All other types of reasons were given for that move, (i.e. eliminate smaller groups for greater control; lawsuits; and of course the Society's excuse of "gas prices"), but it is always about money in the end.

  Fewer weekly meetings = fewer halls needed since they can cram more congregations into those halls. This is just the next major phase. It is all being done to address long-term sustainability.

  Cash flow is not the likely issue, even though the GB cited that in a broadcast in May. They would never admit to a cash flow problem if they actually had one.

  d4g