Posts by Little Drummer Boy

53

how many atheist and agnostics on this site

by dannygwalsh in

jw
friends

hi everyone just a question to satisfy my curiosity , and if you are a non believer are you happier for being so

Little Drummer Boy

Now that I have had a chance to think for myself since leaving the borg, I can't fathom why anyone wouldn't think that the bible is a steaming pile of crap, unless they are in a high control group of a religious nature. I have read too much evidence of the fakeness of the bible to ever believe it again. Same goes for evolution now that I have a better understanding of how it works. Life just can't logically have appeared any other way than evolution with all of the evidence there is.

I do have a theory though about spirituality. Actually 2. And they are not mutually exclusive. Rather I think they would go hand in hand.

Theory #1

I wonder if our desire (as a species) to believe in god/s is related to the evolution of our minds. That in some way as we have become self-aware of our own existance as humans our minds have evolved to not want this physical existance to be all there is. Could it be an outgrowth of our most primal survival instincts. Our fight/flight response taken to the next level as it were. Subconciously, "I don't wanna die!" Out loud, "There must be a God."

and/or...

Theory #2

e=mc2 (damn I don't know how to do a super-script on these posts)

matter is energy, energy is matter, (all that cool physics stuff) and so as our minds have evolved over time, we are now (speaking within the time frame of invention of god/s, magic, etc. ) at the dawning of the next evolution of human. No more homo sapiens, but homo spirituous (please excuse the really bad attempt at latin). When we hear stories of the super-natural or of healing from god, or demon possesion, could it be us? All caused by our minds? I don't mean "made up" in our minds and imagined, but an actual phisycal effect being caused. Some humans more on the verge of taking that next evolutionary step and effecting the world around them. That is how natural selection works anyway. The whole species doesn't just "jump" up the evolutionary ladder, but individual members do and thereby gain an advantage which causes their genes to be bred on to the future eventually, ect.

I would be interested to know if there are any others out there who have wondered along one or both of those lines and published anything (I know it sounds nutty)

It would be nice to know I am not alone in my strange musings. At least then I would have some explanation for the voices my head.

21

Why has Scotland got no Assembly Hall?

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

is it 'cos we is black?

.

slim.

Little Drummer Boy

Freedom!....err...I heard that in a movie somewhere.

53

Why did you choose the Alias that you did?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

why did you choose the alias that you did?

being curious about why people do or act the way they.

do led me to this discussion.

Little Drummer Boy

LittleDrummerBoy because...

1) I'm a drummer (at least I used to be). I was in a band when I started studying with the dubs. I was very good at drumming, some would have said quite good, and it is sad that I had to stop being in a band and being able to express myself through the music just to please jehoobie.

2) It is an obvious Christmas reference. SInce my wife and I are now out we are gonna celebrate the holidays with a vengeance. My childhood wasn't....good. The holidays, and especially Christmas time, are the only memories I have as a child when we were happy as a family. For me as a young kid that time of year was very soothing. Ofcourse I loved the presents just like any other kid, but it was the atmosphere that really made me happy. I could come down the stairs in the old farm house at night from my room. All the lights would be out and I could turn the corner and look down the length of the house and see the tree shining and winking its lights in the darkness. The beautiful sight always filled me with peace...my young little world was all better again.

3) It is my small dig against Christianity and the borg. I can't really explain why I veiw it as a dig, I just do. I firmly consider myself to be nonchristian now. You know, believe in evolution, no God and all that.

31

Tomfoolery! (Fluffy Stuff, Fluffer Nutters)

by Good Girl or Bad Girl? in

jw
friends

ok so i just remembered something this morning that made me laugh really hard and it happened about 12 years ago:.

my family were in the field service one saturday morning.. my little brother did nothing if not piss my dad off as much as possible, not sure if it was on purpose or just a personality clash, but anyway.. i'm pretty sure little bro would not get out at a door and was also possibly doing something mischevious, i.e.

drawing funny yet inappropriate comics to entertain himself and his sisters.. so my dad demands that my bro get out.

Little Drummer Boy

Trying to think back how this went...

18ish year old, unmarried brother and I (my wife and I had gotten married way before this) were taking doors early one holiday morning and this young brother took this one door. He was raised a jw. I definetly wasn't . The doorstep was narrow so he was infront of me fully in the way of what was to come. Anyway, this really hot young woman comes to the door. She was maaaaaad. She threw the front door open all the way, which really surprised me considering what she was wearing. I don't know if that poor, young brother had ever seen a shapely woman in a teddy before (stil remember it, red with black trim), but from his reaction I don't think so. While he tried to stammer out the typical wt bs for a few seconds (explaining why we were there, blah, blah, blah), I'm watching the back of his head as he is slowly looking her from head to toe and back again. And she starts in on how we (the jw's) are always waking people up on F*****G holidays (she's yelling by this point). I nudge him to try to get him back to this planet and say over his shoulder how sorry we are to have disturbered her. She slams the door....he justs stand there....and stands there. I finally had to turn him around and kind of lead him back down the walkway. I don't think I have ever seen a guy that shade of red in the face.

8

Professional Mental Health Advisors...

by zeroday in

jw
friends

i have a cousin who has been an elder for many years.

many times his wife has approached the body of elders seeking marital counseling.

it would appear being a "god" over the family was more important than being a loving spouse.

Little Drummer Boy

It's interesting the Watchtower, being the MOUTH PIECE of GOD is relying on "Janitors, Apartment Maintence men and used car sales men" to handle such delicate and serious mental health problems

I have been seeing this certain attitude expressed in a lot of posts on many threads, and I guess I just can't hold my tongue any longer.

Higher education is a no-no. Obviously not many will break the rules and do it anyway and become doctors, etc. What jobs could they have that would meet your standards? You are equating career choice with intelligence and perception.

I cleaned offices for 12 years while I was a dub. I have an IQ of 146. There isn't anything wrong with cleaning toilets, fixing furnaces, or selling cars. Just with people who think there is something wrong with those things. Couldn't you have just refered to (and think of) the elders as men who aren't normally educated or trained to be counselors without bringing in the thought that since they tend to have certain jobs that they are stupid (that is what you are implying whether you would like to admit it or not)? My observation has always been that the membership is fairly representative of the general population as a whole as far as intelligence is concerned. It is just that since witnesses choose to not pursue higher education they must choose jobs that dont't require a degree. In other words they aren't any more or less intelligent than a non-witness, but just limited in job choices. Why two people would think they could get proper marriage counseling from the elders is beyond me. Sure they can share scripture which might give insights. They might pray with the couple and try to help them gain peace. But real counseling? Nah.

I just know I'm gonna regret making this post but I can't help myself.

117

"That I may make a reply to him that is taunting me"

by under_believer in

jw
friends

so for our "congregation book study", we are still deeply mired in the bible teach book.

this week's lesson talks about the whole idea that the book of job relates the central issue of the entire cosmos, a vital issue raised by satan, where satan questions whether humans follow god because of what they are given, or because he deserves it.

i'm surprised that the book of job, obviously archetypal and figurative (for example, i doubt people back then literally spoke for hours in hebrew verse, and i doubt that four messengers showed up all in a row with stories telling that they, only they, got away to tell of a disaster) even has a place in the canon; aside from its lack of any specific historical position or accuracy, the argument it advances (especially as the society interprets it) is facile: the idea that privileged, wealthy, powerful job somehow stands as a representative for all humanity and serves as a litmus test for man's interaction with god is downright silly.

Little Drummer Boy

OK, my turn....

(drops voice an octave and puts on real stern, scary face)

I am the unFaithful and inDiscreet Slave!

All bow before me!

You all believe me, right? Right?

(edit to say)

ps. Asheron, I am preparing the monkeys for your ass! They will fly out soon bringing great destruction to all of the unbelievers!

30

OMG Have you ever taken a keyboard apart to clean it?

by Lady Lee in

jw
friends

i did this years ago and it was so gross i didn't want to do it again.

and each key came out separately - a real pain when you wanted to put it all back together.

my good ergonomic keyboard wouldn't put in spaces so typing was a pain.

Little Drummer Boy

Hi Lady Lee,

If the air won't get the gunk out, and if you really want to save an expensive keyboard with residue in it you can do the following. (no, I'm not making this up, it is in the A+ PC hardware certification training ):

Put it in the dishwasher.

Seriuosly.

Face down, no detergent, COLD WATER, NO HEAT dry cycle, by itself (no dishes or anything).

Let it dry for a few days, changing the orientation that it is sitting so that water will drain out of it. If it comes apart into modules like you mentioned, that will help it dry better.

Make absolutely sure that it is dry before you plug it back in.

Now, I do want to say that I would only do this dishwasher method as a last resort because something might go wrong, but it will work as long as you make sure not to heat up the keyboard either with the water or the drying, and that you make sure it is dry.

28

Laptop is dead . . . what do I buy now? Idea (pic)

by garybuss in

jw
friends

my dell inspiration 8500 is dead.

dell replaced the motherboard 3 times under 3 year warranty and it died again, now out of warranty.

now i'm shopping for a new computer.

Little Drummer Boy

Hi garybuss,

Your idea is perfect, and I have considered it myself (being a fellow reclining web-surfer).

There are many advantages:

1) You get to pick the exact components you want in the pc because you aren't tied to the laptop form-factor

2) If you need to get hardware repairs or upgrades done on the pc, anybody who knows how to work on one can do it because it isnt using proprietary laptop parts.

3) You can upgrade the entire system unit at any time without worrying that your investment in your LCD panel and other hardware peripherals is going to waste. After all, when you by a laptop you have to also buy the LCD, keyboard, and pointing device whether they are still good or not. They are built into the machine.

If you do this, consider buying an LCD with built in speakers. Many models of LCDs have them. That way your speakers will be right where you need them and will be an "elegant" solution by looking nice and not being off to the side somewhere.

Even though I am using a laptop, for a pointing device I use a trackball. Since the ball is "up" and not down like a mouse, it sits right on the arm of my recliner where I need it and works great.

Good luck,

LDB

30

OMG Have you ever taken a keyboard apart to clean it?

by Lady Lee in

jw
friends

i did this years ago and it was so gross i didn't want to do it again.

and each key came out separately - a real pain when you wanted to put it all back together.

my good ergonomic keyboard wouldn't put in spaces so typing was a pain.

Little Drummer Boy

If your keyboard is an expensive one that you can't replace for cheap, then canned air is your friend. Make sure the computer is off first as the gases can cause brief condensation and chilling of the components which can lead to damage in electronics if they are hot when you do it.

17

I don't know how I feel...

by wonderwoman in

jw
friends

so, i got a call from my jw sis yesterday telling me that my grandpa had a stroke and is in the hospital.

gramps is big-brother-by-the-book-jw.

i have talked to him a handful of times since i was 18. when i was depressed and went to the hospital/therapy etc..he told me to stop being foolish and all i needed to do was pray and go in service more.

Little Drummer Boy

Hi wonderwoman.

I'm sorry you're upset.

I wish I was some kind of professional trained in counseling so I could give you good advice.

I'm not, so well, along with a whole bunch of hugs, I'd like to mention a few thoughts that crossed my mind.

I don't know much about your situation, just what you post says, but I think that there are several ways that things could turn out. In time we all pass away. We all tend to say things or express attitudes that we wish we could take back. Sometimes we are given time and can make things right. Other times a loved one will pass on before we or they get that chance. You are doing well in trying so hard to try to maintain a family relationship with someone who is rejecting you. And it hurts. Maybe he will soften a little as his end draws nearer. If so, everybody wins. If not, how will you feel when he finally is at rest? If you continue on the way you are, you will at the last come to realize that you did all that you could. You will realize it not just mentally but emotionally on a deep level. You will know that you tried your best to be there for him. You will eventually have peace because you did what was right even though it hurt like hell at the time.

I don't believe in the bible anymore other than that it contains some useful ideas that can make our lives better. But, one of the most valuable concepts that I glean from the scriptures and that I do believe is that of expressing true love for others. If you are commited to keep on doing that for your grandpa like you have been then you have already won.

Now, I fully realize that none of that may have made any sense. I'm certainly not one of the great word smiths on the board here. But maybe it will help you a little.

Hugs and Love,

LDB