humbled

Joined

• started 30 topics
• posted 1,948 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by humbled

• 
  56

  Spiritual "Protection" - a Menace on Psychological Development

  by Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  not quite a week ago, @lost in the fog created a thread entitled: do you have this illness?.

  https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5187824140681216/do-you-have-this-illness.

  in my year of being on this forum, i have browsed many a disillusioned thread of ex-jehovah’s witnesses expressing similar symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder when detailing their awakening - my own story included.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  A brilliant analysis of the complex of problems caused by Spiritual Protection gone bad. I should copy this and mail it to my old counselor.

  And it is useful even now for everyday living. Thanks for putting it together, Wake Me.
• 
  12

  Relative rates of mental illness

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  a report produced 50 years ago by a psychiatrist at a west australian mental health facility ("asylum"l reported that the mental illness rate among jws was 3 times the norm of society.

  other similar studies at the time concluded the rate was much higher.. i wrote to the psychiatrist at the time, asking whether the wts attracted people who were already susceptible to mental illness or if the situation was created after the person became a jw.

  he responded that they did not know.. being myopically focused on the wts at the time, but more importantly belonging to an alternative eschatological apocalyptic body at the time, i did not think more broadly.. i think that today i would like to know:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  The amount of auto immune diseases, depression , wives of elders who suffered illnesses that often prevented their attendance at meetings ( these were,oddly, the kinder sisters)

  I have points of comparison with the outside worldly people having years of contact before during and after the cult.

  l have spent a lot of time with a wide range of worldly people including folks who’ve been to prIson. The people outside have this going for them: they have problems but don’t have the burden of the teachings and the JW culture. The protections to children may be said to protect kids growing up but also screw them up So that’s a draw.

  But for saner thinkers,hands down, l find nonJWs better able to deal with life, generally more open and kind to themselves and others while accepting that they are screwed up or struggling with life. They aren’t constantly on tap to “🎼serve the God of true prophecy” by regurgitating claims made by strangers in a galaxy far away.

  of course they have grave mental health problem... and so did I.

  I tried to get counseling while “in” but had trouble talking about issues without incriminating my belief system . So l didn’t really get any help at that time.
• 
  16

  Free exchange of ideas

  by recovering in

  1. forum
  2. suggestions

  i have noticed a paradigm shift on this site .

  we used to be able to express opposing viewpoints without being subjected to name calling and censorship.

  i wish we could return to how the board used to function.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  what you describe in the OP is neither new nor unique to this period on this forum.

  Stevie—the OP is one of many recent comments on the matter. It shows up on the other thread by nicolau. There you said you avoid the political topics. If that is the case then you have indeed missed some exchanges and deletions that are remarkable—Thus the remarks.
• 
  31

  Americans, be happy with Trump, Europe lost it.

  by fulano in

  1. social
  2. current

  look at what is happening in europe now, the filth that is trying to enter here.. https://youtu.be/putezss32m8.

  uk.... https://youtu.be/jbvxndnd4t4.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  The video is disturbing.

  That mob running through Europe is crazy. At 13 and 16 minutes they interview teo sane refugees. One says “some are lazy . Just want money.” The young Syrian woman said”Not all should come in. Only ones leaving war.”

  The people crushing through—mostly young men. how can such an influx work when their expectations are so high and some feel entitled to a life as high as a working person who has had to struggle to achieve their substance?

  We are too many people now. We need to slow this project down.
• 
  31

  Americans, be happy with Trump, Europe lost it.

  by fulano in

  1. social
  2. current

  look at what is happening in europe now, the filth that is trying to enter here.. https://youtu.be/putezss32m8.

  uk.... https://youtu.be/jbvxndnd4t4.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  They do catch people who lie about income and who is living there. They have to have a person sign as a witness outside the family

  There are people who get reported. But the concern about what happens to the children probably limits this.

  My family had an income so low that even for us do able to butcher a goat or raise food—we had to get food stamps. Just for a little while.

  we returned from living out of state and before a late garden planting could do us a bit of good my husband and l cut and sold pallet lumber. What cash we got had to go for non food items. So with a measure of defeat we sign for them.

  If you buy basic and scratch cook you can eat well . We would never have abused the system.

  No false pride should keep you from feeding your children. But pride should make you work as hard as you can.

  Assistance is a good thing when you need it. It is humiliating especially if you are familiar with the judgements passed by some. I learned there and other places what it is to be

  humbled
• 
  31

  Americans, be happy with Trump, Europe lost it.

  by fulano in

  1. social
  2. current

  look at what is happening in europe now, the filth that is trying to enter here.. https://youtu.be/putezss32m8.

  uk.... https://youtu.be/jbvxndnd4t4.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  Using EBT cards to buy dog food, paper products, alcohol or tobacco is fraud. It is illegal.

  The way they buy tobacco here is to haves friend buy smokes and the person with the stamps buys them grocery items often worth more than the cigarettes cost.

  If caught the person can lose food assistance for a year.

  Also I think they have to repay money if it is found that they gave a false count of the household or do not report earnings from a household member.
• 
  10

  The Sailboat

  by compound complex II in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my tech guy made my original summery day at sea into a brewing tempest.

  sort of like life, yes?.

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  Hello, Coco!

  So right Sparrowdown!

  And that lovely painting might well serve as a portrait of JWN at the moment ...

  l think l am blownaway!
• 
  16

  Free exchange of ideas

  by recovering in

  1. forum
  2. suggestions

  i have noticed a paradigm shift on this site .

  we used to be able to express opposing viewpoints without being subjected to name calling and censorship.

  i wish we could return to how the board used to function.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  Having some policy continue from one president to another suddenly become "the worst thing ever" because the new President wasn't your choice in the election shows to me that people don't really care about the issue concerned so much as they want to use it as a political football.—Simon

  My frustration, Simon, is that I will take as much time as I can to carefully craft my post so that it is specific to an issue. I don’t see any point in fighting about left and right Democrat and Republican.
  I posted a remark not long ago about the distinction between past presidents and the border and the recent policy of separation of families—as you mention above. But a reasonable comment is largely a waste of time. A thought that can’t be used as a target or as cannon fodder is pretty much ignored.

  The issues of immigration, incarceration, radical Islam are topics that concern me. But the overall value of sharing information and thinking about these subject in this forum is compromised critically by the rapid conversion of the OP into a match between the righties and the lefties. I object!

  I have looked back at old old conversations some present others not...and the difference is night and day. heartbreaking and beautiful to read the kindly and yet strong exchange of posters long ago.

  What happened to us?

  Certainly common courtesy is so rare now that when there rises such behavior it stands out as a remarkable event. Truly.

  The only time in recent memory that l recall such courtesy was crusty cofty in his upright manner asking that l verify the source for a strong statement l had made. When I complied he simply posted “Thank you for that” —a courtesy so remarkable in this present climate as to be heroic.

  l have had moments on this board when l have changed my thinking on certain very important topics or belief. (That’s kind of amazing.)The verbal combat was, well, combative. Because it wasn’t a play game sometimes there were terrific injuries. But the points were fairly made. The points hit marks without the poison. These discussions burned long and hot but were valuable in that they allowed for digression enough to be thorough but they kept to a point. They let you think.

  Just as poison arrows are used when the hunter is not able to strike the vitals. l have discovered a viewpoint delivered with toxic rhetoric and insult have not the power to strike the heart of a matter. If the speaker relies on poison to destroy another’s thought it prejudices the matter in my mind.

  I guess l have said plenty even if l do have a lot more l would say. But l have to say this:

  l have spent a good deal of time on this board searching through others thoughts and my own since l arrived after I left the Watchtower. I never was just killing time —l have waitied out a cancer treatment here , sorted my religious belief one winter/spring and now recently l have been rebuilding life after a violent assault in the family that may finally have divided us forever. But the board doesn’t feel as safe to me anymore. Boohoo, right? I say l am shameless but l am not without feelings.

  I will watch to see what develops. Certainly with the ups and downs l have had in family life a moment when so many others have stepped forward with their concerns is rather a moment of hope than otherwise. It is an opportunity for a good turn to come.

  We certainly need it.

  l do love you all.

  Maeve
• 
  31

  Americans, be happy with Trump, Europe lost it.

  by fulano in

  1. social
  2. current

  look at what is happening in europe now, the filth that is trying to enter here.. https://youtu.be/putezss32m8.

  uk.... https://youtu.be/jbvxndnd4t4.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  however who shows compassion to the USA?.... Many say we need to show compassion, however who shows compassion to the USA? —krismalone

  That is a standalone question, Kris.

  Many people say “charity begins at home“. But what happens when that charity doesn’t begin at home? When there isn’t a good heart for our own!

  You can see how the first thing the authorities said to justify the separation of the children from Central America—They compared it to children who are taken from US moms and dads locked up in U.S.prisons!

  This country is not well known for policies that encourage U.S. prisoners contact with their children.— snd that is wrong.. wrong unless there was abuse.

  While each state has their own prison system the stories do not vary by much: price gouging on phone service (as witnessed when immigrants wanted to try contacting children by phone. The phone cards were $25 and it cost $8 a minute. Though it was somewhat better in Arkansas a few years ago, it was a hardship to families). Prisoners in some states receive no pay for prison labor (zero compensation in Arkansas which gave rise to the Arkansas Tainted blood scandal in the1980s) The vast distances for families to travel to renew contact make it hard to incentivize prisoners and family to stay together. The families loose s bread winner ( contrary to myth most incarcerated citizens were employed when they were arrested) and now suffer extra expenses if they would stay in touch. Some prisoners in for long term simply tell family to cut them off —it costs them too much to stay connected.

  The foster care systems are clogged with broken families. One in 11 children have an incarcerated parent in this state.

  People who need help may have “issues” that make some well wishers feel uncertain about extending help. As l said before , shitty situations can make a shitty parent —or make them seem so. Children removed from such parents may be heartbroken because they know their mom or dad are actually doing the very best that they can to care for them.There are some who work in child welfare that recognize it is better by far to do an intervention, help the families, instead of taking away their children.

  But people in the US don’t often feel compassion on these families. They hear that families have an ex-con in them or children who have been in trouble, moms who struggle with addiction and many people are resentful “ No one ever helped me! Why should they get help for making bad decisions! Let them work for it like me!”

  lt really is not the undocumented are getting all the love, taking the funds. The truth is there is no real sympathy for struggling folks in America when they can’t look like an Oliver Twist or a Jane Eyre.

  And absolutely look at the link to the article supplied by whynot .
• 
  31

  Americans, be happy with Trump, Europe lost it.

  by fulano in

  1. social
  2. current

  look at what is happening in europe now, the filth that is trying to enter here.. https://youtu.be/putezss32m8.

  uk.... https://youtu.be/jbvxndnd4t4.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  humbled

  Some of the illegals coming into Canada from the US have nicer luggage than I do.

  Then you should shop the Salvation Army Thrift or Goodwill. Excellent on College Ave. Fayetteville, AR