Posts by StephaneLaliberte

30

Australia - Selling Off Assets

by Pants of Righteousness in

jw
friends

this article seems to confirm what we already knew:.

https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/jehovahs-witnesses-accused-of-selling-off-assets-and-moving-cash-to-avoid-sex-abuse-compensation-ng-08ffe6d55e293182580d9e34b4400088?transactionid=72145.

StephaneLaliberte

And good luck spinning "paying back Caesar's things to Caesar" as "persecution"

That's exactly what they did when France tried to tax them at 60%. They ended up loosing. Now that I am out, I don't even know how that 60% was going to work. We were told it was a broad general 60% on all donations, but I bet it wasn't. Probably something like: 60% of the money you don't show expenses for. Still, Watchtower is to be treated as a business, it should pay the same taxes rates as any other business, which is certainly not 60%.

60

Is it me or is John Cedars channel becoming a self important circle fest

by phoenixrising in

i still like the commentary on the jw.org monthly’s, i can skip through some parts.

but it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content..

StephaneLaliberte

the truth about the truth a... Not sure we need another movie there have been many documentary's made on the cult

I agree, unless there is a fresh take on the JWs. Its like the 1989 Batman movie... when it was done again in 2005, many doubted it would work, and yet it was met with phenominal success; and the 2008 version was even better!

Who knows, perhaps that documentary will be awesome! (but I still have strong doubts!)

60

Is it me or is John Cedars channel becoming a self important circle fest

by phoenixrising in

i still like the commentary on the jw.org monthly’s, i can skip through some parts.

but it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content..

StephaneLaliberte

Whilst in America he went to Watchtower headquarters in Warwick. He has a clip where he is filming for this super do per movie.

I was surprised by this as well. He did try to excuse that a non agressive activism, but I think this falls in his short comings. By and large, he is against "agressive activism". And while I understand people's desire to confront a bunch of hypocrites (some elders) hoping to wake a few in the process, this largely had the oposite effect.

60

Is it me or is John Cedars channel becoming a self important circle fest

by phoenixrising in

i still like the commentary on the jw.org monthly’s, i can skip through some parts.

but it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content..

StephaneLaliberte

If I understand it correctly the daughter of Ray Franz has authorized additional copies to be published by her as she inherited the rights to the work. Correct this if I am wrong.

Ray friends didn't have kids. That was part of his regrets about JWs, he gave up having kids and he knew his wife would be without kids once he'd pass on. I don't know who the new copy rights holder is; or should I say, her relationship to Ray Franz.

60

Is it me or is John Cedars channel becoming a self important circle fest

by phoenixrising in

i still like the commentary on the jw.org monthly’s, i can skip through some parts.

but it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content..

StephaneLaliberte

Ha! Is that a joke? He didn’t apologise for outing faders on Facebook or making illegal copies of Crisis of Conscience.

I don't remember him outing faders. I know he was accused of this, but never saw any evidence of this. Aside from that story (which I don't know if it is indeed true), he's been effective at respecting fadders throughout the 7 years he's been active as an "apostate".

As for crisis of Conscience, you're right, I've never heard any excuse for that one. What bothered me about this was not the fact he printed and sold the book, at the time, the book wasn't sold anywhere; the copyright holder wasn't doing anything about it. It was that he added jwsurvey on the book.

So, ok, he doesn't say sorry for everything he should. That goes with his pride character. But I did hear him retract and say sorry when he got his facts wrong.

I don't want to defend the guy like a JW defending the WT. But what I can say is that this guy did and still does a lot and the complaints against him are generally not serious enough to demand his head on a pike.

60

Is it me or is John Cedars channel becoming a self important circle fest

by phoenixrising in

i still like the commentary on the jw.org monthly’s, i can skip through some parts.

but it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content..

StephaneLaliberte

l I can say is he is NOT "The Reluctant Apostate"

Yeah, I thought the title of the book a bit odd. Even back in 2013, when he left, he was still an apostate using his anonymous ID. When he was outed, it was on his terms also. So, I never understood the "reluctant" thing.

60

Is it me or is John Cedars channel becoming a self important circle fest

by phoenixrising in

i still like the commentary on the jw.org monthly’s, i can skip through some parts.

but it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content..

StephaneLaliberte

Now who in the hell wants to listen to 2 hours of commentary!

Joe Rogan fans? It’s a different world out there. Long 2 hour shows is what made Joe Rogan Famous.

Still, I too find some of his videos way too long. There are things he criticises that lowers his credibility. When you criticise little details, people don’t take you as serious when you criticise something big.

60

Is it me or is John Cedars channel becoming a self important circle fest

by phoenixrising in

i still like the commentary on the jw.org monthly’s, i can skip through some parts.

but it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content..

StephaneLaliberte

Not at all. But as soon as you add a profit motive there's a tendency to chase the money more than the truth.

True. The problem with JWs and ex-JWs is that the target audiance is a bit too limited. For instance, Christopher Hitchens was targeting everybody as everyone cares about the question: Is there a God? Not that many people actually care about JWs and their problems. So, yeah, you need to go a bit on the sensationalist side to make a living out of it. But I don't believe John Cedars has been too far out in that area. Certainly not as bad as the medias on Trump.

And we can certainly say that he is not the typical apostate: He doesn't agree with agressive activism, publically admits when he makes mistakes, don't get into rants, takes care of his parents in law who are still JWs, and doesn't attack the rank and files.

Sure, he has an ego and doesn't sound as sincere as Mike and Kim. But I think he is doing very well. If I was willing to sacrifice my relationship with my family, I'd be doing exactly what he is, and I admire him for it.

60

Is it me or is John Cedars channel becoming a self important circle fest

by phoenixrising in

i still like the commentary on the jw.org monthly’s, i can skip through some parts.

but it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content..

StephaneLaliberte

Do none of the other contributors to JW survey get paid, because others seems to do a lot of the work.

I don't know how they work things out, but indeed, JW Survey and his channel is not just Lloyd, there's a lot of work from other people in there as well. I'm particularly impress by John Redwood who actually travelled to a few court cases to report on the events. That ain't for free... so I don't know about the monney, but one would have to assume that they work things out in between them.

60

Is it me or is John Cedars channel becoming a self important circle fest

by phoenixrising in

i still like the commentary on the jw.org monthly’s, i can skip through some parts.

but it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content..

StephaneLaliberte

But it seems like he is pushing too hard to put out videos and the quality is getting very low on the content.

The problem is that all videos are presented with equal importance. He has some very good videos, like the comments on specific pedophile cases, but they get lost in the numerous “small talk” videos such as the "confinement videos".

"He's a grifter", “The moment Lloyd Evans monetized his activism was the moment he lost credibility”.

To say that someone is ill intended because he monetizes his service is a JW narrative. They say this while taking ample donations, even accepting estates that would normally go to the deceased’s relatives. Its double talk.

Lloyd and his friends provide entertainment, useful information that demands research, emotional support to many in need and also assistance with larger organizations such as law enforcements/lawyers/media.

All this requires a lot of work and talent. Most of what he does is actually free and you’re criticizing the man because he accepts donations and sell shirts?