Posts by FriendlyFellaAL

Logically, I know that I shouldn't still be hung up on this. It's been years since I've left and I've been at a decent, well paying job for the last ten years, but this subject still burns me up every single time I let myself think about it.

I can't even recall how many times we were discouraged from getting any form of higher education. Any of the brothers and sisters who bucked the trend and went on to college were considered less than worthy by the people in the congregation...sad to say, myself included. Now, I only wish I had followed their lead.

Thanks for that quote from the 1969 Awake article, Latte. I wonder how many countless individuals might have actually known the joy of doing what they love for a living had they ignored the 'loving advice' provided.

Brian

18

The Perfume Issue

by Bleep in

many people still keep forgetting to throw away the perfumes and strong fragrances at my hall.

it is a big thing in some congregations to wear it.

i have heard that most churches stay away from it.

FriendlyFellaAL

Mrs R,

I truly feel for your situation as I've known some folks who suffer horribly from this. Going out for a bite to eat or a movie could sometimes prove quite the challenge...I've walked out on far more movies than I care to think about. We eventually caught them on video anyway.

However, I work with a woman who 'claims' to have a fragrance allergy, yet sits at her desk wearing the most fragrant products one can imagine. Her desk is covered with items from Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret, yet she complains that what others wear makes her ill. She's one of those who always claims to be suffering from some ailment or another, basically to keep from staying at work. This particularly troublesome co-worker one day accused a lady in our office of wearing fragrances just to upset her. When she mentioned to the PTC (particularly troublesome co-worker) that she oftened smelled fragrances on her, she replied that she was only allergic to what every one else wore. LOL!

Just re-reading this post and I want to make it clear that I'm certainly not accusing you of doing this. Fragrance allergies can be downright debilitating, as the links below attest.

Honestly, I think we would all be far better off if we each did our best to be considerate of others at every opportunity. Sounds like that's what your co-workers have done and I commend them for their efforts.

http://www.noevalleyvoice.com/1997/October/fragrnc.html

http://www.accessnewage.com/articles/health/chemical.htm

Best wishes to you Mrs R!

Brian

18

BBC - Secret Database Protects Paedophiles

by expatbrit in

secret database protects paedophiles .

the jehovah's witnesses organisation keeps a sex offenders register that nobody outside the church is allowed to see, a former "elder" tells panorama.

bill bowen, who has spent his lifetime as a jehovah's witness and over twenty years as an elder, says the organisation covers up abuse by keeping this database secret.

FriendlyFellaAL

I can't believe I accepted this kind of double-talk as information when I was a Witness.

Not only would we accept it, but we would feel completely vindicated!

Brian

14

Sesame St Introduces HIV+ Muppet

by Prisca in

sesame street to introduce hiv-positive muppet .

july 12, 2002 posted: 12:35 am edt (0435 gmt).

talks are under way to add an hiv-positive muppet to the sesame street gang, which includes ernie and bert.

FriendlyFellaAL

I have to agree with you, Kingpawn. When I first heard about this yesterday afternoon I was taken aback. Now that I've heard a bit more detail about what they are planning, I think it's a brilliant idea.

It will have to be handled responsibly and appropriately, but if done right this might be invaluable to those that are afflicted.

Brian

18

BBC - Secret Database Protects Paedophiles

by expatbrit in

secret database protects paedophiles .

the jehovah's witnesses organisation keeps a sex offenders register that nobody outside the church is allowed to see, a former "elder" tells panorama.

bill bowen, who has spent his lifetime as a jehovah's witness and over twenty years as an elder, says the organisation covers up abuse by keeping this database secret.

FriendlyFellaAL

With regard to their policy on reporting abuse to the authorities, he referred us to the 8 October 1993 issue of Awake!, page 9, which states:
"Some legal experts advise reporting the abuse to the authorities as soon as possible. In some lands the legal system may require this. But in other places the legal system may offer little hope of successful prosecution."

I find this incredibly disturbing. Have attorneys now taken control of the writing department? It almost appears if they are subconsciously trying to discourage people from reporting with their last statement.

Brian

11

Phoney Baloney

by Perfection Seeker in

one of my biggest pet peeves of being a witness was when the overseer would come visit, and everyone was sooo nice, sweet to everyone, no clicks, they'd arrive early, stay after & talk, everyone would raise their hands, give "heartfelt" answers, looked nice, sang loud, just the model congregation.

yet, when the overseer wasnt there, people would come late, leave early, not be nice to everyone, blah blah.

i guess to me- if they knew what they "should" be doing, why not do it all the time?

FriendlyFellaAL

We never had trouble getting people there at least twenty minutes before the meeting. Usually, there was almost a full house 45 minutes to an hour beforehand. In retrospect, I suppose that the people at my hall had no life outside of being a Witness.

Brian

21

NSync Guy In Space - GOOD!

by SYN in

<rant>.

seems that old lance bass has got tentative preliminary approval for his flight up into space from rosaviakosmos!

let's have a quick look at the two last paying "space tourists" who've gone up to the still-incomplete iss: dennis tito: damn rich guy, but he worked on space-related stuff before, so he was qualified.mark shuttleworth: south african bubble-millionaire (go mark go!

FriendlyFellaAL

They were put there by disgruntled NASA Crew/Groupies!

Yeah, sort of the "if I can't have him, no one else can" mentality?

Brian

22

American Idol, Who's watching?

by TheStar in

am i the only shmuck on this board watching this every week?

please say i'm not.

FriendlyFellaAL

Ok thanks for leaving me all alone in this thread you two.

Star,

I'm soooo sorry. I didn't mean to desert you, honest...this thread just sorta slipped away from me.

I was sad to see that Mark didn't win last week, but I figured that was how it would go since he was the one I was rooting for. I always have bad luck when it comes to picking the winner in these things.

I was also glad to see that RJ was back. After Simon's behavior during his critique he definitely deserved another shot.

Unfortunately, I missed it last night as I had to watch Big Brother. There's a guy from my home town and I just had to see how he did last night.

Brian