GatoCat

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Posts by GatoCat

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  8

  I Am Searching For The Dolphins In The Sea...

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  'i only know that peace will come, when all our hate is gone...i am searching for the dolphins in the sea...' a line from 'dolphins', rendered at its best by the late tim buckley.. there has been much bad blood being spilled in waves on these pages the past few days.

  friends have been set against friends, reputations maligned and real tears shed, it is a truly painful scene to behold.. trying to ride the avalanche of emotions that sweep us along in these word-wars seems to be impossible without leaving behind a trail of sadness and hurt.. so i now pose a question.

  the wts would have us believe that it is not possible for persons holding fundamentally differing viewpoints to be true friends, and that inevitably they will fight.

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  GatoCat

  Do you believe that it is possible to be a friend of somebody who vehemently disagrees with ones viewpoint on a matter?

  Yes. I have good friends who disagree with my views, sometimes vehemently. I am speaking of everyday life, not of internet-forum friends.

  How would you suggest a person handles such a disagreement on a venue such as this?

  If both friends are able to keep the person separate from the belief, then it is possible to have discussions--even heated discussions--about the issue. Tempers may flare, but mature people will realize when that is happening and will excuse themselves and wait until they calm down to continue.

  If either one of the friends is incapable of keeping the belief separate from the person, then the friendship is best maintained by not venturing into a discussion on that topic.

  In recent years, as I've developed more and more experience at separating the person from the speech or behavior, it has become an automatic thing, a habit of mine; a way of thinking. It is disturbing and irritating to me when people assume they are seeing a personal attack simply because a person has presented a contrary view, or has exposed a flaw in another's view.

  It is also disturbing and irritating to me to see blatantly insulting speech used in addressing others over differences of view or belief. Often, the only recourse in such a situation is to withdraw from the conversation. This may appear to some as defeat; undoubtedly the one casting the insults will pronounce it a victory. Situations like these are when it becomes necessary to fall back upon your own knowledge of what is true. You know that there has been unwarranted public ugliness, and that some observers have been fooled or swayed by the ugliness. Yet you know also that you have presented your position respectfully and well, and that readers/observers who are perceptive will know that you maintained your dignity and did not compromise your principles of respectful interaction. Now is the time to step away, regardless of the fact that your scruple-free opponent may gloat and taunt. Now is the time to behave as the one who is in the right, and to do so calmly, with conviction.

  Tough assignment. The person who pulls it off is truly a mature and insightful person.

  COMF
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  61

  A New Guy from Chicago with a Story to Tell

  by Reborn2002 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  first of all id like to say hello to everyone on this website, and to thank and acknowledge each and every one of you for your individuality, personal experience, and in some cases, commitment to truth.. having read some of the heartfelt topics and posts here have served to be a great encouragement to me, more than some could imagine.

  my name is jason, and i am a recovering ex-jw.. i guess this would be an ideal time to tell my life story as an abbreviated version, so here goes.. i was "born into, or raised" in the organization.

  my grandfather was an elder for 45 years, and served as one of the very first jw in the south chicagoland suburbs.

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  GatoCat

  I guess what I was trying to say Comf was do you care wether he slept with her or not??? do you disagree with pre-martial sex now??? I know you don't.

  Do I care whether FredHall is really a JW or not?
  Do I care whether Prisca understands my words or not?
  Do I care whether AlanF is viewed as a god or an asshole or both?

  When I'm on this board, Vennie, it is the matters on this board that occupy my mind. I post here because I enjoy good repartee with people from backgrounds similar to mine. None of this stuff is of overriding importance to me; I have a wonderful life completely separate from jw.com. But when I'm here, the things that take place here are what I think about.

  Here's a new guy, telling a long, detailed story by way of introduction. The story doesn't hold together well. He obviously intends to stay here and be active with us, so I figure I'll ask him about those holes in his story. I do so in a calm, matter-of-fact manner with no insults. I'm careful to repeat over and over throughout the thread that I am not making any judgments, just asking for clarification.

  Did he rape her?? I don't know. if he did do you think he'd tell us No. So why get so involved in it?

  Because getting involved in it is what we do here. We talk, we exchange ideas and views, we fellowship. If this guy came up to a group of my fellow workers on the job, introduced himself as a new worker, and then offered something like this for us to consider, I would respond exactly as I have here on this board: by pointing out an inconsistency in what he said and asking for clarification.

  No, ultimately I don't care about what really happened at the girl's house. What I DO care about is whether somebody is bullshitting me and my friends or not--regardless of the topic. Because if he'll come in and introduce himself with a line of bullshit then you better believe, everything he says is going to be bullshit. You're content to wait a while and gradually figure out that you've been had. I'm not. When I see the signs, I ask about them right off. I can accept your apathy. Please accept my concern.

  I think you guys are just a little to shook up from the AlanF wars right now. You're reading my posts, but you're still hearing attitudes from all that. You need to realize that I am not attacking this guy in any way. I'm making conversation. I'm asking questions about what he posted. I'm trying to get a clearer picture on something that disturbed me in what he said.

  That's what we do, here, Vennie. We make conversation, and we comment on things others say and ask questions.

  I just didn't want to see this thread head that way too. there's no need for it!!!

  No problem. All he has to do is give good, reasonable, straight answers to my questions.

  I do like to give people the benfit of the doubt and I don't feel the need to expose others flaws.

  I give people the benefit of the doubt, too. I haven't come to any conclusions about him. I asked for an explanation.

  I guess I wear my heart on my sleave, and just wan't to be honest

  And do you expect honesty in return for your honesty?

  I must say I'm impressed and pleased at how Prisca and Comf where able to resolve this thread

  I am, too. It was a shocker, wasn't it. As I have stated before, I respond to people according to their choices. She could have chosen to prolong the head-butting and I would have kept on with her bout it. It was entirely in her hands, which way our discussion went, and she made a mature, insightful choice, much to my delight.

  Maybe Jason will, too, eh?

  COMF
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  61

  A New Guy from Chicago with a Story to Tell

  by Reborn2002 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  first of all id like to say hello to everyone on this website, and to thank and acknowledge each and every one of you for your individuality, personal experience, and in some cases, commitment to truth.. having read some of the heartfelt topics and posts here have served to be a great encouragement to me, more than some could imagine.

  my name is jason, and i am a recovering ex-jw.. i guess this would be an ideal time to tell my life story as an abbreviated version, so here goes.. i was "born into, or raised" in the organization.

  my grandfather was an elder for 45 years, and served as one of the very first jw in the south chicagoland suburbs.

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  GatoCat

  Wow, so you fit that description? Ooh! Ah! ...please convey to Thinker my congratulations on having convinced you to have him. Lucky man.

  COMF
• 
  61

  A New Guy from Chicago with a Story to Tell

  by Reborn2002 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  first of all id like to say hello to everyone on this website, and to thank and acknowledge each and every one of you for your individuality, personal experience, and in some cases, commitment to truth.. having read some of the heartfelt topics and posts here have served to be a great encouragement to me, more than some could imagine.

  my name is jason, and i am a recovering ex-jw.. i guess this would be an ideal time to tell my life story as an abbreviated version, so here goes.. i was "born into, or raised" in the organization.

  my grandfather was an elder for 45 years, and served as one of the very first jw in the south chicagoland suburbs.

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  GatoCat

  Ooh... come to papa, baby.
• 
  61

  A New Guy from Chicago with a Story to Tell

  by Reborn2002 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  first of all id like to say hello to everyone on this website, and to thank and acknowledge each and every one of you for your individuality, personal experience, and in some cases, commitment to truth.. having read some of the heartfelt topics and posts here have served to be a great encouragement to me, more than some could imagine.

  my name is jason, and i am a recovering ex-jw.. i guess this would be an ideal time to tell my life story as an abbreviated version, so here goes.. i was "born into, or raised" in the organization.

  my grandfather was an elder for 45 years, and served as one of the very first jw in the south chicagoland suburbs.

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  GatoCat

  You're really sexy when you get that agitated tone to your posts!

  Does this mean we can kiss and make up?
  How about just plain kiss?

  COMF

  PS GatoCat because I'm over my limit. Are you gonna "expose me" now?
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  86

  Silliest thing that Witnesses told you was wrong?

  by gilwarrior in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there are two things.

  in the early and mid 80s there were witnesses saying that the cartoon characters the smurfs were not acceptable for witnesses.

  i had two smurf cartoon books and my mother made me throw them away.

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  GatoCat

  Mag wheels on your pickup - sign of rebelliousness, showy display of your means of living, immature, undignified.

  COMF
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  17

  BY WAY OF EXPLANATION!

  by IslandWoman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  somehow i keep hitting a nerve.

  here is the again infamous post i made that alanf seemed to think was some sort of attack on hs.. .

  hillary,.

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  GatoCat

  AArrrffsffghhh.....the sound of HS giving up.

  Reason is futile. You will be aggravated.
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  24

  To all North Texas Posters...and other apostates!

  by Billygoat in

  1. social
  2. current

  happy holidays everyone!

  hope this season has been good for and to you!

  some of us thought it might be fun to have a "get-together"...haha...before the end of the year got here.

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  GatoCat

  With this, I am definitely in! Thanks for choosing Pappadeaux, Andi! Seafood lovers will not regret the choice.

  COMF
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  5

  Press Release- Investment Opportunity

  by SixofNine in

  1. social
  2. family

  pfizer corp. (nyse pfe) is making the announcement today that viagra.

  (mykoxaphalentooldphyew) will soon be available in liquid form under.

  the trade name of mydixaflopin.. mydixaflopin will be marketed by pepsi cola (pepsi bottling group nyse.

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  GatoCat

  pondering Jolt, Seven-Up, and and Barq's

  Big Red?
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  16

  Nobody Answers

  by Rex B13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ten reasons why i never wash. my mother made me wash as a child.

  the soap makers only want my money.

  there are so many different kinds of soap, i could never decide which one was right.

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  GatoCat

  By golly, I see the light now. Rex, thank you! Your allegorical logic has hit home. I could see myself as the child whose mother made him wash, and relate that to being forced to go to church. Then I saw myself as I am now... never taking a bath (I haven't had one since I left home after high school graduation) and I saw the parallel with not going to church. And the blinders fell away, and I could see. I could SEE.

  I'm saved. Praise the lord for sending you, Rex! Thank ya. Thankyaveramuch.

  COMF