this is a stupid story if it is a story at all..... quentin and i decided we'd go to the district convention since it is right here in our home town.. why?.
oh, curiousity.
a desire to find my old prison buddies.
............and in your honor terry...i am wearing nothing but a thong and a cowboy hat to the DC here next weekend!.....
Just don't forget the spurs...you want to complete the outfit.Maybe even a Chippendales bow tie, since it's somewhat of a formal occasion.
this is a stupid story if it is a story at all..... quentin and i decided we'd go to the district convention since it is right here in our home town.. why?.
oh, curiousity.
a desire to find my old prison buddies.
@BreakingAway: I really don't appreciate comparing JayDubs to soldiers. I've never met a soldier that acts like a JayDub. :oP
Contrary to very popular belief, Soldiers are every kind of people and training doesn't really change you other than make of possible to set yourself aside when you need to serve a role on the team.
Allusions to 1984 or the Third Reich would be far more appropriate. Thanksabunch.
Bring_the_Light
I know what you're saying BTL (including the quip).Perhaps, I should have been more specific though. I was in the military and you certainly are right that all types are present.The main point, specifically regarding a specialized service, such as Special Forces, or civilian specialties, is that one must be able to accomplish a critical task even if they are unable to properly focus.The cause of this might be injury,stress,shell shock, etc.In such a case, the person would be able to do it "in their sleep" so to speak, without any real conscious effort.The Society has trained, or conditioned, JW's to act in a certain manner to accomplish the Society's goals. What you mentioned here regarding training is a point I was also driving at....
set yourself aside when you need to serve a role on the team.
Witnesses get to the point where they "set themselves aside".All Witnesses do this to some extent, but in a case where a specific trigger is touched, such as confronting an "apostate", or one showing "apostate leanings", they go into "autopilot" and act in the manner in which they've been trained;Fear,Anger, Etc.Tunnel vision sets in and they focus entirely on the task at hand:"Getting rid of the threat ! This reaction may very well defy rational thought and perhaps may even cause them, after the fact, to question why they acted the way they did.A similar, and extended, case of this, is how those who df'd and da'd are treated by Family and socalled Friends.The Society has prepared and trained Witnesses to act a certain way when the disfellowshipping finally arrives.When it does....the person is "cut off" by everyone else, thus accomplishing the task for which they have been trained or "conditioned".And I agree that 1984 and the Third Reich would be appropriate, likely more so.
this is a stupid story if it is a story at all..... quentin and i decided we'd go to the district convention since it is right here in our home town.. why?.
oh, curiousity.
a desire to find my old prison buddies.
How quickly did your feelings of nostalgia fly out the window, Terry ? Did they seem to be jet propelled ? I'd imagine you were reminded of why you left in the first place... and quite quickly I might add !
Before attending the convention you mentioned that it might be "interesting".You were right ! Here's something else we can all think about too.When a person is trained to perform a specific task, like a soldier for instance, it is done through repetition.Performed again and again.The reason this is done is that, if and when, one reaches the lowest common denominator of barely being able to function-- they will still be able to function on "autopilot" or a subconscious level and carry out the objective.Some call this "instinct".
When these Witnesses acted the way they did, they went into "autopilot"mode.No thinking was necessary.How they had been trained, the feelings with which they had been instilled, took over.Fear,Intimidation,Control,Hurt Feelings,and sadly, yes, even hatred at times, begin to take over.You didn't deserve to be treated this way, but you were.This is the sad legacy of this organization.
i've gone to many a witness dinner where i would bring one or two nice wines, hoping we would have some with dinner.
{to numb the boring conversations} only, to find the couple say "thanks" put it in the cabnet....and serve up lemonade..... and it's not an alcohol thing....two different brothers brought out there own "home made" vino instead, which taste like a mixture of fruit punch and vineger!
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When it comes to wine there are different opinions from "experts" as to whether or not is should be served to the guest who brought it.If it's decorated that's usually an indicator that it's not meant to be opened that night and the particular event or dinner arrangements also can dictate whether or not it should be served at the time the wine was given.
What's interesting though, is that many people feel it should be served to the guest who brought it.I found this good advice at Cookinglight.com on Essential Wine Etiquette
When a dinner guest brings a bottle of wine as a gift, should you open and serve it?
Yes. Though there’s no way to be sure of your guest’s intention, wine is about communal sharing and fun. So unless the guest specifically requests that you keep and enjoy it later, serve it. Your guest will be pleased. And if you already had a wine you planned to serve, serve both. Tasting both wines will be an educational experience.
i've gone to many a witness dinner where i would bring one or two nice wines, hoping we would have some with dinner.
{to numb the boring conversations} only, to find the couple say "thanks" put it in the cabnet....and serve up lemonade..... and it's not an alcohol thing....two different brothers brought out there own "home made" vino instead, which taste like a mixture of fruit punch and vineger!
.
I wasn't raised as a Witness so having "come out of the world" I noticed that most Witnesses are socially retarded.Even though they might work among the world, they lead a lifestyle that largely restricts them from interactivity with "worldly people", as a result,they don't learn social graces and proper manners.They're a culture to themselves and are backwards in a lot of ways.
a painstaking satire/critique of gb anthony morriss 2007 convention talk, .
http://www.freeminds.org/women/morris2007.htm.
they keep following the lamb no matter where he goes".
Thanks for the info.It's no big surprise that he would so extensively mention that everyone should trust the "slave.After all, he's one of "them", right ? Nothing like tooting your own horn.
I also thought this line was typical of their motivational tactics...
“You know what I mean by helping with the preaching work? Life is in the balance. We need to keep a positive spirit. I was a medic in Vietnam War. I know what’s coming at Armageddon. I know what it’s like to see a lot of blood and horror. At Armageddon there will be a lot of dead people. Get out in the ministry"
insane .
1.not sane; not of sound mind; mentally deranged.
2.of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a person who is mentally deranged: insane actions; an insane asylum.
I appreciate everyones comments on this.A big reason why I wanted to post on this subject, in addition to what was already mentioned, is that during my years as a JW I would hear about studies that indicated Witnesses had a higher percentage of those with mental illness than other religions.Initially, meaning for quite a few years, I kind of shrugged it off and viewed as an attempt by those who just wanted to criticize or discredit JW's by trying to make them look "weird".Of course, I also figured that Satan also instigated this stuff ! Yep, forget about the possibility that someone out there may actually have done a well researched and valid study.....it must be Satan ! 
Eventually though, I couldn't overlook the fact that there was a very high percentage of those in my congregation that had serious mental and emotional problems.Quite a few were on medication because of it and more were heading in that direction.At least one attempted suicide, some had suicidal thoughts,others were barely hanging on emotionally.Really, very sad.I do think the organization both attracts some with mental problems and in others it creates or exacerbates the problem.It looks like those studies have some validity after all....and when I realized that.....it became just another impetus to examine the org more critically.
no, this is not a joke.
having actually managed to survive through the entire 3 grueling days of the dc after attending the friday session today (hit sat and sun last weekend) i was initially going to make a criticism of some of the parts & points at the dc.
however, something that i witnessed today changed my mind.
So they don't call 911 (or the equivalent)? So first aid is equipped to handle serious medical emergencies?
I guess it was a couple of years ago that they announced that no one was supposed to call 911.Instead, if you see an emergency, you're supposed to get ahold of first aid-- and THEY will assess the situation and decide what's to be done.Those moments wasted however may very well determine life or death, but that doesn't seem to be their main concern.
no, this is not a joke.
having actually managed to survive through the entire 3 grueling days of the dc after attending the friday session today (hit sat and sun last weekend) i was initially going to make a criticism of some of the parts & points at the dc.
however, something that i witnessed today changed my mind.
You would think that after they took her away in the wheelchair someone could have at least said a quick: "And we sure hope our dear sister will be okay, don't we ? " Maybe, even a little prayer, but no.....
After all, straight from the drama they say about the 'apostaelder' spreading "negative" views: "Scolios is saying we should help the poor and and engage in good works".Yeah, what unreasonable bastard he is ! Care for the poor and do good works, imagine that !
they found ice on mars!.
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/06/mars-phoenix-tw.html.
and from the nasa site.
Not impressed by water on Mars ? Okay then, how about: "A smoke and a pancake. You know, a flapjack and a cigarette? No? Cigar and a waffle? No? Pipe and a crepe? No? Bong and a blintz? No? Well, then there is no pleasing you."
