Posts by GoldDustWoman

85

The Debate: Do JW's Need Respect?

by Mindchild in

jw
friends

this thread will hopefully serve as the platform for a friendly debate about the issue of how much respect the watchtower society deserves from ex-jehovah's witnesses.

do we blast the hell out of the borg and don't let a kind word in edgewise?

do we acknowledge that they have done some things right and (shudder) even good?

GoldDustWoman

Just a comment from an interested observer.

I love this thread.

Venice.....errr, I mean Your Honor!

I love your haute couture robe .

GDW

57

Screen Name vs Character

by Amazing in

jw
friends

since my character is part of the issues that have been addressed by several posters, i thought that i would clear this up:.

teejay said: conclusion: no more insulting than you when you mentioned that one has to wonder about someone who'd pick the screen name "amazing.".

i am not sure if teejay shares agreement with what he quoted, but for discussion sake, i will treat it as though he does.

GoldDustWoman

So,when does one need to be ASKED to offer an opinion on this forum?

GDW

27

X-JW FEMALE CIVILITY=X-JW FEMALE SUBJECTION?

by GoldDustWoman in

jw
friends

greetings gentle posters,.

i have been inspired to write this by the following quotes from various posters on a thread started by amnesian titled the ex-[elders] files: eyes wide shut.. the following was quoted by amnesian from various responses to a thread started by amazing titled: ex-jw women, your side.. thanks for asking!...thank you amazing for asking that question...just my 2 cents.

thanks for letting me share...amazing, this is a great topic!...amazing, great idea...thanks for starting this thread amazing...what an excellent topic.

GoldDustWoman

Greetings gentle posters,

I have been inspired to write this by the following quotes from various posters on a thread started by Amnesian titled THE EX-[ELDERS] FILES: EYES WIDE SHUT.

The following was quoted by Amnesian from various responses to a thread started by Amazing titled: EX-JW WOMEN, YOUR SIDE.

Thanks for asking!…Thank you Amazing for asking that question…Just my 2 cents. Thanks for letting me share…Amazing, this is a great topic!…Amazing, great idea…Thanks for starting this thread Amazing…What an excellent topic. It is so healing to be able to say how we really feel and felt…I love this thread…There is something about this topic that usually causes a burning desire for our voice to be heard…Thanks...great thread…Thank you Amazing for starting this thread…This is an excellent thread because so many JW women are oppressed…

I will quote a few responses to Anmesian’s thread that intrigued me:

Also some women who still carry over the ladylike civility a la WTS. You'll know them by their posts. They bought into that definition of 'the good woman' but forgot to return that old used up costume to the store lol. Real assertive competant outspoken women scare them,because they havent realized the status quo changed long ago. Pollyana is dead and buried. Civil=little ladylike kow-towing here.

And this from a male:

If these comments weren't so tragically sad they would be downright sickening. It reminds me of the exact same inability to speak up for the distress women feel within the brotherhood (emphasis on "brother") that is the Spiritual Paradise. So much pain and misery not allowed to surface and men walking around acting as they have all the answers but knowing all the while that they don't.

And also this:

You no longer speak from behind the authority of the podium at the KH and women are no longer hostages held in your audience with no choice but to give the impression of sitting in quiet rapture, “lapping” whatever concoction you’re ladling if they wish to “earn” G-O-D’s approval.

Except for the first one provided, I do not match the posters to their various quotes for a reason. My objective is not to call them out, and duke it out via this forum, but only to provide my inspiration in the starting of this thread. I wish to make it abundantly clear, that I have NO ax to grind with anyone on this discussion board. However, I do have a somewhat different perspective and the desire to share it.

I also harbor no personal animosity towards Amazing. When I write about elders, I am not referring to him. I, myself, have found insight in his posts.

First off, a little info about; Moi. I was raised with the unfortunate “privilege” of having my own personal “elder/Jehovah”. Self-appointed by my JW Father. I know the smothering hand of oppression up close. And I have experienced the frustration of having the message sent, covertly, and overtly, that because I was born a female, my thoughts, opinions, dreams, and ambitions were trivial, silly, and just a plain waste of time. That my very existence on this planet was a burden to be carried by the stronger, wiser, and proudly swaggering, males, that traveled in my universe, and that I should know my place and keepeth my mouth shut.

So, here’s where I take a deep cleansing breath, and offer my various musings on a little ditty I like to call:

BURNING THE WATCHTOWER BRA

It seems like another lifetime that those “little pearls of Patriarchy” were planted in my impressionable mind. I’m older and wiser now, and know, really KNOW, who and WHAT I am. What is acceptable and what is not to me. If some ex-elder feels compelled, by old habits, to fall back on his “Elder-EASE”, I really couldn’t care less. I understand that many others here are less understanding. Yet, some women who have been silent on the subject of their roll, or rather, lack of, in the WTs, or when asked to give evidence of their experience, are highlighted as still in the grips of submissive female WT mentality. Also, that the silence of other females indicates their fear of even sharing at all. So frightened are they of being challenged and ridiculed. That may be true in some cases, but not in all.

Is subjection a condition taken on by women that desire not to divulge their personal experiences? Or, when they do offer their perspective, and include a polite, “thank you” for being asked, are still under the thumb of the Society?

And if the asker is a male, a former elder, if her contribution is not riddled with in yer face sarcasm, and indignant fist-raising, she’s the cowering little woman still in the clutches of twisted Borg “sisterisms”.

Well, maybe not.

I know that many women here, on this discussion board, are in various stages of shedding their WT mannerisms. However, some have chosen not to throw the manners out, only the, opinion stifling, WT isms. Perhaps they don’t need to go to the mat with every puffed-up, full- of- himself, male, who thinks he can “show the little lady a thing or two”. They react with mild bemusement when encountering his imagined superiority. They are way beyond anger. It’s more of a reaction of indifference. Elders, whether they be, current, or former, have NO POWER in their lives anymore. It’s her party and she’ll be polite, or quiet,for that matter, if she wants to. They don’t need to feel pissed off and hurl personal insults in order to feel liberated. They are liberated! Their Watchtower brassiers are nothing more than a few wind-blown ashes floating away into a clear blue sky.

However, I understand, usually , that some EX-JW women need to vent, sometimes angrily, about their years of frustration and stolen dignity. Sensitive they are to, what they consider to be, condescending elderisms. Fine. In my opinion, however, civility doesn’t equate with subjection, and biting sarcasm doesn’t equate with liberation.

GDW

44

Are you bitter?

by rolling rock in

jw
friends

is it just me, or is "everyone" on this board bitter?.

i do know alot of happy jws and, i could not see them being anything else but jws.... .

this is just my take on what i have been reading on the boards sence i joined up...

GoldDustWoman

Me? Bitter?

No way. I'm as sweet as they come.

GDW

9

Anti-independent thinking

by sadiejive in

jw
friends

cyberguy posted on sept 16:.

today's watchtower lesson instructs witnesses not to think for themselves when it comes to bible understanding:.

augest 1, 2001, p. 14, par.

GoldDustWoman

sadiejive,

Thanks for posting all those WT quotes. When they are lined up in row, the impact is overwhelming.

GDW

38

What do you drink???

by Billygoat in

thought this was funny!.

drinks and personalities.

seven new york city bartenders were asked if they could nail a woman's personality, based on what she drinks.

GoldDustWoman

Tim,

After much thought and consideration, and a glowing recommendation from Xena, I am happy to inform that you have been accepted into my cabin boy apprendice program. Rest assured, your basement experience will come in handy .

Gilwarrior,

Always room for one more. A girl can never have enough cabin boys.

Andi,

Yes! of course, I will need a cabin girl. Gotta keep those cabin boys in line, eh?

GDW

9

Y R Witnesses so LIFE NEGATIVE?

by Mindchild in

this is not a fluff post.... hey friends...i got all nostalgic today and for some reason decided to prepare the ultimate talk that i wished i could have given at one of the meetings back yonder when i was a dumb dub.

so, the next best thing is to share it here with you cool folks, and just maybe you might find something here of value.... why are the witnesses so life negative?.

perhaps it comes as a surprise to you that i say that the society has denied life, destroyed life; they have been antagonistic to life, and their god jehovah is against life.

GoldDustWoman

Excellent points, Skipper!

To me, WTS teaches that this life is one to be endured, not lived. The constant use of the word "wicked" to describe any event that does not originate from the WTS. Unless, of course, it supports, however loosely used and cleverly twisted, their doctrines.

Especially, for those that were either born into, or as young children, had those depressing ideas planted in their brains by the WTS and their witness parents. Those seeds of mass killings and overwhelming destruction, have a very tramatic affect on young minds. The pressure to please Jehovah by denying our natural development takes it toll. Those urges are, for the most part, are given in to, and of course, in the eyes of children, they're dead meat. Try having a positive outlook on life after being spoonfed that growing up.

So, of course, the result is an adult that is "life negative". Why would they be positive? The only "positive" thing that witness so desperately cling to is the idea that they are going to "live" to see some fantasy utopia and all will be well then.

In the mean time, they suffer and endure.

GDW

17

My story...well part of it anyway

by kenny2 in

it has occurred to me that ive been here long enough and have met many of you whose company i really appreciate.

i see people come in since i have been here and am inspired and impressed at the courage they have for giving their stories, their experiences and the freedoms they now have paid for by a cost that only a cult survivor can really appreciate.. so with that inspiration, here is my story.... i have very little memory of before i was 5. i do remember christmas morning one year to wake up to a ton of toys and that was cool.

i remember having my stomach pumped once because i got into some kerosene and thought id pour myself a glass.