Posts by Razziel

The ebbs and flows of society within history are longer than a few years or even a single generation. The general trend for civilization in recorded history is up. But within that trend there are peaks and valleys that may span up to several generations. There are periods of peace and stability that have lasted for hundreds of years (like the Pax Romana). Then there are entire centuries plagued by wars, famine, and plague.

We have lived in relative stability since WW2. Perhaps that will go on. Perhaps that will not. But it's been less than 70 years since WW2. The period of stability and prosperity that we've experienced since then is still short compared to similar periods in history, but it's long enough for us to forget many of the lessons we've learned.

A fundamental mistake every generation makes in youth is to say "we are different", "we are special". Maybe we are. But history shows that when something rocks the boat, "civilization" can degenerate very quickly into base survival instincts, which are not pretty.

Humanity is perpetually marching towards something better, but I think it's a mistake to take comfort too deeply in the facades of comfort and stability we build for ourselves. Fundamentally, we are still animals, and it takes less than most people imagine for that part of our lineage to reassert itself.

26

What are us baby boomers in for ? your opinions please !

by caliber in

jw
friends

please see video's .

http://www.chatelaine.com/en/blog/post/39095--retirement-at-80-more-baby-boomers-have-to-stay-in-the-workforce-longer .

the woman at the centre of a landmark court ruling in b.c.

Razziel

if you have invested intelligently (whatever that means)

The first investment book I read about a decade ago, was coincidentally, called The Intelligent Investor, by Benjamin Graham, published in 1949. I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn about investing. That was followed by his (and David Dodd's) book Security Analysis, published even earlier, which teaches among other things how to read a company balance sheet and income statement. That was followed by some of Peter Lynch's investment books, which reinforces with documented examples many of the key points found in Graham's Intelligent Investor.

26

What are us baby boomers in for ? your opinions please !

by caliber in

jw
friends

please see video's .

http://www.chatelaine.com/en/blog/post/39095--retirement-at-80-more-baby-boomers-have-to-stay-in-the-workforce-longer .

the woman at the centre of a landmark court ruling in b.c.

Razziel

I think the baby boomers will have it better than the next few generations that age after them. Economic growth at it's core is based on population growth (# of consumers), which in turn drives job growth and a skilled labor force. With the retirement of the boomers from the workforce, we are left with a contraction in both general workforce population, and in those with highly specialized skills in the US for the immediate future.

This is already a problem in many specialized engineering and technical industries. There are many unfilled job openings because there are no qualified candidates, and the liability is too high to hire those who are not qualified through either many years experience or PhD level education. I know many engineers (not managers, just regular senior design engineers) who are still working in their 70's and 80's, not because they have to, but because no one is qualified to take their place, so companies are offering generous compensation to work them well past retirement age.

The demand for highly specialized skills will increase and drive wages for those jobs higher (which we will probably fill with educated foreigners), while the majority of the unskilled domestic workforce will have to compete for a decreasing number of service and retail oriented jobs due to the contraction in consumer demand.

US economic growth has been helped by emerging global markets, but the double-digit growth rate of many of those economies (i.e. china & india) has cooled off in the past few years and will approach a more sustainable and terminal growth rate in the coming years. This will be partially offset as other Asian and African countries come out of third world conditions, but they just don't have the population (i.e. consumers) that China and India did.

This may eventually correct itself without some form of global turmoil, but probably not before a couple of decades of stagnant or slightly declining economic growth.

I personally think we're headed down the same road as the Roman Empire. The middle class was fleeced until it eventually fragmented. The financial divide between the Patricians and the Plebs became so great, that the Patricians could basically subsidize the existence of the Plebs, i.e. a welfare state.

Call me crazy, but though the players and technology has changed, I think we just repeat history.

20

First potential relationship since leaving WT, and I've been well screwed over.

by ronweasley in

hi all i'm new to this, i joined because from what i can see this is the best ex jw forum out there.. anyway i'm male, 20, live in uk and left the wtbts after 2 years of being a student.. there was this girl called natalya and she has really took me on one hell of a ride.

she was very helpful in my exit, because she often had debates with me and tried again and again to help me see sense.

anyway we dated before i found the truth and to be honest, i never really stopped having these feelings for her even though we fell out a few times.

Razziel

Listen to the relationship advice from the guy whose handle is a phallic shaped fruit. Being rejected by a female for another male provokes an evolutionary response. You either suck it up and make excuses, becoming a lesser male, or you get angry, channeling that energy into bettering yourself, gaining confidence in the process, to become more of an alpha male. If you follow the lesser path, you'll always be insecure, and trying to convince girls why they should be with you instead of someone else. If you take the alpha path, you will be self-confident, and they will be drawn to you instead.

102

Is the Borg "really" guilty in the Candace Conti case ???

by RubaDub in

full disclosure:.

i am an active (2-4 hrs/month) 3rd generation jw hovering under the radar.

been posting here for 10 years.

Razziel

You know how some of these things sometimes used to get "reported to the authorities"? By an elder calling the police department from a pay phone with an anonymous tip containing very few details. They've technically met their obligations and assuaged their consciences, yet ensured authorities have virtually nothing to base an investigation on, if they don't just think it's a prank call. But from the elders POV, they've reported it anonymously and left it in Jehovah's hands to determine whether the authorities pursue it.

36

So I shaved off all my hair

by Qcmbr in

..on my head.

in some small way i think i understand one reason for shaving new recruits or prisoners.

as i did it i felt sick in my stomach and it felt like i was losing some of my personality.

Razziel

Salicylic acid doesn't work for me, just good old carcinogenic coal tar extract.

30

Some observations on Animal Farm by George Orwell

by WinstonSmith in

i recently finished reading animal farm, written by george orwell.

as someone who has recently awoken to the truth about the truth, this book blew my mind.

the parallels with the watchtower society are quite astounding.

Razziel

I can't wait to go to Sugarcandy Mountain when I die.

29

Guns And Self Defense??

by Cold Steel in

i know jehovah's witnesses can have firearms for defense, but does the church ever attempt to set guidelines on the use of deadly force?

also, are there jurisdictions in the church where handgun ownership is frowned upon?.

.

Razziel

Sorry man, it's obvious you were never a JW and don't understand the mindset. It's very hard to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it. Yes I know of servants who got outed by family members with guilty consciences because they owned handguns and assault rifles. Had to get rid of them to keep their privileges. Having a gun for competition use is no excuse, because competition sports are all-but-banned for JW's, the rich unbaptized tennis sisters aside. You also couldn't hunt or fish for sport, you hunt or fish for food.

Yes, they would prefer a woman to scream Jehovah's name, then be raped and murdered rather than own a handgun. I can't begin to count how many times the account of Peter cutting off the soldier's ear with a sword in the Garden of Gethsemane, and living by the sword/dying by the sword was quoted in context with owning a weapon for self-defense.

I now own guns, and love to shoot for recreation, though I would still never hunt purely for sport. I'm not defending their views, just telling it how it was.

29

Guns And Self Defense??

by Cold Steel in

i know jehovah's witnesses can have firearms for defense, but does the church ever attempt to set guidelines on the use of deadly force?

also, are there jurisdictions in the church where handgun ownership is frowned upon?.

.

Razziel

Speaking of, that's something I never understood. As a teenager, I would housesit for elders while they went on vacations, and those who didn't own guns still had a baseball bat or golf club under the bed in easy reach. I asked myself many times why it was ok to crack someones skull in self-defense with a bat but it wasn't ok to shoot someone for the same reason.