Posts by invisible

47

Were you ashamed of being a witness?

by sleepy in

jw
friends

were you ashamed of being a witness?.

how did you feel about identifing yourself as a jehovahs witness to others?.

i often used to hide it because of the stigma attacthed to it.. was anyone actually proud to be one?

invisible

Massively so, constant ridicule at school, segregation from school mates, segregation from the opposite sex, scared stiff of bumping into them on the ministry, segregation from any activities not considered 'wholesome'. It was just utterly dreadful, I don't understand how any rational mind / parent can ignore the internal pain of their children forcing them into such a standard of life. Then there was the issues that JW's are well known for, here I'm talking of the abuse issues. Many people know what they'ree about and to be associated by birth and called names which had no substance in truth used to make me cringe. Even to this day I still hear of accusations often personally, it makes me steaming mad, but I deal with it.

It might sound a dreadful thing to say. My marriage with Jo' did not work out and subsequently we divorced. Having lost out on the upbringing of my son, period, at least I can be appreciative of the fact that he never will know the ways of the witnesses, for this I am very very thankful.

Celtic Mark

35

Is It Fair To Discipline Born-Into-It's?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

a born-into-it teenager or maybe someone in their early 20's, gets df'd for an unspecified offence.

later the df'd person protests that df'ing is unscriptural and inhumane, only to be told "you knew the score, you knew what would happen, it's your fault".. but is it?

maybe it might be fairer for a converted person to be df'd for breaking the rules, after all, a converted person has joined the jw's willingly and has therefore accepted the witness rules.

invisible

Hello Englishman

I agree wholeheartedly. There was no choice, just constant pressure, recriminations, punishments, beatings, humiliations. JW children to some in the 'truth' must be viewed as only scum by older members of the congregation. Well aware of their own shortcomings and not wanting their own children to make the same 'mistakes' gave them the excuse needed to belittle us at every opportunity from developing by normal standards. The second we tried to be ourselves, make our own imformed choice based upon our own character makeup, it was then that we simply got punished for even when we thought we were just being good and normal. After a while, all distinctions of normal behaviour development go out the window, you know not who you are as an individual anymore. Not even afforded any protection from the state and the social welfare system you simply fall through every gap in provision, cast out, unwanted, of no use to anyone, worthless, degraded and utterly powerless.

For these reasons I hate from some deep part of me everything that the WT stands for. They completely ruined my life for years upon years.

Celtic Mark

Edited by - invisible on 17 June 2002 11:36:16

13

What If...

by Undecided in

jw
friends

i was sitting in my swing looking at the clouds, trees, birds, etc, and thought, what if there was nothing at all everywhere, no god, no space, nothing material or any deminsion, just plain nothing.

no space, light, sound, universe, life, thought........ am i going nuts?

ken p.

invisible

Some paradoxical riddles refuse to be answered

Celtic Mark

45

How many Artists here? Which field of Art?

by invisible in

jw
friends

i know i asked this absolutely yonks back, then by the name of celtic, but with so many newcomers here i thought no harm but to ask once again.. how many artists do we have here or working in art related fields including film, music, theatre, environment, gardening, sculpture, graphic design, illustration, fine art, photograpy etc etc?.

what hobbies do you have?

how do you see your future artistic horizons opening up?

invisible

I know I asked this absolutely yonks back, then by the name of Celtic, but with so many newcomers here I thought no harm but to ask once again.

How many artists do we have here or working in art related fields including film, music, theatre, environment, gardening, sculpture, graphic design, illustration, fine art, photograpy etc etc?

What hobbies do you have? How do you see your future artistic horizons opening up? Do you feel that 'art therapy' is particularly beneficial for individuals coming out of a high control group like the jw's? If you could put together your own arts based workshops, what themes would you like to employ, and finally ....

Of artistic imagination, given artistic license, what 'performance' would you like to personally carry off?

'Celtic' Mark

62

Do you ignore certain posters?

by LDH in

jw
friends

ok before we get off on the wrong foot this is not a flame war.

i read a comment by belbab on hillary's post this morning...he remarked that he had asked a question after the 09/11 attack, that no one answered.

well, i didn't even remember reading it, so i did a simple search.

invisible

ommmmmms resonantly

38

Your Volunteer Work?

by Valis in

jw
friends

well, some here think that all we do is sit around a post naughty pics and do no charitable or volunteer work.

i thought we could see who does what for their respective communities.

valis= free computer support dallas shakespeare festival + on the wing again bird sanctuary/rescue, photopgraphic web hosting services for the bob marley festival of dallas, am about to start w/the down's syndrome guild of dallas doing web support and event work/soliciting charitable donations from companies, and my teaching that means working many hours unpaid to help my students personally/educationally.

invisible

Hilary, put a sock in it, I have no patience for time consuming thread hijackers. This was a good positive thread, but all the way through, you've been arguing a completely beside the point point. Stick a sock in it, do me a ruddy favour!!

When your'e being less cantankerous, I do enjoy your posts, lets keep it that way shall we?

Rolling his eyes in an arc heavenwards in exasperation.

Celtic Mark

38

Your Volunteer Work?

by Valis in

jw
friends

well, some here think that all we do is sit around a post naughty pics and do no charitable or volunteer work.

i thought we could see who does what for their respective communities.

valis= free computer support dallas shakespeare festival + on the wing again bird sanctuary/rescue, photopgraphic web hosting services for the bob marley festival of dallas, am about to start w/the down's syndrome guild of dallas doing web support and event work/soliciting charitable donations from companies, and my teaching that means working many hours unpaid to help my students personally/educationally.

invisible

Full member of http://www.can-online.org.uk a learning and support structure for social entrepreneurs. Much of the work for 5 years or so has been purely voluntary.

Presently leading from the front the design of a social enterprise community initiative in environmental, theatre, arts and natural crafts education. To be honest, I'm exhausted mentally within this field right now, but effort put in now, will pay dividends later and will be well worth the struggle inbetween.

Celtic Mark

32

Anyone w/anxiety disorders? Describe it.

by ashitaka in

jw
friends

i'm curious to see if anyone here has any major anxiety disorders and how it affects their lives.

as a semi-confession, i think i may have something of this sort, but i'd like a comparison first.

being a male, i never go to the doctors unless my leg is falling off, so i don't just want to go to a doctor to medicate a problem that could be overcome in other ways.

invisible

Hello Ashi, not shared with you for a while, how goes it?

I used to have demophobia (fear of crowds) and agrophobia (more recent).

The Demophobia made meetings and assemblies absolutely hellish for me, give me wide open expanses any day. It got so bad the pressure to attend the meetings that in the end I couldn't 2 years prior to being D'fed in April '95, even get in through the front door. I was in absolute dread of the kingdom hall. I would shake and get very angry if the elders tried to overstep the mark in their 'encouragement'. Life was a dark tunnel, a black veil, my emotions scraped raw, the only thing they couldn't take from me was this final pip of light energy, can still see it now, even writing this now, I'm starting to feel angry at the WT, I better stop.

Peace

Celtic Mark

Edited by - invisible on 16 June 2002 22:30:38

25

PLEASE HELP! - WT LAWSUIT PROGRESSING &#8...

by Naomimara in

jw
friends

you may verify my authenticity through silentlambs.

my civil suit was 1st filed in 1996; withdrawn and re-filed in 1998. the present pleadings standing are the nov. 2000 "second substitute complaint".

the history of this case is extensive.

invisible

Cheers Cassi - Thankyou!!

25

PLEASE HELP! - WT LAWSUIT PROGRESSING &#8...

by Naomimara in

jw
friends

you may verify my authenticity through silentlambs.

my civil suit was 1st filed in 1996; withdrawn and re-filed in 1998. the present pleadings standing are the nov. 2000 "second substitute complaint".

the history of this case is extensive.

invisible

If you are genuine, then I hope you get the help you think you deserve. I too was puzzled though in Chat earlier, that you announced this, but when prompted to talk about it, you left abruptly without giving out any detail, not even a greeting to anyone in the room at that time.

Many here are as poor as you. I've been close to homeless not a few times and have on occassion had to spend a few nights sleeping in the hedge somewhere, right now, I've got equivalent to $10 to last me 10 days.

As I said, if you are a genuine case, I wish you well here.

Celtic Mark