Yes, JWN was much better yesterday - and hundreds of times better last weekend. Why do I keep coming back?
JV
Juan Viejo2
JoinedPosts by Juan Viejo2
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31
JWN Is Not The Same Place It Was minutes Ago .
by cyberjesus inpublishingcult made the following statement.
how has jwn changed over the years, old timers?
so how has jwn changed over the minutes, new timers?
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41
I'm on the front page of AOL o.O
by brizzzy inhey guys, so the book came out today.
my story and the book are on the front page of aol news right now (and i was just on npr and heading into another npr interview right now): http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/26/brianna-karp-girls-guide-to-homelessness/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl5|sec1_lnk2|58386.
some of the jw stuff is mentioned and of course there are a few jws and jw apologists flooding the comments section proclaiming my apostate-ness ;).
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Juan Viejo2
Brianna,
Don't let some of those nasty comments posted on that article bother you. Look at it this way: You've already got seven pages of comments, good and bad. That means that possibly thousands have read that article about you. Many of them might actually buy your book.
The negative comments are clearly from JWs, some JW apologists, far right nay-sayers, and total idiots who are the very people that want to treat the homeless like lepers. I know you have had criticism in the past for "not being homeless enough." How could you be homeless - and yet have a cell phone and a laptop? From their point of view, you were "too rich to be homeless."
I can understand how some people might think that way - if they haven't read your book. I firmly believe that those who actually read your book will wonder how you managed to survive the way you did and still remain sane.
Everyone needs to learn a little empathy. Don't criticize someone if you don't know their story. I once went to lunch with a co-worker. A one-armed crippled man in a wheel chair accidentally blocked his path as we were driving through a shopping mall parking lot. I could see that one of the wheels of the disabled man's chair had stuck in a pothole and he was struggling with his one arm to force the wheel up and out.
Getting all impatient, my companion rolled down his windonw and started yelling at the guy to "get the move on." Finally I climbed out of the truck and went to offer the poor fellow some help. "Normally I'd say no," he said, "but maybe it would be a good idea if you could help me just this one time." He mentioned that he'd been wounded in Viet Nam many years before, but now that he was older his strength was limited. "Every so often I need to ask for help, but I hate it," he said."Tell your friend I'm sorry I blocked his way."
I climbed back into my friend's truck. "Said he was wounded in Viet Nam."
"Yeah, right," he replied. "Maybe he'd have been better off if he'd taken one in the head instead of the spine."
I just shook my head, astonished at this guy's total lack of empathy. I should have said something, but I chickened out. I decided anything I said would die a lonely death inside this guy's skull. But after that I disliked him to the point that I avoided him completely. I was done with him and his bullshit bully attitude.
That's what these naysayers are doing with you. The are just being bullies. They are trying to say that you should have been "more destitute or more homeless." You shouldn't have inherited anything from your father. You shouldn't have collected unemployment. You were living off the dole because "you wanted to live that way." You were poor and homeless - not because of your job - but because of your "spendthrift ways and lack of character." And of course, "God was punishing you" for leaving the good life your Jehovah's Witness family had given you. Jeeeezzzz...
They need to read your book. More important - they need to get a life.
JV
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75
Of All of The Automobils You Have Ever Owned Which One Was Your Favorite?
by Was New Boy inthey say the average person will own about 25 cars in their life time.. from 1982 to 1988 i owned a 1971 dodge challenger convertible.
it had a 340 with a 4 speed stick.
i loved that car.. i didnt cry when my wife left me....i did cry when that car drove out of my life!.
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Juan Viejo2
Berengaria, where are you located? Your Mercury Comet looks suspiciously like the Ford Maverick we had here in the USA. Their style, which was supposed to mimic the late 60's and early 70s Mustangs, did not age well. They were supposed to compete with the Chevrolet Nova / Chevy II compact. Whatever it is, your car is very pretty and looks hot from that angle.
JV
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75
Of All of The Automobils You Have Ever Owned Which One Was Your Favorite?
by Was New Boy inthey say the average person will own about 25 cars in their life time.. from 1982 to 1988 i owned a 1971 dodge challenger convertible.
it had a 340 with a 4 speed stick.
i loved that car.. i didnt cry when my wife left me....i did cry when that car drove out of my life!.
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Juan Viejo2
Nice car, Donny. Very pretty green!!!
JV
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65
New ex-JW memoir coming out...
by brizzzy ini don't post a ton here because i'm kinda shy.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0373892357?tag=thegirsguitoh-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkcode=as1&creativeasin=0373892357&adid=038ez4bjpam7bcsze5mq&.
that's the amazon link (which is currently the most affordable, i believe, but it's also available for preorder at b&n, borders, indiebound, and indigo-chapters if you're in canada, if you prefer one of those retailers).. .
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Juan Viejo2
Released today. Review at http://ex-jw.com/read-this-book-you-too-could-be-homeless.
Lots of Facebook traffic about this today. I think she is going to be very successful - and it's a very good book.
JV
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86
There's someone here who shouldn't be
by mrsjones5 in*i'm posting this in a public place so this person will see it, i'm not sure if they are a member of the board or not but i'm sure they're a lurker*.
dear person who knows my mother, i want you to know that i am not nor have i never been a jw.
yes as you well know i was raised in the org but i was never baptised into it.
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Juan Viejo2
You know you have my respect, Mrs. Jones. You are the real thing.
JV
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75
Of All of The Automobils You Have Ever Owned Which One Was Your Favorite?
by Was New Boy inthey say the average person will own about 25 cars in their life time.. from 1982 to 1988 i owned a 1971 dodge challenger convertible.
it had a 340 with a 4 speed stick.
i loved that car.. i didnt cry when my wife left me....i did cry when that car drove out of my life!.
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Juan Viejo2
My favorite car, the best car I've ever owned is a 1995 Toyota Camry LE 4-cyl automatic.
It has over 205,000 miles on the odometer. It still runs quiet and smooth. Can go 85 MPH all day without complaint. Consistently gets 30-32 MPG on the road, even with the trunk loaded with luggage.
I've owned several Cadillacs, a couple of Chevys, a pair of Pontiacs, two Datsuns (1968-1972), a Datsun 260Z, even a 1990 Honda Accord coupe. But this Toyota that I purchased new in 1995 can't be beat. The only way you could kill this car would be to drop it in a crusher and grind it up.
In spite of the fact that it only gets washed about six or seven times a year and the oil changed just before a long trip, it still looks pretty decent. Here is a photo of it almost ten years ago on California's State Highway 1 near Big Sur and Carmel. The second photo is it parked in front of the Menlo Park Kingdom Hall in December 2010 when I was in the San Francisco Bay area researching my articles on the nasty takeover scandal there.
This car might actually outlive me. If so, I bet one of my grandkids will get it and drive it to college (they're not JWs, thank goodness!)
JV
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Juan Viejo2
As posted earlier, I went. But never, ever, never again.
JV
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Juan Viejo2
Pistoff's description is right on. I am not a JW, left over 40 years ago for good, but I am an active apostate. This was a good year for me to go as a journalistic pursuit, just to see if anything had really changed, and then to report back on what I discovered, if anything.
I went to a KH that is some distance from my home. I am well known in my area as being an apostate, so the locals avoid my house - although I did get an invitation this year (I describe in another thread their use of children as delivery systems). But I was also given an invitation to this KH from a neighbor who was given one while out shopping or running errands. So I used that as my "ticket to heaven."
The session was to begin at 7:45 (sundown was at 8:00 in my area), so I guess as long as they didn't partake too early, they were technically OK. I arrived about 7:20 and left about 8:50. A spanish congregation was coming in at 9:00 to hold their Memorial service.
I was "love bombed" as soon as I stepped out of my car. Obviously I was a stranger, so everyone from the parking attendants to the COBOE went into "welcome the newbie" mode. Within minutes I was attached at the hip to a mid-30s MS, who invited me to sit with him and his family.
The speaker, who was not the COBOE, was probably chosen for his excellent stage presence and speaking skills. I found him easy to listen to and to follow along with. Sitting next to my "mentor" I found myself forced to read along with him each and every scripture quoted from the stage. It was the same two dozen scriptures that are used in practically every public talk and funeral sermon. After all these years being away, I realized that I could still almost quote them from memory. The opening song (#8 from the new song book) was specific to the Memorial. The end song (#109) was generic about Jesus. I can read music to some degree so I could sing along without embarrassing myself. The speaker gave the opening and closing prayers, while two other elders said the prayer before each emblem was served. Believe me when I tell you that nothing has changed in that regard; the prayers are impromptu and meandering, with repetition and gaps in logic. One brother asked for forgiveness of sins three times in the same prayer. Another mentioned "Your earthly organization" four times in the same prayer, and each of the other brothers used that term at least once in their prayers.
Four elders passed the emblems. The hall had three seating sections, so two elders took the side rows and two others managed the middle section. The hall was completely silent during this activity except for two crying babies. No one seemed to mind the distraction. The talk lasted about 35 minutes and the whole session was just under 45. my guess is that there were over 200 people at this meeting.
At least half the congregation wanted to shake my hand and welcome me. The brother who was my mentor wanted to sign me up for a Bible study right away, but when he realized that I did not live within his area, he offered to refer me to someone closer. Yeah, like anyone will want to study with "The Apostate in the Neighborhood." I could tell that observing geographic boundaries was still important to JWs.
In all honesty, if I didn't know the truth about "The Truth" (TM), I could easily be caught up in the friendly atmosphere and love bombing that happens at this stage. Sitting there at that meeting I could see no obvious signs of the control and underlying evil that is present.
A few side observations:
1. The elders all looked like GB wannabees. High-dollar tailored suits. Styled hair cuts. Starched white shirts. Very few smiles. My guess is that this is a very conservative congregation. All of those in power seemed to be over 55.
2. The KH was spotless. My mentor told me that it had been completely refurbished a couple of years before. NO windows, drive through portal in front, small meeting rooms at the back. Sound system was impeccable. One MS in the front jumped up each time to adjust the mikes for prayers and the speaker. Very clean. Nice neighborhood.
3. The women all wore dresses and heels, except for some of the elderly. The new style for JW women seems to be the longer straight skirts dating back to the 1950s, the ones that end about 8 inches above the ankle. Maybe these are back in style, but it looks like a group of Joan Crawfords walking around. A couple were wearing 3-inch heels and showing some leg (and rightfully so), but most were dressed in rather dowdy styles.
4. There were a few men in attendance with close cut beards. They were obviously not MS or elders. So they may have been unbaptized or visitors. One brother, while nicely dressed, had dreadlocks and some facial hair. Again, obviously not an MS or elder.
So my overall impression was that this was a pretty typical JW Kingdom Hall. From a purely outsider impression I'd say they were all very nice to me, very welcoming, they all seemed to get along. I could see no obvious negatives about the Hall. My mentor was very enthusiastic, friendly, helpful and I believe totally committed to the organization. I actually felt bad about not accepting his offer to set up a Bible study with me.
I once again realize how easy it can be to get sucked into this organization. It's kind of like a kitchen trash can: all shiny and clean on the outside, but filled with garbage, germs, and rot on the inside.
JV
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my mum taught us very valuable lessons about Jehovah in her special way. Any other parents out there as psycho?
by God Chick inok before i start i know my mum was um "special" and had some, well...... bizzare training ideas.. .
i was one of 7 kids, dad didnt help much coz he was sick, so my mum was left to run the 'ship' and she did it with an iron fist.. .
we were never late for a meeting we sat, parents and 2 kids in one row the other 5 in row in front.
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Juan Viejo2
Sorry to bring this unhappy thread back to the top, but unfortunately it is still very relevant.
I just heard a story on a local radio station that the police were filing charges against an older couple for child abuse. Apparently a school teacher had noticed that their kids (including a couple of foster children) had noticeable bruises and welts on their legs. When the kids were asked how they got the bruises they answered "we got spankings because we were naughty."
Details were very limited in the radio story (as they always are in less than 30 seconds), but at the end I heard the announcer say that the couple were "known to be very religious and belonged to the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses."
I'm hoping to see something in print on this - as the story came and went so fast I didn't hear the town or any names of the people charged.
As a child of Jehovah's Witnesses in the 1950s and 60s, my brother and I were spanked by hand, occasionally slapped, and beaten with my father's belt. As I look back, we were really pretty good kids and rarely made any noises or created problems at the Kingdom Hall. We'd get spanked more often for being "smart mouthed," or sassy to our parents - or talking in bed at night after lights out. The exception was our sister, who was more of a trouble maker, but I doubt was ever actually spanked, but had to suffer the indignity of being sent to her room for 20 minutes or losing the privilege of seeing a friend.
I think I averaged a decent spanking about once a week until I was about 12. The last good belt licking I got when I was almost 16.
My younger brother could be beligerant when he was in the mood. He'd decide that he would not cry no matter how hard my dad would whail on him. One time he was sent to our room to await dad's arrival with the belt. He found a comic book and stuck it inside his pants to absorb the hits. My dad came in and forced my brother to lay over the edge of the bed and started smacking him with his heavy leather work belt. Fortunately, my dad held the end with the buckle, but there were still metal rivets in the holes at the other end of the belt.
No matter how hard my dad would hit him, my brother would not cry even though tears were shooting out of his eyes. He would just grit his teeth and clinch his fists as dad pounded on him. My brother was madder than my dad was at that point, and this was a kid who was about only 9 or 10 at the time. When my father realized that he had a comic book in his pants, he pulled it out and then tore it up - and then really started wailing on my brother. I don't know how long it laster - to me it seemed like an eternity - but finally my mother came in the room and said, "That's enough. He's had enough. You need to go calm down." My dad yelled a couple of times and added some kind of restriction to the punishment, but he finally walked out of the room.
I'm sure that if we had a gun in the house, my brother would have grabbed it and shot my dad dead at that very moment.
From then on my brother's relationship with our father was always tenous. I think it really scarred them both. I don't ever remember my dad using the belt on him again. My brother and I remember that event like it was yesterday, and unfortunately whenever we talk at length about my dad, that event always seems to come up during the conversation. My brother loved dad, but he never forgot that beating.
But for the Witnesses, my dad would have been right to punish my brother like that - while my mother would have been wrong for telling my father to stop. Both of them died JWs. My brother and I both left forever the first chance we got.
JV
