Posts by miseryloveselders

19

High School Homecoming and MUMS?

by yknot in

as most of you know........ i am from texas originally.. each year as homecoming rolls around schools across that state become 'frenzied' with various 'school spirit' activities ending with the wearing of mums (garters for boys) to school on friday.. i recently was talking to a 'yankee' boy and he didn't know what i was talking about (mums/garters or homecoming)......(blasphemy!)..

anywho it got me thinking...... is mums/ garters limited to texas/oklahoma?

(surely our southern cousins too have them -- right?).

miseryloveselders

The dubs up here in the rural and suburban parts do bonfires every now and then. I've never been to one, partly cuz I'm a city boy, and partly cuz I'm not the most sociable guy, especially after becoming "conscious."

Ynot, I'm trying to rack my brain to think of tacky, yet fun things that are done up here, and being honest, I can't come up with anything. The state I'm in is fairly conservative, as am I. I know Texas is conservative too, but Texas has always had a reputation for being unique to say the least. Where I'm at, it really is a conservative meat and potatos kind of place. They like pierogis up here, if that counts for anything.

19

High School Homecoming and MUMS?

by yknot in

as most of you know........ i am from texas originally.. each year as homecoming rolls around schools across that state become 'frenzied' with various 'school spirit' activities ending with the wearing of mums (garters for boys) to school on friday.. i recently was talking to a 'yankee' boy and he didn't know what i was talking about (mums/garters or homecoming)......(blasphemy!)..

anywho it got me thinking...... is mums/ garters limited to texas/oklahoma?

(surely our southern cousins too have them -- right?).

miseryloveselders

Well, Ynot, I will say I think its pretty cool when different regions have their own pecularities. The more I think about it, I can see how these MUMS would be fun in places Texas and Oklahoma. Heck, even up here in the northeast, I could see myself having fun at a party or event wearing my MUMS. Didn't Napolean Dynamite or Pedro wear MUMS at one point? I can't recall.

42

Letter from an anointed reader who DA'd after 33 years

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

dear randy, early this year i requested disassociation from the org and have been meaning to publish some sort of statement.

i was a member for over 33 years and partook of the emblems.

being an older widow it took some deliberation and guts to make the move but am currently very happy with the change.

miseryloveselders

Good letter. I find it fascinating the diversity of ones who are looking for the door. For the most part its younger ones, but theres enough discontent to go around with all sorts of demographics, as evident by this letter.

I particulary liked point number 4.

4) If an organization is inflexible, rigid, and dogmatic, creating myriads of rules, its members become stubborn, defiant, authoritarian crossing "t's" and dotting "i's" but losing the Spirit It reminds me of one of the publications the WTS printed that I actually like, "Draw Close to Jehovah." On page 204-205, paragraphs 14, and particulary 15 they pretty much talk about themselves. They compare wordly organizations to heavy and rigid machinery such as a supertanker or freight train. Then they go on to say, "that because of pride, men often refuse to adapt to changing needs and circumstances. Such rigidity has bankrupted corporations and even toppled goverments. How happy we can be that neither Jehovah nor his organization is anything like that!" Maybe the organization is prophetic, self-prophetic at least. Whether its long term, or short, the writing is on the wall IMO.

19

High School Homecoming and MUMS?

by yknot in

as most of you know........ i am from texas originally.. each year as homecoming rolls around schools across that state become 'frenzied' with various 'school spirit' activities ending with the wearing of mums (garters for boys) to school on friday.. i recently was talking to a 'yankee' boy and he didn't know what i was talking about (mums/garters or homecoming)......(blasphemy!)..

anywho it got me thinking...... is mums/ garters limited to texas/oklahoma?

(surely our southern cousins too have them -- right?).

miseryloveselders

I'm in the northeast, this is completely foreign to me. When I saw the thread title, I thought it was going to be about JWs secretly going to homecoming and keeping quiet about it, aka "Mums the word." I never in a million years would have thought MUMS was a pin-on peakcock custume. It looks kinda......tacky. I can't believe I just typed......tacky. That word is so not a part of my vocabulary, but it fits the occasion, no pun intended.

105

Sept.15th WT - WT Society uses Guilt & Fear to Avoid Friendship & Internet

by flipper in

jw
friends

once again my wife and i were sent the " witness only " wt version by our lurking jw friend that they study at wt study meetings.

and once again wt society is showing very controlling tendencies towards it's jw members.. do any of you remember the " old days " in the 1970's or early 1980's when witnesses used to have goody night after book study ?

or you would have a " potluck picnic " with about 30 to 40 people getting to know one another to draw close as friends outside the confines of the kingdom hall ?

miseryloveselders

There is often the "we should..." get a group for softball, have a cook-out, whatever. But it rarely materializes. Motivation just isn't there. The meetings are such a downer that spending time with other JWs is just a further extension and reminder of that downer-ness. Sure, I can have some lively conversations with JW friends and have a good time, I can have an equally lively conversation with a non-JW without feeling that they will judge me badly if I'm not "just so".

Billy you just said a mouthful there. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "we should", or "we oughta" get together, go bike riding, or play some flag football, have some of the young brothers get together to encourage my teenage sons, etc.. Wow, I've never noticed how prevalent that is until reading your post. And you're right, the meetings are such a downer, and after spending two or three times a week with "the friends", you don't want to get together or do anything. At least not with any of them. I need my space after a while.

I've recieved two invitations from wordly folks today. My coworkers want to get together at a bar across the street from the office after work. I prefer to find the meaning of life in a Corona by myself, so I probably won't go. Plus the woman I have a crush on won't be there as she's on vacation. Another fella I used to work with asked me if I want to go to the Rib Festival with him, which I probably will take him up on. I'll have to put overtime in at the gym, but its worth it. Nothing like BBQ Ribs.

32