Well,I don't know this person,so I can't speak for them. But,as a single person,assemblies and conventions,were lonely and miserable,especially intermission. I'd see young couples walking around together. Sisters,my age,already married and with their children. Everyone had their group and I felt so alone. So,I would be tempted to call someone too,so I wouldn't feel like such a loser.
EmptyInside
JoinedPosts by EmptyInside
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9
Why would a JW call a "goat" during lunch break at the Assembly?
by skeeter1 inthis has happened a few times, so i now ask your thoughts.. so the new posters know, i was raised in and left.
never baptised.
so, close family & friends still talk with me.
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59
I don't belong here anymore
by sizemik inthese are some things i have been thinking about .
.. when i first found this site i registered immediately ... never was a "lurker" ... and i've been here about six months.. everyone was very warm welcoming and i felt at home very quickly ... very pleasant at the time, but as time has progressed i look back and feel a bit "love-bombed" ... much like a religion i used to belong to.. i have found that this site is a bit "cliquey" ... groups of posters frequent at similar times and enjoy their familiarity with each other and that's great ... but they also sometimes exhibit a coolness toward those outside their clique ... almost as if your 'post count' is the first thing by which you are "judged" ... much like a religion i used to belong to.
some posters develop a personal dislike for others and not only jump on their threads but even deliver the odd "slap" on unrelated threads to increase the discomfort for the object of their dislike ... not unlike a religion i once belonged to.. some posters even follow others around the board looking to counter or use snide or clever put downs at every opportunity ... a kind of intellectual "rivalry" that was common to those in that religion i used to belong to.. many posters like to use 'in-house' jargon and labels eg; "newbies" for those recently joined.
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EmptyInside
Well,I wish you the best.
I'm not a popular poster here,but it's the only place I can speak freely about the religion. I have made a couple a friends here,but I never thought of it as a social club. But, just like at the hall,I prefer to stay a bit in the background and keep a low-profile.
But,everyone has to do what works best for them.
When I first signed on here,a couple regular posters signed off pretty much for good in order to be able to get on with their lives. And I really didn't understand at the time,but now I do. I'm hoping one day soon,there will come a time,when days go by and I don't think about the Watchtower,the Witnesses,or the end of the world. It would be so freeing and I am envious of those who have reached that point in their journey.
But,again,I wish you the best. But,please don't feel this has to be an all or nothing place. Come back every once in awhile and visit at least. You don't have to live here,that's rather unhealthy anyway.
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18
Pioneering is NOT a requirement for April!
by stillstuckcruz ini'm 20 years old.
baptized in 07'.
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EmptyInside
As someone mentioned you really don't owe anyone an explanation. If they press you,say, I may get the 30 or so in,but I'm just not sure,so I can't in good conscience sign up.
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18
Pioneering is NOT a requirement for April!
by stillstuckcruz ini'm 20 years old.
baptized in 07'.
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EmptyInside
Well,there are some Witnesses who get auxiliary pioneer hours every so often,but they don't believe in signing up. They don't want to make a showy display of their service. You could always tell them that you're not signing up,but you'll work on increasing your ministry. That your service is between you and Jehovah,(and the congregation secretary),and leave it at that.
This is sad,the only way Witnesses feel special is getting their name read from the platform and getting to be an honorary "pioneer" for a month,while mostly just passing out Memorial invitations.
Thankfully,no one has asked me,but I stay away from most of them.
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44
Have You Ever Experienced Depression?
by minimus inmy mom does and has every ailment under the sun.. i know more people that are under meds for depression than not.. fortunately, i do not suffer from depression but i wonder how many do or have, especially if you were a witness..
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EmptyInside
I've suffered with depression in the past,and sometimes I still have my lapses. I've never taken any medication for it. I found taking long walks helps me sort everything out. Plus,the endorphins exercise provides really helps ease depression.
Plus,I always felt so repressed in the religion,and it's been frustrating. And it made me feel helpless and depressed. So,waking up to the truth about the "truth" has helped,too.
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22
We Give/Gave Up So Much Over This Thing
by OnTheWayOut ini think of a reporter that breaks a huge story about some corruption in the government who won't reveal his source of information.
the government uses anti-terrorist laws against that reporter to try to force him to speak.
the laws are designed to protect the people and are used in a warped way to protect the government and allow it to hide it's corruption.
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EmptyInside
I totally agree with you OnTheWayOut. Most,if not all,have been or are going through so much because of this religion. We just have to be kind to each other and sometimes agree to disagree.
I prefer to stay off the more controversial threads. Really,most of the time,it's just a matter of opinion. It won't make a difference either way how many agree with us or not.
But,it's true as you said,we have lost a lot,and in the end,no one can live our lives for us. But,for the most part,it can be a healing place for those just waking up, and it helps to discover we're not alone. I know this forum has helped me tremendously. And I hope to one day,at least meet some of those who have taken me under their wings,so to speak,in person.
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Hi, new to this forum. Figured I'd let everyone know about my story before I got involved.
by JonathanH inif you just want the juicy details where i leave, i'll make disclaimer where it begins, if you just want to know what happened with the elders and organization after i realized it wasn't true, i'll mark that seperately.
we didn't do jack shit in service, or in the congregation.
maybe this was how jehovah came about?
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EmptyInside
Welcome,I'm still reading too. I like what I've read so far. You brought out some interesting points that I never thought of before, about the ecosystems,etc. I'm still coming out of the Witness brain freeze.
But,I feel for your sister. I'm so hoping she will get away from her husband.
But,again,welcome,and I'll get back to reading the last part of your story.
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5
Epic drama is imminent
by fade_away insoap opera style drama unfolds at the smallest irrelevant actions a j-dub takes.
for example, just last year when i was still in, my soon-to-be wife fiance and i decided to start sitting together at the meetings.
we figured "we might as well, since we're about to marry".
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EmptyInside
It's funny,but no one missed me at the convention,two years in a row. I let some believe,I was going for another week.
And I deleted one by one,all Witnesses on facebook.
It's worth a shot,if you don't want all the drama.
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83
Are You Going To the Memorial?
by headisspinning ini can't see myself not attending.
i would feel horrible not to go.
i don't know where i'm going to land and if i had to look back and think i didn't go... well, i would feel awful..
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EmptyInside
Yes,I'm going,but to a different hall where my brother is giving the talk.
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16
What's the "SPECIAL TALK" going round before the Memorial?
by hamsterbait inthere is a "special talk" happening on the 16th where cities will be linked together.. has anybody else had this already?
was it another snoozefest?.
hb.
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EmptyInside
I know there is another special talk this year. But,I didn't hear of one that will last for three hours.
Some congregations are rescheduling their Watchtower study though,because no other meeting is to be held the night of the Memorial.