i was talking with a friend of mine on the board yesterday and the discussion gave me the idea for this thread !
( thanks friend !
) and it seems as we were talking the thought came up that many of us when exiting the mind control of jehovah's witnesses we really come to appreciate the freedom to think how we want and be able to have access to other views which helps us to have a broader scope , or broader world view than just the tunnel vision of the wt society.
I value time. I can wake up at a weekend and do what I want and when I want without having to worry about making excuses or being seen. It's great not having a meeting hanging over me during the week too.
I can base my desicions on logic, common sense and experience rather than someone's interpretation of the WTS literature and don't feel like I need to justify myself.
MMXIV
since spring weather is upon us - thought those of us that enjoy live music may have fun with this one !.
my favorite live musicians i have seen are follows :.
and which show or group was your favorite ?
Radiohead 2008 - Live on BBC Radio - 300 lucky winners in the audience sitting on comfy chairs - I was 8 metres away. Incredible acoustics - that's what a band sounds like in your living room.
U2 2001 Earls Court London - just before Bono's dad died - he knew time was running out
Radiohead 2003 - Veladrome Berlin
The Editors 2008 - Oxford academy - intense performance
Madonna 2004/5? Wembley Arena - cost a small fortune - worth it.
MMXIV
for those who still have to go to meetings or are still in for one reason or another but no longer beleive, why not hurt the wt finacially as much as you can by ordering books and getting as much literature as you can and not paying for it.. i would not want to suggest dipping your hand in the contributions destined for the wt coffers as that would be illegal but it has crossed my mind and morally i see nothing wrong with stealing from these frauds..
What are you 12? Maybe you could wet yourself at a different seat during each meeting? or you could regularly accidentally spill water over the sound equipment? or tread some sardines into the carpet and watch the dubs turn their noses up at the smell until they are forced to buy a new carpet.
Walk away - you could be the one person who makes their annual membership a decline that triggers a butterfly effect of changing policy snowballing into mass exodus and financial ruin. Didn't work for me but maybe just maybe it could be you.
MMXIV
i just got an e-mail from my 80 year old mother asking my wife and i to join her for the memorial this year.
i really don't want to go, but i am also trying to maintain some degree of a relationship with her.
she is breaking the "rules" by not shunning me, but i don't know how she will react if i reject her invitation.
I'd go if it didn't involve having to see all those "oh we miss you sooo much" types - but I guess you'll just be ignored anyway. Having spent thousands of hours at meetings going to the memorial seems such a small thing to do. It might just be a timely reminder of why you escaped as long as you're not going to get nightmares over it. Good to do nice things for the elderly - clearly she's a decent woman.
MMXIV
looking back there were quite a few families that did the "oh we're moving" fade.
they would move to a rural area.
or a state or two away.
I moved after I'd faded and stopped going. Before the move I was under pressure from the threat of elders coming round although they only really chased on the phone. I had a house visit made during FS with an old sis in tow so no chance to interrogate me. I wasn't scared of meeting dubs on the street or indeed elders but felt like I always had to be prepared for it.
The day after the move (to a completely different circuit) I was in a restaurant in a busy part of town and recognised the only local dub I knew sitting right behind me. I didn't care and haven't seen anyone again in years. It's great to be able to do what I want and when without thinking I might meet dubs. In fact it's been history for me until I came across JWN.
Moving is the best way to fade - seen lots do it but have no idea where they are so cannot compare notes
MMXIV
Despite the blood issue, disfellowshipping, marking, false promises, ruined education and careers, the sheer volume of poppycock, hypocrisy, how judgemental it is, religous hatred, for me the main issue is how it is used as a way of controlling me and my behaviour for so long - I've wasted so much of my life to this mind manipulating poison.
Great to be free
MMXIV
my two favourites are.-.
a) lynyrd skynyrd "one more from the road".
b) genesis "seconds out".
Dire Straits - Alchemy. Not the greatest album but some of their best work and certainly their best version of Romeo & Juliet.
MMXIV
ever go on vacation/holiday with a group of jw's that went wrong?.
i went to sunny usa with 7 other jw's in their mid 20's, some of whom were married.
within a few days we went to a bar for the evening where one of the brothers was rudely threatened in front of his wife.
3 hours of listening to drivel kind of takes the shine off the day - bet those camping chairs weren't too comfy either.
MMXIV
ever go on vacation/holiday with a group of jw's that went wrong?.
i went to sunny usa with 7 other jw's in their mid 20's, some of whom were married.
within a few days we went to a bar for the evening where one of the brothers was rudely threatened in front of his wife.
Ever go on vacation/holiday with a group of JW's that went wrong?
I went to sunny USA with 7 other JW's in their mid 20's, some of whom were married. Within a few days we went to a bar for the evening where one of the brothers was rudely threatened in front of his wife. Now whilst this brother was 6'4" (1.90m), strong with it and had a few scars, he by his own admission, wouldn't hurt a fly. He did the right thing by walking away and went to the van with most of us. I had to go back and find one of the brothers who was still dancing. Eventually I found him and told him what had happened and he said he'd just finish his beer. So I hung around and we both came out. Now 20mins must have passed in all and when we got to the van the tall brother burst out the back, ran to me, and pushed me with great force to the floor - I landed metres away managing to break my fall although sprained and cut my wrist. He shouted at me a few times until he was pulled away.
Now some might say it was just handbags, which it was, but the fallout was huge. He and his wife spent the journey home blaming me for keeping them waiting when they were upset. I said nothing. I didn't want anything to do with them after that - was close to getting a taxi to the airport as I'm softly spoken, totally non-confrontational and find it deeply disturbing to be physically threatened. I went to bed. The others started having debates and decided it was out of order especially when they realised I couldn't cut up my own food at breakfast.
I had apologised on the night for "keeping them waiting" oh and the next day for withdrawing and not making them feel more wanted. I was then really friendly the rest of the holiday sharing beers and having a laugh really only to keep the peace.
Within a year of the holiday he'd left his wife a month after she'd given birth for another woman. I now don't apologise so freely or take cr4p from anyone.
Anyone else had a "moment" on a group JW holiday when it could all have gone wrong - or actually did?
MMXIV
video .
all your answers are in 'the great book of potato'!
do you see the similarities?
You could get fried for believin that
