I can speak from experience from YEARS of lurking.
I came here about 7 or 8 years ago (under it's previous guise I guess). I came here because I was NOT happy with JWdom, ... BUT I still believed. I found the fact that you (you lot here) KNEW what was going on, releases, news, rumours etc many months before we would otherwise hear it rather appealing. So I have lurked off and on for a long time gaining information, new view points, logic and analysis. ..gaining in many other ways.
I have gone thru periods of deliberately avoiding coming here so as to note the change in me and try and become more positive about "The Truth" instead of the increasingly negative I have become, just in case I was being unduely influenced lol. It works for a while the good feeling that comes from what in actuality is "men pleasing", ..trying to (re)build that relationship with Jehovah that we are told is so vital and doing what we are told. But deep down the feeling grew that here I was wasting my one and only chance of life in the pursuit of a dream and procrastinating reality.
There are some nutters on here and yes some trolls who have passed thru. Why do they come here? I would say that some come here thru being disgruntled in the org, overlooked, ignored, dealt harshly with and are looking for answers even if they are not aware of it. Why do ANY JWs look at what is obviously an ANTI witness forum in the 1st place if not for that reason? Not many would wake up and say to themselves "lets go apostate baiting today" unless they have real underlying mental issues, they like to argue in life in general and would be classed as a PITA anyway by anyone who knew them (i know of people who are like that!), or they have reasoned it's a good way of counting time.
JWs like me who came here initially may well be hurt by some of what is said on sites such as this. Afterall it is A LOT to take in and dissonance will kick in, the excuses, the well taught reflex responses to what may be percieved as an attack on held beliefs. You have to (and largely do) make allowance for the JW mindset of the seeming apologist, it is a learning curve here and speaking personally I am miles away from what I was 8 years ago, ...not that I was a JW apologist, I just like things to be balanced and fair.
Im not sure if that made any sense but I havent had much sleep. Im just speaking as a previous lurker who now has the gumption to contribute.
ATJeff I like your attitude and your reasoning (maybe I should have put that at the start lol..)
Cheers
