Posts by respectful

45

Why Did JWs Abandon Brooklyn for the Sticks?

by Room 215 in

i may have missed this, but can anyone tell me what was the pretext the gb concocted to justify their abandonment of a perfectly suitable, high-profile, high-visibility complex in what is arguably the world's greatest metropolis for the bucolic isolation of upstate new york.

any how does the move square with their purported belief in the imminence of armageddon?

.

respectful_observer

What I really don't get is why they didn't just build the new complex at Patterson OR Wallkill which both have a ton of space for all that.

Link Dislike LikeI've wondered the same thing. I actually raised the question to several family members who have lived at the various US Bethels. Each time, they look back with a puzzled look on their faces which then quickly shifts to a dismissive look. They typically respond with something along the lines of: "I don't understand your question. Obviously they had good reasons for needing a separate location."

On a side note, I don't think it's THE motivating reason, but I find it curious that now ALL THREE US Bethel campuses are in areas where there is next to zero cell signal coverage. (Come on, how many places within 1 hour of NYC don't have full coverage these days??) As a result, hot spotting on your phone, or surfing the web on your phone is next to impossible unless you're on the (heavily filtered WT WIFI). It's a great side benefit knowing those young brothers can look at naughty things online or surf apostate sites.

6

Gary Carver-Investment Manager!

by Atlantis in

gary carver sure has some interesting friends.

look to your right.https://leadferret.com/directory/person/gary-carver/11516928atlantis!.

respectful_observer

Don't think Leadferret is an "investment page" per se, it seems to be simply a data aggregator that pulls names from any number of public corporate filing databases (legal corps, llcs, etc.) to display potential linkages between individuals and legal entities.

11

I found a silver NWT at a very small library.

by blownaway in

my wife and i went to war eagle ar saturday.

there is a small library.

its about 18 inches x 18 inches.

respectful_observer

Someone got to count that as a placement, I'm sure!

They'll be so excited during their weekly stop while out in service and excitedly replace it with another one.

15

Digital Billboards and Anti Witnessing.

by SnakesInTheTower in

jw
friends

just thinking out loud here.

i drive a lot of miles for my job in the st. louis, missouri area.

digital billboards popping up.

respectful_observer

Tough to justify the expense of paying for a billboard when the message would only be intended for less than 1% of people driving by.

On the other hand, it would be somewhat comical to see what would happen if there was an anti-JW billboard in NY between the highway exit ramp and the entrance to the Warwick campus. Hundreds (maybe more) of JWs driving by that one every single day-- tour buses, visiting families, Bethelites commuting, etc.

Something non-confrontational, simple, and direct:

"It's time to discover the truth about 'The Truth'

jwfacts.com" (putting the logo in the blue (jw.borg) box style, of course)

34

Is My Wife Awakening?

by My Name is of No Consequence in

every now and then, my wife will talk about how things are not making sense within the org.

i usually just dismiss it as her playing mind games with me.

for example, she would ask why there are so many branches being closed or why so many congregations are being merged.

respectful_observer

Those are pretty good points. I wonder if I can find where she is getting her info from without setting off alarm bells. Maybe I will just let it play out.
@MNIONC: Perhaps an alternative is to include something very specific in a post here or on Reddit that only she would recognize as coming from you. It could be something as innocuous as something she was wearing when she said something to you. For all you know she could be dropping all this topics in the hope you "out" yourself to her which will then give her the safe zone to open up more.
Link Dislike Like

34

Is My Wife Awakening?

by My Name is of No Consequence in

every now and then, my wife will talk about how things are not making sense within the org.

i usually just dismiss it as her playing mind games with me.

for example, she would ask why there are so many branches being closed or why so many congregations are being merged.

respectful_observer

I dunno...I think AudeSapere might be on to something.

She seems to be ticking off all the PIMO/POMO "greatest hits" issues way too easily. The only way I'd imagine a JW would be able to notice ALL those topics is to be plugged in here, Reddit, or some other similar forum.

32

How many are PIMO ??

by Phizzy in

i know we cannot answer this, how many are physically in, mentally out (pimo), but i heard an amazing piece of news the other day.. an ex-p.o and ex-elder, a long time regular pioneer, and when i knew him a stalwart believer, went for a drink with another jw who has actually left, but is not df or anything.. in the course of conversation he came out with this bombshell "well, i am actually an atheist now, i just go along to keep my wife happy".. i also heard of a number of youngsters that i know personally who are simply living their life as they want, whilst making sure they don't get df'd for family and social reasons.. if as it seems the pimo's are a huge number, could there be a huge " awakening" where they all realize they are in a huge group, and they all say " eff it, lets call it a day on all the jw s**t ".

?.

wishful thinking, but.....just possible ?.

respectful_observer

I think the percentage will vary depending on the region/country. I suspect the PIMO % is significantly higher in areas where levels of income and education are higher. In those areas, I wouldn't be surprised if the self-acknowledged PIMOs are 10-15%, followed by another 5-10% who would be PIMO, except they check their brains at the door or knowingly or unknowingly don't test their beliefs to simply avoid complicating their thoughts or lives.

36

2018 Regional Convention program available on JW.borg

by sir82 in

jw
friends

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/convention-program-2018/.

friday.

be courageous and very strong”—joshua 1:7

respectful_observer

I can't wait for Saturday afternoon's symposium on how animals show courage, especially the ~~Mongoose~~ Honey Badger:

1:50 SYMPOSIUM: Learn Courage From Creation

~~Mongooses~~ Honey Badger (Psalm 91:3, 13-15)
Leaked 3 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

34

Impact of GDPR on WT HQ and EU branches?

by respectful_observer in

curious if any of our eu-based members (especially those still in) have heard anything from official wt channels on how the organisation plans to be in compliance with gdpr ("general data protection regulations") by may 2018?

it's my understanding that religious organisations must comply, and that religious data is treated a "protected" and therefore subject to some enhance requirements.. specifically, how will they comply with the following requirements:.

you must disclose to the individual: what data you collect on them, why, and what you do with the data (including what other parties receive the data and what they do with it).

respectful_observer

The first two points under article 17 says that the data should be erased unless,
1. the personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed;

That casts a pretty wide net for the WT to use. I agree with other posters that this is what the WT will likely use to justify maintaining historical data on current and former members forever and I suspect the courts will be hesitant to challenge them on that.

To me, the most impactful element of GDPR will be the obligation to disclose, and obtain written consent initially and then periodically thereafter.

34

Impact of GDPR on WT HQ and EU branches?

by respectful_observer in

curious if any of our eu-based members (especially those still in) have heard anything from official wt channels on how the organisation plans to be in compliance with gdpr ("general data protection regulations") by may 2018?

it's my understanding that religious organisations must comply, and that religious data is treated a "protected" and therefore subject to some enhance requirements.. specifically, how will they comply with the following requirements:.

you must disclose to the individual: what data you collect on them, why, and what you do with the data (including what other parties receive the data and what they do with it).

respectful_observer

GDPR definition of consent:
(11) 'consent' of the data subject means any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her;
=> Article: 6, 7, 8
=> Recital: 32, 33, 38, 42, 43
=> Dossier: Consent

In a recent GDPR session I attended (having nothing to do with impact to religious institutions) one of the facilitators made the comment that when it came to "special" or "sensitive categories" of data, GDPR's bar for what qualified as "consent" was much higher. She said (paraphrasing) that when it came to religion, race, etc. data, "consent" would require more than simply implied consent. Even a "check the box"/"I agree" would not be sufficient to serve as "consent". Additionally, it was mentioned that the consent given had a shelf life-- that GDPR would expect the controller of the data to seek renewal of that consent at least every 5 years.

If what I heard was correct, the WT's current privacy policy's definition of consent comes nowhere near meeting the bar set by GDPR.

respectful_observer

Posts by respectful_observer