Posts by Retrovirus

8

Why are they afraid?

by Retrovirus in

hi, i was just reading the.

flow chart - how to have a rational discussion thread, and my first thought was that the "you cheated" box was too confrontational for someone not used to logic.

then i realised that in all my discussions with my jw ladies, i'd been tiptoeing around my points for fear of scaring them off.

Retrovirus

Thank you for your thoughts, and sorry if I'm rehashing stuff. It's just that when they discuss the Bible or moral standards, they come across as so authorative! Yet this fear is always hovering.

I try to broaden the discussion, to talk as friends would, about the garden, entertaining, books and movies etc. Yes, I do drag them off topic! At the same time, they ask questions to find out what's bothering me or worrying me; I believe, so they can provide the 'solution".

So we'll continue the dance.

Retro.

8

Why are they afraid?

by Retrovirus in

hi, i was just reading the.

flow chart - how to have a rational discussion thread, and my first thought was that the "you cheated" box was too confrontational for someone not used to logic.

then i realised that in all my discussions with my jw ladies, i'd been tiptoeing around my points for fear of scaring them off.

Retrovirus

Hi, i was just reading the

Flow Chart - How To Have A Rational Discussion

thread, and my first thought was that the "you cheated" box was too confrontational for someone not used to logic. Then I realised that in all my discussions with my jw ladies, I'd been tiptoeing around my points for fear of scaring them off. And I don't understand why.

They visit in pairs, bring all their literature which I have to read so that we can talk about it. They will not even look at any of my sources.

Yet, they have an organisation to support and reinforce them, ongoing "study" and most of all, they believe that they are doing the will, and have the support of, the most powerful being in the universe.

So why the angst? and is this delicate approach the right way to deal with it?

Happy 2011 from

Retro

57

Attention Lurkers- Consider the effectiveness of your lifesaving work

by stuckinamovement in

jw
friends

hypothetical scenario.

you are a city manager in a major metropolitan city with a population of 3,000,000.. .

if the governing body was truly convinced themselves of the impending disaster and the fact that the end is imminent would they not focus their efforts in spreading the message through effective means such as telephone, television, internet, social networks etc?

Retrovirus

Thomas Covenant writes:

How would you feel about the 3,000 employees?

My limited experience tells me that most jws are honest, and trying to do right within the limits of their cognitive dissonance. It worked when I challenged my jw acquaintances about distributing material when they could not verify it's truthfulness.

The whole Nuremberg trials thing was about doing what you know is right, not just mindlessly carrying out orders for fear of consequences.

I believe that this might work, at least for "honest hearted ones"

Retro

29

...WBT$ Jehovah`s Witness Child Labor...

by OUTLAW in

"these child laborers are paid very little"... .

these jehovah`s witness child laborers.. .

are forced to work for free... "wbt$ child labor"... .

Retrovirus

Marked, thank you!

There is a group of JWs who i've met twice on my morning walk. Each time they send a little pre-schooler to intercept me and give me a pamphlet; I'd take it because i didn't want to upset the kid.

Now I'm thinking, perhaps instead I could chat a little and finish with "it's been a long time, but nice to see you let the kids talk to apostates now!"

would that work, or is there a better way?

Retro

13

telling kids 'my story' how honest should i be?

by Aussie Oz in

jw
friends

i am writing to my kids.

i have found it a good way to reach them with feelings at times and to let them know what is going on without emotions involved.. i have always told my kids that when and if they ever want to know what happened, ie; why i left their mother and the witnesses all they have to do is ask, and that i would be open and honest.. i feel that i am running out of time with them, esp my son who is so busy working, partying and chasing his girl that i don't see him like i used to.

so busy that he is not thinking and i am sure he will get baptised sooner than later to be in good with his jw girlfriend, and no asking is forthcoming.

Retrovirus

Till now I never thought that this had anything to do with JWs - but - when my brother and SIL seperated, she rang each of us and our families and made sure we knew that he'd been unfaithful. Nearly wrecked our family get-together.

She also got the word around in the community where they lived. I had put this down to irrational bahaviour due to the pain of seperating.

So, definitly, I'd say your kids are entitled to know your version of what happened. Perhaps as others have suggested, not every detail, but your perspective.

Only other thought - your children probably do know more than you think; it's not possible to live in a house with a strained relationship and not be aware. My brothers kids were very affected by the time before the breakup, more so than the break itself.

Wishing for a good outcome, Retro

12

Merry Christmas

by Ding in

jw
friends

nothing profound in this thread.. just a simple "merry christmas" to those here who no longer consider it as something evil to be avoided.. the message goes out especially to those on the board:.

-- who never were allowed to celebrate christmas growing up.

-- who weren't allowed to say "merry christmas" back to "worldlies" who said it to them.

Retrovirus

I've previously said that I have family issues, so Christmas can be tense at best, but

I had a couple of backpackers staying last week, and we made European cookies together, and we lit candles, had a glass of wine and ate the failures. . and suddenly it felt like the Christmases of my childhood. .

Merry Christmas, everyone!

15

Childbirth

by sleepingbeauty in

im not a prude, but i just dont like it when the wbts disgusses the facts of life such as childbirth within their articles - (artists impression of a pregnant woman included) it means that all children regardless of age get to understand things they ought not know as yet... am i on my own with this...

awake january 2011 page 16... (ive not worked out how to make this a clickable link, so if it dont work put this into your browser to go to pdf article).

http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=qryqcsvrgznt.

Retrovirus

I can relate to wanting to come off the pill, Found Sheep, never felt really well on it.

Or do you want to get pregnant? Fir the first 5 years of marriage I didn't want kids; then my husband didn't.

But I got preg anyway, and it was still one of the best things I ever did.

Retro

57

December 15th WT gives example of sister who quit her job so she could go to an convention.

by life is to short in

i was beyond mad when i heard this.

it is on page 30 of the wt.. it says "a pioneer named roxana is one who has seen how jehovah provides for his people.

when she asked her employer for permission to take some days off to attend one of our conventions, he angrily retorted that if she went, he would fire her.

Retrovirus

I think we need to follow up Mary's story; I'd like to see how the theme park "evolved" when it was owned and run by Pioneers. . . .

Retro

15

Childbirth

by sleepingbeauty in

im not a prude, but i just dont like it when the wbts disgusses the facts of life such as childbirth within their articles - (artists impression of a pregnant woman included) it means that all children regardless of age get to understand things they ought not know as yet... am i on my own with this...

awake january 2011 page 16... (ive not worked out how to make this a clickable link, so if it dont work put this into your browser to go to pdf article).

http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=qryqcsvrgznt.

Retrovirus

Sleepingbeauty,

I've never hidden anything from my two when they were small (for fear of misinformation from other kids, if nothing else).

Yet I do feel offended when the WT puts its smutty fingers on this quite personal subject. And all to sell the "intelligent design" rubbish.

Childbirth is a dangerous and agonising process and it is made much more dangerous by forbidding blood transfusions when needed. If God deliberately designed it that way, then that's not a god of love. (Yes, childbirth is wonderful too! )

When anaesthesia was first trialled, religious fundamentalists tried to forbid its use in childbirth quoting "in sorrow will you bring forth. . ." Fortunately the Watchtower came along a bit too late for this "light"; I cannot help wondering if it would have seemed right to the GB.

Retro

33

return visit with my jw barber today

by JunkYardDog in

jw
friends

as i sit down i see wt books on the counter.

after the hair cut the barber agreed it look up some of the stuff i told him.

i agreed , it don't make it true , but most everything on those sites is on the wts cd.

Retrovirus

Hi JYD,

LOL the way you turned the JW terminology around, you made the return visit on your student!

For the rest, I don't think his age or that it was his workplace should put him off limits since he was set up to witness there anyway.

Also, not impressive that he didn't want to talk religion when the conversation wasn't going his way; I'm sure he'd have been fine with it if you were an "honest-hearted enquirer" (or sucker)

I'm sure you gave him something to think about, and hopefully made him wary of witnessing at work.

Personally I'd prefer to put the frog on lukewarm water and bring it to the boil slowly, but it takes a big investment in time, and still may come to nothing!

Retro