I was chased by a goose once. The bitties were horrified. I laughed my ass off (offending the bitties, of course, what DIDN'T I do that offended the bitties...) Shoshana
La Capra
JoinedPosts by La Capra
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15
Hostility or Violence during Field Service
by richard in.
when you were active jws, did you meet with hostility or violence as a result of your field service?
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18
Hugely embarrassing afternoon
by La Capra inall my co-law clerks were in on it, my boss in the law office i work at was in on it, three of my professors were in on it, half the attorneys in the office were apparently in on it.
i got hauled into court today, supposedly to watch an attorney appeal a decision on a motion, but no, that's not what happened.
i walked into a set up, by my boyfriend, to be proposed to, in open court in front of nearly 20 people.
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La Capra
So, my fiance apparently had been setting this up for several weeks, with one of my fellow law clerks, and my boss, who was one of my professors last year. My boss lives for this kind of stuff. But he mysteriously stopped asking about "any new developments" in my reationtionship, about a week ago.
My boss had him on the witness stand and was "qualifying" him as an expert when I walked in. Apparently there were charts and graphs... This was plan B. Apparently, plan A was to have the bailiff come get me in the office and take me into custody, to appear before the judge. Glad that didn't happen.
I guess they didn't expect me to bolt, because no one standing behind me to keep me from running out of the courtroom. So many people came to watch, from my law school, from our law office, court reporters, court clerks, former professors....One of the hardest things in a formerly-in-a-cult life is accepting that lots of people care-just simply care- about me.
Only one person has had anything "doomsy" to say about this, my mom, the JW. It figures (but she's not stupid, she didn't go too far...). Everyone else is thrilled. (I'm gettin' married!)
I wonder what the kids will say when they see my ring this morning. 9th grade girls notice EVERYTHING!!!!
OK, off to teach simplifying radical expressions....(after a sleepless night...I'm gettin' married!) Shoshana
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18
Hugely embarrassing afternoon
by La Capra inall my co-law clerks were in on it, my boss in the law office i work at was in on it, three of my professors were in on it, half the attorneys in the office were apparently in on it.
i got hauled into court today, supposedly to watch an attorney appeal a decision on a motion, but no, that's not what happened.
i walked into a set up, by my boyfriend, to be proposed to, in open court in front of nearly 20 people.
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La Capra
All my co-law clerks were in on it, my boss in the law office I work at was in on it, three of my professors were in on it, half the attorneys in the office were apparently in on it. I got hauled into court today, supposedly to watch an attorney appeal a decision on a motion, but no, that's not what happened. I walked into a set up, by my boyfriend, to be proposed to, in open court in front of nearly 20 people. I was so embarrassed, I ran out, before anyone could catch me. They eventually found me. My boyfriend proposed. I said yes. I'm gettin' married. Shoshana
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16
Something Good In Your Life
by Greenpalmtreestillmine injust thought it would be great to hear from everyone here about something good that's happening in your life.
so much is said about the watchtower and it needs to be said but i thought it would be nice to hear some good things about our lives.. for me what is good in my life right now is the containers of vegetables and flowers i am looking forward to planting, the fine music i'm listening to at this moment and being here with you all.
sabrina
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La Capra
We have had over a week of record warm temperatures here in Northern California. Now that is wonderfully fabulous. Also, I'm in love. Shoshana
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10
Lawsuit FYI
by avengers insuit accuses church official of abuse .
4 say jehovah's witness church hid crime; .
man a convicted child molester .
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La Capra
I checked with the court files, this lawsuit has been filed. There are numerous plaintiffs (f if I'm recalling correctly), first name and last initial. There are four defendants, Donald Glew, The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (I'm assuming Brooklyn), the Santa Rosa Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Petaluma Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. The attorney mentioned in the article is the attorney of record for plaintiffs with the court, and the defense is scheduled to reply. Nothing else is on the docket yet in this case. I haven't checked to see if the reply has been filed yet. I'll do that next week. Shoshana
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10
Lawsuit FYI
by avengers insuit accuses church official of abuse .
4 say jehovah's witness church hid crime; .
man a convicted child molester .
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La Capra
I work part time in this court. I read the newspaper everyday. I can't believe I missed this. I wonder how many of the proceedings I can get into. I will be following this one closely. I can't wait to see the flippin elders on the stand. Wonder if Bill needs a local clerk that will work for free this summer! Shoshana
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22
Whats for dinner?
by Stefanie inwhats everyone having tonight?
i could use some ideas.
if you can please recomend some restaraunts also.
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La Capra
I just ordered tortelini al pesto creme (for me) and rigatoni a la marinara (for him) and a meatball (I'm guessing he'll like it) and soup and salad. Since I went to the trouble of ordering it, he's gonna pick it up. I'll just wait here, on my bed with a little cold in my nose. Shoshana
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7
Stumbling...
by astridkittie inin another post, someone made a reference to e-watchman's sudden call to duty.
i went to the link provided and when reading the sample letter decided to check out the 11-22-98 issue of the awake mentioned as being "un propaganda".
now... the first time i read this, i was shocked that i had read it before without blinking an eye as a jw.
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La Capra
Astrid Kittie
There are therapists that have experience in working with clients who come from high mind-control backgrounds. I can completely relate to the whole "evil" thing, and the nightmares. For me the word was "horrid" less damning than evil, I'll admit, but pretty tough to bear a life of. This type of self-image is one that just doesn't go away without the help of a professional-particularly when recovery is juxtaposed against a background of subtle, well-developed, constant mind-control that shaped us into knowing that we are really evil (and don't measure up). The WTBTS is a text-book example of how to inculcate blind allegience to a cult. They are expert at it. It may take an expert to heal some people from that.
It takes awhile to "train" a therapist in what it is like being JW. Most people need to be trained in the subtleties of the control, and are shocked by the reality of all the unwritten rules we had to follow. Not many are lucky enough to find an exJW therapist in their neighborhood (like I was)-but that does not mean that a therapist can't become educated. There are links to support groups and therapists at www.freeminds.org that could lead you to referrals in your area.
I tried antidepressants (they worked while I took them), but nothing took the place of really coming to an honest belief (with actual evidence) that I was not horrid, and finding tools for countering the times when the struggle returns. Antidepressants are appropriate to survive rough patches, but if it is the fallout from being a JW that is the ultimate root of a significant portion of the depression, then you will eventually have to confront that with some psychotherapy. It really can work. But it won't be overnight.
Take care, Shoshana
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8
Need additional info on JW Dating and Singles page
by Dogpatch ini just put up a new page and if you can please check it out.
it is the result of just checking into this "singles" scene the last couple of days, so i may be missing a lot of what's out there, so if you have any suggestions or links, other sites, etc.
please respond.
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La Capra
Hi Randy,
I noticed you left out JWD's own favorite JW dating site JWmatch.com. It appears to be far more committed to keeping non-JWs away, but people from this site seem to have infiltrated that place as well.
Shoshana
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13
Money and the Meetings a Problem?
by Blueblades in.
a friend of ours was told that he/she would be taken off as the beneficiary of a large amount of money unless he/she would come back to the meetings and go out in the field service.. our friend has been fading for quite some time now.the person who put him/her as beneficiary won't have anything to do with him/her unless he/she comes back to the meetings and participates in the field service.. he/she will not be bribed and will lose the large amount of money he/she stands to gain because of refusing to be compromised as to what is known about the society now.. his/her friend only knows that he/she has family and personal concerns as the reason he/she don't go to meetings anymore.letting the friend know the real reasons would certainly be cause for him/her to be removed as the beneficiary of a large amount of money.. our advice to him/her was to be true to ones self even though this would be financially difficult.. the reason we are putting the person as him/her is to protect the identity of the individual friend of ours.. we would appreciate some of your thoughts concerning this matter.. blueblades
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La Capra
There is no guarantee that
1) returning to the meetings will mean the would-be beneficiary would be reinstated, or remain as such.
2) the benefactor will maintain obligations keeping in tact the trust, life insurance, will, etc. that would ensure a distribution.
3) the benefactor won't establish the distribution of the contents of the funds through a trust with conditions requiring continued meeting attendance.
4) the benefactor won't threaten to remove the would-be beneficiary for the next manipulative demand.
Try this. "Give me the money now, and then I'll come back." Beneficiary will be told there is no guarantee that he'll continue with meeting attendance. To this beneficiary could say, there's no guarantee that the will won't be changed either.
It would be unfortunate to compromise or sacrifice ones needs on something that has no guarantees on a future payoff based on someone else's generosity, largesse or flat out manipulation. One ought never be cowed by threats to be removed as an heir or beneficiary, because the source of that money is always someone else's hard work, not the beneficiary's. If it's viewed that way, it might be easier to swallow.
People in general would be a lot happier if they kept their eyes on their own papers and forgot about what they may get the easy way. Living by your own rules is better than anything else. I wouldn't waste my time with this relative, she is cruel, manipulative, and should know better, for "Jehovah knows the true heart condition."
Shoshana