Posts by La Capra

3

Political Canvassing. compared with Ministry.

by AlanB in

i have recently got involved in politics and was out over the weekend canvassing.

i found it an interesting contrast with being on the ministry.. first of all i found it easier to actually talk to people about something i actually believed in rather then recite the same old stuff that had become so dry to me.

the biggest contrast was when i rang a door and after a few moments it was clear no one was in, i instinctively reached for the door bell again, the witness way being to string out a 'not at home' for as long as decently possible so as to 'get your hour in' without having to talk to too many people.

La Capra

I was out yesterday afternoon "precinct" walking. I was at ease, and enjoyed meeting some of the people who live near the school where I work. I was not with a partner, and I have to say, it made it easier. People are far more willing to listen to the teacher from the local school, in jeans and a T-shirt, spout off about state initiatives than a pair of wacko cultists in an ankle length floral-print dresses.

OK, I probably wouldn't have volunteered to do this if it weren't for my early conditioning to knock on doors and drop off pamphlets (the pamphlet had an eerie resemblance in color and composition to an Awake-but I'm the only one who noticed it). Most of the people weren't home (not answering doors-but home, guess who they thought I was...). I also figured I may be running for city council or school board in the not too distant future, so I figured I better get used to asking people to vote a certain way.

I convinced about four people to vote "our way," in less than an hour. I challenge any of you to recount a similar tale of success while peddling the religion...

Feeling all civic-minded this weekend (without a shred of guilt).

Shoshana

10

This is so wrong !!!!!!!

by lola28 in

jw
friends

my god i can't believe what i just saw.. i was on the website for my local police dept.

and saw a link they had for a website that listed sex offenders.

i clicked on it and put in my zip code, i could not believe how many sex offenders live in my area, what is worse is that i know two of those listed and i never, ever would have thought that they could be a danger to children.. what bothers me so much is that many of these offenders commited crimes against children, i would say that a good 90% of those listed had been convicted of molesting children.how do these people live knowing what they have done?

La Capra

These listings are for all sex offenders, not just those convicted of sex crimes against children. In all jurisdictions, statutory rape is a sex crime. In some jurisdiction, pissing in public is a sex crime. The site should give the crime of which the individual was convicted, it should also say how long ago. These two other pieces of information should help decipher who really is still a danger. I'm not saying these folks are angels, or anything, but just because they have to register doesn't mean they prey on children.

Shoshana

12

Is it "OK" to take pictures at the Kingdom Hall?

by JH in

jw
friends

a long time ago, when i was just starting in the "troof", i brought my camera to the hall, and i was taking pictures of just about anything there.

i love taking pictures, so i wanted a few pictures of sexy sisters of my fellow witnesses and a few pictures of the hall to show my family.. but, i had the impression that it wasn't ok to do that.

i felt as if being new to the org, that they tolerated it so i never did that again.. i know that in certain places, like government buildings or military installations, you're not allowed to take pictures.

La Capra

But, I had the impression that it wasn't ok to do that. I felt as if being new to the org, that they tolerated it so I never did that again.

Isn't it amazing, the power of nonverbal communication, particularly in high mind-control groups? You may have done something once that they frowned on, but by their body language, were able to send you the message to conform. I'm always fascinated by the examples of how these groups control some things without ever overtly controlling them.

Shoshana

42

Reasons You Shouldn't Go To Meetings

by minimus in

jw
friends

let's give some good reasons why meetings suck.

La Capra

Because I snore.

44

18 YEAR OLDS

by hibiscusfire in

an 18 year old supposed to be a young adult.. there are certain things an 18 year old supposed to do.. there are certain ways an 18 year old should behave.. there are certain things an 18 year is still not old enough to do.. what is your opinion?.

how do you feel concerning 18 year old males and females.. concerning an 18 year old female..... should she sleep until 12 or 11 in the morning?.

responsibility to cook, clean ----help out around the house?.

La Capra

I'm a high school teahcer. I have been closely acquainted with thousands of teenagers. Nothing is out of the ordinary. An 18 year old boy or girl should be able to handle the day to day functions of living, thoough.

Preparing simple meals, cleaning up, doing the laundry, and other basic household chores (provided they have been taught) --all to be expected, but with some 18 year olds, not without a fight.

The most common house rules I hear from parents of these "young adults" are these (after high school graduation).

1) You live at home and are not going to school, you pay rent, and your expenses (your share of utilities, groceries, car expenses, clothing, entertainment, etc.)

2) You follow the house rules (about chores, family time, cleanliness, noise, guests, staying out all night, etc.)

3) Once you move out, you can move back home once, and the above rules apply.

However, in truly unfunctional families (most frequently one parent/one child), I find the adult has done everything for the child, all the way up to adulthood, and the teenager knows nothing about the basic functioning of a household, meals, laundry, etc. When the parent finally realizes that they have a useless schmoo on their hands, the schmoo gets very angry about being called to task.

One of the more articulate schmoos told me that for 18 years doing nothing was good enough for her mom, her mom just did everything and still loved her, then all of a sudden, she was no longer good enough, it was very confusing and hurtful for her. She had a gentle, calm personality, so the battles weren't raging, but she was still upset, thrown off balance, a little angry and afraid because her mom just changed all the rules, overnight.

Eventually they all survive. No one has ever died having to do their household chores (at least not in this part of California).

And some teenagers operate on a different clock than the rest of the world. Supposedly there is research on this, but I haven't seen it myself.

Good Luck. Parents tell me 19 is worse than 18...

Shoshana

22

Here is another reason to celebrate on December 25th

by Eyebrow2 in

jw
friends

okay....i tried reading the whole thread about not taking christ out of xmas http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/97085/1.ashx, but really, no, that is just too much to read through...and i figured no one would both to see what i had written anyway...so here are a few other reasons for those of you to celebrate on dec 25th if you don't have "christ in your christmas".

i suppose if you don't have christ in your christmas we could call it "christmas lite" or "christ free christmas" "nonchrist latte with half decaf".

anyhoo.... 1. isaac newton's bday...a giant in math and phyics .

La Capra

And everyone can celebrate my birthday too! And this year Christmas occurs during Hanukkah. None of these celebrations are my own, but, I have adopted a personal policy that encompasses the idea of "when in Rome..." If there is something being celebrated by the people around me, I celebrate with them. I've learned a lot about very obscure traditions, silly family traditions, and some very cool traditions from other cultures this way.

What a crock we all were handed to be forced to stifle joy, celebration and ritual. How dead we used to be.

Shoshana

22

JW says high gas price fulfills bible prophecy...the end is near

by DevonMcBride in

jw
friends

here's a gem from a jw group on myspace.

http://forum.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=messageboard.viewthread&entryid=5886853&adtopicid=27&categoryid=0&issticky=0&groupid=100229164&mytoken=20050903180812.

okay so i know this doesn't directly effect me because i don't quite drive yet, but indirectly it does effect me.

La Capra

influxuate

I try really hard not to make fun of people who make up words (when the words make sense), but come on, "influxuate?"

1) if this person meant "fluctuate" this means up AND down and up and down..., which is not just an increase or decrease, the point trying to be made, of course, is lost.

2) if this person meant something connected to the root prefix and root "influx" then the commentary really makes no logical sense as

Food is going to influxuate

would mean that there would be food flowing in (but the food will be ridiculous-like what...peanut butter tacos and chocolate cake with salmon puree icing?

It's a good thing the end is sooo close, I really can't stand this lack of critical thinking and literary skill.

Shoshana

71

HELLO need advice for college

by tsunami_rid3r in

jw
friends

ok, since i missed out on developing when i was 14-18, i'm gonna need help with girls, friends, keeping them, and just having fun.

recap for the past week:

one day i hung out a with this dude from fish camp.

La Capra

I went straight to college after high school, and had to do the JW thing for a bit (one year, then I bailed on the witness thing).

I have two suggestions:

1) There is a counseling center at your school, and I think you should go down there and hook up with a counselor. It will help you to get all your history out with someone who specializes with your age group. Your plan to leave the past behind is understandable, but will keep coming back to bite you in the ass until you come to terms with it. If you don't get a grip, you'll start dropping balls before you get them all up in the air.

2) Regularly schedule some time every week to do something related to your future career...join professional organizations (there are almost always student chapters), read professional journals or magazines, connect with other students in your major, start looking into internships and summer jobs...(I envision a summer job for you that keeps you from going home for the summer).

The friend thing and the girl thing will work themselves out. When someone is doing things that are good for him, and that are healthy and productive, good people start coming into their life. Flitting around like a firefly is fun, silly and distracting, but as it seems you have noticed, it can be confusing as to who of these partymates is a true friend. Balance out your partying with activities that lend themselves to a productive outcome, so when there isn't a party, or other fireflies to flit around with, you have other interesting activities to keep you occupied.

Study hard, do well in classes, escape the cult and have a successful life.

31

Reasons for having a "Worldly" boy/girlfriend while still in?

by damselfly in

when i was a still a teenage jw ( sounds like a bad b movie drive in flick ) i had a "worldly" boyfriend.

i didn't want anything to do with the jw's but knew i wasn't strong enough to just walk away.

he became the focus of my family's hatred and the reason they believed i left (nothing could have been farther from the truth) this helped me to avoid explantions of why i didn't believe.

La Capra

Damselfly,

I had one of those, too. He was supposed to be my out. He was a year ahead in school, and was heading off to college and I was going to follow. Once he was in college, my mom sent out the local elders...Between the local elders, my mom and his misplaced love for me, he converted. We broke up, I left the religion after my first year of college and he ended up marrying our classmate's mother.

That plan really backfired (for him, unfortunately. My biggest regret in my life, thus far, dragging him into the cult). But I ended up walking away 100% on my terms and on my own volition.

Shoshana

18

taking suggestions for dorm decor

by tsunami_rid3r in

jw
friends

posters?

street signs?

lights?

La Capra

Paint a yellow brick road on the hallway floor leading to your digs.....follow it, follow it, follow it, follow it. Follow the yellow brick road...

Shoshana