Posts by ladonna

ashi started a thread on "nutters", and i started one on "sane" posters.. after careful consideration, i have concluded that the greatest "nuts" ended up on my "sane" thread.. here they are in order of preference.. #1......who else could win this .

#2....this one thought it an "honor" to come close to winning.

#3....this one is just outright "nuts".

ladonna

Ashi started a thread on "nutters", and I started one on "sane" posters.

After careful consideration, I have concluded that the greatest "NUTS" ended up on my "Sane" thread.

Here they are in order of preference.

#1......who else could win this ?
#2....This one thought it an "honor" to come close to winning....

#3....this one is just outright "Nuts"
#4....how could I resist such a risk?
#5...sorry Michael; has nothing to do with love...
#6...any man posing as a woman..well

CELTIC You are only down here because I have no pic of you. Otherwise I really don't know where to place you

Ana ..to all participants

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too...Voltaire

8

Our worst fears coming true in Sydney

by ozziepost in

jw
friends

the achilles heel of sydney's vulnerability to fires is especially from the north west where fire can reach through national park gullies right down to the city.. today it started to turn for the worse, just after we'd had some respite for the new year celebrations.

here's tonight's news report:.

19:10 aedst tue 1 jan 2002 .

ladonna

Ozzie,

I hope that you and your family are safe, and any others from NSW that may be here.

Vic has a cool change..very cool, if that's any consolation to what is heading your way.

Take Care,
Ana

17

intro/ brief vent

by Axelspeed in

jw
friends

hello..new to the board, though i have lurked for a while.

this is surprising because just a few months ago it would have been unthinkable.

if some even thought that i hinted in this direction, ....i dont even want to try and explain the repercussions.

ladonna

((((((Axelspeed & Terafera))))))

Welcome, both of you.

The future is not going to be all wine and roses for a while, but by hell, freedom of mind sure beats a mind caged within the walls of a publishing company.

Both of you have made tremendous moves and I for one wish you all the best. Hang around here and make aquaintance with many who have walked the same paths as you are about to embark on.

You are never alone here. Never judged. Never shunned.

Hope to see you in chat,
Ana

10

New beginnings....

by FreePeace in

jw
friends

this piece was just posted on my empowered recovery discussion group.

it came at just the right time for me--i needed it.

i thought i would share it with all of you, my friends.. .

ladonna

Thankyou Freepeace,

Beautiful words that hit the teary spot.

Happy New Year to you, your family, and Think41

Ana

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too...Voltaire

23

Rebuttal to Amnesian's Post - Preface

by Amazing in

jw
friends

rebuttal to amnesian's post preface .

intro: i am making a preface to kick-off my rebuttal so that when some of you read this, you can have a quick review of where i am coming from, and my views, and the tone i am trying to set.

then if you wish to expend the time, my full rebuttal will be posted in parts over the next few days (except news years day).

ladonna

A good point needs to be highlighted regarding communication issues with respect to the single dimensional written word vs multi-dimensional face to face communication. Experts say that about 80% to 90% of what gets communicated is the non-oral body language, tone of voice, mannerisms, etc. When we are reduced to the written word alone, coupled with not personally knowing one another, we are unconsciously forced to overlay "our own" emotional state of mind onto what the author writes. It takes very skilled writing to reduce this reaction in the reader’s mind, and it takes a very conscious effort on the part of the reader to resist this and read the material in various tones to try and extract the most likely emotion being communicated.

I can relate to this. So many times I have been misinterpreted in the written word. People who have spoken to me personally by phone from this forum are quite astounded at the difference and their own perception of who they "thought" I was. In context with only vocal intonations; the entire conversations were different. In this Amazing is 100% correct. Body language is also a very strong human communicator.

My Current Views of Life: In the over 9 years since I left the JWs I have gone through a continuing series of discoveries, learning curves, and personal changes. I believe that, with few exceptions, anyone who has been a JW for more than 20 years is not going to walk away with an instantaneous personality overhaul. Realistically, it just takes time, and that time interval from day one of being an ex-JW until a person has made a full recovery and developed in new ways, is different for everyone. Many variables, past experiences, new experiences, availability of information, and emotional readiness all play out differently for each person. In this, I believe, none of us are in a position to judge another.

I have to agree with this also. After being "out" for approximately 19 years, I still find old JW personality traits within myself, but I also see the freedom from within which at times causes an immense clashing. We have no right to judge others and as Amazing says, we are in no position to judge others. None of us are "healed". Maybe, and this is something I actually perceive as being closer to the truth than I like, we never will be 100% non JW in our personality traits. Particularly those of us that were born into the WTBTS.

I trained my daughters to stand on their own, be independent, and any relationships they may enter into, to be done as complete equals. I believe in the fundamentals of human rights, and especially as these apply to women’s rights. Our society in general has come a long way, and it has more improvement to make. My daughter who posts here as “Amazing Progeny” let me know today that any woman on JWD who tries to paint me into a “male chauvinist” corner will get a butt kicking from her, because she says that they just do not know me. I did not solicit that from her --- it was her own thoughts she volunteered.

Tina, you know I love ya, but I see no harm in one sharing family viewpoints as Amazing has done here. I wish that my own father had had the insight to do as Amazing did for his daughters. It would have saved much heartache. We are here to share with each other. Not condemn and judge.
I do not in all sincerity see this as an egotistical post on the part of Amazing. We all have an "ego" and that is a healthy part of human psychological make-up. Therefore, it would be ludicrous to suggest that our ego's not be part of our posts; they are part of our human psych.

I do not belong to any religion because I cannot accept such “organizationalizing” of spiritual things. I am not sure I can accept much of the Bible as the Word of God, and this creates serious consternation because if I do not accept one part, how can I accept any part. While I believe in God (or some kind of higher intelligent power) I am not sure I really know God anymore, or at least I am unsure of and confused about HER or HIS or IT’s purposes for, and relationship with, humans. So my search and discovery and learning and adjusting continue – and as this takes place, I find a little JW-ism here and there that requires purging out of my system. I admit it and understand it. But, again, I have come a long way baby!

In taking up with organized religion one has to accept the whole; the entirety. That is something I feel loathe to even touch.
In the latter part of Amazings paragraph above, there is a clear non-egotistical statement. He admitts that he finds JW-isms. Don't we all still have them???
How many have grudges against elders that carry over into our XJW lives?
I could easily have gone to that place, but caught myself in time from doing so. Not ALL elders were oppressive.

Eventually, I realized that Amnesian’s 12 page post was not so much about me, because she does not know me, but rather, was about something inside her that emerged when my initial post appeared. She needed to vent. And I became the”Elder in Effigy” that she could burn. It was understandable and convenient. Nevertheless, she did post some good points, and I believe she is most sincere. Now that I have had time to reflect and listen to some wisdom from various people, both on and off board, my task now is to treat her post with the respect and equality it deserves, and make a full reply. Not everything she said requires rebuttal, because she and I agree on a number of points. But, I will reply to “everything she said” so as to make sure nothing gets overlooked, lest I risk being accused by some of ‘blowing her off’ on some point.

This paragraph is an example of what I question in regards to our own feminine issues.

Do we women carry grudges against people like Amazing that were once Elders; reminding us subconsciously of what was done to us by another elder that had no sense of reasoning or human feeling, or for that matter any real christian values????

The one and only reason I bring this up to my fellow females is because I came within a hairs breath of hating anyone whom had been an elder. This is whether he was no longer a JW or not.

Fortunatley, I did not allow that to occur. But I sense that perhaps Amnesian was venting and Amazing became a vehicle.

Thankyou to Amazing for this rebuttal post. I don't think I have posted on any of your threads before bar one, therefore, no one can suggest that I am "doing Amazing a favor".

Just telling it as I see it; my humble opinion only.

Ana

Apologies for any confusion, I replied with this answer on Amazing's other thread as I had two windows open....:DUH

18

Happy new year my Luvies

by Tina in

jw
friends

on my way out to a few parties.won't be here at the exact time to wish y'all happy new year!!!!!!

luv and hugs,tina.

psssssst ill get some great pix i think,will post when i get them.t.

ladonna

((((((((Tina))))))))))

Happy New Year to you.

Have fun tonight....and lots of it!!!

Ana

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too...Voltaire

207

IS THE WATCHTOWER A FALSE PROPHET?

by You Know in

when jesus was on earth the devil approached him quoting scripture in order to tempt and entrap him.

it is no wonder then that the apostate angel would be behind the effort to use the scriptures against jehovahs people today in order to mislead them.

one of the most cunning and effective uses of scripture against us by satans agents is the charge that we are false prophets.

ladonna

YouKnow,

Please, please....for 2002, could you kindly flush your posts and give us a break for the year.

Take a holiday, take a break, take whatever, but pleeeaaaaaaase!!!!

FLUSH

Ana

50

Worried about my Dad in hospital :(

by Simon in

jw
friends

we visited angharad's parents at the weekend and got a call on sunday night from her sister who'd been called by my sister as they hadn't been able to contact us .... the message was not a happy one:.

my dad has had a heart attack and was in intensive care in hospital.. it was a while before i managed to speak to anyone over there with people probably out but i eventually spoke to his wife who says he's doing ok and has now been moved to the main ward but is being kept in as you would expect.

he may have to be moved to calgary for some investigation / tests.. he had heart surgery about 15 years ago and i think 4 of his 5 bypasses have failed so he has to take quite a bit of medicine for pain and stuff.

ladonna

Dear ((((((Simon)))))))

I don't know how I missed this post, but please, forget about being the "black sheep". This has happened to me and I am the blackest of sheep, but the family seem to drop their hatred of the "anti-christ"/"devil's advocate" in times of crisis.

Contact your other family and hop on a flight.

I wish your Dad a recovery and hope he takes better care of himself in the future.

Take Care,
Love,
Ana