Posts by NewChapter

82

What DO I think about Glenn Beck?

by AK - Jeff in

jw
friends

i think of myself as 'moderate libertarian' if i must attach a lapel card.

and i'm not sure that is entirely the correct one.. i endorse fiscal conservative thinking, believe in limited government, and a strong domestic defense policy.

in these areas, i could find myself in agreement with the talk show host.

NewChapter

AK, just because he agrees with you on some things doesn't mean he represents you. If I were conservative, I would feel a bit embarrassed that the likes of Glenn Beck claim to speak for me. There is this strange lock-step thing going on with my conservative friends where they feel uncomfortable criticizing other conservatives. I'm not sure when this started but it is evident when you see republicans interviewed about Weiner and Vitter. Weiner sent pics---Vitter slept with prostitutes. The head of the RNC in one breath demanded that Weiner resign. The very next question was did he think Vitter should resign. Absolutely not. See it's like blind following. I don't think you should give into pressure like that. Glenn Beck is bizzarre and unbalanced. Perhaps that is just an act, in which case I feel bad for the people that believe. Perhaps he is really mentally ill, in which case I feel bad for his followers and him. Either way, you should be able to disagree with another fiscal conservative without feeling like you are missing some point.

NC

47

Wachtower says 97% of teens masturbate....is it realistic that 100% Witness teens don't?

by Witness 007 in

"young people ask" book admits 97% of youths masturbate...to put it into perspective, it's like saying 97% of the worlds population own a phone or a t.v!!

so is it realistic to believe these witnesses going thru puberty and teenage years won't on penalty of death?.

i always thought, if nearly 100% of teens do it isn't it normal?.

NewChapter

This happens much more frequently than you may realize

Yeppers--all the time! See how they cited sources and statistics! LOL

47

Wachtower says 97% of teens masturbate....is it realistic that 100% Witness teens don't?

by Witness 007 in

"young people ask" book admits 97% of youths masturbate...to put it into perspective, it's like saying 97% of the worlds population own a phone or a t.v!!

so is it realistic to believe these witnesses going thru puberty and teenage years won't on penalty of death?.

i always thought, if nearly 100% of teens do it isn't it normal?.

NewChapter

Because they need to insert themselves into the most private moments in order to keep control. A young person already feels embarrassed about changes in their body---it's just sort of a part of growing up---and now the new urges are most likely unexpected with their strength. What better way to gain control than to give them the impression that they are watched and should tell on themselves? Hey, if you can convince people to confess to such a private thing---telling on others will be no problem. It's not about masturbation--it's about control. It's about instilling a constant awareness of the GB in the minds of people. If they squirm during certain parts, then their brains will constantly be thinking about the guilt and the need to lean on the WT for a clean conscience. The WT is the only place to find a clean conscience. You need the WT to be good with God.

The account in the bible had nothing to do with masturbation! It was an issue about brother-in-law marriage---The guy didn't want to get his dead brother's wife pregnant cuz he didn't want to share the inheritence. The bible says absolutely nothing about this. Considering how common it is, you think it would at least mention it. It does not. Oh, so go on principal, right? Well maybe you can argue that point when talking about smoking---cuz it didn't exist in bible times. But frankly if you believe in creation, then be sure of this: Masturbation was created 3 seconds after genitals were created. If you don't believe in creation then this really isn't an issue.

I hate them for the shame they instill in young ones for natural behavior. So much unnecessary stress. I hate them for the shame they put on older ones too.

I actually had a distraught sister "confess" this to me! She saw me as mature for some reason. Well my heart just broke because she was so shamed. I simply told her that my opinion of her had not changed at all and I didn't think she did anything awful I told her it is not even mentioned in the bible and even the society doesn't consider it a disfellowshipping offense. And then I told her I really felt it was a conscience matter. I told her I didn't want her to feel bad anymore. It wasn't necessary. I again assured her that my view of her had not changed and she was a good person.

With my own daughter, I never went over the society's material on masturbation. I found it (the literature not masturbation) disgusting and guilt inducing and I didn't want her carrying that around with her. I was always too liberal for this religion and I'm not sure how I stayed as long as I did.

NC

18

It's DC Season (Conventions)

by RagingBull in

jw
friends

tell me what you enjoy (or miss) the most at district conventions that get (or got) you thru them.. i like seeing what people are wearing, especially the females with super high-heel "stripper" shoes.

but i dread getting beat up and ran over by jws trying to get "good seats"..

NewChapter

Since they don't serve pudding anymore, I miss absolutely nothing. I didn't even like them when I was in with all my heart. They were exhausting and repetitive, uncomfortable, and they always had a talk that left me guilt ridden.

NC

42

Do You Think It Is Wrong To Stereotype?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i know we are supposed to be politically correct but i don't always feel that this is warranted.. i do think that certain things might be generally true and could be viewed as stereotyping.

for example, if i see a young person driving a car very slowly, i might think that they are texting and driving (or else are asian).

now that might not have sounded proper, but i do think it's generally true, from my experience driving in the city.. if i see a "butchy" looking woman, i generally assume the woman is gay.

NewChapter

Well I had a pioneer once, but it refused to play my druggy, demonic, sex saturated favorites!

42

Do You Think It Is Wrong To Stereotype?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i know we are supposed to be politically correct but i don't always feel that this is warranted.. i do think that certain things might be generally true and could be viewed as stereotyping.

for example, if i see a young person driving a car very slowly, i might think that they are texting and driving (or else are asian).

now that might not have sounded proper, but i do think it's generally true, from my experience driving in the city.. if i see a "butchy" looking woman, i generally assume the woman is gay.

NewChapter

HEY! I know what a stereotype is! I have a Sony.

NC

17

I remember an illustration "something" like this in a talk one time LOL

by therevealer in

my wife stood before me with some items in front of her.

without a word, she emptied a large jar of mayonnaise and proceeded to fill the empty jar with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2" diameter, then asked me if the jar was full.

i agreed that it was.. she then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar.

NewChapter

UGH! I got that illustration with golf balls and marbles! Does that count?

NC

42

Do You Think It Is Wrong To Stereotype?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i know we are supposed to be politically correct but i don't always feel that this is warranted.. i do think that certain things might be generally true and could be viewed as stereotyping.

for example, if i see a young person driving a car very slowly, i might think that they are texting and driving (or else are asian).

now that might not have sounded proper, but i do think it's generally true, from my experience driving in the city.. if i see a "butchy" looking woman, i generally assume the woman is gay.

NewChapter

Is it stereotyping to assume a slow driving teen is texting? That seems more like taking in evidence and reaching a conclusion. I don't know about an Asian thing---unless it is cultural. I never think a person may be Asian because they drive slowly. If I meet a JW, I assume they will act a certain way under certain conditions. I have learned from this site that I may be very wrong about that! Yet I also may be very right. I guess in the end we all have preconceived notions about groups of people. The question is: are we open-minded enough to accept they may not fit those notions? I've had a little conversation with PSacramento on evolution. Since PS claims to be a Christian I automatically assumed he/she believed in creation. I was wrong. I quickly adjusted my view. I suppose I started out with a stereotype, but then allowed this person to define themselves to me.

Now if it a negative concept is fueled by misinformation--that is not helpful at all. For instance if I saw a person wearing Amish clothing, I'm going to assume they have no electricty--for good reason. I could be wrong but that is forgivable. If I think every black man has a tail and wants to rape me, I would be ignorant.

NC

48

True Friendship Only Found In the Organization?

by What Now? in

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often times, i read in the magazines that only among jehovahs people will you find true friendship.

NewChapter

I don't know if I was in the "in crowd" but I never wanted for friends. I had several extremely close friends that meant very much to me. I was invited to social functions and had a lot of fun. Those friends helped me through so much and I helped them. It's all dust now. All that work, all that commitment, like it never happened. I'm not DF'd but have been inactive for some years. It's like I never existed.

One thing that used to piss me off is when a friend would get married they would drop me. It was unavoidable. The extra pressures put on newly married witnesses made it so hard to maintain friendships with single friends. Also, the more "responsiblity" a person took on the less freindship they had room for. In the end it seemed the stronger a witness became at the KH, the less accesible they were to friends. And we were just suppose to smile and support it!

Since leaving I have reconnected with some of my pre-jw friends. These were people that I really cared about but drew away from for 20 years because of my religion. They have been amazing. Totally forgiving and welcoming. With my closest pre-jw friend it's as if no time has passed. I also reconnected with another friend who had become "apostate" and I had shunned. (yes, I did that). We knew each other for 12 years before becoming JW, and when she left I dropped her. We talk every day now.

I'm so sorry I wasted so much time, emotion and energy on 20 years of conditional friendship. It's an empty thing. But it gets better every day now.

NC

14

Do you still rush about??

by watersprout in

jw
friends

when i was in the wt i was always rushing.... never had time to do anything.... always had the meetings to prep for... dinner to get ready before the meeting... clothes to get ready.... ministry to go on.... there was always something i had to do for jehovah....etc etc etc..... i never sat down and enjoyed being in the moment... i always felt guilty... i would always be thinking ''i shouldn't be sat down i should be doing something for jehovah, he despises a lazy person.

it got soo bad i ended up in a hole to which i couldn't get out.

i needed help to function.. after coming out it took a long time to get used to enjoying some ''quiet'' time.

NewChapter

It takes a long time to shake that "I should be doing something" feeling that JW's are plagued with. Not having to get dressed, or rush out, or pack a bag, or find nylons without a snag, or wake up early, or call a study, or prepare for meeting is the equivalent of a warm bath to me. When I get that edgy feeling and realize I'm fine I have nothing to do I just sigh and sink back. It's wonderful.

NC