Posts by Phizzy

16

Opening doors, putting your foot in the door and other dangerous activities

by Anony Mous in

i was listening to the news and there is this big brouhaha about someone shooting someone through their front door.

apparently the person tried to open the door of an elderly person, scaring the homeowner and they shot a gun injuring the person.

obvious castle doctrine case.. which made me remember a rather overzealous old pioneer that used the same tactics when he knew the homeowners were home but didn’t want to come to the door, he would start opening the storm doors and try to see if the door was unlocked so he could yell inside.

Phizzy

Off topic as it has gone, but O.K as far as the Title goes, I've just got to tell you the story of what happened with a well known Foot in the Door "brother" when I was kid in the 1950's. Bro. F.I.D from now on.

My dad and I were knocking on a door a few door up from Bro. F.I.D, on a row of 200 year old cottages that had front doors right on the pavement, he seemed to have a good conversation going, he had his body half inside the little cottage, his Bible out and open, and must have said something outrageous as all of a sudden the guy inside gave him a hard shove, and slammed the door, Bro F.I.D fell backwards on to the pavement, a surprised look on his face, and dad burst out laughing.

What made dad and me laugh even more was, Bro F.I.D had placed his briefcase inside the cottage, and had to knock on the door to get it back, the guy threw it at him ! I thought all this was hilarious, being about 7 at the time, but was bit surprised that dad did, but he explained to me that he had warned Bro FID about putting his foot in the door a few days before !

6

UK Supreme Court decides Watchtower not liable for elder raping 29 year old congregant

by Corney in

background: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5684019822854144/vicarious-liability-court-appeal-dismisses-appeal-from-religious-organisation-following-sexual-assault.

the judgment (unanimous): https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2021-0089-judgment.pdf.

press summary: https://www.supremecourt.uk/press-summary/uksc-2021-0089.html.

Phizzy

Some more background to the case, and perhaps pause for thought for anyone who is a Trustee !

"Towards the end of 1989, Mark Sewell's behaviour changed. He began abusing alcohol and appeared depressed. He began flirting with Mrs B, including hugging her, holding hands and kissing her. He also confided in her. Concerned, Mrs B spoke to Mark Sewell's father, Tony, who like his son was an elder. Tony explained that Mark was suffering from depression and needed love and support. It was accepted at trial that, had it not been for the fact that Mark Sewell was an elder and Mrs B had received this instruction from Tony Sewell, their friendship would have come to an end. Mr and Mrs B continued providing Mark Sewell with support. At one point, he asked Mrs B to run away with him.

On 30 April 1990, Mr and Mrs B and Mark and Mary Sewell were taking part in door-to-door evangelising. Afterwards they all went to a local pub for lunch, where Mark and Mary Sewell argued. Later the families returned to Mark and Mary's house. There, Mark Sewell went into a back room. Mrs B was asked by Mary if she could talk some sense into him. Mrs B decided that she should go to speak to Mark to try to convince him that he should go to the elders about his depression. A conversation ensued during which Mark Sewell pushed Mrs B to the floor, held her down and raped her.

On 2 July 2014, Mark Sewell was convicted of raping Mrs B and seven counts of indecently assaulting two other individuals. He was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment. By this time Mark Sewell had been expelled as a Jehovah's Witness for unrelated conduct and Mrs B had ceased her association with the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Mrs B commenced an action for damages for personal injury, including psychiatric harm, against the Watch Tower and Bible Tract Society of Pennsylvania (which is a charitable corporation that supports the worldwide religious activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses) and the Trustees of the Barry Congregation, alleging that they were vicariously liable for the rape committed by Mark Sewell. The trial judge found them vicariously liable for the rape and awarded Mrs B general damages of £62,000. The Court of Appeal upheld the trial judge's decision. The Trustees of the Barry Congregation now appeal to the Supreme Court."

When I said the Supreme Court decision was a close one, I am surprised they dismissed the effect of Tony Sewell's advice as mere "background", surely his advice put the victim in danger.

6

UK Supreme Court decides Watchtower not liable for elder raping 29 year old congregant

by Corney in

background: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5684019822854144/vicarious-liability-court-appeal-dismisses-appeal-from-religious-organisation-following-sexual-assault.

the judgment (unanimous): https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2021-0089-judgment.pdf.

press summary: https://www.supremecourt.uk/press-summary/uksc-2021-0089.html.

Phizzy

Many thanks for posting this Corney, the Org have worked hard over many years to remove themselves from vicarious liability, but this was a close one !

It is sad from our point of view, those of us whom have been in the Org. because we know the reality of the regard that Elders are held in, and because of that aura, they have exceptional power.

I feel sorry for the Victim, I can see nothing wrong with the Supreme Courts decision, but the poor Victim has come this far, to be told that because of a very closely defined interpretation of the Law, the org. keeps their cash. Presumably the Rapist has no cash.

25

The corrosive nature of CRT

by LoveUniHateExams in

diane abbot has been temporarily suspended from the labour party whilst they investigate her behaviour.. what's she done?.

it was leaked that a first draft of a letter she was going to write had the claim that jews can't experience racism.. the influence of crt is obvious.

according to this warped worldview, there are two types of people, oppressors and oppressed.

Phizzy

"There are 'academics' who broadly support CRT" I know that, but that does not answer what I asked for, support for your contention that a serious Academic supporter of CRT has said the following, as you contend :" According to CRT, Jews can't experience racism cos dey white".

25

The corrosive nature of CRT

by LoveUniHateExams in

diane abbot has been temporarily suspended from the labour party whilst they investigate her behaviour.. what's she done?.

it was leaked that a first draft of a letter she was going to write had the claim that jews can't experience racism.. the influence of crt is obvious.

according to this warped worldview, there are two types of people, oppressors and oppressed.

Phizzy

" According to CRT, Jews can't experience racism cos dey white ", that is an example of the misuse of CRT that I was talking about !

Can you show any accredited Academic who broadly supports the aims of CRT who has said what you say there, and says that is part of CRT ? Citations please.

25

The corrosive nature of CRT

by LoveUniHateExams in

diane abbot has been temporarily suspended from the labour party whilst they investigate her behaviour.. what's she done?.

it was leaked that a first draft of a letter she was going to write had the claim that jews can't experience racism.. the influence of crt is obvious.

according to this warped worldview, there are two types of people, oppressors and oppressed.

Phizzy

The point she was making is that if your a traveller/gypsy or Irish your skin colour means racism is not automatic. It’s about interaction.

Whereas if you are black it’s there every second of every day from people not even within speaking distance.

33

July 2023 Study Watchtower - Great Tribulation is coming soooooooooooooon!

by BoogerMan in

is this the "great tribulation" which jesus warned he would bring upon the corrupt christian congregations worldwide, (revelation 2:22; 7:14) or is it the same 1st century g.t.

which he said would never occur again?

(matthew 24:21).

Phizzy

The J.W org. still flogging a very dead horse, hoping it will limp along at least.

I suppose this nonsense will work on some of the more entrenched, mind controlled JW's still, but that is an indictment upon the Org's message, they rely upon fear to get full control of their members.

This constant fear mongering and also looking forward to the "New System" never really worked on me, as a J.W I thought " I don't care when Armageddon comes, Jehovah is a Righteous Merciful Judge, so I have nothing to fear, and I don't want this world to go yet, too many good people need to hear the truth". Faulty reasoning of course, but it meant that all the hype for decade after decade that the "End is Sooooo close" only cemented my doubt that the G.B knew in any way what they were talking about.

25

The corrosive nature of CRT

by LoveUniHateExams in

diane abbot has been temporarily suspended from the labour party whilst they investigate her behaviour.. what's she done?.

it was leaked that a first draft of a letter she was going to write had the claim that jews can't experience racism.. the influence of crt is obvious.

according to this warped worldview, there are two types of people, oppressors and oppressed.

Phizzy

I think the thing this shows mainly about Ms Abbot is that she is not the sharpest tool in the box, and that even in a draft if it were indeed that, if she were a bit more savvy, she would have made her point with more sensitivity and precision of language, even if the point was not valid. She is a bit thick, but is still way above a good number of the present Government's Ministers etc. A low bar.

I don't think what she said can be labelled "anti-semitic", it was not an attack upon Jews, just a poorly thought out (< if that took place) opinion, poorly expressed as well.

CRT of itself is not a bad thing of course, we need to examine all social, political, and legal structures and power distribution, focusing on the concept of race, and experiences of Racism, so that we can do something about it.

But as with all such things CRT can be misused.

It is working wonderfully well this story though, as another "Hey look ! a Dead Cat!" for the Tory Media, helping to take the Public's mind of the Narcissistic Bully Raab, who IS very thick.

6

RIP Barry Humphries

by LoveUniHateExams in

comedy legend barry humphries passed away yesterday aged 89. he was the genius behind dame edna everage and sir les patterson.. humphries was also an intellectual, with a huge personal library of first prints and rare editions.

he apparently dropped out of studying law because he found it 'boring', from what i remember reading about him.

instead, he created a number of comedy characters - as much for his own amusement as ours.. here's to a long life, well-lived 🥂.

Phizzy

I always loved Barry, very funny, satirical and a bit anarchic. I remember he put an exhibit in an Art Exhibition, it was two big boots, filled with custard, and entitled "Puss in Boots" !

I first encountered his work when I was a very young feller in the magazine Private Eye where he had a cartoon strip called "Barry Mackenzie" , I didn't always get the humour and references as a callow youth, but appreciated all his work in later years. The one character name that still makes me laugh, was the sleazy Union Rep type he invented , who he named "Lance Boyle" IIRC.

RIP Barry.

17

Can watchtower really continue with cart preaching?

by Hellothere in

can watchtower really continue with cart preaching?

it has become like zoom.

we're people attending zoom not wanting attend halls.

Phizzy

I wonder what JW's feel about the cart work, yes the vast majority would rather do that than knock on doors, but I wonder if the genuine ones may deep down think that it is not real witnessing, and not very productive at all for making converts.