leokio

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Posts by leokio

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  41

  Did you always know you might leave?

  by jws in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you grew up a jw, did you always know you weren't going to be one when you grew up?

  did you ever have that spark?

  i don't think i always knew i wouldn't be one.

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  leokio

  Yes. I read or heard or saw something at almost every meeting that made me tell myself that I wasn't going back. But by the next meeting I'd think about what I might miss out on if I didn't go back and end up at the next meeting. I yo-yo'd back and forth for years like this, never becoming anything of any value to anyone in the org. or to myself. It was coming to this realization that finally allowed me to give myself permission to just say to hell with it all...and I left. I moved away, let weak family ties take their natural course and learned to be happy with my life. Today, I wish that I had better, stronger ties with family who are all still in but as it now stands, I don't see that ever happening. I have a few good friends who have become as close as family and that's good enough for me. Leo
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  12

  If you are reading this and you do not post much, tell us about you.

  by asilentone in

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  2. friends
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  leokio

  Nowadays I only visit this board maybe once a week, read only what looks interesting and skip the rest. I've learned a lot here but have been away from the org. for so long (36 years), all of my experiences are ancient history and not worth expressing in my opinion. I do some anti-witnessing only when the opportunity presents itself, mostly to friends or to the occasional witness that comes to the door. I believe that the Watchtower Publishing Co. will exist in some form for many years to come. Over time, they can make huge changes and still retain many weak willed, weak minded followers. Many of my family members and former good friends are among them. I understand that this board is closing at years end so I'll take this opportunity to thank Simon for providing this avenue of help for me and so very many others who have learned the "truth" about the Truth from this forum over the past several years. Thank you Simon and all who assisted you in your sacred quest. Leo
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  117

  Your All Time Favorite Song- If You Had to Pick Just One ?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i decided to do a couple fluff threads tonight as my threads have been way too deadly seroius lately !

  so if someone told you to pick one song that was your all-time favorite, what would you pick ?

  i'd have to say for me it has not changed since the 1971 hit by led zeppelin, " stairway to heaven ".

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  leokio

  Current favorites come and go but THE #1 for me for all time is Rainy Night In Georgia as done by Brook Benton.I really feel this song because I've lived it more or less at one point in my life. Leo
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  79

  How long have you been out now?

  by hillbilly in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  days?

  months?

  years?

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  leokio

  23 years and 5 months approximately. Moved out of state and haven't been contacted since. Relatives know where I live but evidently haven't cared enough to drop me in so I guess you could say I'm successfully faded. Leo
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  62

  For those of you who don't go to meetings anymore...

  by exwitless in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  when you attended your last meeting ever as a dub, did you know it was your last?

  did something happen which made it clear in your mind you were 'never going back' (not to be confused with nvrgnbk)?.

  the last meeting we went to was the memorial in 2006. we only went because we knew we were already pegged for the elders' unwanted attention, so we had to go to keep them off our backs a little longer.

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  leokio

  Made my last attempt to fit in and make a go of it in Michigan in 1984 but after several months I knew I would never believe the lie again no matter how hard I tried. I said goodbye to the only 2 friends I'd made at that Hall in 2 years (Fred and Ellie). It was after the Thursday night meeting and I'd been transfered to another state and I knew I'd never set foot in a Kingdom Hall again and to date, I haven't. Not one regret, not one tear shed. Fred and Ellie were pretty old then and may no longer be around but I think about them from time to time and wish them well wherever they may be. Leo
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  31

  Why don't Lurkers Post?

  by sweet pea in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i came to the realisation that my whole religious upbringing was in question and i was led to this site, i immediately wanted to get involved - i could see that there was a lot of caring, spiritual people here that had created an amazing community and i wanted to be a part of that community (to release some pent up feelings and to maybe help others in some way) but having read that many of you guys lurked for months and in some cases years before you finally posted - i'm intrigued as to why?????

  was it selfishness - couldn't bring yourself to commit and be a part of the community, you were just content to observe?

  was it laziness?

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  leokio

  I've been coming here mostly as a lurker for maybe 5 years. I probably have no more than 10 or 12 post to my credit. I left the org. over 26 years ago and my experience with the dubs is ancient history although not much has changed in that time.
  
  I like to read mostly the personal experiences of those who post on a regular basis. It serves to constantly validate my decision to leave years ago. The Tower still craps on its members now just like it did when I was a target and I feel better about being an X-jw when I read the testimony of the new arrivals to this board.
  
  As far as commenting or giving advise to folks who come here for answers.....like I said, my personal experience is ancient history. It seems reasonable to let those with more recently acquired information assist the new ones.
  
  I also lurk here to stay abreast of the latest goings-on of the Tower as I still have family inside and I'm always looking for some new knowledge that may affect a change in their membership status.
  
  I usually go for several days without checking in and then spend several hours catching up on all the post. I can't read everything, usually just the "friends" forum.
  
  At any rate, I guess this may be a good time to say thanks to all who post here and to Simon for creating this board.
  
  Leo
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  15

  Finally getting shunned...

  by bluesbreaker59 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well my family has been doing it for a while.

  but i found it really strange, that i live in an area of town with many jw's and still go to all the normal places, and yet i'd not seen them... last week, walking around downtown, i spotted my "step -aunt", (step mom's side) and she put her head down, and wouldn't acknowledge me.

  then i rode up the elevator with her today, same treatment, thought today she made eye contact.

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  leokio

  I well remember the last time I was shunned, I was moving out of state and stopped by my "former" best friends place of business and got permission to go into the shop to say goodbye.
  
  He was working on a piece of equipment and looked up in time to see me approaching about 30 feet away. He stood up, turned to his right and walked toward the parts dept. and through a door.
  
  Giving him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he just had to pee really bad at that moment, I waited 15 min. but he didn't come back.
  
  We had been on semi-speaking terms up to that point so I had no reason to think that I'd get that kind of treatment. That was over 30 years ago. I don't know why but it still cuts a bit to this day when I think about it even though I've replaced him many times over since then.
  
  My sister occasionally tells me that he inquires about me from time to time but I've asked her to keep her answers to a simple "he's fine" and leave it at that. I'm sure his real question is more to "is he old, broke, destitute, diseased, living in sin on his deathbed yet"? That's how most of them want to think us.
  
  Sorry, John, but NONE OF THE ABOVE. I've had a wonderful life due in part because I've mostly distanced myself from you and your kind.
  
  Not everyone can do it, but the moving away part helps a bunch when you don't have to worry about the chance of being shunned every time you go out in public.
  
  Sorry for the long rant but this old event was on my mind recently so I took my shot.
  
  I feel better now...Thanks.
  
  Leo
  
  No paragraphs again...sorry, they were there...I swear it! L.
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  35

  ..Creative Insults..

  by OUTLAW in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  every once in awhile people will get choked with each other and name call..usually it`s not that creative..sh*thead..assh*le..ect..then there`s my favorites like hillary_step..that guy can insult an idiot and it`s unlikely the person will ever get it..lol!

  !..that always cracks me up..lol!

  !.....what i`m looking for is creative insults!

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  leokio

  To anyone who is trying to impress you with his knowledge of whatever subject..."You are obviously educated far beyond your intellegence..." This usually gets a "thank you" -Leo
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  24

  What was your 1st Deception as a JW?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  was was the first thing that really decieved you, in your jw years?.

  was it the way you were treated, or maybe a teaching that deceived you ?.

  i think my 1st deception was when they said that the resurrected ones wouldn't be allowed to get married in the new system.. then i wondered why ???

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  leokio

  After a few years it dawned on me that the all powerful god of the universe probably has better judgment than to put morons in charge of his one true religious corporation even if they do use his name. The men who control the WBTS can't possibly believe in a real All Powerful God. Otherwise, they'd be in fear that he wouldn't put up with their bullshit. They don't seem to be, so I don't guess they do. Leo
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  19

  Baha'i religion

  by Junction-Guy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone here know anything about baha'i?, i have never seen it mentioned on here before.

  i remember there was a country singer back in the late 80's that was a baha'i, but i cant remember his name.

  even back then while i was going to the kingdom hall, when i first heard of this singer something in my mind said this is a cult, even though i was associating with the grandaddy of them all.

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  leokio

  Hello JG,

  Honestly don't know about Baha'i Faith. Maybe Hindu based? Not sure. But a group from back in the 70's and 80's who were involved in this religion was Seals and Crofts and I believe that Jimmy Seals of that group has a brother, Dan Seals, who is a country singer and may therefore be involved also. I liked their music and owned a couple of their LPs back in those days. They have a web site but I didn't take the time to read much of it. Dan Seals also has a web site.

  At any rate, if Baha'i is a cult, I agree we would surely be the pot calling the kettle black wouldn't we.

  Leo