Both my sister, and our friend Sister T have recently had really bad experiences with the elders. Experiences where they went for help, seeking shelter from the wind etc, and in return got smashed. My sister and her husband have had issues for a while, and the elders response was to say "Well you can't be doing everything we told you to do because if you were you wouldn't still be having problems." Then proceeded to threaten them with losing their pioneer and MS status. Our friend Sister T asked an elder to keep an eye on her and remember her in his prayers because she got drunk ONCE, and a few days later was called into a judicial committee.
It seems from the reports here on JWN from the KM schools that the powers that be are clamping down on everything and legalism is taking front and centre. The results are seen in the harsh treatment being meted out to those who err or even seek help. I think that this attitude will push more people out than any new light or TTATT. Maybe the WTS has figured this out and, like a true bully / abusive partner is flipping the blame onto the innocent party. Taking advantage of their captive and fear filled minds. Guilt, guilt, guilt. The article Listener mentioned above and the one just the other weekend about how we react to counsel from the elders all put the blame on the the publisher involved. We are told that we should be forgiving of the elders and remember they are only human and make mistakes, yet this same attitude is not extended to the publishers. To those who are honest hearted, this attitude will scratch against the blackboard of their sense of justice and may be just what they ned to help them wake up.
I think the WTS is finding itself in the difficult position of wanting to distance itself from individual elders for liability reasons, yet at the same time control everything they do and say.
