I think everyone is trying to balance appreciation for the work of a good man with that same person's failure to have resolved a bad situation that he created. Further comment on the subject is pointless, yet continued silence from the Silentlambs group allows this roadblock to remain.
How long will the silence continue?
Path
I know I have said (actually a couple of times) that I am through with this board, but this is absolutely my last post. Simon, please do me a huge favor, and delete my username, so I'm no longer 'tempted' to defend myself.
I have seen quite a bit of hypocrisy in my lifetime, as we all have. But never in my life to this extent. Path asks about silence from the 'silentlambs group', and that's a great question/comment, and under normal circumstance would scream from a legitimate answer. Unfortunately Path, when anyone from the 'silentlambs group' attempts to answer the questions you all have, they are attacked. Some with logic, some with sincere hearts, but most with cruel intentions. I personally think that LoneWolf should be ashamed of him/herself (I'm assuming him?). The level of hypocrisy and narrow-mindedness that this person portrays is astronomical. To sit here and do to another human being exactly what he is trying to make us all believe to be this 'horrible' crime, is just amazing. I did nothing to this person, I have never even acknowledged their presence. And to attack me the way they did, was not only cruel but evil. Some of you have excellent points, as I have stated. For the most part I don't hold your opinions, but I try my best to show respect. Those of you that are using logic with a sincere heart should not be pleased to have such a person speaking in your behalf. At the very least you should be embarrassed, if not enraged. We've all come here for support, comfort, and perhaps an escape from the torment we feel from the abuses mention by E-man, who was not at all off base when he showed the importance of these things. Whether I, or any of you, hold the opinions of LoneWolf or not, on any topic, no-one deserves the disrespect he shows. God forbid someone should have a different opinion on a board that's supposed to uphold freedom of opinion. Simon has his hands full with guys like this, and I feel for him. Simon and E-man have always shown respect for me, whether we agree or not, and I would hope that you would all learn a thing or two from that example. I came back here after keeping silent for weeks on this topic, and I held the same opinion that Path holds now. That Bill should speak up and answer for his actions. I see now why he chose not to. Do any of you think that he could possibly have gotten a fair chance here, with unreasonable, and hypocritical people such as this, that refuse to show ANY fellow man the respect they deserve? Once the person attacks on Bill and the silentlambs cause started steamrolling (which was immediate), there was no stopping it, no matter what anyone said or did. I don't think Bill could have made cruel hearted people such as this understand, not even if he had recanted on the entire issue. Many people wonder how to save their JW family and friends......well, when garbage like this takes place, exactly like the Watchtower says it will, what do you expect? This is the garbage can they were speaking of all that time. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not agreeing with the society on this, the actions here do it for me. The simple fact of the matter is, a large percentage of former JWs become trash, with no respect for anyone, not even themselves. Some can say it's their (Watctower's) fault, but that's not true. We're big people, we know how to treat one another. When and if any of my family or friends, who are currently JW, start questioning their faith, I pray to God or whoever is out there that they do not come here. I apologize Simon, this has nothing to do with you, it's the sort that have made this place filthy. I know you've tried your best, and it's a losing battle for you.
Let me explain to you people, who find it so easy to attack me personally. I NEVER said Ray Franz was a bad person. I don't know the man, and I will not pass judgment on someone I don't know, or on actions I have not seen myself. To say the things that have been said to me by LoneWolf is doing exactly what you are all accusing Bill of doing. Will there be several hundred threads defending me, or several hundred threads condemning LoneWolf? Of course not, because in the name of popular opinion, he'll get away with it. It's all fine and good because I am no-one, and LoneWolf is no-one. We've never really left the JW mentality have we? We're only arguing about these men because we've placed them on pedestals. Where'd we learn that from? Apparently in the amount of time that each and every one of us has been out of 'captivity', we've not learned one thing. As a matter of fact we've not left our captive minds at all.
As I write this, the thoughts of the comments this will receive makes me shudder. I see them in my mind, and that's a sad thing. I've seen them over and over and over again on this board. And yet we condemn another man for doing what some consider to be the same. I think we've all gotten carried away with this, and as I kept saying, it serves no-one - It helps no-one. Will this harm the silentlambs cause? Some think so, and I have worried a bit myself at times. Will this hurt Ray Franz? I'm sure he's hurt to some extent, he's human. Will this hurt all of you? Possibly, because you could be next to suffer the wrath of people just like LoneWolf. This sort of thing is abuse people. We supposedly left this all behind us. I will not be stomped into the ground anymore. I left that once before. I spent many years not being able to voice my opinion, in the name of God. Am I to stay here and take the same abuse in the name of God only knows what? Of course no-one here cares whether I live or die.....just more evidence that I don't belong here, and more evidence of the mentality carried over from years of abusive brainwashing. It's time to wake up everyone, please don't continue to do this to one another, you're only harming yourselves. I say these things because I care about myself, of course, but I say these things because there are many here I care about. I also say it because I have concern for all here, even LoneWolf. I hope that he/she learns from their experiences here, and I hope in the future those experiences are positive ones. The negativity will only harm you Lone, and the abusive, cruel attitude you carry will only drag YOU down. It's not healthy, not mentally, not physically and not spiritually (not meaning religiously).
I am shocked by the comments made, and recently I've had the attitude to send it right back, once I've been attacked first. Perhaps some that know me have seen the change in me over the past week. I almost fell into it, I was almost dragged down, and that's why I must depart while I have a chance. I apologize to anyone whom I might have offended over the past few days. My actions were of course in retaliation, and out of the 'norm' for me, but that's no excuse. Again, I am a grown man, and I know how you're suppose to treat your fellow man, and I fell short of my own conscience and personal morals.
Most probably have not made it this far, as this is quite a bit to read, and I apologize for that (I hate long posts ), but I bid you all farewell, and I hope for you to find happy, fulfilling lives. I hope that you all find what you're looking for, and you find it well. To LoneWolf, although you probably don't care, and I'm almost positive you will hammer me after this post, I forgive you, and I hope for the best for you and yours. Please accept my apologies for not answering any comments that might be made, as I cannot mentally handle this place any more. And again, Simon, please remove my membership, and thank you for all the help you have provided me during my 'stay' here. G'day E-man, take it easy ol' boy, ok?
One more thing, LoneWolf, if you do nothing else, please read through these comments, and ask yourself "Why?", as I have. It will surely assist you in your healing process, if that is your goal.
Thank you all for everything.
RevMalk
<Bold Added>
No, the issue should not be dead. Especially that is so when knotheads like you continue to slander other people's good name. Your asinine words "it's just not his bag to save innocent children" is a good case in point. Where do you come off assuming anything about what he feels about anything? I can think of about 5 different scenarios where he would not feel free to speak up now --- or even ever.
The time when this subject should die is whenever numbskulls like you quit your nonsense, and not before. If that takes 5 days, 50 months, or 500 years, that's tough. You need to get it through your thick skulls that you don't have that kind of intelligence. If it takes a sledgehammer to do it, so be it.
RevMalk --- Good lord, either you didn't read my post at all or your reading comprehension level registers right around the square root of a negative one. And what's this about an IQ of 180 something? Are you sure you didn't get the decimal in the wrong place?
To keep going on and on and on with this to the benefit of no-one.
I'm glad you agree. So take your medicine like a man, stop your whining and let's get on with the program.
Personal cruel attacks on a fellow man for having an opinion (and how many others on this board Lone?) Shame on you for being the hypocrite you are. I hope you Don't feel good about yourself, because I hope that you'll learn one day that this is not normal....You need help, and I mean that literally. I honestly, truly, and sincerely hope that one day you'll find that help. Until then, fire at will, you'll be kicking a man while he's down and defenseless, that's right up your alley I'm suspecting.
edited to fix a spelling mistake - Maybe LoneWolf is right, I am stupid
Edited by - RevMalk on 25 November 2002 3:17:24