Posts by krejames

38

Looking Back, Are You Embarrassed By Your Attitudes, Speech, Actions as a JW?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i think of how judgmental we were as witnesses.

"worldly ones" were almost as bad as disfellowshipped ones but not as bad as "apostates"..

krejames

Totally! i remember going to a disco (!) with a sister and she ended up snogging some "worldly" guy and i told her to tell her dad about it (who was an elder). Actually i had forgotten about that until I met up with her recently and she reminded me (she's out of WTS now too). The hypocrisy of it (on my part!). Amazingly we stayed very good friends and probably will be for life.

Another time my sister and I went to a house party and there was some heavy(ish) alcohol consumption so we left early. Then the next day we went self-righteously round to their house and sat down in their living room with the hosts and their parents and told them why we left early and why we thought their party was out of order. I'm going red thinking about it!

All i can say in my defence is I was young and niaive. What a prick!

59

JW Witnessing Trolleys. To approach or ignore what is your preference and why?

by KateWild in

i saw two brothers this morning next to the main train station in liverpool city centre this morning.

they were not actively approaching anyone.

what i found strange was that they were from a cong that has different territory, so i don't know why they were there.. anyway i knew them both, and they know i was df'd, i was in my car and couldn't park up for a chat, but i did beep and wave to them as i drove passed and they waved back.

krejames

If I don't know them and if I have the time I'm inclined to approach without letting on I'm a witness and ask thought provoking questions.

22

Yes, I see you shunning me!

by Blackbird Fly in

even tho i grew up in the org, so much that once seemed normal behavior now seems so bizarre and even cruel.

i have run into at least 3 people from our old cong since the memorial (i didnt attend) anyhow i have noticed how each time they go out of their way to say hello and flash me a big bright smile, only to immediately avert their eyes and end any possible commitment to a conversation.

i dont really care as i dont have anything to say to them anyhow.

krejames

@new hope: yes great attitude. I have been gradually coming to that way of thinking myself. All the very best to you x

22

Yes, I see you shunning me!

by Blackbird Fly in

even tho i grew up in the org, so much that once seemed normal behavior now seems so bizarre and even cruel.

i have run into at least 3 people from our old cong since the memorial (i didnt attend) anyhow i have noticed how each time they go out of their way to say hello and flash me a big bright smile, only to immediately avert their eyes and end any possible commitment to a conversation.

i dont really care as i dont have anything to say to them anyhow.

krejames

It's funny, when I was "in" i never saw this kind of behaviour. Never even occurred to me. Now I'm faded out it's all too true. Even when they do stop to chat it seems it's with an ulterior motive. A brother I was pretty good friends with stopped me in the high street a few weeks ago and made small talk then got to "the point": that he had recently been made an elder and at the last elders meeting they had discussed me and that they wanted to come around to see how I was. When would I be available? I said I was busy and would let him know. He kind of laboured the issue but when he realised I wasn't going to commit to a date, he pretty much ended the conversation. Likewise a very sweet sister I bumped into the other day was all friendly and smiley but the gist of the very very brief conversation was how much "they" missed me and "please come back". Admittedly I wasn't bosum buddies with her but, really? that's all there is to say?!

I hear you Blackbird - totally bizarre!

8

The Invention of Lying

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

i just watched this movie on video this weekend.

always meant to see it and just got around to it.

it was a brilliant movie, but not at all what i was expecting.. it's a story of a man who lives in a world where everyone says what is on their mind all the time, to the point of brutal honesty (no, i am not sleeping with you.").

krejames

I haven't seen it because I cannot abide Ricky Gervaise. he's so smug and thinks he's much funnier than he is. Is it one that non-RG fans will be able to stomach?

26

I skipped the meeting again!! Wife gives me a look I have never seen...

by DATA-DOG in

i had a rough day of physical work and was tired and cold.

i decided to stay home and rest.

when my wife found out, a very strange look swept over her face for just an instant.

krejames

Thinking of you all going through this. Must be very painful to see someone you love going through this kind of mental denial and you feeling like the bad guy. X

19

Mom is coming over tomorrow. What should I ask?

by Faithful Witness in

my mother is visiting us again tomorrow, only 5 weeks since her last visit.

things seem to be going pretty well with her, and the kids are enjoying having grandma back in our routine.

she is retiring at the end of may (age 65), so she promises that this is going to mean more time with family.

krejames

hi faithful witness. really happy for you that things are going well with your relationship with your mum. It sounds like you've got your head screwed on. Nice work and wishing you the best x

68

What TV Show(s) Do You Just Love?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i regularly watch family feud.. homeland is a great show i watch every week, when it's in season.. metv has so many great programs---from taxi to the twilight zone.. what do you like watching?

?.

krejames

My Mad Fat Diary - just brilliant drama executed perfectly by channel4/e4

69

Any Suggestions on what to say if elders ask why you stopped going in FS?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i was curious what might be some good things to say if i am questioned by the elduurs about my decline in fs.

anything too honest may get me a jc (although that would be for the best in the end..) the co visit is this week so they may be getting more agressive than usual.

krejames

LOL @ rub a dub - I like the batman idea best :)

69

Any Suggestions on what to say if elders ask why you stopped going in FS?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i was curious what might be some good things to say if i am questioned by the elduurs about my decline in fs.

anything too honest may get me a jc (although that would be for the best in the end..) the co visit is this week so they may be getting more agressive than usual.

krejames

I just kept "forgetting" to put my report in even if I had been on service. on the odd occasion that I went to the service group I would turn up late and work on my own if poss and leave to "go on calls" (home). The crucial thing is to be seen by the elders on service occasionally. The secretary would text me asking for my time and I would always reply that I would check my diary and get back to him. I never did. He eventually gave up chasing me and by this time I was skipping meetings. Mind I was lucky in that I had family in another congregation and people initially assumed I was visiting them when I wasn't around.

When one of the elders caught up with me to ask why I wasnt at the meetings I said (as someone here suggested) that I was struggling with work and depression and that I needed a break for my mental health. That definitely gave me some breathing space. the bottom line is to get some balls and dismiss any notion that they have any authority over you - they'll soon give up.