longgone

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Posts by longgone

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  14

  Does anyone else get “triggered” when somebody uses the word “triggered”?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  what’s the world coming to?

  (i guess this makes me officially an older while male now ).

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  longgone

  I agree with truth_b _known. If something happens that is upsetting or brings back an unpleasant memory, there are countless way to express it other than saying …the annoying word in the title. 😉
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  22

  JW’s and Charity Organizations

  by longgone in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was wondering if anyone is aware of the jw’s in general being involved financially and/or as volunteers in charity organizations?

  i was a born in jw for 56 years and left in 2016. as far as i remember there was never any encouragement to help in the community in any way.

  including soup kitchens, tutoring at schools, united way, etc.

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  longgone

  I appreciate your responses and they backed up the impression I had. I didn’t remember the direct statements in the literature.

  What outright selfishness and greed the governing body displays.

  My reason for asking was that I had been inquiring about volunteering at a local chapter of an international charity.

  When I did some research online I found that a couple from the last congregation I attended are sponsors and one of them is on the board of directors.

  Great that they aren’t following the “rules.” 🙂 I thought it was unusual that they are involved especially to that extent. I would probably cross paths with them although I don’t know how often. Here’s why this matters to me and maybe why I felt the need to express it here.

  I wasn’t able to leave the organization with a shred of dignity, when I disassociated there were several very unpleasant situations surrounding it because of some of the elders who were way out of line. Including one who tried to force himself into my home, which was terrifying in itself.

  Even the neighbors heard the whole situation, so that was embarrassing as well. They were very supportive and said they’d help if anything further occurred.

  One of the elders who was directly involved is a close relative to this couple and no doubt they were aware of the situation.

  I doubt they approve of what happened and are possibly embarrassed.

  Seeing their pictures in the media brings that extremely difficult time period back to me as if it were yesterday, it’s keeping me awake and causing bad dreams.

  I know this is my fault to let it upset me so much but it does. Yet, I don’t see any reason to force myself into the unpleasant situation of volunteering where there will be a constant reminder of the religion just to prove to myself that I can.

  Covid restrictions have made volunteering opportunities limited, but I’ll keep looking. I know I’m far from alone in being triggered by the organization even years later and it does somehow help just to express my feelings here. Thank you for your input and support. 🌷✨🧡😎
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  22

  JW’s and Charity Organizations

  by longgone in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was wondering if anyone is aware of the jw’s in general being involved financially and/or as volunteers in charity organizations?

  i was a born in jw for 56 years and left in 2016. as far as i remember there was never any encouragement to help in the community in any way.

  including soup kitchens, tutoring at schools, united way, etc.

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  longgone

  I was wondering if anyone is aware of the JW’s in general being involved financially and/or as volunteers in charity organizations? I was a born in JW for 56 years and left in 2016. As far as I remember there was never any encouragement to help in the community in any way. Including soup kitchens, tutoring at schools, United Way, etc. Nothing. In fact more of the opposite. “Door to door” was our charity work and that’s it. Until recently, sad to say I have never even known a Witness to do so. If they did, it wasn’t mentioned. I’ve lived in several regions of US, perhaps it’s different in other areas here or other countries. I have a personal reason for asking, I’d like to get some feedback first before saying anything further. Thanks. :)
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  15

  Happy birthday smiddy

  by smiddy3 in

  1. social
  2. family

  a young 81 ,may there be many more.. but feeling about 91 at the present time ..

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  longgone

  I’m with millie210! ❤️ 🎶Happy Birthday Smiddy!! 🎶❤️
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  32

  Old Literature 

  by RolRod in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what did you do with your jw literature when you left?

  kept it, sold it or dumped it?

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  longgone

  I made multiple trips to the dumpster, not just books though. Service bags, “modest” and “appropriate” dresses, skirts, shoes, inexpensive jewelry, everything last item related the religion. Sad to say, my closet was nearly empty as were my book shelves. 🙄🙄🙄
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  11

  Alone

  by Youngaposthate in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey you all, i'm honestly pretty depressed on my own out there.

  it's quite terrifying being on your own out there in a lone wolf kinda way.

  i'm not sure how much my brain can tolerate this mest up feeling of social abandonment caused by the borg and family.

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  longgone

  You’ve arrived at a great place for support and suggestions from those who have been right where you are today. You’ll feel better soon, just keep at it. I’ve been where you are and the kind people here have literally saved my life and I’m so grateful. I left the jw’s four years ago, since then I’ve experienced so much joy! Yet there have been some dark hours but they pass, they definitely will for you too.

  Come here whenever you need to. Keep going forward, even one hour at a time as Pete said. My suggestion would be to read, and then read again any advice that’s helpful in your situation. I did that as well as writing some things down in a notebook. Follow through then. Even if you don’t feel like it, go for that walk, if it’s cold, bundle up. If it’s raining take your umbrella. Hot? Grab your shades and water bottle and head on out! The exercise is good for your body and soul. There’s life in that fresh oxygen. You might pass people along the way, a smile and hello from you can make they’re day and yours! It has for me many times.

  Also, if you’re a music lover, listen to the genres that makes you feel energized, here’s one that I think you’ll love, it’s called Fight Song, by Rachel Platten. The Official Video on YouTube is amazing. I promise you’ll feel better. Freedom is worth all effort, you can do this. 💪 ❤️
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  18

  How Will the Quarantined Dubbies React When the "All Clear" Sounds?

  by Room 215 in

  1. social
  2. humour

  seriously, i can't help wondering whether their hiatus from meetings and service will alter their post-covid-19 lifestyle once they experience the freedom of life in the absence of the hamster wheel?.

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  longgone

  It might and I sure hope so! I missed a lot of meetings over the course of several months for health reasons. It definitely contributed to my waking up to TTATT. I believe that’s why they hound everyone endlessly to never miss a meeting, never take a job where you would miss even occasionally.

  When I attended hit and miss I began to see that multiple things that didn’t seem right. For one it seemed that many in the audience were like in a daze, just listening without hearing. Like automatons . What was being said in the publications...I can’t explain everything it would take too long. I will say that the many doubts I’d had over the years but quickly dismissed, I now allowed myself to actually ponder. Then a family member who had left decades before told me flat out that the Watchtower Society is a cult and covering pedophiles. I was shocked, and started researching for myself. I found Paul Gundy’s site, as well as library books etc. All combined and that was it for me ! Done, and now thankfully, I’m Long Gone.😊

  Notice the several cult/mind control tactics above, including repetition of beliefs, thought stopping, and keeping members isolated from the outside world.
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  19

  COVID-19 (coronavirus) What to do - Recommendations from an expert

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  covid-19 (coronavirus) what to do - recommendations from an expert.

  subject: what i am doing for the upcoming covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

  dear colleagues, .

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  longgone

  Thank you!
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  22

  Middle class elders and pioneering children

  by Steel in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was looking at my hall the other day some of the upper elders who are retired now have had some pretty good jobs and lives of relative comfort.

  i am not exactly sure what the education levels were but they were white collar.

  most likely started in a world where you didn’t need a lot of education to get a head.

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  longgone

  I’ve also noticed that sometimes it’s people that already had a good education or career before they become JW’s that have a more comfortable lifestyle than those who were born in and devoted their lives to “putting Kingdom interests first.”

  I wish all former cult members had even minimum wage for all those hours spent in field service!
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  17

  Why doesn’t the Governing Body hold debates to asses the qualifications of a new GB member?

  by I believe in overlapping in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the members have no idea what qualifies someone has to be a member of the governing body.

  members know absolutely nothing about new members of the governing body who are appointed.

  kenneth cook was the last appointed governing body member in 2018..

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  longgone

  That was an accidental dislike above, (I believe in the overlapping.) Sorry it was intended as like.