sir82: That's probably the most reasonable explanation I've seen yet about the hysteria.
I agree mostly.
I'm also thinking about my mindset when I first started doubting. One of the first things I came across was something that I felt at the time was nit picky and conspiracy theory-ish. It turned me off from apostate websites for around 6 months. Probably delayed my exit. I was looking for objective criticism of the organization and my first exposure to apostates online was a lot of speculation with little evidence to back it up.
Eventually, I came across JW Facts and the rest is History.
But looking back, I wonder if I would have gained 6 months of my life back had first come across more level-headed criticism like I later found on JWFacts.
When you've only been free for a few years, 6 months of slavery is a long time.