Hi ballistic
I was baptised in 1992, so I was a newbie to some of those older teachings. I was talking to one today who was brought up in this man-trap for Christians cult and he told me how he spoke to an elder and said, 'we are bringing people in through the front door then they go straight out the back door. It's all wrong. Why are people leaving?' The elder had no answer for him.
Sounds like elder's wife (in your comment) was trying to warn you but she was not allowed to be open with you. I remember the very clever comment of a District Overseer's wife. Regarding the organisation she said, 'respect it for what it is but don't take it too seriously.'