Posts by problemaddict

17

Fading & Feeling Lost ... Part 2

by What Now? in

sorry to keep dragging this on ... but this is really the only place to vent right?

so basically it's going on 4 months now that we've had zero meeting attendance, and for the last 2 months we have not reported any service time (prior to that, when our service group overseer would send a text asking for our time, we would report 4 hours each, for our "family study").

in my last post, i talked about how we were having a really difficult time beginning a new life outside the organization.

problemaddict

Hey What now.

I can relate to the way you feel. Alot of us can. (not the pregnant thing being a dude and all that). It can be difficult to make new friends after having spend your formidable years in the religion. So far my only serious buddies that are not JW's.......are former JW's. Kind of pathetic I realize. Yes there are the "get-togethers" and other things. You have a ready made built in community. I suspect its why so many put up with the non-sense. But there is a price to be paid for that community. You just have to determine if the price is worth it.

How old is your kid? Mine is still a toddler. We hope to have another baby soon. What part of the world are you in?

One thing I would not worry about, is what other people think. I have maintained most of my relationships with my friend in the org (the good ones). So far so good, and they all know where I stand. Do you have friends worth kighting for? Doesn't mean they have to think like you do, but that maybe will surprise you and not love you any les for deciding not to go to meetings anymore?

There is no easy answer. That is why this is so insidious. Its the "you are with us or against us" mentality. It isn't fair to you. Seek community. Not just people. That might be easier. You will get there. Finding just one really close good friend is very difficult, but worth the effort.

32

New to studies Thank You

by mysticalwolf40 in

jw
friends

i am fairly new to learning the truth with jehovah's witnesses.

we have been having 2 home bible studies a week for over 4 months now and we started going to the kingdom hall 3+ months now.

i am enjoying my studies and the brothers and sisters are wonderful .

problemaddict

Hey Mystical Wolf. Well JW's are very nice people. Most of us have been or even still are members of that group. However, it is very important to know what you are getting into. There are a few key concerns many of us here would at least want you to be aware of before going to far.

If you have any biblical questions, or anything at all, just feel free to run it past us.

Have a great week!

37

Alameda County Administrator makes $423,664 a year!

by VM44 in

alameda county administrator's premium pay end hearst/article/premium_article_tools_480.tpl end premium_story_header.tpl article/types/premium_story.tpl hearst/common/author_name.tpl by matier & ross.

e hearst/common/author_name.tpl article_timestamp.tpl march 25, 2013. alameda county supervisors have really taken to heart the adage that government should run like a business, rewarding county administrator susan muranishi with the wall street-like wage of $423,664 a year.. for the rest of her life.. according to county pay records, in addition to her $301,000 base salary, muranishi receives:-- $24,000, plus change, in "equity pay" to guarantee that she makes at least 10 percent more than anyone else in the county.. -- about $54,000 a year in "longevity" pay for having stayed with the county for more than 30 years.. -- an annual performance bonus of $24,000.. -- and an additional $9,000 a year for serving on the county's three-member surplus property authority, an ad hoc committee of the board of supervisors that oversees the sale of excess land.. like other county executives, muranishi also gets an $8,292-a-year car allowance.. muranishi has been with the county for 38 years, and she's 63. when retirement day comes, she'll be getting a lot more than a gold watch.. that's because, according to the county auditor's office, muranishi's annual pension will be equal to the dollar total of her entire yearly package - $413,000.

she also has a separate executive private pension plan, for which the county chips in $46,500 a year.. "and she's worth every dime," said supervisor scott haggerty, who was on the board when it promoted muranishi to county administrator in 1995, voted for her and joined in approving her base pay and perks.. "we're lucky to have her," haggerty said.. he likens the job of running the county administration to being ceo of a $2.4 billion corporation, with 9,000 employees.. granted, the $2.4 billion is taxpayer money, and the county isn't set up to turn a profit.

problemaddict

Hmmm. I don't know. it seems abit much. That much guaranteed after you are finished with the job is a bit shocking. Most likely they set up a structure that just kept on going and going to get where it is at. I don't have a problem with her making quite abit of money, as long as she is worth it.

The problem is.......Oakland is a mess. I mean it is just an absolute mess. Its not all her fualt, but there should be some kind of job expectation. You have to pay well to attract talent. But then you also have to have talent, to be paid well. At least that is how it should be.

17

Detroit - once 4th largest city in America now bust

by Simon in

the city has lost more than half of its population over the last 60 years.

in 1950, the city was the fourth-largest city in the country with a population of nearly 2 million.

today its population is estimated at just under 700,000.. once the industrial powerhouse of america it's now declared bancruptcy.

problemaddict

And another thing........those building need to come down. Offer land to people willing to come and build, and build local unemployment in to labor and learn on the job type training. Build in the new way. Then the city can get some tax revenue. it just has to give away land to those willing to build. It could really change the face of things quickly!

17

Detroit - once 4th largest city in America now bust

by Simon in

the city has lost more than half of its population over the last 60 years.

in 1950, the city was the fourth-largest city in the country with a population of nearly 2 million.

today its population is estimated at just under 700,000.. once the industrial powerhouse of america it's now declared bancruptcy.

problemaddict

Detroit has a very rare and great opportunity. It can start over. It can do so be making itself a major urban center that embraces 21st century ideals. Co-ops, urban farming, green retrofitting, and anew culture and attitude based on the old. Some people love Detroit, but its the wild west out there. You are on your own, everyone is packing heat, and the police can't help you. In the real slums there is 50% unemployment. So people steal. Without some options, the place continues to go downhill. But Canada is right there, the Pistons just signed Josh Smith, and the state is attracting the movie industry, farming community, and some buisness interests here and in Canada. Its like a fire sale. You just have to do something to improve the city if you come here.

Detroit could really end up being fantastic 10 years or more from now. Considering you can buy a house for 10-15K, I might buy and sit. :)

51

Former Longtime Elder - Reflections

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

the meetings are getting more boring to me.

some of the elders during their parts just talk and talk and talk about uninteresting things.

boring, boring.

problemaddict

You know what they say, mo elders mo problems.

When I served abroad there were many sisters doing thinks for the halls. Accounts, keeping time (secretary work), basically that wasn't "teaching" or "disciplinary". Why? There was only 2 servants and no elders in the hall. And I was one of the servants.

I don't think they will have the women in the hall so any more than maybe some specially carved out task. Alot of times its not that these guys don't have anyone to appoint, its that they don't want to. Heck i was forcibly removed, before I neccesarily wanted to be. Even though mentlaly I was out, my tlaks were centered on things I could agree with, and helping others. People sensed the authenticity.

James however, has hit the nail on the head. Basking in glory is right. It is addictive to these guys. I mean they are "somebody" when they are on that stage. Entrusted with the sheep of God! Cheiftans in the new world, stars in the hand of Christ. No longer just the window cleaner, landscpaer, or desk jockey. (nothing wrong with any of those professions, but my point is you don't get to exert alot of your weight around)

We have some young servants, and everyone admires them. Some go to Bethel. They come back to visit and are treated like rock stars. Good kids, enjoying attention, thinking they are doing the right thing. I just wish i could show them themselves in 10 years. Like at 32 years old. Unable to support a family possibly, not really at your youngest, admiration gone, maybe trying to hold onto it by being one hell of an elder....

Its sad.

15

Religious Hypocrisy Condemned - WT Study Article week of July 8-14, 2013

by Oubliette in

oh, the irony!

the attitude and conduct of true christians stand in sharp contrast with the mere outward show of godly devotion of those whose worship is often no more than a hypocritical ploy.

some religious leaders have become wealthy by defrauding their flocks, using much of the money thus obtained to acquire expensive homes and automobiles.

problemaddict

Do we have any proof or documentation regarding the claim they take money and invest in hedge funds? I know they were one of the largest accounts for Citi for a while. I assume Citi invests their money across various platforms. Might not be too much nefarious about that.

Unless of course they specifically target specific hedge funds, or have investors court them.

Proof would be awesome. Thanks.

4

Put a 'No Junk Mail' sign on your door

by The Quiet One in

http://jwtalk.net/forums/topic/10308-no-junk-mail/#entry160215 .

problemaddict

Not exactly the organizations brightest over there on that site....

39

How Do You Know If You Are "Marked"?

by Thoughtless in

yeah, this has been a question that has been on my mind for a while, but how do one know if he has been "marked" by the congregation?

do they announce it?

i have expressed doubt last year about the org, but i still have responsibilities within the kh.

problemaddict

Marking is interesting, and confusing. I realize we have the technical issue here, but a marking is done much more clandestinely that people realize. it is RARE someone comes up to you, and says "hey Billy, we are going to be marking you on Thursday....just wanted to give you a heads up".

No, it is usually a local needs given that makes people look around and wonder what the hell happened. Its like a "soft marking". Back in the day they would be very clear. Now (probably bacause of liability), names are not mentioned at the hall as someone being marked.

So its one of those weird things that even the elders seem to not understand very well. They like to keep it simple. Reprove, or DF.

42

Jehovah's Witness Mother Ends Relationship With Atheist Son

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

jehovah's witness mother ends relationship with atheist son.source http://lefthemispheres.blogspot.ca/2012/06/letter-jehovahs-witness-mother-ends.htmlhttp://davetrash.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/the-letter/.

.

bangalore.

problemaddict

"I must live by the commands and statutes laid down in the Bible by Jehovah himself. One of these commands has been the cause of great stress and grief to me …" - [Emphasis added]

Like what? The command to love others as you love yourself? No not that one. The command to take care fo your family? Nope. How about the example of Jesus reaching out to "sinners" instead fo shunning them? Couldn't be.

So what very clear command and statute from Jehovah is she following by telling her son she will no longer be a mother to him?

Part of what did me in with this religion, was the shocked look on my extended relatives faces, when I told them I didn't agree with everything, but couldn't dspeak about it without being shunned. They said good.....who needs them? I said well i don't want my mother and sisters to have to make that choice. Their eyes got as wide as they could.....and they were shocked. They were disgusted and appauled.

I remember looking at them and thinging, "oh yeah! It is shocking and appauling to think this is a viable way to act! I would never do this to my child, and God never has asked me too. What the hell am I doing?"

It was an "ah ha" moment.