Posts by Simon

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

Simon

I don’t think he’s a fugitive because he has returned to England a number of times.

I think there is a place in between "being on a list to be checked at airports", and not being around where someone may make allegations if you are. I think you could leave the country to avoid the consequences of something and then be fine going back to visit.

If the elders have serious allegations against his name then it’s a pretty odd move for him to advocate for the release of a database that he himself is on. Because if he succeeded in making the database public then he would be exposing himself. Even for a liar as prolific and blatant as him, this seems pretty far fetched.

Is it though? Doesn't it seem odd that someone who apparently wants to do so much against the WTS has never actually revealed the damning information he claimed to have? Especially someone who is so predisposed to self-publicity - surely he could score some major kudos from it? Surely the window for doing deals had long since expired, or is that chip still in play? And someone could easily publicly advocate for something that they know would legally never happen - that's one of the tricks of 'activism', to never be so successful that you achieve your goals and kill the golden goose that you make your money off.

And how would it constitute a threat or a bargaining chip that he could use against Watchtower? It reminds me of the Blazing Saddles scene where he holds a gun to his own head and says, “don't move or I’ll shoot”.

Yes, it would be brazen and stupid, both of which I think are areas he has expertise in.

24

What's the deal with Cheese and Apple Danishes at conventions.

by pistolpete in

this was before my time, but there was this post that had 308 comments testifying that the best thing of being a jehovah witness back in the day was the convention's meals.

is this true?.

one quote out of 308;.

Simon

Our circuit used to have sit-down meals with waitress service (this was at Northenden Assembly Hall in Manchester). The first thing you did when you arrived was buy your meal ticket, which was assigned a letter for the sitting you were assigned.

Of course it was horrendously inefficient, so meals would still be being served as the afternoon sessions started. During a talk, someone would walk onto the platform and put a letter on a board and loads of people would get up to go have their lunch. You queued up round the back stairs, it took ages, but I remember the food being great.

Later, they had a more food-court / booth setup and the main attraction was a donut machine. The were delicious too, and of course it was hypnotic to watch.

Assemblies lost all their quirkiness and charm, now I suspect they are the same the world over, with no local innovation and little appeal.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

Simon

If he's spending money on things other than "the work", especially holidays and hookers, then it's clearly for personal profit.

I think Mr Taxman will be very interested in his endeavours.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

Simon

unless she knows something else and is helping to keep something a secret.

That is another piece of the jigsaw that would certainly fit the allegation, it's one thing for a wife to chose to forgive an infidelity, that's her choice (even though it may be coerced / pressured ... at some point people are adults and have to assume to have agency over their own life) but if she helped to cover up some incident with a minor then that is a different thing entirely and would certainly damage her reputation as well if it came out and would be a reason for her to help keep it quiet. Assuming the accusation is true of course.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

Simon

I wonder whether the Bethel elder came to Lloyd's judicial committee hearing just because the two other elders didn't speak English well enough? Isn't this a much more plausible explanation?

I really doubt there were no elders at all in the immediate circuit that could speak English.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

Simon

Unless, perhaps, it’s not just damaging to the branch and may be damaging to you too?

Exactly, it makes no sense if you claim to be an activist - why is he holding back? But if that damaging information is about himself then it suddenly makes perfect sense. The whole "I have something on them", "I am not going to record it", "we had to leave the UK" all piece together and make (some) sense.

8

Who will win: Canadian Truckers or Government?

by Kosonen in

jw
friends

canadian truckers are demonstrating and blocking roads and bridges.

they demand that all covid restrictions and mandates to be lifted.

but justin trudeau and his government do not seem to be willing to change anything.

Simon

The Truckers already won.

They showed that Trudeau is a clown. He ran and hid.

They showed that Trudeau is divisive, labelling citizens nazis with no basis.

They showed that Trudeau is unpopular, because support for them is off the charts.

They showed that Trudeau is past his sell-by-date. No one wants him, few ever did.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

Simon

Other exJW's reported this to the authorities in the UK in 2017 who advised if the victims do not come forward and he is out the country they cannot do anything. The Croatian authorities said if the crime occurred in the UK it is up to the UK law to act so nothing came of it.

If true, that would explain the phrase he used in the video, something along the lines of "we had to leave the UK". Was it to escape consequences? To fall through the cracks? Unlikely that any country would extradite someone simply for an investigation, especially without anyone coming forward.

We left the UK. We never say we "had" to - we say we chose to / wanted to / decided to.

Was the WTS involvement in allowing and / or enabling this the thing he thought he had over them? Literally, their involvement in covering up his own behavior? That would be something eh? Incredibly brazen ... but then look at how shameless and unapologetic he is now.

16

The "WE'RE ALL IMPERFECT" Theory.

by pistolpete in

a recurring theme in this loyd deal is the we're all imperfect-----------excuse!.

the "we're all imperfect" phrase, is an over used watchtower membership cliche, embedded in the minds of jws and anyone that leaves.

in the real world, there is no such thing as "we are all imperfect".

Simon

"We're just imperfect men" is the governing body's get-out. It's a shame to validate their excuses isn't it?

"I can't control my pee-pee" is the same justification that rapists and pedos use. I don't think it's valid.

At what point does "oh, I'm imperfect" stop being a get-out-of-jail free card for any and all failures? Someplace before Himler and Hitler, right? We can agree on that? What about Jimmie Saville? So imperfect ... and I can hear the "but ... but ... but ..." objections, so keep dialing it back.

Where is your line? Do you even have one? At what point do you stop making and accepting excuses for people? If you're moving the line to make allowances for someone, you don't really have a line at all. At some point, people behave like shits not because they failed, but because THAT IS WHO THEY ARE, THAT IS THEM LIVING HOW THEY WANT TO LIVE.

9

Australia's Religious Discrimination Act.

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

this is an interesting and intriguing new law (or, it will be if enacted in its present form).. quote: "the proposed new religious discrimination act is intended to prevent a person from being discriminated against on the basis of their religion.".

fair enough, but to get it through the house of representatives last night, the government accepted some changes.. the first draft (discussed last night) had a clause that may have impacted the rights of some gay and/or trans-sexual students at religious schools by allowing a religious school to expel such a student.

last night the government was forced to accept changes that removed that possibility.

Simon

Where I disagree with Simon is that the Government should try to do something about the fact that groups preach people to shun the disfellowshipped ones and threaten their members with the same treatment if they don't do as they're told.

I'm forever amazed that people don't think through the practicalities or consequences of government enforced association. I don't want to live in such a dystopian world.

Don't look at what you think the law provides as a benefit, to us. Look at how such a rule could be used, and misused, in its entirety.

Yes, they can shun us ... but maybe we want to shun them. Laws work both ways. What is the plan when uncle government is there with guns to make sure mommy and poppy cray-cray can have some me-time with the kids to tell them about the "one true religion"?

Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.