Skeptic

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Posts by Skeptic

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  39

  Relationships

  by wovy in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  first post on here and just a basic inquiry before i get in to the meat of my problem.

  question is "is this a good forum to discuss problems i have dating a jehovah's witness?

  " i am not a witness and wonder what i have gotten myself into.

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  Skeptic

  Wovy,

  Ask yourself a simple question: Is this relationship healthy? Not, Can it be healthy? but Is it healthy? If it isn't healthy move on and handle the heartache. In the long run you will be glad you did.

  I think the answer is obvious.

  Richard
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  33

  JW's that tried to Blackball my Hubby in work , since D/A

  by LyinEyes in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  many of you know that my husband's work is fixing hail damage in cars, and that we have traveled for 10 years from colorado, texas, ok, kansas, etc.

  but those mainly were his best contacts , and also all jw's in the business.. last summer one of our best contacts who lives in co, called to tell my husband that he had a hail storm hit that very day, and said that since he has d/a himself he will no longer work him.

  i understand that some may not let their conscience do that being firm jw believers.

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  Skeptic

  Dede and Denny, I am so glad things are working out for you now. You had it so rough. I am glad that those who have tried to blackball are getting their just desserts. And that people get to learn that JWs are not as good as the religion claims to be.

  Everyone, as for the issue of JW's workethics, my experience is that Witnesses are no better or no worse than non-Witnesses. Mine you, I have never hired Witnesses simply because they were Witnesses. Following the WT advice, I hired them based purely on business reasons.

  The JWs I have worked with have always been dedicated and hard-working, including myself. I have always worked long hours and was known for top-notch work and for being a hard worker.

  Two other JWs that I worked with did top-notch work; one was the resident expert and no one matched his quality. It was funny, because he personally was a total slob, but his work area and his work was completely clean, spotless and perfect in every detail.

  One soon-to-be JW (and now a JW) was fired for being slow or something. I know he was guilty of talking too much, but alot of what happened was because his boss was not a nice person.

  I was not in the habit of hiring JWs simply because they were JWs. I have only hired a few Witnesses.

  One was simply a minor payment issue; but the brother did good work at a cheap price...he saved me hundreds of dollars.

  The other was a brother who blatantly lied about when our bathroom would be renovated. He told us three days (or was it a week?? can't remember), knowing full well it would take him three weeks. But he did a beautiful job. He transformed a crappy bathroom into a showcase lavatory.

  Oh, yeah there was one sister whom I hired based only on the fact that she was a sister who needed an income. She was lousy, and was soon not in my employ.

  Anytime I have been blatantly ripped off, it was by non-Witnesses.

  Richard
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  37

  Vicious attacks by JW`S?

  by KGB in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone or do you know anyone who has been attacked viciously by a witness because you told them that you thought there religion was a cult or other derogatory remarks against there faith?

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  Skeptic

  It is unclear what kind of vicious attack you are referring to. And where is it one bad apple versus a bad barrel of apples?

  Verbal attacks by JWs are fairly common. Definitely a bad barrel of apples trait there.

  I have on several occasions been physically attacked by a JW.

  Another JW raped an ex-JW at least 5 times. As is typical, the victim will not report the crime to the police, out of fear of revenge.

  Richard
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  10

  Hurtful people deserve only pity.

  by Skeptic in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i had a complete stranger deliberately seek me out and be rude to me today.

  it appears to be some sort of game, a rudeness contest perhaps, played between two people.

  i know i didn't deserve the remark, as i was not even looking at them, and one literally poked me in the side to get my attention.

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  Skeptic

  I still help people whether they thank me or not. I've told the story about finding $75.00 in cash and a visa bill. I went out my way to pay the bill and the husband who was on the phone with the bank manager never said thank you to me! Yes, many people need to be pitied. Life is much easier to live with it with that type of an attitude.

  Totally unreal. I can only shake my head in puzzlement at that guy. He deserved to be pitied. What a life he must lead if he is so inconsiderate.

  Richard
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  17

  Just got home from my FIRST day of work :D

  by Jesika in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, i didn't know what to expect.

  you never know what kind of people you will be working with untill you are aleady working there.

  i spent most of the evening laughing.

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  Skeptic

  Congrats, Jes! You will do so well! I am proud of you! It wasn't easy, but you did it!

  Richard, of the believing in Jesika class
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  10

  Hurtful people deserve only pity.

  by Skeptic in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i had a complete stranger deliberately seek me out and be rude to me today.

  it appears to be some sort of game, a rudeness contest perhaps, played between two people.

  i know i didn't deserve the remark, as i was not even looking at them, and one literally poked me in the side to get my attention.

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  Skeptic

  You sound like though you have a big heart, but you recognize your limits. Not giving up entirely on people, but knowing when to keep you and your family safe, is a hard judgement to make.. Best wishes....

  Thanks, Fruitcake. It gets even more blurry when the weirdo is family. (Yeah, some of my family are hurtful and dangerous people too.) I am setting much firmer limits than I used to. I remove toxic people from my life.

  Now, all I want is a peaceful life, free of worrying dramas and problems. I don't need adventure, I've had enough of it thank you very much.

  Prisca, can I ever relate to that statement! I am sorry that you had a rough life. You deserve better.

  As for deliberately hurtful people, I know what you mean about feeling pity for them. Even now, I get insults from people online, and all I can do is sit back in amazement at the vile and wrath they possess. I've been told that much of this hate is "projection" - what they hate about themselves is transferred onto other people. So if they hate themselves that much, then yes, you have to pity them. What a sad life some people must lead.

  I admire you because you are one of the few posters here who actually gets the sense of what people write. Prisca, it amazes me the crap that gets dumped on you for no reason. The projection theory makes sense. I would rather pity hurtful people than hate them. I really am not good at the hate thingie.

  What surprised me today was that within a few minutes, I felt pity for the couple that insulted me. Well, technically, only one insulted me, the other strongly encouraged it. I pity them both.

  What a hateful thing to say. I hope he receives as much empathy as he dished out.

  Wednesday, that was such a wicked thing for that brother to say. Chances are, that he has a bad reputation and gets little empathy from anyone. Generally, what goes around comes around.

  Richard
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  10

  Hurtful people deserve only pity.

  by Skeptic in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i had a complete stranger deliberately seek me out and be rude to me today.

  it appears to be some sort of game, a rudeness contest perhaps, played between two people.

  i know i didn't deserve the remark, as i was not even looking at them, and one literally poked me in the side to get my attention.

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  Skeptic

  I had a complete stranger deliberately seek me out and be rude to me today. It appears to be some sort of game, a rudeness contest perhaps, played between two people. I know I didn't deserve the remark, as I was not even looking at them, and one literally poked me in the side to get my attention. Very weird.

  I was surprised at my reaction. Yes, the remark hurt, and I am more than a little dismayed. But my biggest reaction is that I genuinely pity them.

  I have dealt with more than my share of abusive people in the last year. But the hurt from abusive people has lessened, and is largely replaced by pity. I think of how empty their soul must feel for them to have to go out and purposely hurt someone.

  I deal with a lot of messed up people, but the deliberately hurtful types have a mindset that I cannot understand.

  I know a few hurtful types and two of them have told me why they hurt; it is because they do not like themselves.

  I can not imagine having such an emptiness in my soul that I have to deliberately seek out someone to hurt. Can you imagine the internal pain they must feel? No wonder I pity them.

  I cannot imagine being such a bad person that I cannot stand being alone, cannot stand the silence that allows one to hear one's soul. Not being able to be just oneself. And, of course, hurting people doesn't win one any friends, makes enemies, and feeds what that person already knows about themselves. I genuinely pity them.

  This is a change in my view of bad people that I developed several months ago. I have dealt with my share of abusers. Do they still hurt? Yes. But the hurt they cause me now is minimal because I find that I greatly pity them. I have been in pain before, I have hated myself before, but I have never, ever wanted to purposely hurt an innocent party. It is a mindset that I cannot fathom. To be that low on the scale of human decency, or to be in that much internal pain, deserves only pity.

  One of the two pitiful creatures who opened up to me is currently homeless. Literally got kicked out of his home, because his behaviour has reached the point of being dangerous. He asked if he could live with me. I said no. I am used to dangerous people, and if I lived alone I would take him in and help him. But I have my son to think about, and I cannot introduce that kind of instability into my home.

  Besides, being homeless will be good for this individual. I told him that perhaps being homeless is what he needs to make him realize the need to change and that violent behaviour cannot be tolerated. I asked him to think about what he wants and what he is willing to do to get it and keep it.

  To be honest, I am tired of patching up weirdos, or trying to keep them alive. It is nice to live my days not wondering if I am going to be killed in my sleep, physically attacked, etc. Or to not have to talk someone out of suicide, or hurting themselves. Or wrestling a weapon out of their hands so that they don't hurt themselves or someone else.

  Thanks for letting me rant. I like my rather dull life now. It is peaceful and safe. And weirdo-free. Well, almost weirdo-free.

  Richard
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  47

  Jehovah's Witnesses Feel Superior To Others. What About EX-JW's???

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  everyone knows the smugness that jw's have.

  "everyone is going to die except us because we only have the truth.

  " do you think that ex-witnesses continue this same smugness once they get out and realize what really is the truth?

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  Skeptic

  Like any other group, there are individual ex-JWs who feel superior, but think the vast majority of us do not.

  The few PhDs I know personlly do not think they are superior. They were regular guys. I have heard a few horror stories though. Some people are just arrogant. I don't think a horse changes into an ass if given an education.

  Valis, what are you getting your PhD in?

  Richard
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  12

  can this be real?

  by SPAZnik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm so excited i could burst!

  my sibling and i have been reunited, not only irl .

  please give breal a much deserved hearty welcome y'all!

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  Skeptic

  When I saw the title of this thread, I wondered if SPAZnik had fallen in love!

  But this is even BETTER!!!

  Welcome to the board, breal.

  Richard, who wants SPAZnik to torture tickle me!
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  25

  Do blondes have more Success in life?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just wondering.... .

  do you think blondes have more success in life than brunettes and red heads?

  do you prefer blondes?.

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  Skeptic

  Studies have shown that beautiful/handsome people have more success in life. We assosicate beauty with intelligence, ability, kindness and a host of positive qualities. It is not right, but it is human.

  Another perception is that beautiful women get a lot of men asking them out. I am told this is not true. Men assume that they would not have a chance with a very beautiful woman, so they don't ask them out.

  The only negative qualities I have personally heard of about beautiful people is that they are full of themselves. This is not true; most good looking people are like most people: nice. Darn, I forgot what the second thing was.

  Richard