Posts by scratchme1010

22

Reunited With My Brother

by pale.emperor in

my little brother on the left exited the cult after 29 years.. me in the middle.. my older brother on the right stopped his bible study after discovering ttatton youtube videos.. never lose hope guys!.

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scratchme1010

Congratulations.

9

The Alliances for Constitutional Sex Offenders Laws

by John Davis in

i was listening to the news today and heard of this organization.

it advocates for the removal of sex offenders registries or at least the reduction of its use and who has to register for it.

just one example of its work is to advocate for what the la district attorney's office is doing by working with sex offenders to get their names off the registry.

scratchme1010

I just never knew that there was an organised effort to look into it.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you are establishing any judgement. A few years ago I was working for a nonprofit that has a program for ex-offenders, and trust me, the sex offender registry is only one of a rather large list of issues, disparities and injustices that ex-offenders have to go through.

Granted, in no way shape or form do I believe that the justice system should be eliminated. Some people do belong in jail, and some sex offenders should be well known about. But as is, things are not working well for a number of people who struggle to properly reinstate themselves into society. We have a very high recidivism rate in USA.

9

The Alliances for Constitutional Sex Offenders Laws

by John Davis in

i was listening to the news today and heard of this organization.

it advocates for the removal of sex offenders registries or at least the reduction of its use and who has to register for it.

just one example of its work is to advocate for what the la district attorney's office is doing by working with sex offenders to get their names off the registry.

scratchme1010

Like with every law, there have been misuse and abuse of it, and there are circumstances in which some people have been in that registry as a consequence of it. However, so is the case with laws around other crimes.

Personally I'm not completely sure why the law singles out sex offenses and creates a registry for them. Why not murderers, arsonists, other criminals? Furthermore, is sex offenses are so extra heinous, then why there's a statue of limitations for child sexual abuse and rape, and not for murder, yet there's no "murderer registry"?

As it is, things don't make sense from any angle. What's more, the entire justice system is about reaction and punishment. How does such registry contributes to reforming, and even if the offender cannot be reformed, how does the registry make things better for other crimes? It does have the convenience of people knowing that some person has committed a sex offense and therefore must take precautions, but really? Are people supposed to take precautions only when they know that the person is a registered sex offender? What is worse, some people have been able to get out of the list, what does that mean? That the person was a sex offender but it's now ok to have children around him?

As I said, as is, the sex offender registry doesn't do what it's meant to do. There are no easy answers, but what we have certainly hasn't reduced nor stopped sex crimes at all.

As for what those people believe:

No sexual abuse is ever acceptable.

Agree.

Sex offense laws and policies should be based on sound research and common sense, not fear, panic or paranoia.

I agree, but I wouldn't call what we have now panic or paranoia. There are always going to be people who will misuse and abuse the law, that's a different issue.

Current laws and policies that paint all sex offenders with one broad brush are counter- productive, wasteful, and cause needless harm.

Yes, I agree. However, sex offenses should be punished just like any other crime.

Each offense must be judged on its own merits with a punishment that fits the crime and does not waste taxpayer dollars.

Agreed, but it's kind of difficult to define what that "merit" is for a given offense. A person who has been traumatized by being sexually attacked may see a sex offense differently than the owner of a porn shop.

The public sex offender registry and residency restriction laws do not protect children but instead ostracize and dehumanize individuals and their families.

Agree. I still don't see why singling out sex offenses over murder and other crimes.

Money spent on purely punitive measures would be better used for prevention, healing, and rehabilitation.

This goes to the core of the problem with all crime in USA. Laws are not designed with crime prevention in mind. Everything is reactive and corrective, never preventive.

We do not now nor have we ever had a relationship with the North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA)

I find it sad that they have to make this clarification in order for people to pay attention to them. Advocacy for law reform should not have to be judged so harshly.

23

I started a new podcast about my life as a JW today

by dubstepped in

so, i did a thing today.

i officially launched a podcast called "this jw life".

people keep saying that i should write a book, but i don't even read books, unless in audio format.

scratchme1010

Thank you, Dubstepped. I just listened to it. Great job!

70

What made you stay "in" even when you knew it wasn't the "truth"?

by mentalclarity in

so i've been thinking a lot about why i stayed a jw for so long even though i had always had doubts about the doctrines.

i was born into the religion, left and came back as an adult for another decade.

some of the things that come to mind (besides the threat of shunning-and this isn't to minimize that very real threat) was:.

scratchme1010

I was born in, so I was "in" against my choice for quite some time. I never bought that Jehovah nonsense. However, at some point I decided to give it a try and learn a good life lesson about trusting my own instincts. When I decided that I wanted to leave, I figured that I cannot just walk away from the first 23 years of my life. I needed to prepare. My departure was gradual, especially since it was important to me to leave in my terms and because I said so, not because of their stupid shunning practices. That took planning and patience, so that's why I stayed "in".

I am aware of research that has been conducted in cults and other oppressive groups and relationships, and what they show is that the main reasons people stay are:

They continue to believe in the cult teachings or leadership
To protect their investment
To hold onto family
Some other relationships can be real and solid
Pride / embarrassment
Fear

I had none of those reasons for me to stay, I grew up in a rather bad family environment, one that I needed to protect myself from. I never bought that paradise on Earth crap. Actually, the belief that I have the most problem with is one that it's not unique of the WT. I never cared about the concept of Satan, always found it too contrived and convenient.

I never had any friends or strong relationships with anyone, reflecting and looking back, I think that there were so many people pushing so hard to deny their realities of their sad pathetic lives, that I can see how a person like me would make them feel uneasy.

I was more embarrassed for being seen preaching, even though I was raised doing that and I was quite good at it, than anything else. Also since I was born in, I felt that it wasn't my decision to join them, so leaving them felt quite an easy decision in that sense, that is, that wasn't my choice, I'm out.

I was never afraid of "the world". I felt that my life started the moment I decided to leave the JWs. And I was quite right.

116

What is behind your choice of forum user name?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

just curious how we all think.. what prompted or influenced your choice of username for this forum?.

there are some really amazing names, and it would be great to hear the stories behind them.... mine was nothing fancy.

i just felt "stuck in a rut too" along with so many others.

scratchme1010

Not a lot to say about mine; I just came up with it within a second of signing up. No deep meaning.

5

JWs Gullible & Delusional

by TTaTT4U in

.

scratchme1010

Very bad. Quite misleading, in fact. The reality is that being under the negative influence of the WT or any other group or person for that matter, is not a reflection of any quality on people (like being gullible).

There's not a thing that one can tell about the qualities of cult followers. In fact, I know of quite a few current and former JWs who are quite intelligent, aware and clear about themselves and the WT. One thing is what they know, another different one is what they feel. They are not there for what the know.

22

Who holds the Burden Of Proof?

by stuckinarut2 in

when we as former witnesses wake up and choose to leave the society, it is mainly because we value truth and honesty.. the society tries to make out that we are in the wrong.

that we have "left the truth".. but, who really holds the burden of proof?

do we (who leave) need to prove that the society is not the "truth", or does the society need to prove that it is the "truth".. thoughts?.

scratchme1010

But, who really holds the burden of proof?

Interesting question. My stance when I left was that I chose to leave, that I have no interest in them, that they are full of --it, and that they have no authority over me. I am not a person who likes to give a lot of explaining, and I couldn't care less about being right or wrong. In fact, I was not interested in discussing anything with them, period, leave alone proving anything from either side.

I left, I chose to send them to the carajo and there's nothing they can do about it. That was that.

22

Jehovah's Witnesses act like 'Flirts' with people!

by stuckinarut2 in

we were just musing that jws act in a "flirtatious" manner with people in the community.. they show such "sincere" interest in people when they call.

they seem like such kind, caring and thoughtful people - really interested in their lives and welfare.. people are often quite impressed with the jws manner, and their well dressed presentation.

people (especially vulnerable ones who are going through difficult pressures in life), are drawn in and made to feel special by the witnesses as they call back.. return visits take place.

scratchme1010

People are often quite impressed with the JWs manner, and their well dressed presentation...

Well, I guess that such show may impress some people. However, some people can easily see through the glazed happy faces and rehearsed manners and script. People like me, cynical and skeptical, immediately pull down their invisible mask of sweetness. Sometimes I don't even have to say anything, my body language alone makes them back off and go somewhere else with their ridiculous passive aggressive act.

32

What was Jesus last name???

by James Mixon in

jesus in hebrew means "savior' and christ in greek means "messiah".

these are identifiers --not names in jesus case.. where did the name christ come from, his parents???

?i can see the name jesus (first name) but christ.

scratchme1010

What was Jesus last name???

Rodriguez.

Actually, you'll be surprised, but I actually know Jesus' last name. He was known as "Jesus of Nazareth". I guess that "of Nazareth" was his last name. That's how last names started anyway.