When I first joined the board 5 years ago, the following story was told (not sure who the original poster was, I tried to find it but had no luck) and it made a comparison to how some policies in the organization exist because that's the way it has always been and no one ever bothered to change. Anyway, it stuck with me and with the influx of newbies, I thought they might enjoy the parable.
The gorilla
Five gorillas lived in a zoo enclosure. Above one part of the enclosure, a keeper hung a banana on a string. The keeper put a set of stairs under the banana so the gorillas could climb the stairs and reach it. The keeper watched and waited. One of the gorillas went to the stairs and started to climb towards the banana. As soon as the gorilla touched the stairs, the keeper sprayed all of the gorillas with cold water. When another gorilla made an attempt to reach the banana, the same thing happened: all the gorillas were sprayed with cold water.
After a while when any of the gorillas saw the banana and tried to climb the stairs; the others would try to prevent it from getting the banana - so they too were not hit with the cold water. The keeper was later fired from his job and the cold water spray removed. The banana was also removed, but the stairs stayed.
Much later, one of the original gorillas was sent to another zoo. A new gorilla replaced the original gorilla in the enclosure. The new gorilla naturally went to climb the stairs. To his surprise, all of the other gorillas attacked him. After another attempt and the same attack, he understood that if he tried to climb the stairs, he would be assaulted by all of the others - but did not know why.
Over time the original five gorillas were replaced, one by one, with new gorillas. Each time the newcomer would go to the stairs... and would be attacked by the others. The original gorillas and each of the newcomers would all take part in this punishment with enthusiasm. The new gorillas had no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they were participating in the beating of the newest ape.
After the last of the original gorillas was replaced, all the gorillas which had been sprayed with cold water had gone. There were now five new gorillas in the enclosure. None of them ever approach the stairs - and none of them (or their new keeper) knew why.
TweetieBird
JoinedPosts by TweetieBird
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The gorilla
by TweetieBird inthe gorilla .
when another gorilla made an attempt to reach the banana, the same thing happened: all the gorillas were sprayed with cold water.
over time the original five gorillas were replaced, one by one, with new gorillas.
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TweetieBird
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Another Elder Visit... GOSH!!!
by drew sagan inwell folks, got another elders visit this past weekend.
what true fun.
it lasted quite a long time and went absolutely nowhere.
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TweetieBird
"The 4 page revelation book absurdity will be a big pull for us right now."
What's the 4 page revelation book? Pardon my ignorance. -
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Finding a friend
by Human Hawk inwhere should i post to find someone i am looking to reconnect with?
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TweetieBird
You need to be a little more specific. What kind of reconnection are you trying to make?
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Couple of questions...
by AnonyMouse insomeone gave me an explanation, but i didn't really understand it.
what is a dub?
and what does it stand for?
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TweetieBird
A dub is short for JW. My parents were witnesses when I was born so I was raised in it. My dad discovered that it wasn't the truth when I was grown with children of my own. I was devastated to say the least. He would say things to me but I put up a wall, didn't want to listen to apostate lies. Over time, things he said made me think. After he died I started having doubts, specifically in 1996 when they changed the teaching on the generation, which he said would happen and that it would cause a domino effect. Anyway, I started doing research on the internet and slowly realized that the witnesses did not have the truth. My status is that I pretend to be a witness to this day so that I do not lose all of my JW family.
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Poll - on a scale of one to ten...
by slimboyfat inhow convinced were you at your most convinced that jehovah's witnesses had the truth?
how convinced are you now that jehovah's witnesses do not have the truth?
slim
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TweetieBird
10
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Not quite sure where else to go, I'll give this place a try.
by AnonyMouse ini'll introduce myself:
i'm a person who'd like to remain anonymous.
i'm 16, and recently confessed to my mother my disbelief in her religion (jehovah's witnesses, obviously so).
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TweetieBird
Hi Anonymouse...when my oldest son was 15 he rebelled against the witnesses, I was still a believer then. Fast forward a few years and I finally saw the light.
Perhaps you could apply "theocratic warfare" in reverse. Right now she is scared. Scared that you are going to die at Armageddon, scared that you will never see your dad again, scared that she will never see him. That's all she's got to hang onto. She has not developed a normal life outside of the organization. But you can help her. It might take time but you can do it.
There's a poster on this board that posted how he got his family out of the organization. Maybe someone else can post the link. Anyway, he slowly re-educated his family about the organization by way of a family study by having them do research on certain things. In time they saw the organization for what it really was and now they are free.
Possibly you could tell your mom that you don't like the tension between you two and that you are willing to have a study with her. Slowly ask her questions that will really make her think about what she believes. Maybe tell her that you only want to study the bible and not the publications if she is willing to meet you half-way. When she is not fearing for your spiritual life maybe she will loosen the reigns a bit and allow you more freedom.
You seem extremely intuitive for your age, the comment about independent thinking is more like independent thought was brilliant.
I will be thinking about you. I wish you all the best. -
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JW since 1946 can't recall any DC focusing so much on the end of the world
by blondie inso she was a jw since 1946...............did she sleep during 1966-1975?
(60 years as a witness not a christian).
carrot:milagros torres, 31, of camden, was one of 51 people who were baptized saturday.
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TweetieBird
My mother-in-law is definitely convinced now that we are living in the time of the end. With everything happening in the middle east, she just knows it's any day now. And of course she had to throw in that there are scoffers at the idea since we've heard it for so long, but it's for real now. Excuse me for a minute, I think I'm losing my dinner.
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Roger Insellman, Barry Sobieski, Wade Payne These guys still COs?
by Seeker4 inroger insellman, barry sobieski and wade payne were three of the poorest cos i can remember in the decades i was a jw.
sobieski was a bully, using his authority to intimidate as much as possible.
insellman was just not personable, and was such a company man is so many ways.
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TweetieBird
I think Sobieski was in Florida a few years back.
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Too Dang HOT!!
by caligirl ini just stepped out into my back yard and thought i was going to melt.
i was going to fill up the inflatable pool for my son, but by the time it gets filled up, the water will be about 90 and not worth the bother.
i'm sure that other california people can relate to this.
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TweetieBird
I'm with you Caligirl. I live in San Diego area and do not have air conditioning. Never needed it before. I was ready to go to Fry's and buy a portable air conditioning unit.
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After 4 years, an introduction (hope it works this time!)
by gwyneth inive been a member of this board for just over four years, and i have never posted an introduction.
i mostly stick to the "fluff" threads, because they are safe.
i wont be attacked for an unpopular point of view, or hurt anyone elses feelings.
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TweetieBird
Welcome Gwyneth, thanks for sharing your story. I grew up in Daytona Beach and was very intriqued about the brother you married. Was he from Daytona? It's a small place. I still have lots of JW family there but thankfully I got out.