dozy: They are just cheap JWs ( and I speak as a former cheap JW ) who take sandwiches for lunch and drink tap water with a cheap meal in the evening before having an early night. Other than the deals done with hotels very little spending will trickle down to the real economy
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In my area we used to have conventions right in the city. But, we've had three venues tell WT they are no longer interested in having JW conventions in the city. We drive 2.5 hours away to a city that is apparently so desperate that even miniscule/ -0- tax revenue is acceptable. I wonder if the "thanks, but no thanks" treatment of JWs was for the very reason you stated??
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Gypsy Sam: I just watched the mormon video. Wow. I guess I'm amazed at how similar the terminology and delusion is, but at least love was mentioned.
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Where in the WT video is love, Bible education, stronger family life, etc. mentioned? Not once! No focus on things that traditionally have been the focal point of WT rhetoric. Now it's all about having "the time of your life" doing things that aren't remotely "spiritual" (at least according to the 'old' WT).
I think the fact that love and other important things are not even mentioned in the video is because these things are rarely, if ever, on the minds of WT executives.