Posts by Alligator Wisdom

43

Why Did You???

by kelpie in

jw
friends

why did you choose the nickname you did for this forum??

also who do you think has the coolest/funniest/weirdest name on the board?

i choose kelpie because that is my partner's nickname for me as my initials are klp.

Alligator Wisdom

(1) What comes to mind when you think of "alligator"?

(2) What do you think of when you hear "wisdom"?

Put those two together and I believe that expression represents me. I've always carried that "nickname" with me since I was a child and had used it at varies times and places during my life. You may run across it again somewhere, sometime..........because I'm out there somewhere .

Coincidentally, it just so happens that a poster on this board (Tatiana) mentioned that she saw a movie on HBO recently called "The Wisdom of the Alligator". Now I'm curious as to what nature's definition is regarding the wisdom of an alligator. It was also brought to my attention when I was living in the USA that there is an oceanliner/ship named "Alligator Wisdom". But hey, I got dibbs! I was first!

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

edited to add a little history ~

Edited by - alligator wisdom on 28 November 2002 19:59:14

41

Any Brooklyn Bethelites from '93 - '98?

by back2dafront in

i guess i should introduce myself for i am a new poster-boy :-) my name is jason howard and i currently reside in santa cruz, california.

i spent the first 24 years of my life as a jw, starting in danbury, ct, then to fayetteville & charlotte, nc, and finally brooklyn, bethel, where finally all of my negative inner thoughts and feelings were confirmed.

(from the ages of 14-24 i always felt something just didn't add up with the organization, but i could never quite put a finger on it) i spent my career at bethel in the brooklyn warehouse/purchasing departments and worked with some really great individuals.

Alligator Wisdom

back2dafront & fulano,

I know of a "Makoto Yabu" who is currently at Bethel and staying at the Bossart. He was accepted in late 1997. Working in the laudry department. Attending the Japanese congregation in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Originally from Los Angeles, California

Also I know of a "Eddie Lee" who was at Bethel from 1992 thru 2001. He worked in the bindry for the last tenure of his term there in Brooklyn. Attended the Chinese congregation in Manhattan, NY. Originally from Los Angeles, California. Moved back to L.A. after marrying a Japanese sister.

You may know of them.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

29

Japan Lost 589 Congregations

by metatron in

jw
friends

things must be getting tough for the 'number puffing' theocrats in japan.. .

3802 congregations (1999 yearbook).

3213 congregations (latest report).

Alligator Wisdom

Ozziepost,

Sure! Permanent correspondent! ~ I like titles!

However, I can only relate the "latest goings-on" only within the frequency of my contact with the JW's and WT Society here in Japan. Like I said, when they look behind, they'll find my place "in-line" vacant.

Glad to do what I can in the information department from the land of the Rising Sun.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

10

Changing congregations, what did that solve?

by JH in

jw
friends

"a congregation is like a little family, where all are close brothers and sisters".

well thats what they let us imagine, when we began our experience in that religion.

with time we saw that a couple of these brothers of sisters were not really the ones we would like to be friends with for all kinds of personal reasons.

Alligator Wisdom

Jack2, I agree with many of your points! I recently moved to Japan and am doing the "fade". Roots are not that deep here as compared with my "home" congregation back in the USA. Yeah! I always wondered why I couldn't read the letter of recommendation from my former congregation. Since I'm a fading MS, it will take a little more time before I successfully "submerge". But changing congregations has made the process much more easier.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

21

Will the Watchtower Increase Suicide?

by metatron in

jw
friends

i sadly observe that the watchtower has collectively chosen to resist moral.

reform of nearly every kind.

some of us had hoped that child molesting, lying,.

Alligator Wisdom

Yes. I know that story all too well Lyin Eyes. You expressed my thoughts exactly. Just for your information, a sister (young mother with a child 8 years old) here in Japan leaped to her death from a 10 story building two months ago. She had on-going struggles with depression fueled by feelings of self-worthlessness. Sad story !

I too, myself, am suffering from the same crises. I lost my identity and always was made to feel like I was never doing enough. It is pure torture! Fortunately, I never successfully went through with killing myself. But, oh how many times I've contemplated it and tried to plan and figure the easiest way out of living. Grateful I am to have met many (on this board) who understand and know what life in the JW world is really like. Recovery is my daily food. Thanks to all of you!

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

2

Question About The Old Guys In New York

by Alexis_Hart in

jw
friends

i had a question about the old guys in brooklyn who run the whole jw puppet show.

what happens when they die?

will they then finally admit to being a steaming pile of bs, or will the org just continually cycle other old guys in as the first ones drop off, telling the new ones to just pick up where the others left off?

Alligator Wisdom

When they die? They will go to heaven .

The replacements (the younger R&F) will fill in their shoes according to their "works" .

However, I will decline those positions since I'm not "Exerting Vigorously" (Luke 13:24) .

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

40

Long assemblies

by freedom96 in

jw
friends

there have been a couple of postings lately about long assemblies.. does anyone remember these, or maybe even attended them?.

i was just a young child in the early 70's and something tells me i remember a long assembly, but don't remember if it was 8 days.. how long were they exactly, and what times.

what the hell did they talk about???.

Alligator Wisdom

I didn't have the "privilege" of experiencing those 8 day conventions . Only those 4 day conventions back in the 80's at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Even those felt like 8 days. Ah yes Matty! I never knew how my mother handled my brothers and I when we were kids during those exhausting days in the sun . However, I know of many old-timers who often "exulted" those 8 day conventions as being a spiritual haven and a refuge from the world. I mean, how else could they express their ~~apprehension~~ appreciation!

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

12

NOT placing BOOKS? Spiritually weak!

by Alligator Wisdom in

a few months back we had the usual elders/ms meeting with the circuit overseer during his visit.

there was a point that the co had emphasized and it brought me sick to my stomach anyone didn't put the effort to make such placements, that these publishers were in need of spiritual help and that we (elders/ms) should help such ones to do so.

talk about the pressure!

Alligator Wisdom

Yes Sirona! I'm still an MS. However, I did turn in my letter requesting to step-down on October 30th this year and I'm still waiting for the elders to acknowledge this. [Some posters on this board had mentioned to me that it won't happen until the next CO visit ]. So far, I've been slipping away. In fact, tonight is a Book Study night, but instead I'm posting here at this moment instead of being "fed spiritually" .

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

12

NOT placing BOOKS? Spiritually weak!

by Alligator Wisdom in

a few months back we had the usual elders/ms meeting with the circuit overseer during his visit.

there was a point that the co had emphasized and it brought me sick to my stomach anyone didn't put the effort to make such placements, that these publishers were in need of spiritual help and that we (elders/ms) should help such ones to do so.

talk about the pressure!

Alligator Wisdom

A few months back we had the usual Elders/MS meeting with the Circuit Overseer during his visit. There was a point that the CO had emphasized and it brought me sick to my stomach . He had the audacity to say that those who aren't placing "Books" during the month are considered "spiritually weak". He even asked us why this was happening in the congregation. Some of the Elders said that it possibly was that the individual publisher wasn't prepared to make such a presentation. YIKES! Then the CO harped on the fact that if anyone didn't put the effort to make such placements, that these publishers were in need of spiritual help and that we (Elders/MS) should help such ones to do so. Talk about the PRESSURE! . (I guess that the numbers in book placements weren't high enough and it didn't look good in his circuit).

This complaint has contributed to the fact that the WT Society and their representatives are focusing on the numbers game. This has also contributed to my "submerge". Now when they look back, they will find my place in line vacant . [SEE YA', BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE YA']

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

29

Japan Lost 589 Congregations

by metatron in

jw
friends

things must be getting tough for the 'number puffing' theocrats in japan.. .

3802 congregations (1999 yearbook).

3213 congregations (latest report).

Alligator Wisdom

By Watchtower Correspondant "Alligator Wisdom" . (who recently moved to Japan and is doing the fade)

True! The shrinkage of congregations in Japan is due to the "consolidation" factor. In fact, our Kingdom Hall has just added one congregation last month to share the building. The additional group was a Sign Language congregation. Their former Hall had disbanded the three congregations that was meeting there.

This all corresponds with the "bubble economy" factor that was part of Japan's fast paced growth during the 80's and early 90's. As you may know, many of the industrial giants of Japan had multiplied and grown tremendously during those years (hence, the "BUBBLE"). This also coincided with the growth of the WT and JW's here. But since the economy isn't as prosperous as once was, even the industrial giants (electronics, banks, auto makers...etc.) are also "consolidating" within their enterprises. This is in order to save money and stretch to keep their heads above water. Since everything is very expensive in Japan compared to the rest of the world, I'm sure that the Branch Office here made the same move as their "corporation" counterparts.

Another major factor here is that the youths of JW's are now having a challenge remaining within the ORG. This will contribute to the decline in the years to come. The younger generation here are really endeavoring to plan on how they themselves can keep afloat since the "END" isn't as close as they were taught. Also, these younger ones may also be exploring the internet and discovering for themselves what the WT Society is really based on. (I myself have noticed many anti-JW sites that are popping up in the Japanese language).

When they look behind, they will find my place "in-line" vacant . (SEE YA', BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE YA'.)

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")

EDITED to add (see ya' ~)

Edited by - aLLIGATOR wISDOM on 27 November 2002 5:7:24