Posts by WingCommander

As a child of the 80's, not only could I not have or listen to worldly rock music, but I was forbidden from wearing any clothing whatsoever that bore large logos. This was considered worldly, materialistic, or having a "showy display of one's wealth." No t-shirts with pictures of anything on them either.

This meant up until I was about 15 and old enough to get a job and buy my own clothes with my own money, I was forced to always have a very cheap, "Generic" look at school. You can guess how this went over, and how it crushed my self-esteem and effected my demeanor. My parents were also the typical "cheap" JW's, so especially as a child this meant shopping at the local Goodwill and thrift shops. So not only generic crap, but used out-of-style CRAP. I was perpetually pissed off at this treatment, especially because we were more middle-class, and THEY didn't buy their clothes at Goodwill. (though they did dress cheap and generic)

As soon as I was old enough and had my own money, it was on. I bought the clothes I wanted, I bought the music I wanted, and anything else. Fugg 'em! I've never shopped or subjected my son to a Goodwill store either. (only high-end thrift store, of which there are a few around here with damn nice stuff when he was a very small kid)

I was also not allowed to have any posters on my wall of anything other than nature scenes. Everything else was considered idolatry, false idols. Growing up a JW was INSANITY. Everything was "No." No friends that weren't JW's, no riding the bus, no school activities, no afterschool anything, no sports, no going to friends houses, no going outside of my own yard, no going to the mall without parents, no going to the movies no NOTHING that wasn't JW-related. This is how I grew up. My parents NEVER took me to see a movie in a movie theater. I was 16 yrs old when I went by myself to a movie theater the first time. I was so excited! The isolation I was subjected to was prison-like frankly. Gee, any wonder I was resent this oppressive cult now? Big mystery.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

WingCommander

OMG, his dad also looks like notorious Milwaukee Catholic pedophile priest Lawrence Murphy. Uncanny!!!

42

Young "Elders"

by XBEHERE in

jw
friends

ever since the annual meeting last october and the letter to bodies of elders stating that "exceptional young men perhaps in their early 20's could qualify for appointment as elders.." it even states this in the updated elders manual!

have any of you pimo's, pimq's, or those on here with family/friends still in hear of any young men being appointed as elders yet?

i am talking 21, 22, 23, 24 etc.

WingCommander

20 yr old Elduh = Completely Useless!

21

Joined an online meeting incognito

by joey jojo in

got a link for a zoom meeting and thought id share my experience about the mid-week meeting.. guessing about 100 - 120 in cong.. 50 on zoom, only 8 with cameras on - all elderly.

watching from a detached point of view it's so obvious at how it is nothing but a glorified sales meeting, all designed to promote the org.

inspirational videos about how everyone can/ should do more to help with projects, in particular how to look after the kingdom hall, complete with bar charts showing levels of achievement to aspire to.. interestingly, tonights book study is about alcohol..

WingCommander

WT HQ:

"Give until it hurts, than give some more!"

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

WingCommander

Hemorrhoid Evans: The pimple on the ex-JW's ass that just keeps oozing. It's infected, and it may in fact be cancerous!

29

Been years since Ive gone - should I bother with a letter?

by BeaverEater in

jw
friends

sig other is half assed still in, one family member is in... its been years... wondering if i should just let it be or just call up hq and say i resign... i will be pissed if they announce shit at the kh, though i dont even remember the last one i went to... lol.

for me, its none of anyone elses business... thoughts?.

WingCommander

Why put yourself back on their radar? Been 20 years? Hell, there's probably not many left that you knew still "in" from back then. Many have left or died!!

Just press on with your life. Best of luck.

19

Christmas Decorations at the Kingdom hall

by Simon in

i can't remember if i've told this story before .... but back in the day, in irlam congregation (northwest england, uk, cheshire #1 circuit i think) we used to rent a kingdom hall for many years before we eventually built our own.. preston hall.

ah, the memories .... it was primarily used as a community hall for old folks, but we had it friday night and sunday morning.. there was a loft and fold-out ladder and we used to store the chairs up their.

every meeting, there would be an assembly line of all the "lads" to pass the chairs down and set them up, then collect them up and pass them back up at the end of the meeting.

WingCommander

@dozy:

The real irony comes from the fact that JW's were still celebrating Xmas up into the 20's, even at Bethel! There's even a Bethel Xmas Card photo shot.

Thing is, I'm sure most of you didn't know about it back then. But it would have made interesting commentary as to why you all shouldn't feel guilty.

19

Christmas Decorations at the Kingdom hall

by Simon in

i can't remember if i've told this story before .... but back in the day, in irlam congregation (northwest england, uk, cheshire #1 circuit i think) we used to rent a kingdom hall for many years before we eventually built our own.. preston hall.

ah, the memories .... it was primarily used as a community hall for old folks, but we had it friday night and sunday morning.. there was a loft and fold-out ladder and we used to store the chairs up their.

every meeting, there would be an assembly line of all the "lads" to pass the chairs down and set them up, then collect them up and pass them back up at the end of the meeting.

WingCommander

I don't have a "decorations" story, but I kind of have a District Convention experience I guess?

Early 80's. My family would attend District Conventions at the old Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. This is because my father couldn't stand going to the old Veteran's Stadium in Philly. It was hotter than hell and miserable. The Capital Centre was inside and air conditioned. Unbeknownst to a very young me, it also was the venue for many a historic basketball game, hockey, concerts, and even Presidential Inaugurations. (1980's)

It also had a claim to a couple very unique features:

1. Upon driving up on it, it kind of looked like a "nest" or something. The roof was curved in. It was just a sight to see.

2. It had the first "Telscreen", a 4-sided center-hung projection screen + scoreboard. Had the first sports replay as well.

The screen meant that loooong before the 2010's projecting of GB Members and dramas onto large venue screens, we had this back in the early 80's. A cameraman would zoom right in on the podium or on the dramas, and anyone from any seat could easily see and hear the events by watching this huge screen.

4. Fun story: Once during a lunch break as a kid of 4-6, I somehow managed to get access up to the top of that Jumbo-Tron, and was running around up there!

5. I found out just a few years ago that "The Who's" music video for the song "Eminence Front" was filmed at the Capital Centre during rehearsals for a concert there.

What I wouldn't have done to have been there for those basketball, hockey, and concerts during the 1980's instead of being bored to tears at stupid JW District Conventions. Ugh!

The Who video:

Eminence Front

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

WingCommander

I can only imagine Mark O'Donnell absolutely CRINGES looking back at how he let himself be interviewed by this slovenly grifter.................