rocketman

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Posts by rocketman

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  40

  What's the deal with Facebook?

  by serenitynow! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i mean what is so fun or interesting about facebook?

  i am very new to it, i feel like i must be missing something.

  it seems boring.

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  rocketman

  For me, it has some limited use. It helps me keep informed about friends who have moved away, for example.

  Besides that, its benefit is very limited. I've deleted so-caled "friends" (or hid them from my News Feed) because they post updates on insignificant things and do nothing but clutter my page with nonsense.

  I think Facebook can potentially damage relationships. For example, I've made friend requests that have been ignored by people with whom I work or whom I know personally. While it's not a huge deal, in the back of my mind I do wonder why I was rejected.

  Also, I've deleted people, as I mentioned. How do they feel about being deleted? Could they resent me for ultimately rejecting them?

  Some people get very offended when relationship status is changed. It's fueled attacks against an ex who try to move on. There's a lot of stalking by exes on Facebook.

  It does make one wonder if the negatives don't outweigh the positives.
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  22

  Do You Understand How Elders Think?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some here have been treated terribly by elders while in the organization.

  some were treated kindly.. why do you think some elders are task masters while others are milder?.

  do you think they're all the same no matter how they come across to the "flock"?.

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  rocketman

  They are products of mainly two things: Their own views and personalities coupled with the constant drumbeat of the the WTS expects.

  In reasonable, kind men, these two will clash. The organization's dictates usually win out, because one or two elders with qualms will be out-voted and out-manned by the rest of the body.

  Strong personalities usually dominate the group-think.
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  158

  Do You Really Care About the People On Here?

  by snowbird in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how they're feeling, coping?.

  well, do you?.

  thanks to those who respond.. syl.

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  rocketman

  I care to an extent. Those whom I've met personally, yes. Those whom I know only by means of their posts, kind of. I mean, I care, but until I've actually met a person or talked by phone or linked via facebook or twitter, it's kind of an abstract feeling of caring.

  I've never done one of those bracket hugs, you know, these things ((((((((((((((( ))))))))))))))))).
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  7

  An Environmentalist Wrote To The WT

  by Bangalore in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  http://jwenvironment.blogspot.com/2008/08/jehovahs-witnesses-and-environment.html.

  bangalore.

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  rocketman

  The guy titles the blog "Jehovah's Witnesses And The Environment", then writes all of, hmmm, let's see - a single post, based on what some nitwit jw's response was to his question.

  If the Society treated this "letter" seriously, they'd respond with citations of various Awake! issues that deal with global warming, etc, and say, 'see, we're doing our part'.
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  61

  Crap my District Overseer says

  by easyreader1970 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  here are some things that came from the mouth of the district overseer over the course of the two days.

  1. the recession isn't going to end.

  things are screwed because the demons are controlling the world.

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  rocketman

  This District Overseer sounds just like one of the C.O.'s we had in our area back when I was active. He too saw demons everywhere and folly in doing anything else that was not jw related.
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  7

  Questions after Statements

  by IMHO in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anyone an expert in english grammar?.

  why do the jw writers (annoyingly imo) so often use a one word question after a statement.. .

  full-time service protectsus how?.

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  rocketman

  I've often been annoyed (and embarassed) at this construct - the embarassment came when offering the mags in field service.

  Good thread - Why? :)
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  77

  What if JWs are right?!?

  by brotherdan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know this is a pointless question, but what if this happened:.

  you came home from work one day, sat down, and turned on the tv.

  there is a sudden announcement that the un has banned all religion.

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  rocketman

  I can't see it happening; in fact, I think the Watchtower Society will change that teaching the same way they've changed many others.

  Before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I figured maybe it could happen - maybe the UN could knock off religion. After seeing what happened in those two wars - we can't even handle the Taliban without a lot of trouble, and they're still a threat and protracting the Afghan war, there's no way the UN, even with US backing, could somehow ensure that people would not attend religious services. There's not nearly enough reach or scope in the UN or US to do this.

  Islam would probably be the biggest obstacle. It would become completely radicalized as its adherents fought such a ban. The UN and US are having enough trouble containing the small fraction of Islam that is currently radical. I can't imagine they'd want to take on the entire religion. They'd get a jihad like they've never seen.

  I can also not imagine some evangelical US religions ever going along with such a ban.
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  194

  Bethel Rules

  by brotherdan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this was brought up just in passing on another thread.

  but i wanted to see if there are any bethelites or ex bethelites that remember some of the crazy rules we had to follow when we were there..

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  rocketman

  Great thread. While I can see the need for some rules in any place in which a large number of people must function together, most of these rules appear needless and unreasonable - just like the rules of the Pharisees.
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  33

  I can't believe how many people are leaving now...

  by mac n cheese in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  (sorry if this is a double post - i haven't been on in awhile).

  so spouse and i are completely inactive.

  it's great!

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  rocketman

  I think your approach is very smart mac n cheese - listening and giving the pros and cons rather than coming across as a raving apostate. Many who leave simply want someone who understands what they're going through and someone with whom they can talk and relate.
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  11

  When men were made Elders, did you notice their personality change?

  by carvin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i thought about this after reading flippers thread about how elders are appointed.

  great thread by the way.. i can recall many times when guys were made elders, and sometimes even made ms that their personility would change almost over night.

  i knew many nice, kind, elders and ms but many especially newly appionted ones would be, at times, just difficult to be around.

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  rocketman

  Unfortunately, it's a situation where unqualified* men are given authority over a group of people. It's often a recipe for disaster, an open door to spiritual and emotional abuse.

  On top of that, these men are not only given sheperding responsibilities but suddenly find themselves with congregation responsibilities - more talks to prepare, elders meetings to attend, etc.

  They become squeezed by all the demands. On top of that, their own "righteousness" must be on display at all times. It can turn the most laid back of men into judgmental shrews. Being given authority often provides a doorway for negative, but previously dormant or subdued personality traits to surface.

  *These men are supposed to be "qualified", but in many cases their qualifications have more to do with performance/attendance in field service and at meetings rather than true ability to lead and shepherd.