Posts by cookiemaster

12

Plagiarized song?

by cookiemaster in

hey guys, so, i went to the hall today with my parents (they needed a ride) and there was this song that i wasn't familiar with.

must be a new song or i might be simply ignorant of jw songs (i hate them).

to my surprise i actually liked this song.

Hey guys,

So, I went to the hall today with my parents (they needed a ride) and there was this song that I wasn't familiar with. Must be a new song or I might be simply ignorant of JW songs (I hate them). To my surprise I actually liked this song. About the only JW song I've ever liked ever. The song in question is called Light in a Darkened World. I think it was number 77. The thing is that I'm pretty certain I've heard it somewhere else, maybe in a fantasy movie or game. For some reason, big chunks of it seem plagiarized to me. It's not the usual JW song and seems very cinematic. What do you guys think?

Here's a link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIDv7MroYeM

12

Are they clones?

by cookiemaster in

anyone else notice this about jw public speakers.

they all seem like clones.

they have the same mannerisms, try to use the same style of speaking, similar jokes, etc.

cookiemaster

Anyone else notice this about JW public speakers. They all seem like clones. They have the same mannerisms, try to use the same style of speaking, similar jokes, etc. It's like none of the speakers I see lately have a distinguishable personality of their own. They all seem to be emulating the same person. It's very weird and gives an automaton/clone vibe. I guess this means they're better integrated into the corporate cult, becoming corporate machines. I can't describe it otherwise. It feels so unnatural. In every area of life where you have public speaking, you see people of all speaking styles and manners, with various approaches. Normal people can all deliver the same message but each in their own individual way. Some are funny and charismatic, some are serious and fact oriented, some are quirky but compelling. Not in JWdom. At least not in my experience. Might be a local thing but all the speakers here try to act and talk the same way. It's very weird and kinda unnatural and disturbing.

15

They are increasingly appealing to emotion

by cookiemaster in

they always have but lately, they've taken it to a whole new level.

the new convention video about the end, the many videos at conventions and meetings, the new songs, all highly emotionally manipulative.

and they're working.

cookiemaster

They always have but lately, they've taken it to a whole new level. The new convention video about the end, the many videos at conventions and meetings, the new songs, all highly emotionally manipulative. And they're working. At conventions, I see people in tears. It's pretty worrying to me. They make the average JW so emotionally enslaved that they'd pretty much do anything. I almost feel like they'd drink the cool aid if an emotionally manipulative video at a convention asked them to.

26

What Should I Say?

by cookiemaster in

i need a bit of advice.

i've been pimo for a long time and fading more and more.

i occasionally attend for family but never give any answers or actively participate in any way.

cookiemaster

Okay guys, so I thought I'd offer a quick update. I told them we can't meet at home as I would be busy into town but they insisted so we met at the hall. Apparently, the old elder that had me pegged as an apostate is leaving to become a CO and a new elder has come. He's only come to the meetings a few times and seems really nice (compared to the old one). Anyway, they already had made up their mind about me before the meeting. They are sure I'm suffering from depression because I'm always serious at the hall and don't talk much with anyone.

I really didn't have to say much at all. They told all the excuses for me and only asked me if their suspicions were right. I said yeah, and that I was very busy with work too. They just said that I can only get encouragement at the hall and they think I should set myself the objective to talk more to the brothers and get involved with spiritual activities. I told them I would think about it. That's about it. Apparently, they think depression can be cured by being more of a slave to the borg. Yeah, no thanks!

They're just desperate because we're a small dying congo. When I was a kid there were 65 members. Now 35 and most a elderly and dying quickly. I'm the only male under 40, and I don't give a crap about it, so I bet that this congregation will be extinct in a decade, unless they give some artificial member infusions from other congos. It's the only congo on a 50 mile radius too, so JWs are really becoming extinct here. It's great. They're really desperate for members and the only new members they can get are very old lonely ladies.

26

What Should I Say?

by cookiemaster in

i need a bit of advice.

i've been pimo for a long time and fading more and more.

i occasionally attend for family but never give any answers or actively participate in any way.

cookiemaster

Thank you for all the replies. They truly are helpful. Unfortunately Morpheus, they do have me pegged as an apostate. You see, years ago when I started fading and still was stupid enough to have JW friends on social media, I made a comment to a worldly friend's post about how I can't wait to get my family out of this cult. Of course, a JW friend saw it and turned me in to the elders. Fortunately, the account wasn't exactly with my real name, so I denied I was the one that made the comment, but ever since they've been conducting periodic witch trials against me.

Every few months the gestapo comes for another round of interrogations, and it was all fine because I kept denying everything and kept up appearances to be a regular JW. Lately however, I have not felt like keeping up appearances in meetings anymore, so now if they'll ask me why I don't comment or go to field service, I'm not sure what the best response it not to get all the alarms ringing, as I've started making a tiny bit of progress waking up my parents and other JW family members and don't want to be branded as an apostate and be instantly dismissed by everyone.

I can postpone the meeting them but they'll search for me at home and keep insisting. It's what they do. The elders in this congregation are a bit more gestapo than your average elders.

26

What Should I Say?

by cookiemaster in

i need a bit of advice.

i've been pimo for a long time and fading more and more.

i occasionally attend for family but never give any answers or actively participate in any way.

cookiemaster

Thank you both!

I said social anxiety kinda sounds stupid because it's clear to them that I am able to socialize just fine. I do have some social anxiety and always had but I am able to overcome it in most situations. Just thought it wouldn't seem believable in my case to have it as an excuse for total disinterest and apathy.

26

What Should I Say?

by cookiemaster in

i need a bit of advice.

i've been pimo for a long time and fading more and more.

i occasionally attend for family but never give any answers or actively participate in any way.

cookiemaster

I need a bit of advice. I've been PIMO for a long time and fading more and more. I occasionally attend for family but never give any answers or actively participate in any way. I report some fake hours to not draw attention. Just sit there and play on my phone and the minute the meeting is over I leave for my car. Thing is, we now have the CO visit and he told me he wishes to speak to me. An "encouragement" visit, which will likely be an interrogatory on why I don't participate with answers in the meetings and my general apathy.

I honestly don't know what to say. I can't say I just don't give a f*ck anymore because that would get me in trouble and my still devout family members will not take that kindly. So I need to appear to still be mentally but somehow justify my fading and lack of involvement. I thought I should say I suffer from social anxiety but that sounds kinda stupid. Another excuse could be work, no time to prepare for meetings, etc. IDK. Do you guys have any ideas?

39

"Deficit" at JW Assembly

by cookiemaster in

i've recently been at an assembly here in romania and there was an announced they were running a 10,000 euro deficit and urging all attendees to donate more money besides the already 5k has was donated during that day.

i really don't understand these things.

it's their own assembly hall.

cookiemaster

I think one issue with the lack of transparency is that they guilt trip you and make it sound through their announcements that the expenses of the assembly cannot be covered and thus they will be in dire financial trouble, which kinda panics everyone and makes them donate more before the assembly ends. At least that's the feeling I got at the assembly and I think this type of emotional manipulation of people is a pretty crappy thing to do.

39

"Deficit" at JW Assembly

by cookiemaster in

i've recently been at an assembly here in romania and there was an announced they were running a 10,000 euro deficit and urging all attendees to donate more money besides the already 5k has was donated during that day.

i really don't understand these things.

it's their own assembly hall.

cookiemaster

jookbeard - This guy is the coach. He's been more successful as a player rather than a coach though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioan_Sab%C4%83u

Incognito - This was a 1 day assembly. Here in Romania, I don't remember ever being a food service offered by the organizers of the assembly. However, just outside the gates of the assembly hall, and this is pretty much valid everywhere, there are vendors that come with their trailers, vans and tents and make their own serving areas. Sort of like open air restaurants. There are usually several of these vendors, which I believe are somehow pre-approved in presence by the JW organizers, and offer a wide variety of foods,drinks, snacks and all kinds of stuff. At larger conventions you can even find kid's toys, souvenirs, almost like you'd find at a street fair.
It's not unusual for cab drivers to hang around the area too as the assembly hall is on the outskirts of town and they use the opportunity to get lots of clients.

Anony Mous - Haha! No wonder they never invited you again. So, that's 10K per assembly day. With the immense size of the US and its JW population (relative to other countries), and factoring in that some areas could have wealthier JWs, they must be raking in a ton of money.

39

"Deficit" at JW Assembly

by cookiemaster in

i've recently been at an assembly here in romania and there was an announced they were running a 10,000 euro deficit and urging all attendees to donate more money besides the already 5k has was donated during that day.

i really don't understand these things.

it's their own assembly hall.

cookiemaster

Thanks for all the responses guys! It's amazing how oblivious I was to this while I was a JW. I guess I never questioned these financial arrangements because even the thought that Jehovah's organization is ripping off its followers would've been a sin.

Crazyguy - Considering the attendance, it comes off at around 10 Euro per head. I think 99% of those in attendance would easily afford to donate that amount. Most probably spend more during the break while buying coffee and snacks. There's been a huge amount of economic growth in these past two decades and we live in a richer part of the country.

Our circuit (or whatever they're called these days) has some really rich JWs too, one being a millionaire football coach famous throughout the country. He's treated like royalty at every convention. You should see the car park with all the BMW and Mercedes SUVs lined up one after the other. Really makes you laugh at the hypocrisy of everyone vigorously applauding talks about leading a simple, modest life, while almost nobody is actually following this teaching.

So yeah, the amount per head is pretty affordable but to be honest I think most in attendance have donated less than that. They're pretty stingy with the donations. My parents donated 3 Euro, LOL. Really, most spend their money during the break on food, drinks, ice cream, and barely give a second thought to the donations. The apathy level is huge. Maybe the rich guys are making up for it but somehow I doubt it. They still make around 10K per assembly, which is practically like printing money for them. The hundreds of assemblies throughout the country each year must produce millions in profits.