Posts by Laika

15

International Convention East Rutherford, NJ 2014

by wannabefree in

listen ... obey ... and be blessed!

has this become the official cult watchtower theme song?.

here is a video making the rounds on facebook.

New DVD review

by Laika in

i managed to catch the new dvd on youtube last night before the inevitable takedown.

as a film i felt it wasn't anywhere near as good as the prodigal movie, the story wasn't as dramatic, the characters much less interesting and developed and the direction weaker.

i found the prodigal relatively entertaining (all things considered) this one was just dull.. here are some of my random thoughts anyway [spoiler alert - ha!].

Laika

Couple more:

The worldly boss was the typical JW caricature, only interested in money, and apparently unconcerned about employment law.

The implication that the oldest son's doubts about JW creationism were motivated not by his science studies but his desire to pursue a music career annoyed me.

30

New DVD review

by Laika in

i managed to catch the new dvd on youtube last night before the inevitable takedown.

as a film i felt it wasn't anywhere near as good as the prodigal movie, the story wasn't as dramatic, the characters much less interesting and developed and the direction weaker.

i found the prodigal relatively entertaining (all things considered) this one was just dull.. here are some of my random thoughts anyway [spoiler alert - ha!].

I managed to catch the new DVD on YouTube last night before the inevitable takedown. Has anyone else seen this yet? As a film I felt it wasn't anywhere near as good as the prodigal movie, the story wasn't as dramatic, the characters much less interesting and developed and the direction weaker. I found the prodigal relatively entertaining (all things considered) this one was just dull.

Here are some of my random thoughts anyway [spoiler alert - ha!]

I felt awful for the oldest son Marcus, not least because he was given the burden of carrying his dead uncle's name as some kind of emotional manipulation, but more because he was convinced to drop his promising music career so he could use his talents 'for good'. That being playing music during the family worship study. Seriously. I was also annoyed that the film tried to play on white Marcus' connections to the black hip hop industry as a way to emphasise how 'dangerous' his situation was. Can you tell this movie was written by old white guys?

I thought Justin, the daughter's worldly boyfriend, was delightful. The film regularly tried to make him appear bad because he was 'open minded and tolerant' unlike Jehovah who is apparently close minded and intolerant. He even supported same sex marriage! Gasp! He was kind and respectful to Becca, took an interest in her passions, encouraged her talent in journalism and was genuinely pleased for her when she was promoted ahead of him to editor-in-chief of the school paper (oh no, extra curricular activities!). This being Watchtower world he did have a very open stance on casual dating and sex which I thought was completely out of character, but at least he was honest about it.

I don't like the way JW dramas always have a happy ending wherein everyone commits to JW life. From my Mum's perspective there are not always 'happy endings' some of us leave and we don't come back. This will just make JWs without the good JW family feel bad.

Both my parents worked and we still struggled for money. This is not a crime ffs.

How on earth could the Dad have afforded that car at 16? He 'worked hard and saved up'? How!? It would have cost thousands!

Classic scenes:

When the giant kid asks Justin to move from in front of his locker, I couldn't work out what the point was and it just made me laugh.

The argument in the car between the oldest son and daughter. It was one of these 'I'm more spiritual then you' arguments that are so common in Watchtower world especially among young people. I suspect the GB are oblivious to why JWism is so competitive or how bizarre this conversation would be to mainstream Christian groups.

The now obligatory JW drama line 'you're not like other girls' said by Justin to Rebecca because obviously everybody wants to date a JW.

And of course the mother's input on the creation - evolution debate 'Who knows more about creation? The smartest man in the world or Jehovah the creator?' Ha!

98

The world cup

by Laika in

4 weeks of football and wimbledon tennis in between!?

life is beautiful.. aaahhhh!

i'm so excited!.

Laika

Oh Suarez! This guy really is a nut...

57

I have no Real Friends!

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

i have come to a startling and sad realisation!.

i have no real friends!.

i have always been extremely active in every aspect of the org, since childhood.

Laika

Yes stuck, leaving the JWs is like leaving the Matrix, where you realise none of it was real, your beliefs, your friendships, nothing. It's really hard, and the underground city is hardly much comfort, but it's where we are, we can never unlearn what we now know, you can't go back. Keep going, one day at a time, and never lose hope.

8

JW presence

by Laika in

jw
friends

the underground station i live next to in london is usually relatively quiet, however it is also the local station closest to the wimbledon tennis courts, so for about 2 weeks a year it really comes to life, starting today.

(yay wimbledon!

i saw no jws last year, but they seemed to have cottoned on to this opportunity and were out in force today.

Laika

I will get up early one time and check it out sir, maybe even speak to one. What I'd really like to see is the JWs and the Jews for Jesus duking it out!

8

JW presence

by Laika in

jw
friends

the underground station i live next to in london is usually relatively quiet, however it is also the local station closest to the wimbledon tennis courts, so for about 2 weeks a year it really comes to life, starting today.

(yay wimbledon!

i saw no jws last year, but they seemed to have cottoned on to this opportunity and were out in force today.

Laika

I wonder if they'll start encouraging JWs to approach people soon. How qualified do you need to be to just stand in one spot?

35

What is the JW Mindset?

by losingit in

is it based on gullibility, naivete, the ability to suspend all logic and reason in order to hold onto fantasized "realities" of a paradise earth where all humanity will be perfect, where all wars and violence will cease?

is it a personal preponderance to the extreme-- whether it be in judgmentalism, cruelty, rigidity, negativity, and/ or righteousness that lends itself to extreme closemindedness and shortsightedness?.

how do you define it for yourself?

Laika

I was going to say the same as sparrowdown. The idea that I'm exclusively on the right path and anyone who's taken a different route has to urgently be converted to my view for their own good! No thank you.

50

What is the Watchtower's(R) Objective with the APATHY TROLLEY(CART)?

by punkofnice in

i wefer to my pwevious fred http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/280829/2/i-saw-a-trolley-cart-to-you-cousins-in-the-u-s-a.

if the wbt$ is losing money and drones then why so much apathy surrounding the trolley/cart?.

why are they not being more pro-active with this 'urgent, never to be repeated work(tm)?'.

Laika

Oops, I should have posted my new thread to this one! :/

I think it's about increasing their presence and becoming more noticeable.

8

JW presence

by Laika in

jw
friends

the underground station i live next to in london is usually relatively quiet, however it is also the local station closest to the wimbledon tennis courts, so for about 2 weeks a year it really comes to life, starting today.

(yay wimbledon!

i saw no jws last year, but they seemed to have cottoned on to this opportunity and were out in force today.

Laika

The underground station I live next to in London is usually relatively quiet, however it is also the local station closest to the Wimbledon tennis courts, so for about 2 weeks a year it really comes to life, starting today. (Yay Wimbledon!)

I saw no JWs last year, but they seemed to have cottoned on to this opportunity and were out in force today. I think they must have started planning ahead.

Also as I was stood outside the station queueing to get in, the JW on the cart approached to offer me a magazine, I declined and told him he wasn't supposed to approach people, he ignored me and moved on to the next target. There was competition from the Jews for Jesus, who seemed to have no hesitation in handing out their tracts and I wondered if this had inspired the JWs.

Meanwhile the underground station for my work has always been a busy area for proselytising, it's right on Oxford Street, the main high street in London and one of the busiest stations. I've seen everything from evangelicals to muslims and even scientologists outside. JWs have caught up to this as well and are now outside every day! It's a major frustration that I have to see JWs nearly every day of the week now, I can't get away from these people! Bizarrely JWs are the only proselytising group that never approach anyone, but they're also there more frequently than anyone else. I'm told they're at all the busy London stations daily.

My point is that while you guys in smaller towns might not see the point in these carts, they're heavily targeting busy areas in major cities and increasing their presence. I don't know if this will be effective for them but I think I can see the logic behind this approach.