Posts by Magnum

52

Collapse of JW Org - Possibly on the Horizon?

by JWTom in

this topics get a great deal of discussion here.

what i find interesting is even some of my pimi family is embracing the reality that all is not well with jw.org and that many current jws are just going through the motions due to not having a good way out of the org.

wondering what could realistically lead to the collapse of jw.org in the not distant future?

Magnum

About six or seven years ago, I thought the org would maybe would have collapsed by now. It was just changing so much - dumbing down, becoming more mainstream, cutting back. Its predictions looked more and more wrong with the passing of time. The "generation" teaching was ludicrous. I thought most JWs would finally wake up, but I overestimated their intelligence, honesty, reasonableness, etc. Now, it seems that it will be a slow, gradual fading out of existence.

However, I still do believe there could be a turning point followed by a crash. I mentioned this some years ago on this site, but I'll mention it again. In physiology, one learns about various systems in the body connected by feedback loops. A healthy body is able to maintain homeostasis - a condition in which all systems are functioning within normal parameters. When an animal or human is sick, one or more of these systems can become unstable and cause instability in other connected systems. If corrections aren't made, the whole overall system can become so unstable that a point of no return can be reached, the body crashes, and death ensues.

JWdom functions like a big body with certain interconnected systems that have to be maintained. It's not like a religion that can continue to exist through small independent units like, for example, Southern Baptists. Baptist churches are basically independent of each other. One can collapse without affecting others. There is no central unit that is idolized (as is the JW GB) and that controls all. If one or more JW "systems" become(s) unstable, it could lead to collapse.

What could some factors be that cause the "health" of JWdom to become unstable? Maybe finances. Maybe apathy caused by disappointment due to failed predictions and not physically meeting together, Maybe young ones having even less motive to stay in because they're not meeting with other young JWs and being influenced by peer pressure. Maybe more and more waking up. These factors could all work together and feed back on each other to cause the org to reach a point at which it collapses.

I really wish it would collapse in the next few years. I would love to see the reaction of my JW relatives and a lot of other JWs.

32

If Biden wins

by mickbobcat in

if biden wins i hope trump starts the trump news network and hires out from fox the good casters.

the people who made fox what it is are starting to get sick of how its turning to the left or dark side.

this would give trump a voice and keep alive real journalism.

Magnum

mickbobcat, I swear I was thinking the exact same thing, and I haven't read or heard anything about it. Just popped into my head. I can see how it could happen and hope it does, but I want it to be honest and to truly be "real journalism" and not just picking facts that suit its purposes.

I've seen how the left selectively picks info and slants (or changes completely) the narrative, but I think the right might be guilty some, too. I want honesty.

32

If Biden wins

by mickbobcat in

if biden wins i hope trump starts the trump news network and hires out from fox the good casters.

the people who made fox what it is are starting to get sick of how its turning to the left or dark side.

this would give trump a voice and keep alive real journalism.

Magnum

There is a huge market for "aggrieved white guys complaining about how life is so, so, SO unfair"

Hey, so true. Let's go into business and cater to that market. But, if we really want to make some big money, let's not just include that market. Let's include the far, far bigger market for the aggrieved lefties who are "complaining about how life so, so, SO unfair" for non-conservatives and that everything wrong with their lives is white man's fault and who want to take money from conservatives (mostly white males) and spread that money to illegal border-jumpers and welfare baby-makers (with loser baby daddies) and who want hard-working conservatives to pay their medical bills and pay for their education, etc. Wow, I'm getting excited thinking about it. There are so many whiny, complaining, clueless losers on the left. We'll make big money.

But, hold on... now that I think about...are those white guys complaining that life is so unfair OR are they actually complaining about lefties who think that life is so unfair and who want their (the white guys') money? Hmmmm.

70

Mr. Minimus, how do you feel?

by AbelJohn in

jw
friends

just going by the topic titles you've been using these last few weeks.. do you think you can survive a whole four years with someone that's not exactly your favorite candidate?.

i know i'm in the minority from what i've been reading here, but i'm glad for the change!.

well, we all can't be satisfied altogether can we?.

Magnum

HowTheBibleWasCreated, no problem. I just have strong feelings about peace & love "enlightenment". That could only work in a perfect world with no meanies or bullies.

70

Mr. Minimus, how do you feel?

by AbelJohn in

jw
friends

just going by the topic titles you've been using these last few weeks.. do you think you can survive a whole four years with someone that's not exactly your favorite candidate?.

i know i'm in the minority from what i've been reading here, but i'm glad for the change!.

well, we all can't be satisfied altogether can we?.

Magnum

HowTheBibleWasCreated, The reason those places you mention can be "enlightened" is that the U.S. carries a big stick and that provides them the opportunity. If the U.S. becomes all peace & love enlightened, then it won't last long for the U.S. or those other places because it will allow all the bullies (China, Russia, Iran, N Korea, etc.) to step in. Europe won't be so enlightened then.

Somebody has to be tough and carry a big stick and I get tired of hearing the U.S get bashed for that. Europe ought to be glad the U.S. is what it is.

edited to add: Where does racism come into play? To whom are you specifically referring?

70

Mr. Minimus, how do you feel?

by AbelJohn in

jw
friends

just going by the topic titles you've been using these last few weeks.. do you think you can survive a whole four years with someone that's not exactly your favorite candidate?.

i know i'm in the minority from what i've been reading here, but i'm glad for the change!.

well, we all can't be satisfied altogether can we?.

Magnum

Diogenesister, no, I do not believe that everyone deserves medical care - at least not if I'm having to pay for it. I believe there are many horrible, evil people who are unworthy. I believe there are many who are just sorry and don't deserve to have others pay for their medical care.

I was just a few minutes ago reading something about the horrible torture some inflict on animals. Do you think that I want people who do that to get medical care? I'm trying to mind my manners, so I'm not going to say what kind of "care" I think they deserve.

I realize that's an extreme example, but I believe many are unworthy. Maybe you just haven't seen it or been exposed to it as I have. Maybe the situation is different in Britain. I have personally, my whole life, been affected by people who I think are sorry and undeserving. My wife and I have been used and dumped on our entire lives by sorry people - able-bodied, able-minded people who are sorry. As I've mentioned recently on this forum, I've seen hundreds of women who don't work and who pop out babies that I have to pay for (I don't blame the babies).

I believe there are a lot of sorry people, and I don't want to pay their medical needs. I will admit, thought that I have given a lot of thought to determinism and the extent to which people are controlled by their genes and their environments, and I'm still contemplating that and weighing the evidence. I just believe there a lot of people who are plain out sorry and/or mean and/or evil; if it's in their genes, then let's stop supporting them and eliminate those genes from society.

There are many who look for ways to play the system. There are many who look for ways to take what is yours and mine. There are people who sit around and look for ways to implant viruses in our electronics and scam us out of what is ours.

Even if some are strongly controlled by their genes, I don't excuse them. I've told my wife over the last few years, that I believe that some are "wired" to be sexually attracted to children - that they are born with that tendency. HOWEVER, I do not excuse those who act of those tendencies. Here's how I illustrated it to my wife. I have a seven-year-old raccoon that I rescued and raised on a bottle. I love her dearly and she's feisty, playful, and affectionate. Suppose I got really hungry and had a really strong desire for raccoon meat; I could NEVER act on my desire and bring harm to her. So, people might have genetic tendencies, but I don't (at least in a lot of cases) excuse them if they don't fight those tendencies.

I do believe in taking care of those who are clearly unable to take care of themselves. In some cases, it's impossible for us to determine who are really deserving. That's why I still wish there were some kind of just, caring higher being who would step in and make those judgements for us.

I respect your opinion, but right now, I disagree. As I mentioned earlier, I will keep an open mind and readily admit to it if I change my mind.

Not trying to be stubborn or mean; just have strong feelings about it right now. I respect you and your feelings. I believe your motives are good even if I disagree.

32

Don’t worry, the USA is still OK for the next four years.

by pistolpete in

as i had mentioned in one of my past posts, i strongly felt the democrats would win the presidency because they know they can cheat and not get prosecuted.

case in point; everyone involved in the russian conspiracy.

and the republicans just don’t understand that they need to get in the gutter and fight back like the democrats.

Magnum

Yes, it is fortunate about the Senate. Hopefully, that will be a force to keep us OK for a while, but I don't think that force, or check, will be in place for too much longer. As more and more immigrants come in, the picture will change. Also, as we basically pay unemployed, poor women, to have children, the numbers of those who tend to vote Democrat will increase. The future doesn't look bright to me.

70

Mr. Minimus, how do you feel?

by AbelJohn in

jw
friends

just going by the topic titles you've been using these last few weeks.. do you think you can survive a whole four years with someone that's not exactly your favorite candidate?.

i know i'm in the minority from what i've been reading here, but i'm glad for the change!.

well, we all can't be satisfied altogether can we?.

Magnum

pale.emperor: I have mixed feelings about NHS. Since leaving JWdom and losing my hope that everything is going to be divinely fixed, I'm still confused and trying to sort and figure things out. I think some kind of NHS would be great, but, again, I'm just concerned about all those who don't deserve it benefitting by it. And the money still has to come from people who work.

I will certainly need some kind of medical help as I age, but right now, my wife and I are paying for health insurance.

I will keep an open mind and could, of course, quite possibly be wrong and change my feelings. I appreciate your thoughts and input.

70

Mr. Minimus, how do you feel?

by AbelJohn in

jw
friends

just going by the topic titles you've been using these last few weeks.. do you think you can survive a whole four years with someone that's not exactly your favorite candidate?.

i know i'm in the minority from what i've been reading here, but i'm glad for the change!.

well, we all can't be satisfied altogether can we?.

Magnum

pale.emperor: good, fair question. I will try to answer from my point of view. It's not about liking Trump. It's about liking things he says he will do and is doing. It's not about voting for the morals (or lack thereof) of a candidate. It's not (or shouldn't be) a personality contest.

I want somebody who will be fair to the U.S. and not let China, etc. get the best of it. I want somebody who will make other nations do their fair share in sending aid, supporting various international entities, etc. I'm tired of the U.S.'s doing more than its fair share.

I want strictly controlled borders. I don't want to be flooded by illegals who get free medical treatment that will ultimately come out of my paycheck. I swear I go to some places in the U.S and get looked at funny because I speak English. I don't like that. I don't want the U.S. to become like Mexico or India or China or Venezuela.

I don't want anything that even remotely smells like socialism; it doesn't work. If everybody would do his best and give the best he could, it would work. However, many, if not most, won't. Through years of just plain living in the U.S. and a decade of regular pioneering knocking on thousands of doors, I gradually learned that there are a lot of sorry, lazy people who don't want to do their fair share and who want and expect the system to take care of them. I encountered countless women who popped out one baby after the other and got a bigger government handout with each one. They referred to the babies' fathers as "baby daddies". Most of the baby daddies didn't pay child support. I'm sick of that, and I want somebody to stop such. I don't want to pay for their babies.

Most left-leaning liberals that I encounter have the peace and love mentality of hippies from the 1960's as if everybody's good and we should all take care of each other. That peace and love experiment didn't work. Hippies ended up sick, hungry, etc. Wikipedia says this concerning the hippies flocking to the Haight-Ashbury district in San Francisco: "The Haight-Ashbury could not accommodate this rapid influx of people, and the neighborhood scene quickly deteriorated. Overcrowding, homelessness, hunger, drug problems, and crime afflicted the neighborhood. Many people left in the autumn to resume their college studies." I really believe that open borders will eventually lead something like this happening in the U.S.

That liberal idealism should be conquered by conservative realism. The real truth is that many aren't worthy of receiving the "peace and love". If liberals think that everybody is so good and worthy, then they should try owning a business and finding good employees. Really good, worthy people are hard to find and I don't want to support those who aren't really deserving.

A lot of us don't like those things you mentioned about Trump, but the issue is much, much bigger than those things.

Suppose you have a malignant tumor deep in your brain. Whom do you want to attempt to surgically fix the situation - the arrogant jerk who's shown he can do it and has been doing it... or the bumbling old nice doctor* who's clueless and has never done the surgery?

* I don't think Biden is any more moral or any nicer or kinder than Trump. Trump is just out with it, whereas Biden is phony and deceptive. If they're both venomous snakes, then Trump is coiled up in the driveway ready to strike, whereas, Biden is hidden in the grass.

edited to add: I also am infuriated by the fact that some (certainly not all) want to come to the U.S. and change it to be like where they came from. Why the hell don't they just stay where they are then? Another reason I want strictly controlled borders.

70

Mr. Minimus, how do you feel?

by AbelJohn in

jw
friends

just going by the topic titles you've been using these last few weeks.. do you think you can survive a whole four years with someone that's not exactly your favorite candidate?.

i know i'm in the minority from what i've been reading here, but i'm glad for the change!.

well, we all can't be satisfied altogether can we?.

Magnum

glow: Biden derangement syndrome

That's an ad hominem argument - just using name-calling, etc. rather than providing an argument with substance. That logical fallacy is used by people who either don't have an argument or who lack the intelligence to articulate one.

I could just as easily respond with Trump Hate Syndrome or Sleepy Joe Love Syndrome or Lefty Lunacy Syndrome, but there's no substance to such. I don't want to be like you.