Posts by talesin

33

Urging More Lurkers To Sign Up

by freemindfade in

i have seen a lot of new posters intro stories on here, also updates from those who have been around for a while.

i just want to take 1 post to beg those reading to speak up.

it was a big turning point for me and one of the best decisions i made.

talesin

I'm more comfortable posting in member only sections, expecially when first starting here.

Indeed.

.

The internet is not private, and even on 'members only', it's important to remember that there may be people in your area, monitoring this board - you never know who may be reading. Exercise caution at all times, and take time to think before you press "Enter" on a PM, or "Post Reply" on a comment. Ask yourself these questions:

"Is this more than I want to reveal in public? to this stranger?"

... and ...

"Is this appropriate?"

You're in the Real World now, and you alone are responsible for your choices and your actions. There is no 'mother' to tell you what is appropriate. Listen, and learn. Explore, and don't let anyone put you down. xx tal

33

Urging More Lurkers To Sign Up

by freemindfade in

i have seen a lot of new posters intro stories on here, also updates from those who have been around for a while.

i just want to take 1 post to beg those reading to speak up.

it was a big turning point for me and one of the best decisions i made.

talesin

fmf - what a great thread. I'd like to welcome all lurkers to join, and a special note to those who, like myself, may have left years, or decades ago.

I feel the same as Giordano. If you have been out of the b'Organization for many years, you would be of great value to the site, and benefit yourself as well. For me, it meant that I had found one of my 'tribes'.

There are things, like 'in' jokes about our lives as children, or the absolute misery of field service when knocking on schoolmates' doors, that very few people in our current lives understand. That feeling of kinship has many benefits.

On the flip side, your experiences in life, both negative and positive, can help the people exiting JWS, to see that life after DF or DA, is fulfilling, and that freedom is sweet. xx tal

38

Fading is never 100% successful is it?

by nicolaou in

mum phoned last night to see how we all are.

after fifteen years away from meetings and my old jw life you'd think my fade could be called 'successful' and for the most part it is.

.. my resentment at being lied to and having wasted over thirty years of my life has left me like a glass of water full to the brim, it only takes a tap to make a mess.

talesin

Oh, and re the dog being part of the family. It is, absolutely, a JW trigger.

The old JWS were taught that animals were not to be coddled or treated as people. I'm sure that one of our great researchers has an Awake! (TM) quote at their fingertips. So, this issue touches on the JW 'old style rules', and when dealing with our parents, any little issue that is against the 'rules' as they see them, take them (and us) back to the roles of child and parent. It is most difficult to establish an adult-to-adult relationship with JW parents, who grew up to see things in an authoritarian way (which was the cultural norm in their day as well); ie, child obeys parent, and never questions.

38

Fading is never 100% successful is it?

by nicolaou in

mum phoned last night to see how we all are.

after fifteen years away from meetings and my old jw life you'd think my fade could be called 'successful' and for the most part it is.

.. my resentment at being lied to and having wasted over thirty years of my life has left me like a glass of water full to the brim, it only takes a tap to make a mess.

talesin

Hey. Some issues cannot be resolved. It's the same with my mother. It's been, well, my whole adult life, and after not seeing her for several years, the question was asked "Would you think about coming back?". Even with dementia, and near-death looming, the WTS and its paradise (lost) is her main concern. Seeing my parents, both strong into their 70s, and now old and ill, it's easier to take the high road and let it go. I know there is love between you and your mum, and hope you can maintain. All the best to you, dear Nic. xx

93

Your favorite "bumper stickers"

by new boy in

jw
friends

i have two.

"please god protect me from your people".

"if you love something let go.......if it doesn't come back, hunt in down and kill it" .

talesin

Mother-in-law in trunk.

66

THE LINGERING SHADOW OF '75

by Terry in

none of you are old enough to have been there, i suspect.

i had been in prison two years as a jw conscientious objector when the exciting news about 1975 spread like wildfire.i was paroled from prison in 1969 and immediately began pioneering.

the pressures began mounting throughout the organization.

talesin

I was pioneering with a group of oh, about a dozen 17-21 YO kids. Some from there, and some of us, from away. It was crazy busy, working at a hardware store mixing paint, making up hours (I was SO TIRED), got sick a lot, and met some 'interesting people'. I didn't really think about Armageddon, didn't believe it. I just tried to win my parents' love and approval. The way things transpired, I'd say I was severely 'disillusioned', not with doctrine, but the characters of my friends and elders. This could NOT be the Truth with a capital "T".

25

The JW Spin - why governments and opposers should let jws handle abusers themselves

by Robo Bobo in

i came across this blog - it is one of the evilest things i've ever read.. http://dismythed.blogspot.com/2016/02/flip-side-news-opposers-want-ex.html.

you might not want to click on it because a) you'll give it more traffic and b) it will make you mad.

in summary it states that since only 11-17% of molesters are repeat offenders, witnesses guilty of abuse should be dealt with inside the congregation as long as they confess.

talesin

He is wack-a-doo.

I have a cousin who will write newspapers, or perhaps bloggers. Lester is not a very common name.

Ooooo! bad bad APOSTATE!

66

THE LINGERING SHADOW OF '75

by Terry in

none of you are old enough to have been there, i suspect.

i had been in prison two years as a jw conscientious objector when the exciting news about 1975 spread like wildfire.i was paroled from prison in 1969 and immediately began pioneering.

the pressures began mounting throughout the organization.

talesin

My pioneer buddy suicided in 1976 spring. He was 17. I never went back to the kH,

A couple of years later, was DF for, I guess, apostasy. I told them I did not believe it. Their reply? "You're fired!" j/k They considered that I would be DF if I refused to return to the collective. No, thanks. Age 20, I was DF and alone.

So yeah, i was baptized at 14, and not 3 years later (after a month spent in Quebec, SP recruitment, uhh, no thanks) 'serving where the need is greater', and Staying Alive till '75! I hated every second of pioneering, and was learning a lot about the true nature of my 'brothers & sisters'. Shocking.. Hey, i was 17! And a very good girl. ; )

25

The JW Spin - why governments and opposers should let jws handle abusers themselves

by Robo Bobo in

i came across this blog - it is one of the evilest things i've ever read.. http://dismythed.blogspot.com/2016/02/flip-side-news-opposers-want-ex.html.

you might not want to click on it because a) you'll give it more traffic and b) it will make you mad.

in summary it states that since only 11-17% of molesters are repeat offenders, witnesses guilty of abuse should be dealt with inside the congregation as long as they confess.

talesin

jookbeard, I can only find his replies. and not the comments. I might know 'Lester', too. Did he delete your comment? I was looking forward to reading that.

43

Jehovah's Witnesses: A Clear Decline

by Hadriel in

it is rather clear that the internet is to put it mildly, wrecking the world of the watchtower bible & tract society.

if not for foreign language i doubt there would be much growth at all.. digital trends and analytics are very real.

i live this analytics world i assure you to some degree you can take it to the bank.

talesin

Yes, I was going to ask about the graph, too, but someone (Steve2) already had. Thank you both.