if you were to tell a witness that they were "brainwashed" or that they were "under mind control", they certainly would not rationally accept it.the reason is because witnesses cannot distinguish between mind control and "obeying the faithful and discreet slave".
it is only after a person stops exposing himself to the subtle mind controlling tactics of the watchtower that a person can see how thoroughly duped they are in their beliefs.
how might you be able to tell that you are no longer your own person, able to make your own decisions in your life?
I wouldn't have such great appreciation for dissent and sarcasm and honest communication were I not cut off from these things. I wouldn't so appreciate the fact that I don't have it all figured out. That I will never have it all figured out. That the mind can be dynamic, constantly changing it's ideas and beliefs. That I am not required by anyone to think a certain way. That I cannot be confined.
Wow Shawn, that's beautiful. Welcome to the board by the way.
Odrade
[now for the rest of the story ... it begans again below with ### in front of the continuation] .
well, well, well ... well, well ... well, uhmmmmm ... this ought to be good .
these two ladies were standing there ... one was obviously an elder's wife ... say late 40s ... likely aux.
Wow! amazing, Amazing.
It was just such a conversation that began my real push out of the borg. I can't thank the man who started me on the path to waking up and starting to think, so I will thank you instead.
Thank you. thank you for my freedom.
Odrade
as my name suggests, i'm from nyc.
i've lived in every borough of new york and spent time at most of the local congregations until i finally decided that it was all for nothing (my recent posts on this forum explain why).
during this time, i noticed an interesting pattern - the jws only preach in poor to middle class neighborhoods.
There are way more lower income and middle class neighborhoods than affluent ones. Stands to reason the jws spend more time in poor areas than rich ones. Straight percentages.
Also, I have seen street witnessing on a number of occasions in the financial districts in several cities, Manhattan, Seattle, San Francisco, etc. I don't think jws target poor neighborhoods. I do think the lack of opportunities/education in lower class areas may make those ones more susceptible to WTS indoctrination and misrepresentation. So return visit/bible study work in poor areas would likely be much higher and disproportionate.
Odrade
for some time now, my profile shows that my average posts per day are 6.66. now to some people this could be a bad omen.
do you find that you try to avoid certain things because of "superstition"?.
well, are you superstitious?.
I do believe to an extent in Karma--what goes around comes around, good or bad. I don't, however, think that makes me:
stupid and ignorant, I don't understand the world around me or the relation between cause and effect and I fear imaginary beings
I do tend to think that life and its energies are interrelated in ways we do not always understand, or are not easily explained. Black cats and umbrellas in the house? No. Cosmic good or bad days? Perhaps.
Odrade
.
i need a copy of the letter sent by the wts to all congregations in north america and read may 28, 2002. this letter is about the dateline show.
i need it for an upcoming trial.. lawrence hughes
and will not protect any perpetrator of such repugnant acts from the consequences of his gross sin.
But the committee alone gets to decide whether the accused is really a perpetrator. Otherwise, no one ever knows, and there are NO consequences. Sick.
the elders have received my da letter.
i was going to post it but they didnt have a mail box so i decided to hand it in personally.
i headed off to the kh after the meeting had started.
Ha! All our dial-lock combinations were 1914. Like no one ever thought of that one!
on a different thread, berylblue mentioned how, when comparing my 1st post to the present ones, there is an obvious change.
i do agree that we all can grow and learn as time goes on in our lives.
my question for today is,"have you changed in how you think or in your growth from a spiritual and /or emotional standpoint"?
YES! In just the short time I've been here, I've let go of tons of guilt for rejecting "THE TRUTH." I felt guilty that I would make my parents feel bad, and that's fading. Also, I had some little nagging doubts that maybe the unkindnesses and injustices to me at JW hands was "just me," but so many of you have come through so much worse to get where you are today. AND so many of you are HAPPY! That really makes my day!
So glad we have this place, it really helps.
Odrade
my mother had ovarian cancer, her mother died of breast cancer, one of my father's sisters had colon cancer.
i had bleeding every two weeks for about a year myself, and now i have abdominal swelling and kidney pain, difficulty urinating(been blaming the lupus--but none of the tests are showing anything wrong!
) i look like i am pregnant the swelling is so bad.. i am having this test done next thursday.
Jgnat, try talking to some Gyn Oncologists about that so-called "urban legend."
The CA125 is NOT 100% effective as a diagnostic tool, but it is an important marker that should be used in conjunction with other tests.
The PSA test is also FAR less than effective, but when it comes to penises, all tests are standard, "just in case."
my mother had ovarian cancer, her mother died of breast cancer, one of my father's sisters had colon cancer.
i had bleeding every two weeks for about a year myself, and now i have abdominal swelling and kidney pain, difficulty urinating(been blaming the lupus--but none of the tests are showing anything wrong!
) i look like i am pregnant the swelling is so bad.. i am having this test done next thursday.
What??? You've been having these troubles for over a year and nobody has ordered a CA125? That makes me so mad. This test should be standard procedure for all women over 40--just like mammograms, and especially used when someone young has abdominal issues. I hope they find out what is wrong quickly. A friend of mine is going through a similar thing. They never gave her this test either until last week.
ALL WOMEN: If you have persistent abdominal pain, swelling, recurrent pain mid-cycle or other weird stuff like that, INSIST to your doctor that they do this test. Please, don't skip reading Ravyn's attachment from Radner's book. Very important. This CA125 is NOT a standard test (though it should be), unlike the prostate screening PSA test, which is standard.
Thanks Ravyn, for putting this up here.
((((((ravyn))))))) I'll be thinking of you.
Odrade
well my jw grandmother died...am i sad ?
i do have to wonder if she is not facing jesu right now and being shamed for all the hate towards her grand children simply because they were not jw.
i only had a realtionship with her for about a year and it was only for short moments on the phone if i had happened to be over at my mothers when she called my mom.
I'm sorry that your grandma died, and I'm sorry especially that she was a mean person. Everyone deserves a nice grandma.
((((KGB))))))))
