Suggestion: Create an "Empowering JWs" Forum

Before everyone gets the wrong idea about creating an "Empowering JWs" Forum, this forum would be for serious campaigners to exchange ideas about helping JWs by either influencing the WTBTS to change or planting seeds of doubt in JWs, and would not be for promoting the WTBTS nor its policies.

Since JWN threads have gotten so numerous and effectively using JWN's search engine is a mystery to me, I believe that creating a forum for posting ideas to awaken JWs would benefit both JWs and exJWs, who want to do more than debate religion and relate how they were abused by the WTBTS/JWs, and who want to help awaken loved ones.  I feel that the forum should be named "Empowering JWs" to paraphrase Steven Hassan's book "Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves" and because I do not want to alienate JWs with doubts be calling it something derogatory that may raise a JW's persecution phobias.

Also, JWN might appear more welcoming to JWs, if there was a recommendation that posters refrain from labeling JWs jDubs, Borg, Witlesses, etc.  I know that many members of this forum were hurt by the policies of the WTBTS and that some JWs were jerks to them, but that does not mean that all JWs are jerks.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert 

But I like referring to the society as the bOrg.   It fits so well.

Well i was a witless in the past but this site empowered me. 

                                     I like the word..

                     "WatchTarded"

                         I invented it..It`s Mine!..

                                                                   .......................... ...OUTLAW

Also, JWN might appear more welcoming to JWs, if there was a recommendation that posters refrain from labeling JWs jDubs, Borg, Witlesses, etc.  I know that many members of this forum were hurt by the policies of the WTBTS and that some JWs were jerks to them, but that does not mean that all JWs are jerks.

Well, I am watching an old Rockford episode on TV.  Tom Sellick is playing the do-gooder, always perfect, Lance White.  He would say exactly the same thing.

This site is more like Jim Garner.

BTW - Tom Sellick was very good as Magnum, P.I.

I am sure some would be offended by Jerkyhoover!

I believe such a site would morph into this site. Members need to vent as much as anything else. When the WT watches its language and actions to act in a human manner, it deserves to be treated with respect. I imagine everyone here has the experience to use such names. The purpose of this site was not to get converts. I don't recall any disclaimers. It may be a good idea but enforcing it is going to be troublesome.

Hmmm.  After reading some members' posts, may be I need to clarify what I wrote.  My suggestion was to create a forum (sub-forum or folder) possibly beneath the Jehovah's Witnesses forum (sub-forum or folder).  It was not to create a different website.

As far as my suggestion for creating a recommendation, I was not suggesting to create a rule just raise members' awareness about being polite to JWs.  I do not believe that I suggested being nice to the Watchtower so Outlaw enjoy calling the WTBTS "Watchtarded".

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

I am not a Witness, never have been, never will be (unless I was single and she was hot enough). I am one of the few on this site that is lucky enough to say that honestly and with pride.

But in my experience on this site, most people tend to be nice to the Witnesses that talk directly to them. There is some bitterness but it's been earned, so it's hard to pitch an idea that involves looking past the treatment the Watchtower gave them. I truly learned that the hard way, but it's okay.

I watched a video on youtube that caught my interest because it was called "kneejerk reactions and no bjs for eternity." I totally misread it, but there is a line I found truly interesting. The video can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_GgFNshxH4&context=C37baa6aADOEgsToPDskJT7gRjDGK5aUId6iduMSqI

The line is "would you really want to live an eternity with other Jehovah's Witnesses?" Witnesses are the same mix of people, good and bad. But given the proper command by the Society, they will turn their backs on you in a heartbeat. They will slander and mudsling and harass without a second breath.

As long as the Society is involved, no matter how cool an active Witness is, or how nice they are to you, they are prepared to be remorselessly degrading to you at the drop of a hat. The nicknames may be a turnoff but I feel the JWN doesn't need advertisements when all it takes is for a Witness to ask a question of the Governing Body and not like the answer they give. Then the traffic to JWN picks up.

The wtbts is the land of the brain dead, where some become big fish in a little pond. Are there good, nice folks in the wt, of course, however they park their brain at the door, like I did for twenty-six years, and will follow the rules, no matter how screwy the ever changing rules become.

For every two lurkers that turn away due to the language used by some posters, three will take their place and become ex-jw's, given time. Simply because they get to bring their brain with them, not leave them at home.

Do you mean a forum where JWs can come and find out that they have wasted decades of their lives and trashed their relationships with their families and generally behaved like complete arses to the rest of mankind without     hurting them    ????

arko-  where in the world did you find that video.

Quentin- that really is the formula, you can sit in a KH for decades with little things popping up that don't jive and suddenly the collective hits something in the brain and you hit the EXIT sign for good.

Personally, I don't think it would work as a sub forum here.

We are who we are, for better or worse.  We represent a group of people that are freed mentally.

If there was a section of this forum that was restricted to how we speak for better reception to active witnesses, we might as well call it the "Study Edition" of the forum, because it would be pretending to be something we are not.

I think it was good for me to be shocked by the, as I saw it disrespectful expressions, used on this site, I immediately thought "What is it that makes these people so derisive ?" , it did not put me off, it surprised me, and intrigued me, so I read a lot of old threads, and pretty soon my eyes were opened.

It was interesting to see the evolution of the site, as questions were answered, ideas thrashed out, the whole place matured over the years. So I think ,as said above, even such a section as suggested for this site would evolve very quickly, (by "puntuated equilibrium" ?) into being indistinguishable from the rest of the site.

It is just a good thing when new posters are treated with kid gloves to a degree, there is no need to blast them in to wakefulness, a gentle "Hey smell the coffee" is good enough, unless they persist in silliness, or are trolls, then the gloves should rightfully come off.

"...that really is the formula, you can sit in a KH for decades with little things popping up that don't jive and suddenly the collective hits something in the brain and you hit the EXIT sign for good."....designs...yes, you get what's called a gestalt, suddenly the whole tapestry comes into focus. Not the tiny little speck you've starred at for years.

Felt good to think for yourself didn't it Phizzy.

"If there was a section of this forum that was restricted to how we speak for better reception to active witnesses, we might as well call it the "Study Edition" of the forum, because it would be pretending to be something we are not.".... Paralipomenon... good point

Do you mean a forum where JWs can come and find out that they have wasted decades of their lives and trashed their relationships with their families and generally behaved like complete arses to the rest of mankind without     hurting them    ????...Black Sheep... might as well go over to wt.org, stick with that. Save yourself from being shocked, eh..." don't talk back, ya-kitty-yak"

youtube is full of videos from ex witnesses and  antiwts. 

i am subscribed to a channel called lightrevealed and there was a recommended video from exjws1 with the channel owner talking about his awakening while standing next to the russell pyramid marker.

@ Black Sheep (and others).  I mean a forum (or sub-forum or folder beneath the Jehovah's Witnesses forum of JWN - not a seperate website) where JWN members can exchange ideas about empowering JWs to think for themselves by either planting seeds of doubts in JWs, writing to news organizations to expose the dangers of cults like the Watchtower, writing to politicians to revise laws that unintentionaly support dangerous cults, or suggesting to JWs with doubts not to donate to the Watchtower or any building projects, etc.  Naming the forum "Empowering JWs" is to help get around JWs cult indoctrinated defenses not to read apostate material.

If JWs with doubts helped plant seeds of doubts in other JWs, maybe the Watchtower leadership would make changes which would help JWs to think for themselves.  Even if the Watchtower leadership becomes even more critical of former JWs that may still help JWs to start thinking for themselves.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

Sounds like a good idea to me Robert.

Questions one might ask the next JW who knocks (or adapt to family/friends):

1. I hear you have a good article on "legalism". Please could you bring me a copy and explain it to me?
2. I hear you have a good article on "what truth will set people free". Please could you bring me a copy and explain it to me?

These articles gently expose gross falsehood in the belief system and practices of the average JW.

Of course as usual the person has to be at a point in their lives where they are ready to face the truth and deal with the enormous consequences.