OK so I sort of tie in and listen to the meetings. The elders blocked my number lasy fall but then they let me back in??? Not a clue what that was about.

So anywho these last two service parts have been on Social networks. Social networks are bad, bad, bad. I only half listened but this Tuesday I swear that the elder who had the part said "you could go out in service all day, get pioneer hours in maybe even sign up to pioneer, be appointed as a MS, etc and yet if when you came home you went to a social network it could all be wiped away. You could loose Jehovah spirit.

 Both of the elders who had these parts are in their mid 50's and very stick in the mud types. The first elder said "Did you know when you put (gasp) you name and address on Face Book any one in the world now knows where you live? OMG I wanted to scream did you know if you own a phone and your name is listed in the phone book any one in the world now knows where you live, maybe all JW's should get rid of their phones.

These people are crazy, nuts and insane. It is like they are still back in the 1950's and uneducated and very proud of it.

I truly think the GB is running scared of Face Book and the like, they are totally backed into a corner with modern technology and they just do not know what to do. 

LITS 

How the hell do you manage to listen at all? You are either brave or insane!!

Their literature and comments at meetings and assemblies have such a spirit of fear and desperation.

I truly think the GB is running scared of Face Book and the like, they are totally backed into a corner with modern technology and they just do not know what to do.

Further, many mainstream, diehard JDubs are in a quandary over the "overlapping generations" and other things they see taking place within the bOrg but they CANNOT speak of it to anyone within the Cong (or perhaps only a select few close friends).  Yet they can sign on the Internet and be "anonymous" and even find numerous ACTIVE JDubs on sites like this one who share their doubts and concerns. 

They not only learn that there are others "just like them" who have the same doubts and concerns, which adds legitimacy to it all first of all, but beyond that now they read of ALL THE OTHER issues that were never before issues to them.  Their own little Pandora's Box has been thrust open. 

Then of all things, a site like this become an important place for association to them.  At the KHall they must keep their mouth zipped.  THey cannot even express innocent doubts or questions without being "marked", ostracized, and perhaps hauled into the Back Room with risk of excommunication, but they can have open dialogue here with dozens or scores of others just like them.  They can openly express themselves.  They can read the comments and concerns of others openly.  Freedom is addictive.  Governments are overthrown for Freedom. And at the same moment, they are exposed to other quandries that would have never come up into their mind. 

The Society's attempt to suppress the Freedom of Expression backfired.  Had they allowed free discussion, it would likely have remained to the ONE issue.  By sending them out into the Darkness of the Internet, they opened a whole new can of worms.  But of course, they could not allow free discussion, lest everyone realize that the New Lite is pretty damn DIM. (Over lapping wha?)

DOC

I truly think the GB is running scared of Face Book and the like, they are totally backed into a corner with modern technology and they just do not know what to do.

And rightly so. A fair percentage of our visits to jwsurvey.org are coming from facebook. Hats off to cantleave and others who have very kindly publicized the survey on various groups. I've said it before - the Internet truly is the Watch Tower's nemesis.

Cedars

"Did you know when you put (gasp) you name and address on Face Book any one in the world now knows where you live?

OK my name is on FB. I have a Punk Ofnice account.

I have not been asked to put my address anywhere. What a dolt this geezer is! I'm mid 50's but jinkies!! These blokes are thickies!

So tell brother bum-face: 'NO. I did not know when I put my name and address on Face Book any one in the world now knows where you live because they didn't bladdy ask me!!' 

..............and I can give my name and address to whomsoever I chose without some poe faced sod at the kingdumb hell spouting out ill informed propaganda!

Ooooooooh, they make me maaaaaad!

They have to keep having these parts on the meeting because NO ONE is listening to them !   In my area lots of JW's have facebook accounts including several Elders .   People are getting stubborn I think ,and choosing to disobey 'Mother' when they see nothing wrong wiith their actions .

More mixed messages from above! 

Apparently the guys giving these SM parts didn't read the latest Awake! on Social Networking: 

Which features this intriguing montage:

I'm not making this up! I couldn't if I tried!!!

There is an interesting review of this issue of the Awake on this blog:

5 Hilarious Images of Social Media From Free Jehovah's Witness Magazine

And for those that haven't seen it, there is a JWN discussion on this thread:

Awake openly mocked on website...

    As a Highly Qualified Janitor and JW Elder..

                    Let me tell you about..

        The Evils of the Internet..

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

You can bet this recent event underscoring the evils of Social Networks will be in an upcoming WT or Awake! near you: 

Facebook "defriending" led to double murder, police say

Being on Facebook has got to help pass the time during Assemblies.

                                            The Eskimo`s aren`t even safe from internet..

                    I saw a Picture in an Awake Magazine!..

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

Crazy MOFOs,,, let them die in their ignorance... bah, I just don't care anymore. 

Yes, I would feel differently if I was recently exiting and had children or a spouse in,, and I understand your agony for those who do,, but for me and MY household, it's a lot of batshit crazy cult propaganda!

The problem is, most of them KNOW it's all a bunch of lies (like my family), and still decide to stay with it.  Fine, stew in your own juices,,, be depressed,,, let the cult control your life,,, it's your choice!  You're mostly hypocrites, who secretly use social networks, and do many other things the "Society" condemns, and KNOW the truth about the Truth^TM.  Doncha know,,, if you left, you could have a REAL life?

arrggh

t

OUTLAW, did I agree with you in advance again? 

Scroll up to my Post 1539 of 1543!

00DAD

Wow talesin, tell us how you really feel! 

So was this a local needs part?  Or a corn-cobb-up-ass elder going off on a tangent based on a single line from a WT publication?  Or was it an entire WT sanctioned part on the evils of social networking?

I think the WTS is smart enough to not come right out and say, "Don't do Facebook".  They know what a phenomenom it is and that dubs use it.  So they have to 'counsel' on its use.  Who you link with, how much time, etc.  Kinda like the early days of the Internet.  They know they'll never be able to outlaw it but they can hope to limit its influence.

But anytime the WTS counsels on something, there is a segment of dumbasses who take it to extremes and will impose their personal viewpoints on others, especially if they have a position of authority in the congregation.  It usually backfires though.  The young, hip and connected snicker behind the dumbasses backs, put on a good show of obeying and then do what they want in private.

But OTOH, I have noticed the few JW 'friends' I have on FB are using it less and less.  Are they just bored with it? Or are they following heed to the counsel to avoid it?  I've even had a couple of dubs 'unfriend' me.  I don't push agendas and I'm not part of any aposta-groups or ex-JW groups.  I'm just an inactive person who was friended, then unfriended.  The only plausible reason is that they're weeding out the unfaithful from their friend lists.  And they're not doing it of their own accord.  Someone is pressuring them.

The GB would like to be like the Catholic Bishops but they need another 400 years of Tyranny to really get the hang of it.

OUTLAW, did I agree with you in advance again?.....00DaD

                                              Yes you did!..LOL!!..

                  Did you notice all the Science Equipment in your Photo?

                           All Igloo`s in Watchtower World..

       Have desks covered in science equipment ,internet service..And..

                     A hot tub and swimming pool with a diving board..

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

Not a local needs part. It was the regularly scheduled part on the SM that covered that Awake article mentioned and rightfully mocked above.

The guy that did ours (just a ms) tried to put a "reasonable" spin on it. It was still stupid and even my wife looked at me and rolled her eyes a few times at some of the more outrageous comments.