JW life: as long as you're doing what's expected of you, everyone is happy and smiling. Refuse to do what they want and all hell breaks loose in everyone's life.
Sourcedrop, YOU SAID IT!!!! They smile and "love" you as long as you're "in," but step out of the cult line, and they turn on you with their cold Watchtower noses in the air and SHUN you. 🤔
The witnesses even say, " You now belong or have chosen to unite with Satan, instead of Jehovah. " They say the most terrible things. Like for example, in their bible study book, Enjoy Life Forever book, about disfellowshiped:" We must not talk to them, not take notice of them, or even eat with them........Until they come to their senses. This made me very 😡 upset.
I remember being an attendant at 16, directing traffic at the end of each day of the first convention after 9/11 and making sure witnesses didn’t park in a specific area the university had reserved for visiting family members of students. It got me outside and kept me from being bored to death but the best part was every non-witness thought I was a government agent there to protect the university but none of them ever asked lol. So I took the attendant badge off and played that role the best I could, it was fun and awesome lol.
Oh yes I had a lot of fun helping out at Conventions and Assemblies. I was bored a lot of times. And my way of kinda protesting against sitting their forever was helping out and seeing "what the higher up brothers were doing". I ended up getting baptized much later, early 20's. Had a friend that was a brother that loved heavy metal music and Japanese anime. So that kept me around 🤓🤣. Cause by my late teens I definitely POMI. But, I promised my mother before she died later " I'd give Jehovah a chance". And a few years later after my mom died I tried to stay in but, ended up leaving due to financial struggles and needing work. While most Witnesses were kind to me especially; with my mother having been basically a witness legend. In the field ministry and at her job. Witnesses and non witnesses loved and respected her. Some however, were pretty gossipy over the fact I never had money to attend Assemblies and Conventions. Or that I'd have to hitch rides or crash with other witnesses because my Dad was an "unbeliever" Funny thing about it. He was very supportive of me being a witness and quite often defended me when some elders, didn't think I was "spiritual enough". I ended up leaving after seeing how hypocritical the elders were. I ended up seeing a lot good young witness couples burn out and divorce. Then later sacred asf started watching Apostate videos lol. That's another story. Plus my jobs were constantly screwing me over. So I joined the military. Fun fact a lot of Elders in those Congerations are Veterans. They reject military service but, have no problem relying on those benefits..In fact one of my favorite elders was a Army veteran Vietnam era. But, he never deployed or saw combat..Always said Brother Lacy I had quite a boring life lol. But, Jehovah still protected me 🤣🤣🤣.
I hated being dragged to conventions when I was younger. Spending 8 hrs listening to the same boring rhetoric was exhausting. All that time wasted those 3 days when I could of been doing something way more productive
How can anyone think that a child would appreciate this kind of event is beyond me. And they dress them up as if they are going to a funeral, for extra discomfort. The bulk of the material would go way over a child's head and if these talking heads bothered to pick up a pedagogy book they'd know that children learn better through shorter presentations. That is why school hours are being cut in several countries, teachers have realized that there is no point in pummeling information hour upon hour as after a while the child's mind wanders off and it all become white noise.
Amanda Huginkiss I think I remember we had council to stay in our assembly clothes and keep the badges on afterwards if we were say, going out for dinner afterwards.
I also noticed that the inactive woman seemed to be like a business woman so Watchtower in all their wisdom here is throwing hints that iff u pursue a career were it takes most of your time working it will make u inactive and unhappy, just something i picked up on.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME??" Yes, JWs, please keep depicting women as whiny, screechy, illogical, and "insubordinate" to their husbands while in conflict or turmoil. Are you kidding me, indeed.
I've been inactive for a year. The pressure I felt throughout my life cost me so many opportunities and happiness. I started waking up when I was a senior in high school after years of leading a double life, secretly planning my escape. I worked hard to get a scholarship, made money with a little job and when I was months from graduation I proposed to my girlfriend of 3 years. She died in a vehicle collision a month later and when I shared this information with my jw family they told the elders and instead of receiving support I was criticized and lost my "privileges". I struggled with depression and bailed on college and instead of a loving hand I was told I didn't have enough faith by not only elders but also my closest friends. I then found your videos and they resonated with my thinking, the blindfold fell and I know now I was robbed of my childhood. Boy how I wish I could go back in time and walk away sooner. If there is a God, he doesnt talk to these cultists and their manipulations nor the pedophiles praying on children.
I’m just hearing this video for the first time and reading your comment for the first time and it’s September 2021… So sorry for your loss when you were in high school with your girlfriend. That makes me so sad to hear that… I can relate to what you’re talking about losing your childhood… I missed out on so much in high school, and so much in my life afterwords… It’s so devastating… I hope that you’re doing better now!
So very sad that you completely missed the point ! People believe what they hear about Witnesses but never ask one if what they've heard is true. I came into the organization at 43 with my eyes wide open and believe it was the best thing that ever happened to me. And I still do. We are an organization made up of imperfect people. I've never heard one witness claim to be perfect. We want to serve God to the best of our ability and to help others find a better way of life too. We are never forced to do anything against our will. We live in a violent and wicked world and the brothers who are privileged to be attendants are there to protect and help us should the violence of the world threaten us. I for one am very grateful to those brothers who at times may have to risk there lives for us. And would do so willingly. I'm sorry that your experience was not a good one. Obviously you were not in the right heart condition at the time. Maybe you will ge one of the many who return to Jehovah.
I am rooting for all of the Todd's of the twisted jw world. Your manipulative mother is going to turn on the tears whenever you don't do what she wants. She puts up with worldly dad because he is probably her meal ticket and provides nicely for her. Go Todd and wake up your siblings too!!!
But, the tears will be fake. Because she will be glad to shun him when the time comes. His dad won't because he isn't indoctrinated,,,,,,,yet. Maybe his dad won't put up with mommy shunning him, and put his foot down. Then mommy will have to give in to dad's wishes. But, more often than not, the dad will have to join the cult or end up getting a divorce. Then Todd will live with his dad. Which would be the best scenario. Then mommy dearest will shun him for the rest of her life. Never know her grandchildren. Never see them on the holidays. She will grow old and die and not even know her grandchildren. Oh well. Her loss.
I always supposedly had a choice, but at the same time the guilt-tripping and passive aggressiveness was so strong if I said a word against it all that I eventually related my worth to my "attendance performance". I also received gifts based on attending meetings, which in retrospect seems pretty f'd up lol.
At a convention I attended, a brother got disfellowshipped and was supposed to have given the talk and stormed the stage when his replacement was talking. He was pulled off by some brothers. It was exciting.
These videos are disturbing to me because of the acting. They seem to want to separate themselves from outsiders so much that they just abandon all normal human behavior. The forced calm, lowered voices with eerily measured inflection gives me the absolute creeps. I don't mean the people are creepy, it's just the behavior that seems so alien to me, so off the wall, so tightly controlled, polished, waxed, starched and ironed out until there is nothing left of their individuality...... /shiver Maybe I shouldn't watch these scary videos at night...hehe
You’ve put into words how I’ve felt. It’s like that movie The Truman Show. Everything is fake. Even though the acting is bad, it’s a spot on representation of how they act.
Amber Rose As you said yourself they're acting! It's exaggerated for communication purposes! It may even comes across as a tad phony. No one talks like that. I find watching these vids is almost like watching ad clip on TV. I always find it hysterical though that anyone would believe they really talks or behave like that! It's done in a very american way!
Yes! And did you notice how he reacted to seeing a wheelchair?! It was like he was seeing a terminal cancer diagnosis. There is no genuine empathy there, just acting as holier-than-thou with fake pity that is the absolute last thing this girl needs or wants.
@Joshua Folly Yeah u said it Jesus, the man without err...Are we Jesus, nooo...So it's ok for Yeshua, not we because we are so full of error and malice...
oh shut up what do you want him to call her idiot! jw see everyone as brothers and sisters as we are because we all came from adam n eve! Think before you talk!
I was to Todd too I remember at times having to fake that I was unwell to try and avoid goin or sayin I had a migraine because of the lights so I could walk around outside. When I turned 16 into 17 I moved away and stopped goin
This video is particularly strange to me since it was filmed near me, and I've been to conventions through those doors for years. Only once did I see any sign waving bible thumping people trying to spread any message. They were very polite waved and said to hello to everyone that passed by and never tried to enter the building. This persecution complex they have is getting out of control.
I was really rooting for Todd, he had the right mindset. But once he let himself get talked into getting out of the van and reunited with his mother to set himself up for further brainwashing, my reaction was "Goddammit Todd!!.....Why??"
mike spilligan - And Sci-fi movies thought they were being original- the trance started with JW’s. Also the boy who gets lost? I remember waking around the convention all the time without parents- But of course with all the pedophiles she should be scared!!!!!
Joy to you and me, I was thinking pretty much the same thing. When my twenty-four-month old was lost for over an hour at the Summer Convention at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, I didn't panic, I just looked for him. Lots of little kids got separated from their parents back then and no one panicked...but back then, we didn't know about all the JW pedophiles among us, either. I guess JWs nowadays DO panic, and for very good reason. They may deny there is a pedophile problem in the Watchtower Organization, but they sure will panic when their little ones get lost; and no wonder the Watchtower includes the urgency of finding lost children in their training videos!! (Oh, and guess where I finally found my twenty-four-month old!! I found him in the trucking department, sitting in the driver's seat of a huge fork lift, trying to reach the gear shift with one hand, his other on the steering wheel...and all he was wearing was his shirt, underwear, socks and shoes. He had gotten away from his brother who had taken him to the bathroom.) 😅😅😅
I had a similar thought too- that this is what the paradise was going to be like and started to ask myself, did I really want to be there, for all eternity? Lol!
Yes! Something about that soft manner of speaking bothers the crap out of me! Perhaps it's because it does sound so fake, and there's very little variation from one member to the other. Sometimes I find it refreshing to meet, and speak with, someone who had a sharp tongue on them. I find, most often, they are more honest than those who speak softly.
After being disfellowshipped for a couple years I went to a convention with husband and little kids. Our son who was 4 got lost. I was panicked! I ran up to some elders from our hall and told them he was missing and people that knew us and they just walked away and were like "We can't talk to you." I went to the attendant station screaming and ranting that they better help me or I was calling the police. What assholes!
- That ladies cat looks thrilled to not to have to attend, as it should be. - That cult argument was laughable. But so spot on. - Creepy molester moustache baptizer man is super creepy. Ew. - I have NEVER heard a radio station announce a JW gathering. lol Wat. - I've never identified so strongly with a character in these videos until that teenage boy being dragged to the convention. I've seen two of my aunts being in the same anguish at a convention because their two daughters weren't there. (One disfellowshipped and one disassociated) It's nonsensical and so harmful. I kept telling them they need to just call their children and stop letting strangers dictate their lives. It was heart-wrenching to watch them be in such pain. And everyone was treating them like martyrs. - That poor non JW. They are displaying their love-bombing on max level in this. Yikes. - Those attendants surrounding that guy with their creepy cult smiles makes my skin crawl.
Apparently that depends on the location. This is the US and I can only speak for how it was in Denmark when I was a witness. On each convention we had a huge press dept. that send articles about the convention to all Newspapers in the country. All articles printed were put on a huge billboard in one of the halls and they measured the column millimeters written each day and marked each 5000 mm written with red tape, and they had a huge wooden thermometer where you could move the red color upwards and that showed how many mm was written throughout the 5 days of convention. There was also plenty of TV-crews that interviewed witnesses and officials at the venue and they got plenty of talking time in the news on national TV. Local TV stations also announced the convention (assembly) when it was held here in my town when I was a child on the local sports stadium (that was before JW bought and built their own convention arena in another town. The news stations and newspapers were totally uncritical with the exception of one or two articles in a couple of the more provocative tabloid papers that dared mention some of the huge problems within the organisation, or who - instead of just holding the microphone for the Watchtower to advertise the convention for free or to simply print the articles that were sent to the papers verbatim - actually had an interview with a couple of disfellowshipped persons to let them have a say as a counterweight that could bring a little balance to all the glorifying articles in the rest of the printed press. Needles to say, these critical articles were never put up on the billboard for the rest of the "brothers" and "sisters" to see - but strangely enough though, they still counted the millimeters from the negative articles and added the number to the total amount of column-millimeters written, because it was a goal in itself to beat last years column-millimeter count (which was also shown on the billboard). I know this because my father was the head of the press dept. at all the large district conventions in the summer, and I always sat with him in the huge office in one of the stadium office buildings. It was much more fun to sit up there during the convention, because everybody just chatted with each other instead of listening, and we constantly had food brought up from the kitchen along with cold beer and coca-colas and cake, or otherwise I was sent to the kitchen constantly to get us new deliveries of all sorts of danish pastries, coffee, hot chocolate, beer and coca-cola and ice-cream. (This was when they still served food at conventions/assemblies, as well as refreshments, homemade burgers and hotdogs, ice cream, soft drinks, beer, candy, pastries, hot chocolate, and two hot meals a day in the cafeteria. All of those sitting inside in one of the indoor arenas and watched the program on one of the many TV sets, sat there getting more and more hungry during the last half hour before lunch break, because you could smell it all over the indoor arenas when they started the huge frying pans that were located in the center of the indoor basket and handball arenas where people were sitting on the bleachers on both sides, and you could hear the butter sizzle under the beef burgers and the hotdogs). They were smart enough to invite the press to the venue during the break and offered them all sorts of refreshments and they simply just saw a nice gathering of thousands of friends. Clever, huh?
Todd’s mother strikes me as the type who will end up pushing Todd away from “the truth” through emotional overreaction and manipulation. People like her exist and their extreme mood swings often manifest in so many other areas of life, making them difficult to be around. When every little event is that emotionally charged for someone, and you have a cult feeding the flames, the people around them are going to be more and more likely to feel they need to escape.
Yup. My mother. I was coerced to get Baptized at 19 out of the world with my single mother. Stayed 16 years and split in my 30's. Now....I want NOTHING to do with WTBS or religion PERIOD ! You are absolutely right.
I’m surprised pillow awareness was not mentioned 🤔 We use to take pillows to make the seats more comfy, maybe some naughty bros take their pillows for other comforts ... just saying!!!
Todd's brother: Isn't this AWESOME!!!!?! Todd: screams internally. Seriously though what JW child ever said that about convention days? We said it about eating lunch and the end of the day. No wonder I eat too much and can't wait till I can crash every day ha ha its convetion trauma
oh and at the time where the dramatization was a life play and on sundays :D Kids just trying to be as near as possible to the spots of the actors :D When I was a kid I literally waited for only that through friday and saturday. Then on sunda after Lunch I was like : Drama, Drama, Drama Then I stand up and ran to a spot where I could watch it perfectly
@@KaliqueClawthorne try 4 and a half days of this shit at the District Ass-emblies. Back in the 70s it was a marathon with each day starting at 7:30am lasting until 5:30 pm! I dont know how the poor women with kids did it.
@@KaliqueClawthorne oh yeah I liked the drama forgot about that! I wanted to be in it forever. when I was 13 the congregation I was in was assigned the drama - only the elders never told the congregation, they got their friends from other halls to be in it with them. An elder's son told me about it and I asked to be in it, but was told no bc I was 'too ethnic looking' (Im white and chinese mixed and they were all white English people)
I laughed with the whole apostate situation. They made it seem like he had a gun to assassinate the brother. Great video Lloyd. Hopefully you get more leaked videos because they are very fascinating and very funny as well! Thank you!
My biggest regret for being a JW is the crap my kids had to put up with. Like dragging them to these god-awful conventions. My oldest put up with this from age 2-13. She was probably 10 when for the last convention I went to. Always so well behaved for that three day torture fest. She only now admits how much she HATED it.
At least she has a chance of getting a creer she wants and living her life now :) I left aged 30 and not able to afford to go to uni ever or start over now I’m 39 and still no career
@@siennacrafty7878 Try the Open University. I got the degree after 6 years, sometimes they can help with fees, I then got a job un the hospital. I retired early on my NHS pension which is minimal but I manage. All is not lost.
The last convention I attended,my daughter went to park the car, they made her park on the top level of the roof parking, walk by herself to the convention area. They weren't letting anyone use the elevators so the elderly had to walk or be wheeled for long distances. There was shooting going on outside because there had been protests in the area. A policeman who had directed us to the parking was shot and killed that day. We were told no to tell anyone. We were not safe. They were incompetent to handle the situation.
Meryl Barnes wow! Sick! Keep calm & ignore the dead policeman!? Oh my.... don't tell anyone, they may leave before getting shot up or leaving their donations!
Scariest convention I've ever been to. My non witness kids were so afraid for us. My youngest was visiting the convention after years away. I had my elderly mother with me and my husband was an attendant. He told me what was going on outside.
Meryl Barnes, oh, my God...how horrible!!! Thank you for illuminating the way things REALLY are in the Watchtower Organization!!! They are always trying to portray themselves as being so "good" and so wonderful. Not saying most JWS are not kind or sincere, but overall, I know that if you are not one of the "Beautiful People," (good looking, married, money, etc.), you are going to find that you are pretty much on your own; you are ignored...unless you need to be "counseled" about something, that is.
Oh what memories! I remember absolutely fighting to stay awake at the conventions. I'm mean a complete struggle. So I would have to fake a necessary trip to the restroom, just to get the blood pumping and muster up the will to live and go sit back down. Awe, memories.
And side note, the only reason why any uf us "young" ones were even remotely excited for the conventions we're to possibly meet a husband/wife. Being from a small town, there were absolutely no options. I used to bring binoculars and scope out the brothers. Lol. Just rediculous!
Lmao that is so true. Too funny but sad now that I think about it was seeing peoples new dresses and also looking forward to their plays and just acting busy taking notes and not falling asleep.
I'm disabled and I found the attendant's reaction to the wheelchair offensive and condescending, though not surprising, considering the theology. But even if you pity me like that attendant, I would kindly ask that you keep that opinion to yourself, especially when the disabled person is a child as those looks of pity can cause a lot of pain. I became disabled as a child and thinking about those reactions of pity still makes me cringe. Just because I'm physically disabled doesn't mean my life is less happy or enjoyable or fulfilling than yours.
I don't often comment on RUclips, but I just wanted to say a very big thank you Lloyd, as your channel has been largely the reason for my waking up to the Watchtower cult and it's indoctrination practices. My parents were sucked into this cult when I was only a young girl (around the time of the time of the 1975 Armageddon prediction - I remember it well!) I was very heavily indoctrinated and struggled with trying to break free several times as an adult, leaving home at 16 because I couldn't stand the hypocrisy of a certain family member, but always went back believing it to be 'The Truth' and feeling that I was 'unworthy' and needed to try harder. I have always been an analytical thinker and several things bothered me over the years that didn't make sense to me at all and even though I tried to bury those thoughts they kept coming back. To cut a long story short, I gave myself permission to look behind the curtain-and the first 'apostate' material I allowed myself to watch was your 'What if Jehovah's Witnesses are Right?' video and I have been working my way through your playlists ever since, It's been an interesting journey, and I still have the odd trigger but on the whole I am a lot more content and happy and I don't miss the fear, obligation and guilt at all. Thank you for giving me back my freedom of thought and peace of mind. Please carry on what you're doing, it's helping so many people and you're providing a valuable resource for those waking up. Btw I bought your Reluctant Apostate book, i'm about half way through it. Once again, a huge thank you and much love to you and your family xx ps I would love to see you release an album of songs - you could call it 'The Singing Apostate'! - I'd buy it, lol!
It really has; more than you will ever know. I appreciate the effort that has gone into all your hard work exposing Watchtower; please keep it up, it's helping many to free their minds from this mental prison :)
Jennie Scales, I loved and really appreciated your comment!! Thank you for taking the time to thank Lloyd for his hard work. Your comment is so very important for all of us ex members who are trying so hard to shout out the truth about the Watchtower Organization... Your great comment helps us to know that we ARE making a difference; that we ARE helping our dear lost brothers and sisters to wake up!!! God bless you!!!!
Excellent commentary, Lloyd. This was almost totally filmed in my corner of the world, north Georgia in the US. I enjoyed seeing several people in the video that we haven't seen in quite a few years. We first met "Todd's mother" when she was a young, skinny teen, and she was a dramatic type that we thought might want to be in theater. In our little town she worked for awhile at McDonald's. One night we went in when it was crowded and she didn't see us. She was talking to customers with an affected French accent as if she was newly arrived from France. It was hilarious! When she saw us she got all embarrassed and ran into the back. The other thing I remember about her was that the older she got, the less she was at her home congregation - she was actively searching the country for a suitable mate - by that I mean from a monied family and good looking. We knew the couple at the subway station who were standing beside the literature cart. He was an elder, probably still is, and his wife a pioneer all the time we knew them. They were quite affluent, worked hard with their rental properties. His talks were never boring and it was a relief when he was seen walking to the platform. I wonder what it's like now that the meetings are mostly made up of videos dispensed from WT-ville. There were other folks in the background that looked vaguely familiar but I didn't know them immediately. I can tell you that no convention I attended ever had helpful brothers like this video. The last convention I ever went to was at the venue shown in the video. I had fallen a few months previous and my knees were injured. I was recovering but it was difficult getting up stairs. I asked an attendant to help find a seat inside the auditorium; he said he would but never returned. ----The outdoor attendants directed auto traffic, or stood next to the entry doors. They were never scattered so plentifully in the parking/sidewalk areas, walking to parked cars offering to assist with items in the trunk! That scene made me laugh. ---I finally decided to go back home, and as I walked towards my car, a couple I knew walked towards me. The husband an elder, the wife a pioneer I think. They acted pleased to see me, then asked where I was going. I said, "Home. I can't find a seat and my knees are bothering me." They said, "Okay then, see you later!" And that's all, folks!
The clip of the son being dragged to the convention by his mother reminds me of a Sunday afternoon when I was headed to the beach to enjoy the rest of the day after the 9:30 meeting. I saw an Elder, his wife and son in field service on a very hot day, going door to door while I was on my way to the beach. I felt sorry for him because he didn't have a chance to enjoy his youth. His didn't have any choice. He had to do what his parents wanted him to do.
Wow Orange lanyards must be so sexist that orange can only be worn by men since jehovah said so. I think the direct people is because when I give people directions to how to get to places I'm like go left on a black pole sticking out and then turn right on the dead tree facing the white building then their are doors and that's the place you need to be. Lol a guy probably is like follow this road and go left then right and there you are. Plus we might distract men on their purpose for being at the convention since we will stand out more than men with orange lanyards.
Then the witness will say, " You have chosen to be with Satan, you will not inherit eternal life, etc etc." It's as if God has only chosen them, and for the rest of us, it's eternal death. It is an evil bad thing to say. I presume some witnesses who are baptised in reality belong to the devil already? Only God knows what " is really going on. Not jws, not the elders, not the governing body etc.
Even though I’m a Christian I’m against child indoctrination. Yes it’s great to raise them with good morals and lessons. Yes I understand parents want to bring them up in what they’ve come to know as true, but don’t force it. At the very least, bring them to the conventions until they say no (just like the teen didn’t want to go. He should have had a choice). Personally I’d open the door, and show them the religion, but don’t push them through. Let them choose. If they say yes than by all means teach them but not in a cult like scare tactic way.
Actually I was raised by religious parents, and yes I got all those options. While I went to hebrew school to learn about God and the torah and that jazz, while we had kept the Shabbat, while we did have study sessions together, my parents where very open to my questioning everything. Given that both my parents where into the sciences I learned critical thinking, which meant that my questions where somewhat uncomfortable, and they often said they did not know the answer to some of my questions. I learned morality for moralities sake since there is no afterlife in Judaism. So it is possible. Bythe way, I know I can not believe because I have told my mom (my dad is dead) that I am a non-believer.
Oh I was very lucky when it came to my parents. For me though it was just normal. It took going out into the world and learning about the various other religions (since the one religion I really learned anything about was Judaism) and how other parents treat their children within those religions to learn this wasn't the case. I must say I was really naive, it came as a shock to me that parents would treat kids this way. While I am not religious though to keep my mom happy when I am home I celebrate the holidays with her, and other similar things and I do it with respect. To me it isn't about the religion, it is about staying connected to my family. Since she knows I don't believe she isn't pushy or anything, she just likes me being there.
I’ve read and studied and attended the cult to know what they teach. And I try to present them with other views. Even if it goes against my own believes. As an exemple: the other day my son was watching The prince of Egypt, saying it was about the prophet Moses which they had talked about in church the day before (the cult church). We talk a little about what he did. And I also say that I find it weird how God was “playing favorite” with the Jews. I have to thread lithely but I hope that he will not join the cult when he is older. If he decides not to believe in God, that’s his choice. But I’m also trying to present him with my believes and how it’s different from his father’s.
Shae Reub Im an 3rd generation atheist raising 4 freethinking children (I don't refer to them as atheists as I believe they must come to this conclusion on their own. My job is to raise them with critical thinking skills, embrace knowledge and show kindness to their fellow human beings). As humans we have inate sense of empathy. As social animals we need empathy to thrive in society. From this it is easy to nurture this intuitive sense and incorperate morals in our young without religious dogma.
As Derek the apostate says, "How did we not see through this?" The mind manipulation by associations is horrendous! The witness worker inviting the young man to the convention was pristine to the point of sterile, his spotless shirt, his perfect tie, his immaculate trousers, all testimony to his flawless character, his high moral standards, his honesty, his thorough decency and goodness, he is a perfectly formed avatar of a witness. The lovely young man he seeks to subsume is not yet a witness, but, his shirt, trousers and smart appearance denote a sincere truth seeking soul on his way to Jehovah, however he's not quite the ticket yet so; no tie! The wicked, worldly opposer? Well, obviously, he's positively unkempt! He's wears a somewhat disheveled T-shirt, and worse still...JEANS... to work!The surest sign, if one there need be, that he is without respect, conscience, morals, honesty or intelligence! Todd's tie is undone and hanging from and open collar, an obvious sign of rebellion , worldliness and possibly even wickedness. Only when he comes to his senses, returns to Jehovah and the convention is his metamorphosis from senseless lout to archetypal witness accomplished by his properly knotted tie being pushed up two inches to a now fully buttoned shirt. And of course, the born again intruder was clearly a wicked charlatan, trying to fool the brothers by attempting to be as smartly dressed as them, what a fool, how could he hope to get away with it? Jehovah would never reveal to a false prophet the secret identifying mark of the true, fully absorbed witness..... the tie you fool... the tie!! (On all the video footage I've seen of preachers outside conventions, its always been them being kind and talkative and the witnesses surrounding them in a threatening circle and never saying a word no " Hi there, welcome, we're glad you're here, can we be of assistance". Utter nonsense! And finally Lloyd, here here to your sentiments about Kingdom Hall and Convention Hall storming, I too believe it plays straight into the hands of those who would have the hapless witnesses believe we're ill motivated, full of hate and vitriol and used by Satan.
Jane Bennett all about outward appearances. Funnily enough Jesus condemned the pharasees for their trying to appear righteous though outward appearances.
Jane Bennett well Said, I refused to wear a stupid tie for years when I first started to study with JW's, it's ludicrous in wearing this silly attire...dictating org
Our congregation shared a hall with another one. In one congregation men were allowed beards and in the other they weren't allowed them 😂 So if you wanted a beard you had to move congs.
Honest Conscience Dave Exactly. They just need a little quiz at the end like my job and most places of employment to make sure they understand lol. This is so ridiculous, my dad is usually an attendant every assembly & convention, so i know he will have to sit down and watch this rubbish if he hasn’t already. 🤦🏽♀️ goodness.
TTAT Facts Yup. Watchtower's making a portrayal for us "brothers" to feel like we're Bodyguards for Beyonce, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or maybe "The Bodyguard II" sequel as I'll play Kevin Costner's role and you play Whitney Houston's role! 😇🤣😂
ExJW Critical Thinker Glad to create reverberating laughs from Wisconsin. Thank God I don't and won't be doing THIS exact work any longer JT & Lady Cee. But it sure brings back memories and looks like this will be shown at either the next "Kingdom Ministry School" or "Elders/Servants" meeting with the Circuit Overseer at the Two Screens of the Watchtower they now have at all USA Kingdom Halls! Love, Dave
"I'm glad you decided to come." "Did I have a choice?" "Someday you will" That means, no he didn't have a choice. The teenager is already wiser than his parents.
another thing that strucks me is that these characters have very expensive looking nice homes. yet god forbid you have a good job or career that will interfere with meetings.
Yeah I thought that was a bit odd as well. The single sister with the disabled child had a small home but was still really nice. Her car appeared to be a new Honda to me. She is one hell of a bread winner, unless she is divorced or some such and her hubby is sending nice alimony checks.
again blasphemy God does not forbid you to have nice things and a career! It says in the bible keep living life and working hard just as long as it doesn't keep you from your family or god! Stop twisting their words!
@@user-om5qf5jw8s It's not that it's forbidden to have a nice car, it's that a single mother likely wouldn't have the resources to both attend meetings, conventions and other duties for the congregation while also having a job well paying enough to afford all of that, atop of having a disabled daughter and being alone.
These videos are from last year and they will be used this year Lloyd. I will have to sit through this again 😑. Being an attendant is a perfect excuse for not paying attention during a assembly or convention!
It says a lot about the organization that there are so many like you who are fully awake but still forced to maintain a pretense of belief. How can the Governing Body take pride in a following that is partly only going through the motions because they are forced to? I really do sympathize with your situation. :/
John Cedars thank you Lloyd. Hopefully one day I will figure out the best solution for myself, whether it's fading away or disassociating from the organization. But until then I will continue daydreaming during the meetings lol. Thank you for the great content and keep up the great work!
Hi MrSlice--- I recognized some of the men in the film. It was filmed in Atlanta Georgia area... what a shock to see a few familiar faces... a few of them may actually be JUST LIKE YOU. This training video could of done without all the drama... I am glad people are trained on how to locate lost children and protect others by not allowing some nut job in the arena... OooOOoooo how I wish this wasn't a cult. erghhhh Wishing you the best of luck as a PIMO.
And Mr. Slicen... you are not the only one. So if u see a mother walking or wondering around with her children because "they are tired of being seated inside" please leave her alone and refrain from telling her to take a seat. You never know if that is a PIMO mother trying to get herself and children as far away as she can from the nauseating program going on inside. 😉😉😉😝😝😝🖒🖒🖒... You fellow awaken sister
Watching this was so painful, it is definitely one of the worst videos I’ve seen in a long time published by WT. The emotional manipulation, it’s just so evil. How did we watch stuff like this and not completely see through it? Thanks so much for the video, Lloyd.
What I noticed about the clip at around 14:00 is that the "opposer" was dressed somewhat untidy too. Witness wearing smart trousers and a tie, non Witness wearing shirt and trousers, opposer wearing jeans. Edit: Notice how also in the next clip with the faded woman, she drives a nice car, and has a nice house but is depressed. Another subconscious message that riches are no good, lead a simple life. Another edit: Todds been watching John Cedars. Lol Last edit: Todds not been watching enough John Cedars!
I'm at a loss for why folks would need training, wouldn't Jehovah's Hand™ or The Holy Spirit®, let every attendant know who needed what, when where and why? "Holy Spirit 1 to attendant Johnson, there's an infirm sister who has fallen and can't get up in section G!!" "Roger that Holy Spirit 1, I'm en route, out!"
That business lady looks so lonely and depressed because all her friends shunned her when she left JW org and she has spent the last 10 years trying to figure out how to live in reality. She probably doesn’t even know how to have an open hearted interaction with someone “in the world” without having feelings of internal guilt that was drummed into her when she was a baby.
Dustin, did you hear about the latest addition to this? They are taught to surround a person and overtalk them if they are shouting a message. You can see them do it at the Kingdom Hall too... interesting approach, huh? lol
The protestor was definitely painted with the Watchtower's own narrative of what a "disruptive individual" is. I'd dress fully as a JW if I were to decide to go inside doing a stand-up protest of some kind. The Watchtower's perspective here is sorely naive lacking reality and foresight.
Even fully indoctrinated - my only major interest in the District Conventions was to wander the common areas and try to say hi to people around my age. Forcing yourself to sit and take notes was an exercise in self-flagellation.
My only reason for going was to talk to sisters from different cities. My congregation did not have many young sisters, so my friends and I were either always looking for sister to talk to at the convention or we would go visit neighboring congregations.
Li Lu Yes. But there’s a darkness lurking in being forced to adopt unquestionable rules and a lifelong contract with your family used as a bargaining chip for your servitude. Virtually none of my friends from youth remained JWs. Some died of suicide (helped along by the narrative that there is no life outside the cult) Some were disfellowshipped and are denied access to their families. Others are inactive and face emotional blackmail to return. Most feel betrayed and robbed of years of life and wasted efforts. Most feel deceived. Most are happy to finally be out and free. I am free. I love my life and friends - my only sadness is for those still trapped in the ‘Tower.
pretty much. Even after leaving for 10 years, It was a blow when I finally woke up. I was inactive but still tried to not stray to far, because in my mind it was "the truth". Up that point I had left but never been disfellowshiped so I never lost my friends. They were told to be careful with me cause i was not spiritually strong, but that changed when I decided to say I no longer believed. I am down to a 2 friends I had as a JW,. They are PIMO but stay in to avoid being shunned.
Troy Barnes Glad you are totally mentally free. This cult makes a mockery of their stated values. With clear eyes - it is now so obvious they use words like ‘love’ & ‘faith’ but what they really mean is ‘fear’ and ‘unquestioned loyalty’. I hope you’re living your best life now. :)
Real life story as to how the attendants are taught to treat those that are physically challenged. Around 2008-09 the time for the drama had arrived. We were sitting on the upper level during the district convention near the stage. The venue had a specific area marked off in blue paint for those that were in wheelchairs etc. It was part due to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that made these areas available. A father had brought his approx 12 year old son who had some muscular disease such as cerebral palsy, not sure, but he was completely bedridden and was in a laying position and could not have seen the drama from the assigned area at the back of the main floor where he was usually located. So the father pushes his son over to this ADA allocated space so he could peer over the railing to see the drama. At this time an attendant approached the father and was telling him something and soon the father started to push his son away from the spot and out toward the elevator area. I went down and started talking to the father and the attendant to see what was going on and the attendant explained that they didn’t want anyone to be in those areas and that he had to go back down to the main floor. I was now becoming livid and started to explain to the attendant that the ADA was a law specifically written to make sure that people exactly like this young brother could benefit from this location. Told him it was a federal law that he was going against and that he should allow the child to be in this spot. Nope,.. can’t do it,.. following orders. The father stepped in and told me it was okay and continued to push his son back to the floor area. That was a small wake up moment for me as here was a young person who’s was physically unable to enjoy a great deal in life and had a short period of time that he could enjoy the drama and he was prevented from being able to view it properly. I was thinking “Where is the love here?” Needless to say I was fuming at that point for the child’s sake. Could not get that off my mind and even almost a decade later still get upset about it. It showed me that the individual does not have or is not allowed to have the freedom to think about things. It’s an assembly line of people that follow rules with zero ability to comprehend that “I could be wrong” and maybe I should do something about this mistake.
Horrifying. That shows they have absolutely no respect or love. Why did the young brother even have to attend if he wouldn't be allowed to even enjoy the experience properly? What kind of a message as they sending, 'come to our event but don't expect to actually see much because we won't let you sit in the place you're entitled to'?
Funnily enough I found the most frustrating part of this for me is the girl in the wheelchair who is probably not actually in a wheelchair in real life. Her wheelchair has no way for her to move herself, it relies on being pushed. That is usually found in hospital wheelchairs or those meant for short term transporting. My self propelled wheelchair (bigger back wheels so I can propel myself) does have handles for being pushed but I can move myself as well, because independence is a thing which I like. They're also not very comfortable, which is important when you're in one all day. Compare the elderly lady's wheelchair, which is far more appropriate for someone who's in one more regularly. That is not a safe method of getting someone into and out of a car. For either of them. In the long term that's going to screw up mom's back, and the girl is going to grow into an adult who doesn't want to be transferred like that. Also it is possible to drop someone, which is undignified and painful especially when you can't get up. The dude shaking his head at the wheelchair. It's a wheelchair, it's not a death sentence. There's a reason we don't like the phrase 'wheelchair bound'. I can do far more in my wheelchair than I could when I was trying to walk everywhere and in agonising pain after 20 minutes.
I see so much of my mother in Todd's mother. She used to say those exact words to me when I was forced to go as a child and that turned it what she does now "wish you had come" or her new favorite "you missed an awesome convention!" bleh
RaymondJ2195, you would think that the "dog" would get tired of "returning to his own vomit," but these loyal Watchtower Drones just keep on faithfully lapping it up, no matter how sick it makes them. 🤔
I get this same nonsense from my ex after he has spent a weekend fully immersed in the brainwashing. I hear the same rhetoric every time. It was so uplifting and upbuilding and so much spiritual food, etc... Makes me want to barf.
You missed an awesome convention! That so funny. My parents would say the very same thing! It was so very nice to miss that awesome convention though! I was so happy to "miss it". Funny, I didn't miss it one little bit!
My comments are directed more toward the end clips shown in this video: If anything these training clips show (to me) that aggressive activism continues to feed the persecution complex. I cannot fault the JW's for wanting to protect people while at the convention site. In fact, when I was once sitting in the seats as an attendee-- I would often worry about some mad person trying to hurt any one of us... the fear was real, and I would have felt even more justified in my position as a JDub if someone shouted out or jumped on stage or screamed at me going in. Its my personal opinion that this kind of activism may jar a very very few, but for the most part makes most Witnesses pull back into what is perceived as a world wide safety net. I usually remain neutral in my comments when it comes to different forms of activism, but this training video opens your eyes to how they really see it... I woke up from cool calm collected LOGICAL reasoning that had already started in my own head... Thanks Lloyd for this commentary--- EXCELLENT JOB.
You didn't happen to attend a Spanish Language Kingdom hall near Patterson New York almost twenty years ago did you? Just on the off chance you were the Charmaine I knew from there.
@Mymango bango Thats a good way to phrase it... as long as a person is not physically up in someones face acting like a loon (basically the way WT portrays "worldly people" or "apostates") then hopefully you can engage someone in meaningful conversation... even then, its hard to get through the cult trained public shield... what this may accomplish is a small kink in their armor to maybe go and dare research outside of the JWORG box. Again, a person has to already be in a receptive (mental awakening) type state to respond in the way you hope they would. And for this reason... its hard to critique any one form of activism since who knows what may work on any one person... I just cannot get behind the aggressive type since (to me) it does nothing but make them dig in deeper like a tick...
I couldn't agree more with you Lloyd @ 11.50 where you talk about the faithful old sister who has difficulty in getting around and is still going to the convention. When watching her it made me feel so sad that this dear lady has been lied to and how disappointed she would be if she knew really what a waste of life it is. As a PIMO I can totally relate to the scenario of the teenage boy being emotionally blackmailed into going to the convention. It is a situation where a person is 'inbetween a rock and a hard place'. If you go it pleases others - but then you feel so miserable because you have been coerced in attending.
Kendra Bond, yes, that older sister almost made me cry, as she looks so much like my eighty-seven year old JW mom. She got hooked into the Watchtower when she was a lonely, single mom at twenty-eight years old, and she is STILL faithfully believing... (sigh)
It did make me cry and I can't get that vision out of my head now. There are so many lovely people still 'asleep' in the organisation that don't deserve this treatment. :0(
Kendra Bond, yes, and because they believed the lie, and because they have invested their entire lives and hearts and minds in this cult, whether they still believe it all or not, it is now the only "life" they know; the only "life" they have...they have been trapped and imprisoned by the Watchtower Organization. .
I was an attendent at one convention, two assembly and of course at the KH. The last assembly I attended as a attendent my assignment was to watch the stage. I got very curious saying to myself im feeling like a body guard. So a elder mention that if someone attempts to come close to or attack the speaker try not to hit that individual. I didn't feel comfortable at all feeling like a body guard. This happened in 2017 in November.
That is a scary position to be in. If they genuinely feel that someone may attack then they must hire professional security personnel whose job is to do that kind of thing. Why should you be expected to handle that kind of situation? Suppose someone did attack (not at all likely but still) an you got injured in the process? Madness.
When your mother locks you in a hot car with the windows up on an incredibly hot summer day just cause you won't go to the convention. Talk about torture and imprisonment lol
I did Attendant duty plenty of times as a "rank & filer" and in two stints as a "Ministerial Servant" in Chicago. A lot of running up and down stairs at convention venues seating latecomers. Also aiding those with medical/health issues getting around or having potential emergencies like heatstroke at past outdoor conventions or ones that have slipped & fallen in high-heels or dress shoes walking in uncomfortably tighter staired facilities. I usually had to attend another convention if I could to concentrate on "getting the food absorbed" because so often as an attendant I could not concentrate on the program. Watchtower's making a huge, protracted, drawn out big deal about being an "attendant" and training for something that's common sense. I remember having to see individual protestors out in the back of the KHall after they said their piece inside. One of which I provided a listening ear to his grievances additionally just outside the Kingdom Hall front door as we chatted for 15 minutes. A lot of it was knowing how to deal with people at large. Now I realize a lot of it was about dealing with the ultimate goal of keeping up with the indoctrination and high-control. Sure, the well-mannered pleasantness and politeness and good behavior is beneficial but it's not like that isn't practiced at many charity events, social events, business functions or other groups religious services. In the old "Our Kingdom Ministry" articles we usually had a pre-convention subarticle that lambasted those that attended "worldly" concerts or "worldly" sporting events at these football, basketball and baseball stadiums regarding their conduct with foul language and drunkenness to spread apart Jehovah's Witness events from "worldly" events. Good video Lloyd and many thank yous to the Leakers and Insiders making this public as no doubt only the JW Males/Brothers would be observing this "training" video. Dave in Wisconsin via Chicago
That van door closing on the kid was the most depressing and sadistic image I can think of on this whole video. the mom is literally pushing the button and closing the door as the young man looks out longingly wanting to be with his friends but the door is closed on his face instead. That door closing on his face is the embodiment of his choices in life being taken away from him and blocked from him. That was absolutely disgusting.
Ex-Witness on the train remembering how her family used to love and support her but have abandoned her after she decided to not be a part of their religion anymore.
C T bingo I was thinking the same thing about the wt training vid This was not well thought out Bring a JW bible - briefcase . And just SMILE ALOT. And say Brother a lot and one gets in Who approved this wt video??
Why can't Todd stay home with his unbelieving father? Double standard, it's OK for dad, but Todd has to be a good little boy and go with mom. Dad can be destroyed, no problem? This was my situation excepts I was a girl. This makes me remember how angry I was as a teenager. However, I am an older woman now and very happy I no longer have to deal with this.
I'm sure the stewards at Premier League footie matches have a much more challenging task, but don't have to sit through a boring video about the backgrounds of all the fans who might be attending.
The portrayal of the "disruptive apostate" was a bit contrived promoting a stereotyped opinion of "apostates". If JWs were actually able to listen to ex JWs., they would actually come to an understanding of the issues that motivate them- it is completely different than the "mentally diseased".
Exactly! Mental illness doesn't come and go as it suits others' agenda. It just goes to show how uneducated the majority of the lot are, especially the GB. Such a waste of human souls. 8 million people that could be volunteering their time and energy to actually feed the poor, help the weak, and give shelter to the homeless. The Watchtower has stolen them all from the real world and true humanity.
It is slanderous- something JWs condemned. When GB make reference to these ones, it is with a sneer and disgust- undeserving and cold hearted. Mercy (ship) hospital goes to areas to help extremely poor people/children with medical problems. They take delight in helping with no expectations to become part of a religion- the giving is just a gift- a talent and skill they have to share ton alleviate suffering. I have not heard of any serious dysfunction about Mercy Hospital.
Can I just say as a user of a wheelchair who went as a visitor to 2 conventions and countless other public events that the “management” of the infirm was quite odd . You get dropped off in a designated spot so the surprise on the brothers face was odd. It’s a specific spot. The other thing I went to the convention with unrelated people who I was studying with. I have a disability but otherwise independent and capable adult. Yet the Jws NEVER ADDRESSED ME about if I was ready to be pushed or if I needed anything. They talked to people around me like I was mute burden to the people who had invited me. Also people who have disability don’t generally want to be just farmed together. It feels like segregation in plain sight. Tolerance of a burden not acceptance.
YES!! This! I was livid at the way the disabled are shown in this freak of a video. I am not even sure the brother was surprised at the wheelchair, I think he felt ever so sorry for the little girl. He reacted to it with shock, you'd think she had terminal cancer. That was pity, of the kind that makes the person displaying it feel 'virtuous' but has absolutely nothing to do with caring for the person. I also noticed how the disabled girl just chums up to the disabled old lady because hey, they are both on wheelchairs so I guess that means they're friends. Urgh, so not. They act as if being disabled means you're irrevocably damaged. It was so grossly offensive that I cringed.
By watching this video I need to be careful. The music feed your emotions. I left the organization by disassociation in January. Yes im being shunned so I need to be careful. I think this video was published in 2017.
I usually only listen to the audio and don't watch the actual video and the music soon becomes distracting and overbearing. If you ever feel overwhelmed, I suggest you try this yourself: when all you have the music, without the visual input, it goes from being emotional to so blatant that you'll probably soon grow tired of it.
You can also use close captioning (cc) and just read the dialogue to avoid the music. And you can use earplugs if you find yourself having to attend one of these indoctrination sessions, or even at the kingdom hall. Just say you have "sound sensitivity." That's a thing.
If they want to portray how it really is for elderly people to go to a convention... The truth is much worse. Where I live conventions are always at least an hour and a half away. The frail brothers and sisters have to pack up all their medications, walkers, canes, C PAP machines etc. Ask for rides to and from the convention to the hotel. Even with special seating there is lots of walking. Oh yea and pack their lunches. Only to sit on arthritic bones for hours in terrible pain to watch videos they could watch in comfort at their houses!!
I honestly don't even. That's vile even by this cult's standards. How dare they make the elderly, who slaved for them for decades on them, suffer through all that! They have to bring their own food?! No catering service? And then they have to sit there for hours on end...no, that is so wrong.
Wow great rebuttal Lloyd. I must admit a couple of times I was triggered and cried. But not for wanting to go back. Just the emotional feelings that go with the memories of the past. Thank you to those who are leaking these videos and thank you Lloyd for the work you do with presenting the rebuttals.
I noticed that during the clip of the apostate breaking into backstage and running up to the stage to disrupt the speaker, they show a security cam recording of the guy as he makes his way and it's marked 5/26/15. So this might be a couple years older than John assumes, unless they just chose an arbitrary date, or made it appear as if the dramatization was of a past event. Just a little detail I noticed. Fascinating video as always, great job!
The thing that gets me about the whole Todd situation is that you can't make a decision as a child to attend meetings/conventions/assemblies on your own, but if you want to get baptized and literally dedicate your entire life to the organization as a child that's not only fine but encouraged
Prior to finding You and Telltale I heard very little of JWs and just thought they were innocent weirdos just dotted around but they're very awful as I now know
Yeah it’s the JW org that’s awful as they are taking advantage of vulnerable people. Some are unfortunately born into it too and have no choice but be a part of it when growing. Often though, like myself, young ones wake up realising that their hearts are really not in it which often leads to the person dropping out.
Individuals are lovely it’s the organisation that’s terrible. They’re the ones making awful policies and teaching Bible lessons incorrectly eg shunning.
The one about Todd was the most disturbing for me too, because I (and most people I knew) WERE Todd. Honestly, one of the most ridiculous parts of that story was that his mother even let him stay in the car; my Mom never would have let me do that. The final convention I went to, I had diarrhea for the last two days. I don’t think my Mom even considered asking if I was too ill to go. You never have a choice in going. The other reason it’s so disturbing, is because the breakdown his mother has is the actual reaction a parent would have if their child even tried to say they weren’t going. It’s been 8 months since I told my Mom I don’t believe in the religion anymore, and she still starts crying everyone once in a while. The first few months are hell though. She would literally have a meltdown if I asked her to pick up a shake for me on her way home on the wrong night; there’s basically nothing that won’t lead to an emotional crisis.
Awesome video as always Lloyd! Really enjoyed it! When you going to do some of your Nicky taking music vids! They always crack me up! Love the head and hand actions! They are adorable! Xx
I went through this training. Some of this training video was recorded at a convention I worked near Atlanta. I know a lot of these guys by name. I thought the only way I could stomach another assembly is to work so that I wouldn’t have to sit through the boredom.
Is it just me or this training very...vague? I don't know, but it either covers very obvious topics ('help people on wheelchairs') or it doesn't offer an exact protocol on how to act. I'd expect something a bit more practical from a training video, like identifying the emergency exits, how to properly coordinate with other staff, deciding on rotating shifts, that kind of thing. Instead this is just, 'Jehovah this and that'.
If everything was so wonderful as a witness, why did that one woman leave in the first place? Perhaps because she wasn't allowed to wear an orange lariat, direct people around puddles and wave them into a parking place; Definitely jobs for men folk.
38:28 I know it's a serious topic, but I lost it at that high pitched violin 😂 Felt like the beginning of a horror film where poor Todd is continuously stalked by disturbingly happy religion drones... Wait
I usually do not really watch John Cedar's videos, but this one was very well presented!!! The comments on each clip were quite illuminating, and even visceral at times. Great job, John Cedars!! Also, I have to admit that I felt a strong emotional pull to go back to the Watchtower Organization when I saw all the "friends" and the assembly gathering of witnesses; yes, even though I know what I know about the Watchtower...and it's pretty bad...the EMOTIONAL PULL is still there, even after thirty-two years. The Watchtower Organization's indoctrination does indeed run deep. (sigh)
My pull is more toward my family remaining in the cult. But the pain of their shunning pushing even stronger against me is sometimes overbearing. I've tried reasoning with my mom on a few occasions and I'm terrified of her not even giving me the respect of saying hello if I call or text again. I'm doing my best to carefully work out a strategy that will grasp my mom's and the rest of my family's attention. I've been thinking I might have to go through a brother-in-law that is more loose on the Watchtower policies and is more likely to not be afraid to hear me out.
1955annemarie : When I realized that my friendships in the Organization were CONDITIONAL, it made it sad to know and accept the fact, but CONDITIONAL friends are really not friends at all.....
Aka Perez, oh, isn't that just about the hardest, most painful realization to have?? When you're in "good" with the friends, it's all "hearts & flowers," but then those same "friends" turn so cold and cruel. I think it will always hurt, especially when you see old friends or loved ones all cozy together while you're now "on the outside," but we are so much better off!!! I am hoping you are living YOUR life, now, FREE and without permission or direction!!!
1955annemarie : Yes annemarie, because of leaving the Organization over 25+ years ago, I'm happily married with 2 successful well adjusted and loving, college educated children. I hope you are also living a comfortable and happy life. Thank you for your kind words. 💖
I had a really bad experience with some really rude bastard attendants. Someday I'll start my own RUclips channel and tell the story but suffice to say they told me that if I didn't go back into the convention area they would revoke my invitation!!! Then they assigned two attendants to basically stalk me and follow me around. Two attendants are always assigned to watch (stalk) anyone who they perceive as 'not following the rules'.
Where did you get your shirt Lloyd? Do you have a link? I'd love to fill my closet with them! hahaha On a serious note, I owe you a huge thank you man. When i was leaving I had no one, as is the case for many, and as silly as it sounds you were the only friend I had. You're videos were a constant source of reassurance and validation, as well as companionship. 9 months later I've rebuilt my life and am part of a great community of exjws that you were also responsible for helping get out! You, sir, are a hero. To myself and many others!
Wow, that's incredibly generous praise, thank you! I'm so glad I could help you! And check the link in the video description for all your closet-filling needs! :)
Mason 840, YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION!!! Thank you for sharing that poignant testimony of what your first days after leaving the Watchtower cult were like for you...and I get what you said about Lloyd being your only friend!!! We ALL get it!! So happy to read your comment and to know you are not only FREE, but that you are living YOUR life without permission or direction. They didn't win!!! 😃😃😃
So the first thing to look for as a JW attendant is the "Jesus Saves" bumper stickers on 2003 model cars? 😇🤔. I was looking for Kim & Mikey to come out of that car!😂🤣
The Todd dramatization is such a joke!! Reminds me of how my mom acted when I didn’t want to be a jw anymore. Getting depressed and stressed out over nothing
I'm not a JW... or an "apostate", but I LOVE your merch!! I'd wear the 'Shunned' one lol. I grew up Catholic and one of the JWs who I've had in my home recently also grew up Catholic. I have questions for her about how she went from one cult to a far more severe one. Oy... I went from religion to Christ Jesus about ten years ago. Now I truly can rest in the hammock of God's grace!
Apparently, conventions are announced on the radio as a huge event in the city. Even U2 coming to town doesn't get that much coverage (That last part was sarcastic)
Always portrayed with heightened emotions and as we know with Armageddon around the corner, and the true knowing (belief) that those who reject Jehovah will surely die, it is heart-wrenching. The sad truth is that destruction has been eminently around the corner for 100 years and the organization is actually keeping their members in check with these highly emotional videos. And it's a disappointment yo that these stories do not go further and show what happens should one "choose" not to be a Jehovah's Witness, yet still love family and the brothers and sisters. How they will be shunned/abandoned and what that means. How families are torn apart and friends will turn their backs on those they use to proclaim as a friend. Jehovah's Witnesses are "without natural affection". Regarding "Crashing" I do know many believe "Crashing" is a good and effective way to wake JW's up, but I find it a turn off. I know myself, that whatever is being pushed upon me doesn't work, I'll tune you out. Whether it's selling me a phone, Disney Tickets or whatever, I'll tune you out. I did not like JW's pushy beliefs and requirements and I surely will not accept any other pushy attempts, no matter how good the intentions or how great the offer. I have a theory that the "Crashing" is not really in concern of others and JWs, to really help them wake up. I think it's the crashers' way to release the anger from the hurt of shunning. Jehovah's Witnesses have done a better job of persuasion without "Crashing". I am an ex-JW and am living under the shunning of my family and friends. I have lost all the love I knew, as I was born to this religion from embryo. So, understand I abhor this organization and consider it as a CULT. A DANGEROUS CULT! Much love to all my fellow ex-JW's, especially those in the pain of shunning.
Vanora Moon I just wanna say that it's similar to the most annoying stupid irritating commercials that leave you scratching your head and wondering what they are trying to do......you can't get them out of your head....and also these Disfellowshipped ones who were, say, raped and then taken into an elder meeting as a member and leave it unable to even reply to even family members, let alone friends, who NEVER get to voice another word....this is the revolt...this is the only way they ever get to speak up to their own "tribe" sometimes....like the woman who spoke up in her own hall with regards to the murder suicide of the family of four whom everyone there knew (& shunned)... in my personal experience I had a friend, 14, un baptised, who was raped by a boy in our hall & was disassociated for it. I personally know it was a rape because the very same individual tried to rape me. But HE never was disciplined, in fact, while he was raping& attempting to rape girls I'm the hall his family was actually preparing to move away & he went on to another hall unbeknownst to them, in good standing....but SHE WAS SILENCED! Shunned! Never got to speak a word in her defense. Btw it broke up the marriage the whole family divided. What would Jesus think of this? What would Jesus think of those who decided to walk into that hall and stand in a chair & SHOT IT OUT?, do ya think? Honestly.
Trying to tell people who have no knowledge of this cult about shunning is an uphill battle. I was never a JW and only recently became interested (and by that mean, 'horrified') in finding out about it; I was so distressed that I have told plenty of acquaintances about the shunning policy...and they don't seem to buy it. The usual reaction is, 'surely that can't be, no parent would cut off a child from their life'. If this practice were widely known, I guarantee this org's days would be numbered (they probably are already but still). If people knew, ahead of time, that this religion promotes, endorses, and carries out a brutal shunning policy, I bet they wouldn't so much as look at JWs.
Yes, I have had 30 years to come to terms with no family. A day does not go by that I hope the day will come that my parents would wake up. Please go to this link and see the pain first hand... ruclips.net/video/je8ntuN4NSQ/видео.html
Thank for sharing this video with me. I can't even imagine how it must be to be in your shoes, 30 years without your family. The WT tries to convince witnesses that 'the world' is a cold, cruel and horrible place but there are plenty of people outside the organization who seem to care for those inside than the GB does. I can understand why my friends and relatives find this notion of shunning so horrible that they can't quite bring themselves to believe it happens, it is the kind of thing that sounds so outrageous it does not even seem *real*. Except it is. Trying to understand how a cult does this to a person is painful, it takes time and going through heartbreaking experiences that one wouldn't otherwise even know about; it doesn't of course do much to alleviate the pain of those who went through these things but it might be that if they know that someone, out there, cares, it may be a comfort- no matter how small. Many times I'm asked why I bother, after all I was never a JW...true, but I did have some awful experiences under the tutelage of the Catholic church and no one was there for me, so I'd like to offer what little I can to those who are suffering.
One time my mom and I got lost on the way to the convention. We decided to just go to Ikea instead. It's one of my best memories.
the funny thing is - the center where our convention is is near Ikea - A good idea for next year :D when this is all over (i hope for it )
Perfect, good choice
Thank Jehovah for small things!😂
Then you got something true and tangible. Good for you.
@@b4ph0m3tdk9 And hopefully something easy to assemble. 😊
JW life: as long as you're doing what's expected of you, everyone is happy and smiling. Refuse to do what they want and all hell breaks loose in everyone's life.
Sourcedrop, YOU SAID IT!!!! They smile and "love" you as long as you're "in," but step out of the cult line, and they turn on you with their cold Watchtower noses in the air and SHUN you. 🤔
Ejay Brown, 😂😂😂😂
The witnesses even say, " You now belong or have chosen to unite with Satan, instead of Jehovah. "
They say the most terrible things.
Like for example, in their bible study book, Enjoy Life Forever book, about disfellowshiped:" We must not talk to them, not take notice of them, or even eat with them........Until they come to their senses.
This made me very 😡 upset.
I remember being an attendant at 16, directing traffic at the end of each day of the first convention after 9/11 and making sure witnesses didn’t park in a specific area the university had reserved for visiting family members of students. It got me outside and kept me from being bored to death but the best part was every non-witness thought I was a government agent there to protect the university but none of them ever asked lol. So I took the attendant badge off and played that role the best I could, it was fun and awesome lol.
Haha, that's so funny! Thanks for sharing!
Lmao if you were in my congregation we’d both be hanging out having fun instead of being bored as hell
LoL.
Haha 😂 this is ace and would have been so much fun as a JW teenager
Oh yes I had a lot of fun helping out at Conventions and Assemblies. I was bored a lot of times. And my way of kinda protesting against sitting their forever was helping out and seeing "what the higher up brothers were doing". I ended up getting baptized much later, early 20's. Had a friend that was a brother that loved heavy metal music and Japanese anime. So that kept me around 🤓🤣. Cause by my late teens I definitely POMI. But, I promised my mother before she died later " I'd give Jehovah a chance". And a few years later after my mom died I tried to stay in but, ended up leaving due to financial struggles and needing work. While most Witnesses were kind to me especially; with my mother having been basically a witness legend. In the field ministry and at her job. Witnesses and non witnesses loved and respected her. Some however, were pretty gossipy over the fact I never had money to attend Assemblies and Conventions. Or that I'd have to hitch rides or crash with other witnesses because my Dad was an "unbeliever" Funny thing about it. He was very supportive of me being a witness and quite often defended me when some elders, didn't think I was "spiritual enough". I ended up leaving after seeing how hypocritical the elders were. I ended up seeing a lot good young witness couples burn out and divorce. Then later sacred asf started watching Apostate videos lol. That's another story. Plus my jobs were constantly screwing me over. So I joined the military. Fun fact a lot of Elders in those Congerations are Veterans. They reject military service but, have no problem relying on those benefits..In fact one of my favorite elders was a Army veteran Vietnam era. But, he never deployed or saw combat..Always said Brother Lacy I had quite a boring life lol. But, Jehovah still protected me 🤣🤣🤣.
I hated being dragged to conventions when I was younger. Spending 8 hrs listening to the same boring rhetoric was exhausting. All that time wasted those 3 days when I could of been doing something way more productive
If I understand correctly, very young children attend this? For 8 hours?
Nocturnalux hell yeah lol. You didn't have a choice as a kid
How can anyone think that a child would appreciate this kind of event is beyond me. And they dress them up as if they are going to a funeral, for extra discomfort.
The bulk of the material would go way over a child's head and if these talking heads bothered to pick up a pedagogy book they'd know that children learn better through shorter presentations. That is why school hours are being cut in several countries, teachers have realized that there is no point in pummeling information hour upon hour as after a while the child's mind wanders off and it all become white noise.
Amanda Huginkiss I think I remember we had council to stay in our assembly clothes and keep the badges on afterwards if we were say, going out for dinner afterwards.
@@honeyholly001
Oh geeze! That's right! I remember that. It makes me laugh now.
I also noticed that the inactive woman seemed to be like a business woman so Watchtower in all their wisdom here is throwing hints that iff u pursue a career were it takes most of your time working it will make u inactive and unhappy, just something i picked up on.
I'm inactive yeh I'm a business women
I picked up on that too.
You will have a great car, a great house and a great career, but no Jehovah. Hard choice (not). xD
@@mjcm8331 they have great cars ..houses to most lol
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME??"
Yes, JWs, please keep depicting women as whiny, screechy, illogical, and "insubordinate" to their husbands while in conflict or turmoil. Are you kidding me, indeed.
I've been inactive for a year. The pressure I felt throughout my life cost me so many opportunities and happiness. I started waking up when I was a senior in high school after years of leading a double life, secretly planning my escape. I worked hard to get a scholarship, made money with a little job and when I was months from graduation I proposed to my girlfriend of 3 years. She died in a vehicle collision a month later and when I shared this information with my jw family they told the elders and instead of receiving support I was criticized and lost my "privileges". I struggled with depression and bailed on college and instead of a loving hand I was told I didn't have enough faith by not only elders but also my closest friends. I then found your videos and they resonated with my thinking, the blindfold fell and I know now I was robbed of my childhood. Boy how I wish I could go back in time and walk away sooner. If there is a God, he doesnt talk to these cultists and their manipulations nor the pedophiles praying on children.
This is such an old comment but I truly hope you're in better place now. Jdubs wouldn't know real empathy or compassion if it hit them in the face!
I’m just hearing this video for the first time and reading your comment for the first time and it’s September 2021… So sorry for your loss when you were in high school with your girlfriend. That makes me so sad to hear that… I can relate to what you’re talking about losing your childhood… I missed out on so much in high school, and so much in my life afterwords… It’s so devastating… I hope that you’re doing better now!
So very sad that you completely missed the point ! People believe what they hear about Witnesses but never ask one if what they've heard is true. I came into the organization at 43 with my eyes wide open and believe it was the best thing that ever happened to me. And I still do. We are an organization made up of imperfect people. I've never heard one witness claim to be perfect. We want to serve God to the best of our ability and to help others find a better way of life too. We are never forced to do anything against our will.
We live in a violent and wicked world and the brothers who are privileged to be attendants are there to protect and help us should the violence of the world threaten us. I for one am very grateful to those brothers who at times may have to risk there lives for us. And would do so willingly. I'm sorry that your experience was not a good one. Obviously you were not in the right heart condition at the time. Maybe you will ge one of the many who return to Jehovah.
I am rooting for all of the Todd's of the twisted jw world. Your manipulative mother is going to turn on the tears whenever you don't do what she wants. She puts up with worldly dad because he is probably her meal ticket and provides nicely for her. Go Todd and wake up your siblings too!!!
And thanks for another great rebuttal!😀
😂😂😂😂
But, the tears will be fake. Because she will be glad to shun him when the time comes. His dad won't because he isn't indoctrinated,,,,,,,yet. Maybe his dad won't put up with mommy shunning him, and put his foot down. Then mommy will have to give in to dad's wishes. But, more often than not, the dad will have to join the cult or end up getting a divorce. Then Todd will live with his dad. Which would be the best scenario. Then mommy dearest will shun him for the rest of her life. Never know her grandchildren. Never see them on the holidays. She will grow old and die and not even know her grandchildren. Oh well. Her loss.
I was Todd every time I had to go to a convention and/or meeting... Todd was my spirit animal
Troy Barnes True that!
Don’t forget service too.
I always supposedly had a choice, but at the same time the guilt-tripping and passive aggressiveness was so strong if I said a word against it all that I eventually related my worth to my "attendance performance". I also received gifts based on attending meetings, which in retrospect seems pretty f'd up lol.
Yes, even as an adult.
Todd didn't get a kiss from daddy.. 😒
That cat is probably thinking "I'm glad I can't come"
😂😂😂😂😂🤦🏿♀️
Sure. Conventions of the True God (Jehovah) are for God's humans servants. Not for animals or sectarians...
I want to hear more from the cat.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣
At a convention I attended, a brother got disfellowshipped and was supposed to have given the talk and stormed the stage when his replacement was talking. He was pulled off by some brothers. It was exciting.
These videos are disturbing to me because of the acting. They seem to want to separate themselves from outsiders so much that they just abandon all normal human behavior. The forced calm, lowered voices with eerily measured inflection gives me the absolute creeps. I don't mean the people are creepy, it's just the behavior that seems so alien to me, so off the wall, so tightly controlled, polished, waxed, starched and ironed out until there is nothing left of their individuality...... /shiver Maybe I shouldn't watch these scary videos at night...hehe
yes.. so culty
You’ve put into words how I’ve felt. It’s like that movie The Truman Show. Everything is fake. Even though the acting is bad, it’s a spot on representation of how they act.
Amber Rose As you said yourself they're acting! It's exaggerated for communication purposes! It may even comes across as a tad phony. No one talks like that. I find watching these vids is almost like watching ad clip on TV.
I always find it hysterical though that anyone would believe they really talks or behave like that! It's done in a very american way!
Amber Rose I personally know the people in these videos. This stuff is real people.
Yes, I grew up in a socialist communist republic and this video gives me communist vibes, and not in a good way.
A grown man calling a little girl who is not related to him "sister" is creepy.
Yes! And did you notice how he reacted to seeing a wheelchair?! It was like he was seeing a terminal cancer diagnosis.
There is no genuine empathy there, just acting as holier-than-thou with fake pity that is the absolute last thing this girl needs or wants.
@Joshua Folly Yeah u said it Jesus, the man without err...Are we Jesus, nooo...So it's ok for Yeshua, not we because we are so full of error and malice...
This is common in Christian, Muslim, etc communities! Family association! It depends how it is used!
oh shut up what do you want him to call her idiot! jw see everyone as brothers and sisters as we are because we all came from adam n eve! Think before you talk!
@@justme-on7bn what's creepy about that? It's his first time there and he doesn't know his way around! stop trying to make something out of nothing!
Who the hell is gonna sit in a hot van for 8 bloody hours?? Again...Todd didn't have much of a choice! ...barf
Depends on the location... if the convention spot is near a mall or library, that’s a place to stay right there for 8 hours.
Yeah, If the convention sight is close to shops, a library etc you can find all sorts of fun activities.
If I were Todd, I would wait till mom was gone and take off exploring!! Lol
@@dante3543 When I was growing up and having to go the conventions which were held right by an amusement park that I wished I was at instead!!!
My parents always forced me to go, so I could really empathise with Todd. On the upside, I really appreciate my weekends now!
No no
No
I was Todd. No choice, always hated going. Got out as soon as I could
Tyler, I feel for what you went through... Ugh!! Congratulations on your FREEDOM!!!!!
I was Todd too.
I was to Todd too I remember at times having to fake that I was unwell to try and avoid goin or sayin I had a migraine because of the lights so I could walk around outside. When I turned 16 into 17 I moved away and stopped goin
@@luked2679 Yes kids got spanking by their mother in the ladies bathroom of the kingdom hall if they didn't behave during the meeting.
This video is particularly strange to me since it was filmed near me, and I've been to conventions through those doors for years. Only once did I see any sign waving bible thumping people trying to spread any message. They were very polite waved and said to hello to everyone that passed by and never tried to enter the building.
This persecution complex they have is getting out of control.
scott rutledge Have you watched the news lately??
I was really rooting for Todd, he had the right mindset. But once he let himself get talked into getting out of the van and reunited with his mother to set himself up for further brainwashing, my reaction was "Goddammit Todd!!.....Why??"
sjdrifter72 it was hot in the van I would get out too lol
you have to do what you have to do to survive
Hey mom was ok with him sitting in a hot van by himself. You are on the verge of being shunned young man!! You better be careful!
It's like some mind control dystopian future where all individuality has gone. Everyone talks softly in a condescending manner wears taupe or grey.
mike spilligan, whoa!! I just got the chills right now!! Actually, they pretty much seem like that now!!
mike spilligan - And Sci-fi movies thought they were being original- the trance started with JW’s.
Also the boy who gets lost? I remember waking around the convention all the time without parents- But of course with all the pedophiles she should be scared!!!!!
Joy to you and me, I was thinking pretty much the same thing. When my twenty-four-month old was lost for over an hour at the Summer Convention at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, I didn't panic, I just looked for him. Lots of little kids got separated from their parents back then and no one panicked...but back then, we didn't know about all the JW pedophiles among us, either. I guess JWs nowadays DO panic, and for very good reason. They may deny there is a pedophile problem in the Watchtower Organization, but they sure will panic when their little ones get lost; and no wonder the Watchtower includes the urgency of finding lost children in their training videos!! (Oh, and guess where I finally found my twenty-four-month old!! I found him in the trucking department, sitting in the driver's seat of a huge fork lift, trying to reach the gear shift with one hand, his other on the steering wheel...and all he was wearing was his shirt, underwear, socks and shoes. He had gotten away from his brother who had taken him to the bathroom.) 😅😅😅
I had a similar thought too- that this is what the paradise was going to be like and started to ask myself, did I really want to be there, for all eternity? Lol!
Yes! Something about that soft manner of speaking bothers the crap out of me! Perhaps it's because it does sound so fake, and there's very little variation from one member to the other. Sometimes I find it refreshing to meet, and speak with, someone who had a sharp tongue on them. I find, most often, they are more honest than those who speak softly.
After being disfellowshipped for a couple years I went to a convention with husband and little kids. Our son who was 4 got lost. I was panicked! I ran up to some elders from our hall and told them he was missing and people that knew us and they just walked away and were like "We can't talk to you." I went to the attendant station screaming and ranting that they better help me or I was calling the police. What assholes!
That is just .... disgusting behaviour from that people. It is a little child after all
That was just awful how they treated you! No excuse!!!
We are all sinners. They are not only sinners, but also destructive, lying hypocrites. You nailed it!
That whole shunning thing is what turned off to JWs I'm sorry they treated you like that
That is the most disturbing thing I’ve heard! Horrible cult! I’m so sorry this happened to you ❤
- That ladies cat looks thrilled to not to have to attend, as it should be.
- That cult argument was laughable. But so spot on.
- Creepy molester moustache baptizer man is super creepy. Ew.
- I have NEVER heard a radio station announce a JW gathering. lol Wat.
- I've never identified so strongly with a character in these videos until that teenage boy being dragged to the convention. I've seen two of my aunts being in the same anguish at a convention because their two daughters weren't there. (One disfellowshipped and one disassociated) It's nonsensical and so harmful. I kept telling them they need to just call their children and stop letting strangers dictate their lives. It was heart-wrenching to watch them be in such pain. And everyone was treating them like martyrs.
- That poor non JW. They are displaying their love-bombing on max level in this. Yikes.
- Those attendants surrounding that guy with their creepy cult smiles makes my skin crawl.
They do mention at times over radio cause of rush hr traffic but not to that extent as it would be a marketing sales which radio gets no $$$ points
Apparently that depends on the location. This is the US and I can only speak for how it was in Denmark when I was a witness. On each convention we had a huge press dept. that send articles about the convention to all Newspapers in the country. All articles printed were put on a huge billboard in one of the halls and they measured the column millimeters written each day and marked each 5000 mm written with red tape, and they had a huge wooden thermometer where you could move the red color upwards and that showed how many mm was written throughout the 5 days of convention. There was also plenty of TV-crews that interviewed witnesses and officials at the venue and they got plenty of talking time in the news on national TV. Local TV stations also announced the convention (assembly) when it was held here in my town when I was a child on the local sports stadium (that was before JW bought and built their own convention arena in another town.
The news stations and newspapers were totally uncritical with the exception of one or two articles in a couple of the more provocative tabloid papers that dared mention some of the huge problems within the organisation, or who - instead of just holding the microphone for the Watchtower to advertise the convention for free or to simply print the articles that were sent to the papers verbatim - actually had an interview with a couple of disfellowshipped persons to let them have a say as a counterweight that could bring a little balance to all the glorifying articles in the rest of the printed press. Needles to say, these critical articles were never put up on the billboard for the rest of the "brothers" and "sisters" to see - but strangely enough though, they still counted the millimeters from the negative articles and added the number to the total amount of column-millimeters written, because it was a goal in itself to beat last years column-millimeter count (which was also shown on the billboard). I know this because my father was the head of the press dept. at all the large district conventions in the summer, and I always sat with him in the huge office in one of the stadium office buildings. It was much more fun to sit up there during the convention, because everybody just chatted with each other instead of listening, and we constantly had food brought up from the kitchen along with cold beer and coca-colas and cake, or otherwise I was sent to the kitchen constantly to get us new deliveries of all sorts of danish pastries, coffee, hot chocolate, beer and coca-cola and ice-cream. (This was when they still served food at conventions/assemblies, as well as refreshments, homemade burgers and hotdogs, ice cream, soft drinks, beer, candy, pastries, hot chocolate, and two hot meals a day in the cafeteria. All of those sitting inside in one of the indoor arenas and watched the program on one of the many TV sets, sat there getting more and more hungry during the last half hour before lunch break, because you could smell it all over the indoor arenas when they started the huge frying pans that were located in the center of the indoor basket and handball arenas where people were sitting on the bleachers on both sides, and you could hear the butter sizzle under the beef burgers and the hotdogs).
They were smart enough to invite the press to the venue during the break and offered them all sorts of refreshments and they simply just saw a nice gathering of thousands of friends. Clever, huh?
@@beninua dang, you guys had beer? all we had was shasta lemon-lime sidas and swiss miss pudding.
Amazing piece of propaganda. They are not able to deliver a meterial without the drama. Even a simple instruction video.
Todd’s mother strikes me as the type who will end up pushing Todd away from “the truth” through emotional overreaction and manipulation. People like her exist and their extreme mood swings often manifest in so many other areas of life, making them difficult to be around. When every little event is that emotionally charged for someone, and you have a cult feeding the flames, the people around them are going to be more and more likely to feel they need to escape.
Yup.
My mother.
I was coerced to get Baptized at 19 out of the world with my single mother. Stayed 16 years and split in my 30's.
Now....I want NOTHING to do with WTBS or religion PERIOD !
You are absolutely right.
I’m surprised pillow awareness was not mentioned 🤔
We use to take pillows to make the seats more comfy, maybe some naughty bros take their pillows for other comforts ... just saying!!!
Ozzyjo77 13 Cheeky!! ha ha ha!!
🤣🤣🤣
they have to keep everything culty so the members kinda get cognitive dissonance to the cultiness. make it normal.
Todd's brother: Isn't this AWESOME!!!!?! Todd: screams internally.
Seriously though what JW child ever said that about convention days? We said it about eating lunch and the end of the day. No wonder I eat too much and can't wait till I can crash every day ha ha its convetion trauma
oh and at the time where the dramatization was a life play and on sundays :D Kids just trying to be as near as possible to the spots of the actors :D When I was a kid I literally waited for only that through friday and saturday. Then on sunda after Lunch I was like : Drama, Drama, Drama
Then I stand up and ran to a spot where I could watch it perfectly
@@KaliqueClawthorne try 4 and a half days of this shit at the District Ass-emblies. Back in the 70s it was a marathon with each day starting at 7:30am lasting until 5:30 pm! I dont know how the poor women with kids did it.
My favorite parts about conventions where the lunch time and go to eat pizza at the end of the day, it was all boring
I was excited for conventions as a child
@@KaliqueClawthorne oh yeah I liked the drama forgot about that! I wanted to be in it forever.
when I was 13 the congregation I was in was assigned the drama - only the elders never told the congregation, they got their friends from other halls to be in it with them. An elder's son told me about it and I asked to be in it, but was told no bc I was 'too ethnic looking' (Im white and chinese mixed and they were all white English people)
I laughed with the whole apostate situation. They made it seem like he had a gun to assassinate the brother. Great video Lloyd. Hopefully you get more leaked videos because they are very fascinating and very funny as well! Thank you!
Clubamerica217 the “apostate” had a real, non-changed Bible. The JW’s are afraid of the truth. So in a way, it was a bomb 😂
Yeah...the whole Jason Bourne angle was a bit much.
A King James bible is basically a gun to a luciferian JW
My biggest regret for being a JW is the crap my kids had to put up with. Like dragging them to these god-awful conventions. My oldest put up with this from age 2-13. She was probably 10 when for the last convention I went to. Always so well behaved for that three day torture fest. She only now admits how much she HATED it.
At least she has a chance of getting a creer she wants and living her life now :) I left aged 30 and not able to afford to go to uni ever or start over now I’m 39 and still no career
@@siennacrafty7878 39? You're still young and can still have a career :)
@@siennacrafty7878 Try the Open University. I got the degree after 6 years, sometimes they can help with fees, I then got a job un the hospital. I retired early on my NHS pension which is minimal but I manage. All is not lost.
The last convention I attended,my daughter went to park the car, they made her park on the top level of the roof parking, walk by herself to the convention area. They weren't letting anyone use the elevators so the elderly had to walk or be wheeled for long distances. There was shooting going on outside because there had been protests in the area. A policeman who had directed us to the parking was shot and killed that day. We were told no to tell anyone. We were not safe. They were incompetent to handle the situation.
Meryl Barnes wow! Sick! Keep calm & ignore the dead policeman!? Oh my.... don't tell anyone, they may leave before getting shot up or leaving their donations!
Mom: "Hopefully you will choose to come on your own" .....son: "I doubt that"....
unsaid; mom "then I will not be part of your life" SAD!
Scariest convention I've ever been to. My non witness kids were so afraid for us. My youngest was visiting the convention after years away. I had my elderly mother with me and my husband was an attendant. He told me what was going on outside.
omg how disgusting, so they dont only mishandle child abuse they mess everything up, they don't care about their members truly
Meryl Barnes, oh, my God...how horrible!!! Thank you for illuminating the way things REALLY are in the Watchtower Organization!!! They are always trying to portray themselves as being so "good" and so wonderful. Not saying most JWS are not kind or sincere, but overall, I know that if you are not one of the "Beautiful People," (good looking, married, money, etc.), you are going to find that you are pretty much on your own; you are ignored...unless you need to be "counseled" about something, that is.
Oh what memories! I remember absolutely fighting to stay awake at the conventions. I'm mean a complete struggle. So I would have to fake a necessary trip to the restroom, just to get the blood pumping and muster up the will to live and go sit back down. Awe, memories.
And side note, the only reason why any uf us "young" ones were even remotely excited for the conventions we're to possibly meet a husband/wife. Being from a small town, there were absolutely no options. I used to bring binoculars and scope out the brothers. Lol. Just rediculous!
Yes and Yes to both your comments!!! Trying to stay awake and trolling the halls for potential husbands :D
Ali Thompson like my parents thought I was zooming in on the speaker or plays. If they only knew. Lol
Imagine being the speaker and looking out to a crowd of people dozing off
Lmao that is so true. Too funny but sad now that I think about it was seeing peoples new dresses and also looking forward to their plays and just acting busy taking notes and not falling asleep.
I'm disabled and I found the attendant's reaction to the wheelchair offensive and condescending, though not surprising, considering the theology. But even if you pity me like that attendant, I would kindly ask that you keep that opinion to yourself, especially when the disabled person is a child as those looks of pity can cause a lot of pain. I became disabled as a child and thinking about those reactions of pity still makes me cringe. Just because I'm physically disabled doesn't mean my life is less happy or enjoyable or fulfilling than yours.
I don't often comment on RUclips, but I just wanted to say a very big thank you Lloyd, as your channel has been largely the reason for my waking up to the Watchtower cult and it's indoctrination practices. My parents were sucked into this cult when I was only a young girl (around the time of the time of the 1975 Armageddon prediction - I remember it well!) I was very heavily indoctrinated and struggled with trying to break free several times as an adult, leaving home at 16 because I couldn't stand the hypocrisy of a certain family member, but always went back believing it to be 'The Truth' and feeling that I was 'unworthy' and needed to try harder. I have always been an analytical thinker and several things bothered me over the years that didn't make sense to me at all and even though I tried to bury those thoughts they kept coming back. To cut a long story short, I gave myself permission to look behind the curtain-and the first 'apostate' material I allowed myself to watch was your 'What if Jehovah's Witnesses are Right?' video and I have been working my way through your playlists ever since, It's been an interesting journey, and I still have the odd trigger but on the whole I am a lot more content and happy and I don't miss the fear, obligation and guilt at all. Thank you for giving me back my freedom of thought and peace of mind. Please carry on what you're doing, it's helping so many people and you're providing a valuable resource for those waking up. Btw I bought your Reluctant Apostate book, i'm about half way through it. Once again, a huge thank you and much love to you and your family xx ps I would love to see you release an album of songs - you could call it 'The Singing Apostate'! - I'd buy it, lol!
Thanks Jennie! I'm so glad to hear my work has helped you! :)
It really has; more than you will ever know. I appreciate the effort that has gone into all your hard work exposing Watchtower; please keep it up, it's helping many to free their minds from this mental prison :)
Its nice to hear, your starting a new wonderful life, through all the difficulties you may go through it will be worth it. Enjoy!
Jennie Scales, I loved and really appreciated your comment!! Thank you for taking the time to thank Lloyd for his hard work. Your comment is so very important for all of us ex members who are trying so hard to shout out the truth about the Watchtower Organization... Your great comment helps us to know that we ARE making a difference; that we ARE helping our dear lost brothers and sisters to wake up!!! God bless you!!!!
1955annemarie a really nice reply to Jennie, you said it so much better than I did, I can only ditto your feelings
Excellent commentary, Lloyd. This was almost totally filmed in my corner of the world, north Georgia in the US. I enjoyed seeing several people in the video that we haven't seen in quite a few years. We first met "Todd's mother" when she was a young, skinny teen, and she was a dramatic type that we thought might want to be in theater. In our little town she worked for awhile at McDonald's. One night we went in when it was crowded and she didn't see us. She was talking to customers with an affected French accent as if she was newly arrived from France. It was hilarious! When she saw us she got all embarrassed and ran into the back. The other thing I remember about her was that the older she got, the less she was at her home congregation - she was actively searching the country for a suitable mate - by that I mean from a monied family and good looking.
We knew the couple at the subway station who were standing beside the literature cart. He was an elder, probably still is, and his wife a pioneer all the time we knew them. They were quite affluent, worked hard with their rental properties. His talks were never boring and it was a relief when he was seen walking to the platform. I wonder what it's like now that the meetings are mostly made up of videos dispensed from WT-ville.
There were other folks in the background that looked vaguely familiar but I didn't know them immediately.
I can tell you that no convention I attended ever had helpful brothers like this video.
The last convention I ever went to was at the venue shown in the video. I had fallen a few months previous and my knees were injured. I was recovering but it was difficult getting up stairs. I asked an attendant to help find a seat inside the auditorium; he said he would but never returned. ----The outdoor attendants directed auto traffic, or stood next to the entry doors. They were never scattered so plentifully in the parking/sidewalk areas, walking to parked cars offering to assist with items in the trunk! That scene made me laugh. ---I finally decided to go back home, and as I walked towards my car, a couple I knew walked towards me. The husband an elder, the wife a pioneer I think. They acted pleased to see me, then asked where I was going. I said, "Home. I can't find a seat and my knees are bothering me." They said, "Okay then, see you later!" And that's all, folks!
Really enjoyed reading this lol. Clearly Todd's mum finally got a husband and a platform to be dramatic
The clip of the son being dragged to the convention by his mother reminds me of a Sunday afternoon when I was headed to the beach to enjoy the rest of the day after the 9:30 meeting.
I saw an Elder, his wife and son in field service on a very hot day, going door to door while I was on my way to the beach. I felt sorry for him because he didn't have a chance to enjoy his youth. His didn't have any choice. He had to do what his parents wanted him to do.
Oh no sisters mustn't wear the orange lanyard or direct people, our brains are far too small!!!!
Just imagine what might happen.
Sarah EXJDUB love it! Chaos all round 🤣🤪☹️
We are weak in body AND spirit! I'm so sorry I never fully appreciated the brothers who helped my inadequate self find a seat. :(
We also don't have the magical headship appendage
Wow Orange lanyards must be so sexist that orange can only be worn by men since jehovah said so. I think the direct people is because when I give people directions to how to get to places I'm like go left on a black pole sticking out and then turn right on the dead tree facing the white building then their are doors and that's the place you need to be. Lol a guy probably is like follow this road and go left then right and there you are. Plus we might distract men on their purpose for being at the convention since we will stand out more than men with orange lanyards.
*"..if you go as far as willing to learn about Jehovah's Witness teachings and then reject them, you are worthy of death"* oof, guess that's me. RIP.
Then the witness will say, " You have chosen to be with Satan, you will not inherit eternal life, etc etc."
It's as if God has only chosen them, and for the rest of us, it's eternal death.
It is an evil bad thing to say.
I presume some witnesses who are baptised in reality belong to the devil already? Only God knows what " is really going on.
Not jws, not the elders, not the governing body etc.
Even though I’m a Christian I’m against child indoctrination. Yes it’s great to raise them with good morals and lessons. Yes I understand parents want to bring them up in what they’ve come to know as true, but don’t force it. At the very least, bring them to the conventions until they say no (just like the teen didn’t want to go. He should have had a choice). Personally I’d open the door, and show them the religion, but don’t push them through. Let them choose. If they say yes than by all means teach them but not in a cult like scare tactic way.
Actually I was raised by religious parents, and yes I got all those options. While I went to hebrew school to learn about God and the torah and that jazz, while we had kept the Shabbat, while we did have study sessions together, my parents where very open to my questioning everything. Given that both my parents where into the sciences I learned critical thinking, which meant that my questions where somewhat uncomfortable, and they often said they did not know the answer to some of my questions. I learned morality for moralities sake since there is no afterlife in Judaism. So it is possible.
Bythe way, I know I can not believe because I have told my mom (my dad is dead) that I am a non-believer.
Oh I was very lucky when it came to my parents. For me though it was just normal. It took going out into the world and learning about the various other religions (since the one religion I really learned anything about was Judaism) and how other parents treat their children within those religions to learn this wasn't the case. I must say I was really naive, it came as a shock to me that parents would treat kids this way.
While I am not religious though to keep my mom happy when I am home I celebrate the holidays with her, and other similar things and I do it with respect. To me it isn't about the religion, it is about staying connected to my family. Since she knows I don't believe she isn't pushy or anything, she just likes me being there.
I’m a Christian but my ex husband is a cult member. So I’m trying to teach my children to learn about religion with critical eyes.
I’ve read and studied and attended the cult to know what they teach. And I try to present them with other views. Even if it goes against my own believes. As an exemple: the other day my son was watching The prince of Egypt, saying it was about the prophet Moses which they had talked about in church the day before (the cult church). We talk a little about what he did. And I also say that I find it weird how God was “playing favorite” with the Jews. I have to thread lithely but I hope that he will not join the cult when he is older. If he decides not to believe in God, that’s his choice. But I’m also trying to present him with my believes and how it’s different from his father’s.
Shae Reub Im an 3rd generation atheist raising 4 freethinking children (I don't refer to them as atheists as I believe they must come to this conclusion on their own. My job is to raise them with critical thinking skills, embrace knowledge and show kindness to their fellow human beings). As humans we have inate sense of empathy. As social animals we need empathy to thrive in society. From this it is easy to nurture this intuitive sense and incorperate morals in our young without religious dogma.
As Derek the apostate says, "How did we not see through this?" The mind manipulation by associations is horrendous!
The witness worker inviting the young man to the convention was pristine to the point of sterile, his spotless shirt, his perfect tie, his immaculate trousers, all testimony to his flawless character, his high moral standards, his honesty, his thorough decency and goodness, he is a perfectly formed avatar of a witness. The lovely young man he seeks to subsume is not yet a witness, but, his shirt, trousers and smart appearance denote a sincere truth seeking soul on his way to Jehovah, however he's not quite the ticket yet so; no tie! The wicked, worldly opposer? Well, obviously, he's positively unkempt! He's wears a somewhat disheveled T-shirt, and worse still...JEANS... to work!The surest sign, if one there need be, that he is without respect, conscience, morals, honesty or intelligence!
Todd's tie is undone and hanging from and open collar, an obvious sign of rebellion , worldliness and possibly even wickedness. Only when he comes to his senses, returns to Jehovah and the convention is his metamorphosis from senseless lout to archetypal witness accomplished by his properly knotted tie being pushed up two inches to a now fully buttoned shirt.
And of course, the born again intruder was clearly a wicked charlatan, trying to fool the brothers by attempting to be as smartly dressed as them, what a fool, how could he hope to get away with it? Jehovah would never reveal to a false prophet the secret identifying mark of the true, fully absorbed witness..... the tie you fool... the tie!!
(On all the video footage I've seen of preachers outside conventions, its always been them being kind and talkative and the witnesses surrounding them in a threatening circle and never saying a word no " Hi there, welcome, we're glad you're here, can we be of assistance". Utter nonsense!
And finally Lloyd, here here to your sentiments about Kingdom Hall and Convention Hall storming, I too believe it plays straight into the hands of those who would have the hapless witnesses believe we're ill motivated, full of hate and vitriol and used by Satan.
Jane Bennett all about outward appearances. Funnily enough Jesus condemned the pharasees for their trying to appear righteous though outward appearances.
Someones Wife, ha, ha!!!! GREAT point!!! 😁😁😁
Jane Bennett well Said, I refused to wear a stupid tie for years when I first started to study with JW's, it's ludicrous in wearing this silly attire...dictating org
Regarding the sloppy tie - I guess you can only top that with tight pants and a beard..?
Our congregation shared a hall with another one. In one congregation men were allowed beards and in the other they weren't allowed them 😂 So if you wanted a beard you had to move congs.
These training videos remind me of the videos you’re required to watch at work. Is this a religion or a company? Geez.
TTAT Facts It's A Business, no doubt - WTBTS Corporation!
Honest Conscience Dave Exactly. They just need a little quiz at the end like my job and most places of employment to make sure they understand lol. This is so ridiculous, my dad is usually an attendant every assembly & convention, so i know he will have to sit down and watch this rubbish if he hasn’t already. 🤦🏽♀️ goodness.
TTAT Facts Yup. Watchtower's making a portrayal for us "brothers" to feel like we're Bodyguards for Beyonce, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or maybe "The Bodyguard II" sequel as I'll play Kevin Costner's role and you play Whitney Houston's role! 😇🤣😂
Honest Conscience Dave when I read your post I fell on the floor. Great post
ExJW Critical Thinker Glad to create reverberating laughs from Wisconsin. Thank God I don't and won't be doing THIS exact work any longer JT & Lady Cee. But it sure brings back memories and looks like this will be shown at either the next "Kingdom Ministry School" or "Elders/Servants" meeting with the Circuit Overseer at the Two Screens of the Watchtower they now have at all USA Kingdom Halls! Love, Dave
"I'm glad you decided to come."
"Did I have a choice?"
"Someday you will"
That means, no he didn't have a choice. The teenager is already wiser than his parents.
another thing that strucks me is that these characters have very expensive looking nice homes. yet god forbid you have a good job or career that will interfere with meetings.
Yeah I thought that was a bit odd as well. The single sister with the disabled child had a small home but was still really nice. Her car appeared to be a new Honda to me. She is one hell of a bread winner, unless she is divorced or some such and her hubby is sending nice alimony checks.
again blasphemy God does not forbid you to have nice things and a career! It says in the bible keep living life and working hard just as long as it doesn't keep you from your family or god! Stop twisting their words!
@@user-om5qf5jw8s It's not that it's forbidden to have a nice car, it's that a single mother likely wouldn't have the resources to both attend meetings, conventions and other duties for the congregation while also having a job well paying enough to afford all of that, atop of having a disabled daughter and being alone.
These videos are from last year and they will be used this year Lloyd. I will have to sit through this again 😑. Being an attendant is a perfect excuse for not paying attention during a assembly or convention!
It says a lot about the organization that there are so many like you who are fully awake but still forced to maintain a pretense of belief. How can the Governing Body take pride in a following that is partly only going through the motions because they are forced to? I really do sympathize with your situation. :/
John Cedars thank you Lloyd. Hopefully one day I will figure out the best solution for myself, whether it's fading away or disassociating from the organization. But until then I will continue daydreaming during the meetings lol. Thank you for the great content and keep up the great work!
Hi MrSlice--- I recognized some of the men in the film. It was filmed in Atlanta Georgia area... what a shock to see a few familiar faces... a few of them may actually be JUST LIKE YOU. This training video could of done without all the drama... I am glad people are trained on how to locate lost children and protect others by not allowing some nut job in the arena... OooOOoooo how I wish this wasn't a cult. erghhhh Wishing you the best of luck as a PIMO.
And Mr. Slicen... you are not the only one. So if u see a mother walking or wondering around with her children because "they are tired of being seated inside" please leave her alone and refrain from telling her to take a seat. You never know if that is a PIMO mother trying to get herself and children as far away as she can from the nauseating program going on inside. 😉😉😉😝😝😝🖒🖒🖒... You fellow awaken sister
John Cedars, right on!! Keep up the good work!!!
Watching this was so painful, it is definitely one of the worst videos I’ve seen in a long time published by WT. The emotional manipulation, it’s just so evil. How did we watch stuff like this and not completely see through it? Thanks so much for the video, Lloyd.
What I noticed about the clip at around 14:00 is that the "opposer" was dressed somewhat untidy too. Witness wearing smart trousers and a tie, non Witness wearing shirt and trousers, opposer wearing jeans.
Edit:
Notice how also in the next clip with the faded woman, she drives a nice car, and has a nice house but is depressed. Another subconscious message that riches are no good, lead a simple life.
Another edit:
Todds been watching John Cedars. Lol
Last edit:
Todds not been watching enough John Cedars!
LawnBowlerUK 😂😂😂😂
I'm at a loss for why folks would need training, wouldn't Jehovah's Hand™ or The Holy Spirit®, let every attendant know who needed what, when where and why?
"Holy Spirit 1 to attendant Johnson, there's an infirm sister who has fallen and can't get up in section G!!"
"Roger that Holy Spirit 1, I'm en route, out!"
That business lady looks so lonely and depressed because all her friends shunned her when she left JW org and she has spent the last 10 years trying to figure out how to live in reality. She probably doesn’t even know how to have an open hearted interaction with someone “in the world” without having feelings of internal guilt that was drummed into her when she was a baby.
This was the last training session I went to before I went full apostate, I laughed out loud at several parts, and got a few strange looks LOL.
Dustin Waldron, ha, ha!!! YOU made ME laugh just picturing you laughing and the strange looks you got!! Hella funny!!! 😂😂😂
Dustin, did you hear about the latest addition to this? They are taught to surround a person and overtalk them if they are shouting a message. You can see them do it at the Kingdom Hall too... interesting approach, huh? lol
They should sing kingdom melodies
Ashley C - Oh no that would be terrible- talk about fingernails on the chalkboard-
Joy to you and me. Yeah but that would be the point that it would be successful as to everyone avoiding them.
Did anyone notice the crasher was wearing tight pants????
Koolbraider Daigle lol no, but I did notice that he had a crappier car than all the JW attendees with nice cars.
The protestor was definitely painted with the Watchtower's own narrative of what a "disruptive individual" is. I'd dress fully as a JW if I were to decide to go inside doing a stand-up protest of some kind. The Watchtower's perspective here is sorely naive lacking reality and foresight.
Furry Skeptic hahaha I noticed that too
Furry Skeptic, yeah the hubs exposed no wheel covers
All subliminal messages that you only truly see for what they are when the scales fall from your eyes.
Even fully indoctrinated - my only major interest in the District Conventions was to wander the common areas and try to say hi to people around my age.
Forcing yourself to sit and take notes was an exercise in self-flagellation.
My only reason for going was to talk to sisters from different cities. My congregation did not have many young sisters, so my friends and I were either always looking for sister to talk to at the convention or we would go visit neighboring congregations.
Li Lu Yes. But there’s a darkness lurking in being forced to adopt unquestionable rules and a lifelong contract with your family used as a bargaining chip for your servitude.
Virtually none of my friends from youth remained JWs.
Some died of suicide (helped along by the narrative that there is no life outside the cult)
Some were disfellowshipped and are denied access to their families.
Others are inactive and face emotional blackmail to return.
Most feel betrayed and robbed of years of life and wasted efforts. Most feel deceived. Most are happy to finally be out and free.
I am free. I love my life and friends - my only sadness is for those still trapped in the ‘Tower.
pretty much. Even after leaving for 10 years, It was a blow when I finally woke up. I was inactive but still tried to not stray to far, because in my mind it was "the truth".
Up that point I had left but never been disfellowshiped so I never lost my friends. They were told to be careful with me cause i was not spiritually strong, but that changed when I decided to say I no longer believed. I am down to a 2 friends I had as a JW,. They are PIMO but stay in to avoid being shunned.
Li Lu Cheers! I wasn’t sure what direction your comment leaned, at first glance :)
Troy Barnes Glad you are totally mentally free.
This cult makes a mockery of their stated values.
With clear eyes - it is now so obvious they use words like ‘love’ & ‘faith’ but what they really mean is ‘fear’ and ‘unquestioned loyalty’.
I hope you’re living your best life now. :)
Real life story as to how the attendants are taught to treat those that are physically challenged.
Around 2008-09 the time for the drama had arrived. We were sitting on the upper level during the district convention near the stage. The venue had a specific area marked off in blue paint for those that were in wheelchairs etc. It was part due to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that made these areas available.
A father had brought his approx 12 year old son who had some muscular disease such as cerebral palsy, not sure, but he was completely bedridden and was in a laying position and could not have seen the drama from the assigned area at the back of the main floor where he was usually located.
So the father pushes his son over to this ADA allocated space so he could peer over the railing to see the drama. At this time an attendant approached the father and was telling him something and soon the father started to push his son away from the spot and out toward the elevator area. I went down and started talking to the father and the attendant to see what was going on and the attendant explained that they didn’t want anyone to be in those areas and that he had to go back down to the main floor. I was now becoming livid and started to explain to the attendant that the ADA was a law specifically written to make sure that people exactly like this young brother could benefit from this location. Told him it was a federal law that he was going against and that he should allow the child to be in this spot. Nope,.. can’t do it,.. following orders. The father stepped in and told me it was okay and continued to push his son back to the floor area.
That was a small wake up moment for me as here was a young person who’s was physically unable to enjoy a great deal in life and had a short period of time that he could enjoy the drama and he was prevented from being able to view it properly. I was thinking “Where is the love here?”
Needless to say I was fuming at that point for the child’s sake. Could not get that off my mind and even almost a decade later still get upset about it.
It showed me that the individual does not have or is not allowed to have the freedom to think about things. It’s an assembly line of people that follow rules with zero ability to comprehend that “I could be wrong” and maybe I should do something about this mistake.
Horrifying. That shows they have absolutely no respect or love.
Why did the young brother even have to attend if he wouldn't be allowed to even enjoy the experience properly? What kind of a message as they sending, 'come to our event but don't expect to actually see much because we won't let you sit in the place you're entitled to'?
I think you did right standing up for the father and his disabled son! :)
Funnily enough I found the most frustrating part of this for me is the girl in the wheelchair who is probably not actually in a wheelchair in real life.
Her wheelchair has no way for her to move herself, it relies on being pushed. That is usually found in hospital wheelchairs or those meant for short term transporting. My self propelled wheelchair (bigger back wheels so I can propel myself) does have handles for being pushed but I can move myself as well, because independence is a thing which I like. They're also not very comfortable, which is important when you're in one all day. Compare the elderly lady's wheelchair, which is far more appropriate for someone who's in one more regularly.
That is not a safe method of getting someone into and out of a car. For either of them. In the long term that's going to screw up mom's back, and the girl is going to grow into an adult who doesn't want to be transferred like that. Also it is possible to drop someone, which is undignified and painful especially when you can't get up.
The dude shaking his head at the wheelchair. It's a wheelchair, it's not a death sentence. There's a reason we don't like the phrase 'wheelchair bound'. I can do far more in my wheelchair than I could when I was trying to walk everywhere and in agonising pain after 20 minutes.
I see so much of my mother in Todd's mother. She used to say those exact words to me when I was forced to go as a child and that turned it what she does now "wish you had come" or her new favorite "you missed an awesome convention!" bleh
RaymondJ2195, you would think that the "dog" would get tired of "returning to his own vomit," but these loyal Watchtower Drones just keep on faithfully lapping it up, no matter how sick it makes them. 🤔
I get this same nonsense from my ex after he has spent a weekend fully immersed in the brainwashing. I hear the same rhetoric every time. It was so uplifting and upbuilding and so much spiritual food, etc... Makes me want to barf.
You missed an awesome convention! That so funny. My parents would say the very same thing! It was so very nice to miss that awesome convention though! I was so happy to "miss it". Funny, I didn't miss it one little bit!
My comments are directed more toward the end clips shown in this video: If anything these training clips show (to me) that aggressive activism continues to feed the persecution complex. I cannot fault the JW's for wanting to protect people while at the convention site. In fact, when I was once sitting in the seats as an attendee-- I would often worry about some mad person trying to hurt any one of us... the fear was real, and I would have felt even more justified in my position as a JDub if someone shouted out or jumped on stage or screamed at me going in. Its my personal opinion that this kind of activism may jar a very very few, but for the most part makes most Witnesses pull back into what is perceived as a world wide safety net. I usually remain neutral in my comments when it comes to different forms of activism, but this training video opens your eyes to how they really see it... I woke up from cool calm collected LOGICAL reasoning that had already started in my own head... Thanks Lloyd for this commentary--- EXCELLENT JOB.
You didn't happen to attend a Spanish Language Kingdom hall near Patterson New York almost twenty years ago did you? Just on the off chance you were the Charmaine I knew from there.
i agree 100%...
Sorry, no, must be another Charmaine.
@Mymango bango Thats a good way to phrase it... as long as a person is not physically up in someones face acting like a loon (basically the way WT portrays "worldly people" or "apostates") then hopefully you can engage someone in meaningful conversation... even then, its hard to get through the cult trained public shield... what this may accomplish is a small kink in their armor to maybe go and dare research outside of the JWORG box. Again, a person has to already be in a receptive (mental awakening) type state to respond in the way you hope they would. And for this reason... its hard to critique any one form of activism since who knows what may work on any one person... I just cannot get behind the aggressive type since (to me) it does nothing but make them dig in deeper like a tick...
I couldn't agree more with you Lloyd @ 11.50 where you talk about the faithful old sister who has difficulty in getting around and is still going to the convention. When watching her it made me feel so sad that this dear lady has been lied to and how disappointed she would be if she knew really what a waste of life it is. As a PIMO I can totally relate to the scenario of the teenage boy being emotionally blackmailed into going to the convention. It is a situation where a person is 'inbetween a rock and a hard place'. If you go it pleases others - but then you feel so miserable because you have been coerced in attending.
Kendra Bond, yes, that older sister almost made me cry, as she looks so much like my eighty-seven year old JW mom. She got hooked into the Watchtower when she was a lonely, single mom at twenty-eight years old, and she is STILL faithfully believing... (sigh)
It did make me cry and I can't get that vision out of my head now. There are so many lovely people still 'asleep' in the organisation that don't deserve this treatment. :0(
Kendra Bond, yes, and because they believed the lie, and because they have invested their entire lives and hearts and minds in this cult, whether they still believe it all or not, it is now the only "life" they know; the only "life" they have...they have been trapped and imprisoned by the Watchtower Organization.
.
Despondent teenager won't respond, mom looks back sadly, as dramatic music plays to her minivan's sliding side door closes slowly. YES TRUE DRAMA
I was an attendent at one convention, two assembly and of course at the KH. The last assembly I attended as a attendent my assignment was to watch the stage. I got very curious saying to myself im feeling like a body guard. So a elder mention that if someone attempts to come close to or attack the speaker try not to hit that individual. I didn't feel comfortable at all feeling like a body guard. This happened in 2017 in November.
That's what Jesus says, yea? Words of wisdom, "try not to hit anyone who approaches the holy ones" ?!! Lol.oh my
That is a scary position to be in. If they genuinely feel that someone may attack then they must hire professional security personnel whose job is to do that kind of thing. Why should you be expected to handle that kind of situation? Suppose someone did attack (not at all likely but still) an you got injured in the process? Madness.
When your mother locks you in a hot car with the windows up on an incredibly hot summer day just cause you won't go to the convention. Talk about torture and imprisonment lol
I did Attendant duty plenty of times as a "rank & filer" and in two stints as a "Ministerial Servant" in Chicago. A lot of running up and down stairs at convention venues seating latecomers. Also aiding those with medical/health issues getting around or having potential emergencies like heatstroke at past outdoor conventions or ones that have slipped & fallen in high-heels or dress shoes walking in uncomfortably tighter staired facilities.
I usually had to attend another convention if I could to concentrate on "getting the food absorbed" because so often as an attendant I could not concentrate on the program. Watchtower's making a huge, protracted, drawn out big deal about being an "attendant" and training for something that's common sense. I remember having to see individual protestors out in the back of the KHall after they said their piece inside. One of which I provided a listening ear to his grievances additionally just outside the Kingdom Hall front door as we chatted for 15 minutes. A lot of it was knowing how to deal with people at large. Now I realize a lot of it was about dealing with the ultimate goal of keeping up with the indoctrination and high-control. Sure, the well-mannered pleasantness and politeness and good behavior is beneficial but it's not like that isn't practiced at many charity events, social events, business functions or other groups religious services.
In the old "Our Kingdom Ministry" articles we usually had a pre-convention subarticle that lambasted those that attended "worldly" concerts or "worldly" sporting events at these football, basketball and baseball stadiums regarding their conduct with foul language and drunkenness to spread apart Jehovah's Witness events from "worldly" events.
Good video Lloyd and many thank yous to the Leakers and Insiders making this public as no doubt only the JW Males/Brothers would be observing this "training" video.
Dave in Wisconsin via Chicago
That van door closing on the kid was the most depressing and sadistic image I can think of on this whole video. the mom is literally pushing the button and closing the door as the young man looks out longingly wanting to be with his friends but the door is closed on his face instead. That door closing on his face is the embodiment of his choices in life being taken away from him and blocked from him. That was absolutely disgusting.
Thanks, Lloyd. Always enjoy your videos and I know you put a lot of work into them. Good job!!!
Ex-Witness on the train remembering how her family used to love and support her but have abandoned her after she decided to not be a part of their religion anymore.
Lesson for the "Jesus Saves" individuals. Be nice, be polite, wear a suit and you will have green lights to the platform!!!! Thanks Watchtower!
C T bingo I was thinking the same thing about the wt training vid
This was not well thought out
Bring a JW bible - briefcase . And just SMILE ALOT. And say Brother a lot and one gets in
Who approved this wt video??
Why can't Todd stay home with his unbelieving father? Double standard, it's OK for dad, but Todd has to be a good little boy and go with mom. Dad can be destroyed, no problem? This was my situation excepts I was a girl. This makes me remember how angry I was as a teenager. However, I am an older woman now and very happy I no longer have to deal with this.
This is absolute propaganda
I'm sure the stewards at Premier League footie matches have a much more challenging task, but don't have to sit through a boring video about the backgrounds of all the fans who might be attending.
The portrayal of the "disruptive apostate" was a bit contrived promoting a stereotyped opinion of "apostates". If JWs were actually able to listen to ex JWs., they would actually come to an understanding of the issues that motivate them- it is completely different than the "mentally diseased".
thats why he doesnt get to preach
Exactly! Mental illness doesn't come and go as it suits others' agenda. It just goes to show how uneducated the majority of the lot are, especially the GB. Such a waste of human souls. 8 million people that could be volunteering their time and energy to actually feed the poor, help the weak, and give shelter to the homeless. The Watchtower has stolen them all from the real world and true humanity.
It is slanderous- something JWs condemned. When GB make reference to these ones, it is with a sneer and disgust- undeserving and cold hearted. Mercy (ship) hospital goes to areas to help extremely poor people/children with medical problems. They take delight in helping with no expectations to become part of a religion- the giving is just a gift- a talent and skill they have to share ton alleviate suffering. I have not heard of any serious dysfunction about Mercy Hospital.
jokich I agree!
Can I just say as a user of a wheelchair who went as a visitor to 2 conventions and countless other public events that the “management” of the infirm was quite odd . You get dropped off in a designated spot so the surprise on the brothers face was odd. It’s a specific spot. The other thing I went to the convention with unrelated people who I was studying with. I have a disability but otherwise independent and capable adult. Yet the Jws NEVER ADDRESSED ME about if I was ready to be pushed or if I needed anything. They talked to people around me like I was mute burden to the people who had invited me.
Also people who have disability don’t generally want to be just farmed together. It feels like segregation in plain sight. Tolerance of a burden not acceptance.
YES!! This! I was livid at the way the disabled are shown in this freak of a video.
I am not even sure the brother was surprised at the wheelchair, I think he felt ever so sorry for the little girl. He reacted to it with shock, you'd think she had terminal cancer. That was pity, of the kind that makes the person displaying it feel 'virtuous' but has absolutely nothing to do with caring for the person.
I also noticed how the disabled girl just chums up to the disabled old lady because hey, they are both on wheelchairs so I guess that means they're friends. Urgh, so not.
They act as if being disabled means you're irrevocably damaged. It was so grossly offensive that I cringed.
I'm part of the Toddly Class! 😎
:D
Saaame
😂😂😂😂
By watching this video I need to be careful. The music feed your emotions. I left the organization by disassociation in January. Yes im being shunned so I need to be careful. I think this video was published in 2017.
I usually only listen to the audio and don't watch the actual video and the music soon becomes distracting and overbearing. If you ever feel overwhelmed, I suggest you try this yourself: when all you have the music, without the visual input, it goes from being emotional to so blatant that you'll probably soon grow tired of it.
You can also use close captioning (cc) and just read the dialogue to avoid the music. And you can use earplugs if you find yourself having to attend one of these indoctrination sessions, or even at the kingdom hall. Just say you have "sound sensitivity." That's a thing.
twinstar9 I disassociated myself in January.
If they want to portray how it really is for elderly people to go to a convention... The truth is much worse. Where I live conventions are always at least an hour and a half away. The frail brothers and sisters have to pack up all their medications, walkers, canes, C PAP machines etc. Ask for rides to and from the convention to the hotel. Even with special seating there is lots of walking. Oh yea and pack their lunches. Only to sit on arthritic bones for hours in terrible pain to watch videos they could watch in comfort at their houses!!
I honestly don't even. That's vile even by this cult's standards. How dare they make the elderly, who slaved for them for decades on them, suffer through all that! They have to bring their own food?! No catering service?
And then they have to sit there for hours on end...no, that is so wrong.
Wow great rebuttal Lloyd. I must admit a couple of times I was triggered and cried. But not for wanting to go back. Just the emotional feelings that go with the memories of the past. Thank you to those who are leaking these videos and thank you Lloyd for the work you do with presenting the rebuttals.
I noticed that during the clip of the apostate breaking into backstage and running up to the stage to disrupt the speaker, they show a security cam recording of the guy as he makes his way and it's marked 5/26/15. So this might be a couple years older than John assumes, unless they just chose an arbitrary date, or made it appear as if the dramatization was of a past event. Just a little detail I noticed. Fascinating video as always, great job!
I remember when I used to be an attendant in every convention, i would always feel like one of the badasses
The thing that gets me about the whole Todd situation is that you can't make a decision as a child to attend meetings/conventions/assemblies on your own, but if you want to get baptized and literally dedicate your entire life to the organization as a child that's not only fine but encouraged
Prior to finding You and Telltale I heard very little of JWs and just thought they were innocent weirdos just dotted around but they're very awful as I now know
individual jw's, for the most part, are not awful. the wtbts/jw dot org/ jw society is what is awful
Yeah it’s the JW org that’s awful as they are taking advantage of vulnerable people. Some are unfortunately born into it too and have no choice but be a part of it when growing. Often though, like myself, young ones wake up realising that their hearts are really not in it which often leads to the person dropping out.
Individuals are lovely it’s the organisation that’s terrible. They’re the ones making awful policies and teaching Bible lessons incorrectly eg shunning.
The one about Todd was the most disturbing for me too, because I (and most people I knew) WERE Todd. Honestly, one of the most ridiculous parts of that story was that his mother even let him stay in the car; my Mom never would have let me do that. The final convention I went to, I had diarrhea for the last two days. I don’t think my Mom even considered asking if I was too ill to go. You never have a choice in going. The other reason it’s so disturbing, is because the breakdown his mother has is the actual reaction a parent would have if their child even tried to say they weren’t going. It’s been 8 months since I told my Mom I don’t believe in the religion anymore, and she still starts crying everyone once in a while. The first few months are hell though. She would literally have a meltdown if I asked her to pick up a shake for me on her way home on the wrong night; there’s basically nothing that won’t lead to an emotional crisis.
How truly ironic....a man rushes the stage with a weapon! The KJV! Irony at its finest!
Whats funny is in the videos it always seems like bad acting but this is genuinely how they speak and act
Did you play Phoenix wright when you were still in the organization? I did and I felt so guilty when the spirit shit happened lol.
Sad but true
Okay. I am currently wearing that shirt :) I wore it out today and two people commented on it.
Awesome video as always Lloyd! Really enjoyed it!
When you going to do some of your Nicky taking music vids! They always crack me up! Love the head and hand actions! They are adorable! Xx
To round things up,the Jesus Saves guys car was slightly rundown (missing hubcaps + paint damage). In contrast to JWs, who had nicer looking cars. lol
Wabe28 haha I noticed this too. Typical JW “us and them” mentality. Make everyone that is not us look like a raving filthy lunatic.
I went through this training. Some of this training video was recorded at a convention I worked near Atlanta. I know a lot of these guys by name.
I thought the only way I could stomach another assembly is to work so that I wouldn’t have to sit through the boredom.
Is it just me or this training very...vague? I don't know, but it either covers very obvious topics ('help people on wheelchairs') or it doesn't offer an exact protocol on how to act. I'd expect something a bit more practical from a training video, like identifying the emergency exits, how to properly coordinate with other staff, deciding on rotating shifts, that kind of thing.
Instead this is just, 'Jehovah this and that'.
If everything was so wonderful as a witness, why did that one woman leave in the first place? Perhaps because she wasn't allowed to wear an orange lariat, direct people around puddles and wave them into a parking place; Definitely jobs for men folk.
I meant lanyard, not lariat. Although lariat might be more spot on; used to lasso animals and put them in a corral.
Can you imagine if the Org put the same effort into showing the same concern for victims of sexual abuse? Neither can I.
38:28 I know it's a serious topic, but I lost it at that high pitched violin 😂 Felt like the beginning of a horror film where poor Todd is continuously stalked by disturbingly happy religion drones...
Wait
I usually do not really watch John Cedar's videos, but this one was very well presented!!! The comments on each clip were quite illuminating, and even visceral at times. Great job, John Cedars!! Also, I have to admit that I felt a strong emotional pull to go back to the Watchtower Organization when I saw all the "friends" and the assembly gathering of witnesses; yes, even though I know what I know about the Watchtower...and it's pretty bad...the EMOTIONAL PULL is still there, even after thirty-two years. The Watchtower Organization's indoctrination does indeed run deep. (sigh)
me too :( its really the friends we had that made anything enjoyable at all
My pull is more toward my family remaining in the cult. But the pain of their shunning pushing even stronger against me is sometimes overbearing. I've tried reasoning with my mom on a few occasions and I'm terrified of her not even giving me the respect of saying hello if I call or text again. I'm doing my best to carefully work out a strategy that will grasp my mom's and the rest of my family's attention. I've been thinking I might have to go through a brother-in-law that is more loose on the Watchtower policies and is more likely to not be afraid to hear me out.
1955annemarie : When I realized that my friendships in the Organization were CONDITIONAL, it made it sad to know and accept the fact, but CONDITIONAL friends are really not friends at all.....
Aka Perez, oh, isn't that just about the hardest, most painful realization to have?? When you're in "good" with the friends, it's all "hearts & flowers," but then those same "friends" turn so cold and cruel. I think it will always hurt, especially when you see old friends or loved ones all cozy together while you're now "on the outside," but we are so much better off!!! I am hoping you are living YOUR life, now, FREE and without permission or direction!!!
1955annemarie : Yes annemarie, because of leaving the Organization over 25+ years ago, I'm happily married with 2 successful well adjusted and loving, college educated children. I hope you are also living a comfortable and happy life. Thank you for your kind words. 💖
I had a really bad experience with some really rude bastard attendants. Someday I'll start my own RUclips channel and tell the story but suffice to say they told me that if I didn't go back into the convention area they would revoke my invitation!!! Then they assigned two attendants to basically stalk me and follow me around. Two attendants are always assigned to watch (stalk) anyone who they perceive as 'not following the rules'.
How very disturbing!
The intruder's bible gets highlighted as if it was a bomb.
Isn't the point of adult baptism to be baptised when a person is old enough ?
Being inactive does not get a person shunned or something ?
This is one of my pet peeves. My brothers got baptised at 20 and 26! I miss them so much
Where did you get your shirt Lloyd? Do you have a link? I'd love to fill my closet with them! hahaha
On a serious note, I owe you a huge thank you man. When i was leaving I had no one, as is the case for many, and as silly as it sounds you were the only friend I had. You're videos were a constant source of reassurance and validation, as well as companionship. 9 months later I've rebuilt my life and am part of a great community of exjws that you were also responsible for helping get out! You, sir, are a hero. To myself and many others!
Wow, that's incredibly generous praise, thank you! I'm so glad I could help you! And check the link in the video description for all your closet-filling needs! :)
Mason 840, YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION!!! Thank you for sharing that poignant testimony of what your first days after leaving the Watchtower cult were like for you...and I get what you said about Lloyd being your only friend!!! We ALL get it!! So happy to read your comment and to know you are not only FREE, but that you are living YOUR life without permission or direction. They didn't win!!! 😃😃😃
So the first thing to look for as a JW attendant is the "Jesus Saves" bumper stickers on 2003 model cars? 😇🤔. I was looking for Kim & Mikey to come out of that car!😂🤣
Honest Conscience Dave 😂😂😂
Haha! And it's a two door car! Gasp! Not good for car groups! 🤣
30:00 When your kid would rather die in a hot car than go to a JW convention
I can relate.
The fact that Jehovah's Witnesses haven't changed their policy regarding the handling of child abuse is absolutely inexcusable.
The Todd dramatization is such a joke!! Reminds me of how my mom acted when I didn’t want to be a jw anymore. Getting depressed and stressed out over nothing
And his Jesus saves bumper sticker. What subliminal message IS THIS?! Those horrible Jesus loving, kjv wielding evil ones. Oh my.
Oh and don’t forget the missing hub cap on his car!
I'm not a JW... or an "apostate", but I LOVE your merch!! I'd wear the 'Shunned' one lol. I grew up Catholic and one of the JWs who I've had in my home recently also grew up Catholic. I have questions for her about how she went from one cult to a far more severe one. Oy... I went from religion to Christ Jesus about ten years ago. Now I truly can rest in the hammock of God's grace!
"its convention day, I wish you could come"
what a horrible thing to say to a cat
I mean they mean well and are very polite and good natured, but those attendants would not be able to stop a really critical incident
Apparently, conventions are announced on the radio as a huge event in the city. Even U2 coming to town doesn't get that much coverage (That last part was sarcastic)
Always portrayed with heightened emotions and as we know with Armageddon around the corner, and the true knowing (belief) that those who reject Jehovah will surely die, it is heart-wrenching. The sad truth is that destruction has been eminently around the corner for 100 years and the organization is actually keeping their members in check with these highly emotional videos. And it's a disappointment yo that these stories do not go further and show what happens should one "choose" not to be a Jehovah's Witness, yet still love family and the brothers and sisters. How they will be shunned/abandoned and what that means. How families are torn apart and friends will turn their backs on those they use to proclaim as a friend. Jehovah's Witnesses are "without natural affection".
Regarding "Crashing" I do know many believe "Crashing" is a good and effective way to wake JW's up, but I find it a turn off. I know myself, that whatever is being pushed upon me doesn't work, I'll tune you out. Whether it's selling me a phone, Disney Tickets or whatever, I'll tune you out. I did not like JW's pushy beliefs and requirements and I surely will not accept any other pushy attempts, no matter how good the intentions or how great the offer.
I have a theory that the "Crashing" is not really in concern of others and JWs, to really help them wake up. I think it's the crashers' way to release the anger from the hurt of shunning. Jehovah's Witnesses have done a better job of persuasion without "Crashing".
I am an ex-JW and am living under the shunning of my family and friends. I have lost all the love I knew, as I was born to this religion from embryo. So, understand I abhor this organization and consider it as a CULT. A DANGEROUS CULT!
Much love to all my fellow ex-JW's, especially those in the pain of shunning.
Vanora Moon I just wanna say that it's similar to the most annoying stupid irritating commercials that leave you scratching your head and wondering what they are trying to do......you can't get them out of your head....and also these Disfellowshipped ones who were, say, raped and then taken into an elder meeting as a member and leave it unable to even reply to even family members, let alone friends, who NEVER get to voice another word....this is the revolt...this is the only way they ever get to speak up to their own "tribe" sometimes....like the woman who spoke up in her own hall with regards to the murder suicide of the family of four whom everyone there knew (& shunned)... in my personal experience I had a friend, 14, un baptised, who was raped by a boy in our hall & was disassociated for it. I personally know it was a rape because the very same individual tried to rape me. But HE never was disciplined, in fact, while he was raping& attempting to rape girls I'm the hall his family was actually preparing to move away & he went on to another hall unbeknownst to them, in good standing....but SHE WAS SILENCED! Shunned! Never got to speak a word in her defense. Btw it broke up the marriage the whole family divided. What would Jesus think of this? What would Jesus think of those who decided to walk into that hall and stand in a chair & SHOT IT OUT?, do ya think? Honestly.
soooooooo that is why their 'crashing' the halls lol thanks u
Trying to tell people who have no knowledge of this cult about shunning is an uphill battle. I was never a JW and only recently became interested (and by that mean, 'horrified') in finding out about it; I was so distressed that I have told plenty of acquaintances about the shunning policy...and they don't seem to buy it.
The usual reaction is, 'surely that can't be, no parent would cut off a child from their life'.
If this practice were widely known, I guarantee this org's days would be numbered (they probably are already but still). If people knew, ahead of time, that this religion promotes, endorses, and carries out a brutal shunning policy, I bet they wouldn't so much as look at JWs.
Yes, I have had 30 years to come to terms with no family. A day does not go by that I hope the day will come that my parents would wake up. Please go to this link and see the pain first hand... ruclips.net/video/je8ntuN4NSQ/видео.html
Thank for sharing this video with me.
I can't even imagine how it must be to be in your shoes, 30 years without your family. The WT tries to convince witnesses that 'the world' is a cold, cruel and horrible place but there are plenty of people outside the organization who seem to care for those inside than the GB does.
I can understand why my friends and relatives find this notion of shunning so horrible that they can't quite bring themselves to believe it happens, it is the kind of thing that sounds so outrageous it does not even seem *real*. Except it is.
Trying to understand how a cult does this to a person is painful, it takes time and going through heartbreaking experiences that one wouldn't otherwise even know about; it doesn't of course do much to alleviate the pain of those who went through these things but it might be that if they know that someone, out there, cares, it may be a comfort- no matter how small.
Many times I'm asked why I bother, after all I was never a JW...true, but I did have some awful experiences under the tutelage of the Catholic church and no one was there for me, so I'd like to offer what little I can to those who are suffering.