Jim

"The internet routes around censorship" John Perry Barlow What a great example. The "sex" thread is silently and namelessly exiled to the silly gulag where it never became silly. Meanwhile the "where did the sex thread go" thread becomes silly and stays in the open forum. Looks to me like preemptive moderation doesn't work too well.

Oh? And what was silly about it?

I just finished posting a rather amusing story, completely tasteful and on-topic only to find the thread disappeared. Is this a case of over-zealous moderation or a forum glitch? I'll have to assume it was a giltch because I certainly didn't see anything offensive in any of the posts.

You just mentioned it. Reminds me of a story. Seventh grade boy's "health" class. That's when the weather was too bad to exercise outside and the gym was not available. The coach comes into the room and says "Today we're going to have sex ed, what do you want to talk about? The class smart-*** replies "what do you want to know, coach?"

The pseudo-random wayspeak generator strikes again. Anyone want to see what the jive translation is?

Linda, It still seems out of character for the man I knew in 1980. Sigh.

Until it stops being fun...

Bo Reahard is on the board of directors? That's a twist I didn't expect.

I think his dogma is writing checks his butt can't cash. For such a big mouth, his profile is sadly lacking for detail.

Read the first 3 chapters of "The Bell Curve" then we'll talk.

Damn, I couldn't have said it better. Don't get me wrong, I've always liked JL. He's got a good sense of humor and alway treated me well when I worked on staff. But UH brings up a great point. We're here. Don't send us a form letter. Come on over and talk, JL, if you want to talk. We're 50 years old and we don't sit on the floor at anyone's (clay) feet anymore.

Refiner, You've probably heard references to TWI-1 and TWI-2. TWI-1 spanned from the very early 70's to the early 80's and I'd characterize it's attitude towards other religious organizations as condescending tolerance. Both mainstream Protestant and Catholic were derided as sold-out and not faithful to the scriptures, but at the same time there was acceptance of the fact that there might be born-again believers within the organizations and that there was no profit in openly antaganizing them. TWI-2 (and I'm speaking secondhand here as I got out during the transition) took on a much stronger JW-like attitude of "we're the household of God and nobody else is worthy to breath our air". Songs stating that "The Trinity is Idolatry" and that I'll "Wash My Feet in the Blood of the Wicked" give you some feel for the change of attitude. So we can relate to some of the things that you folks have been through. I think that you and Oz Girl give us all an interesting perspective. Please stick around.

If you don't mind me asking, how old were you when you left? By being the black sheep, does that mean that you're shunned by them or does it mean that they don't treat you as affectionately as JW members? Correct me if I'm wrong. I get the feeling that there's a real deep "undertow" that exists with the JW's where if you're not on the inside, you're not part of the family and you're not priviliged to hear or know much of the inside dealings and gossup that goes on. Certainly such stuff went on with TWI.

I think it's important to note that an ex-JW and an ex-TWI will probably have vast CULTural differences. I've had the opportunity to spend some time with JW's lately and from my limited observation, I couldn't find too much in common. In this case, the JW religion had spanned many generations deep and many families wide, including family member clergy. Breaking away from such an all-encompassing social structure must be incredably hard TWI, on the other hand usually involved a single generation of youth following something that their family didn't understand or care about. Another curious difference is that TWI-1 enjoyed celebrating, almost to the extreme. JW's, as far as I can see, don't celebrate anything except possibly Easter. There are other CULTural issues that I've noted and I'd be glad to start a dialog, Refiner.

Sometimes I can't get a word in when it comes to my friends...

I've had serveral very good reasons over the last few years. An employee and friend went back to Scientology HQ for a class and they attempted to talk him into staying on staff. Checked out the "home church" movement after going to a picnic hosted by them. Checked out the JW's after my daughter started dating one. Checked out the "Sterling Men's Division" after my neighbor tried to get me involved. I guess I just attract cult followings. The internet is a great source of information on the subject.

Believing equals receiving. I guess I forgot.

There was an excellent thread about UH on the old Waydale forum. Maybe one of the privileged with a backup copy could find and post it.

A very interesting thread. VPW as the architect and promoter, UH as the backoffice accountant-money handler. You would need both to make it work. Has anyone ever verified that UH really did make a million dollars? You can't make a million dollars, at least in those days, without some hardness and shrewdness. Maybe Rubin pumping gas was the most honorable of the three.

They don't seem to work in vending machines.

"All things in moderation"? I couldn't do it if I wanted to. I can't eat even moderate quantities of fat without a quick trip to the bathroom. Other family members have the same problem so I'm guessing it's hereditary.

I feel like I'd like another beer...

My cholesterol is 330 and I refuse to take any of the drugs. The males on my side of the family are /were known to have high cholesterol, moderate to heavy drinking and *no* heart attacks. My cholesterol drug is 2 fingers of 30 proof Southern Comfort every night while I'm in bed reading.

I was thinking about this question today, but in a totally different context. I was considering how it is virtually impossible for a company to admit that they've done something wrong. Between the lawyers and the insurance companies, the advice is always "never admit that you are wrong". Admission of wrongness seems to be an invitation to lawsuits. Given that TWI is a long ways from being a Godly institution and a very short ways from being a corporate institution, it's easy to understand why there is no admission of wrongness.

I'll agree with whatever Excathedra's shink says...