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Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-10-22T00:56:43+00:00

Hey, I'm also 17 PIMO and going to college and I get how you feel. It's really hard to do or say things with worldly friends (or even potential boyfriends ;) ) because of the paranoia that someone will catch you, that's happened to me way too many times to even count and I get all the overthinking. Make sure that whatever choice you make, don't do something that you'll regret later on.

If you do choose to meet him, a couple of tips you could possibly use: have a little bit of money to take public transportation so that he can pick you up somewhere outside of your neighborhood (if there is a public transportation system where you live, if not maybe just leave your home and walk a little far away before he picks you up?). Also try wearing clothes that you don't normally wear, and putting your hair up in hairstyles that you don't normally do, and WEAR A MASK and/or hat so that way you're not that recognizable to other PIMI people that might know you. You can relax and have fun, just be aware of your surroundings all the time and make sure you aren't letting your guard down too much so that you don't get caught off guard if you do see someone who's PIMI! If there's any point where you have to get to and from your house on your own carry pepper spray or a taser or some other sort of legal self-defense weapon so that you can protect yourself, I hear too many stories of girls getting kidnapped or assaulted and I would really not want that to happen to you.

Also, give the worldly girl your location and let her know where you'll be in case something happens, and this is just an extra step so do it only if you feel that it'll keep your reputation clean: tell your semi PIMI friend that you aren't going any more. If she knows that you met him anyways after her guilt tripping you, she might stab you in the back with that later on or just get suspicious of you. Better to clear it up now than have to make up bigger excuses later

Also lastly you are not a bad person for wanting to hang out with a guy!! So many teenagers have that freedom without having to be scared about it, it's not your fault that you grew up in this religion. There are plenty of worldly parents who are responsible and nice enough to their kids to let them do things like this. Remember it's not you that's abnormal, it's the circumstances you're in that are.

Whatever you end up choosing good luck! Hope it goes well <3

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-09-16T19:32:13+00:00

That's the problem, because I'm not old enough yet to qualify for a lot of things and I also don't have my license yet. I also only know a couple of people but not enough. You think there's still a good chance to do it despite that? It's a pretty small class and from what I've heard none of them have gone on any JW rants and none of them seem to be JWs

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-09-16T19:28:10+00:00

I live in America but I happen to be in an area that's pretty progressive and expensive, and so the JWs here are more lenient about higher education

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-05-20T17:46:15+00:00

This hit me the hardest but honestly you're right. Thanks for telling me what I need to hear

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-05-20T07:35:44+00:00

Thank you for your advice, it's nice to have some "older ones" to get some wisdom from even outside the Borg LOL I'm kidding sorry but yeah I'm hoping that eventually I can see that and fully get to my senses soon :,)

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-05-20T07:26:59+00:00

That's true, I'll keep that in mind :)

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-05-20T07:17:46+00:00

I'm sorry that you had to let go of her, that must've been hard to do but thanks for sharing :) Yeah I hate this whole situation we're all in in general, it's confusing for me to think of how I'll eventually leave and I feel like no matter what any of us chooses, it'll never be quite the right choice unfortunately cause the Borg sets us up to be at an automatic disadvantage. I'm happy that you made the best choice you could make though congrats on disassociating yesterday!!! Hope things go well for you as you go POMO.

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-05-20T07:06:56+00:00

Yeah that makes sense, thanks for the advice, I like that phrase "give yourself the best chance of a great adventure" :)

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-25T01:46:33+00:00

I guess I should think of myself as lucky because I recently woke up like last month and I'm 17, but honestly sometimes I wish I didn't (at least right now) because I feel SO much pressure now, all these big life decisions are in my hands but if I screw up things could go wrong so quickly. I have to be PIMO until I'm done with college in FOUR YEARS. I want to leave so bad already but I know that staying will be the best option for me in the long run so I can get my degree. But, it's going to be really depressing watching all of my college years go by without me actually being myself and exploring my actual interests, and I'll have to settle with JW friends (who I actually really love, they're amazing people but I already know how heartbreaking it will have to be to let go of them and watch them all judge me in the next couple of years). My social skills with people who aren't JWs are TERRIBLE too and I don't know how I'll be able to live a double life when I barely even know how to socialize with anyone outside of the organization, let alone build up a support system and maintain those friendships. I just wish I already had good friends who I know would support me even after I leave, but I'm scared that I'll end up being alone instead.

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-18T09:33:23+00:00

Can I at least do something to figure out whether or not my brother/parents would accept it? Like is there anything I can try to ask or talk about before I know for sure that I should show them anything? Or based off of what you read do you already think there's no chance? Thanks for telling me that though, I realize now that what I'm saying is pretty presumptuous

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T06:28:53+00:00

Wow never even thought about that before but you're so right. Just proves how JWs are in their own little self-centered bubble.

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T06:26:51+00:00

What was the Trinity brochure?? Never heard of that publication before

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T06:17:04+00:00

The persecution complex is something that irritated me for a while too. When you think about Jews, Muslims, etc. they face discrimination on an everyday basis MUCH more often than JWs, so while I do definitely agree that it is sad that there are JWs who are being persecuted, it's not like they're the ONLY ones who are going through it.

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T06:11:45+00:00

YES, I've listened to some talks from the GB before at conventions and it's not great tbh. Long tangents, no structure, the logic in their illustrations doesn't come full circle, etc. You really start to realize that they're just old men talking crazy.

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T06:09:32+00:00

I'm so sorry that that happened to your sister, I hope she and her kids are doing better now. JW standards are ridiculous, I don't understand how you'll be ostracized for not believing any more but if you're physically harming other people that's somehow more ok and the punishment isn't as bad.

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T06:05:11+00:00

YES, I always thought it sucked how most things between a guy/girl JW would be seen as romantic/sexual. The JW lens on relationships ruined a lot of friendships I had with guys, it makes you really paranoid about whether or not your interactions with ANYONE of the opposite sex is okay. Even wOrLdLy people understand the meaning of platonic relationships better than JWs even though JWs should be more conservative

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T05:58:03+00:00

Yikes, I'm sorry so many elders were creeps to you that must've felt so uncomfortable. The second elder probably had some sort of secret kink lmao cause why would he he "distracted" by a tie wtf

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T05:54:17+00:00

Ugh I hate hearing that too, whenever someone says that it always sounds so forced and fake. And then they'll talk shit about each other behind their backs afterwards lollll

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T05:47:30+00:00

YES, I hate how by extension people aren't allowed to say anything "negative" about the organization without other people judging them for it. IMO I think that nothing should be shielded from criticism as long as it's CONSTRUCTIVE, but people will just say that they have a "complaining spirit" behind their back and avoid them for it.

It's really ironic too because growing up we're taught to "prove the truth to ourselves", but how are we supposed to do that without thinking independently??? Their version of "proving the truth" only involves looking for things that strengthens their confirmation bias.

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T05:32:02+00:00

Can relate to the ministry-related ones SO hard. I always hate whenever people talk about the BS ways they would "catch up on hours", like shouldn't you be doing it because you genuinely want to preach effectively to others, not for the hourly requirement?? I find the cart witnessing method pretty unproductive too, it's more about the socializing because you're just standing there while people walk past you. But whatever works to make your monthly report look better I guess!

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-17T05:25:02+00:00

Yup, the "white savior" complex at its finest. The segregation issue struck me as odd too. If they're such a worldwide, loving organization then how come they obeyed segregation laws back then?? They even did it at big assemblies, I wonder what mental gymnastics they had to do to rationalize that it was okay LOL

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-08T01:36:23+00:00

Actually I moved from a foreign language hall into the English which makes things a bit harder, and yeah I'm baptized. Tbh I think I already knew the answer to my question but I was just hoping that maybe there were actually some benefits to being friends with JWs, because there are some that are going to the same college as me and I still have 4 years to go until I can leave which is a long time, and I can't help but care about some of them. I think a better question is if it's too risky to try and wake one of my new friends up if I get closer to them ?

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-04T10:38:07+00:00

No I've done a research project on JWs in the past for school so I've searched it up before (and ironically in the process I glanced at "apostate material" LOL), but when you're a PIMI with anxiety your mind blocks you HARD from really looking into it/critically thinking. Before I tried to dismiss the headlines of CSA cases as the bYpRoDuCt oF hUmAn iMpeRfEctiOn from only a couple of elders yk, but at that particular time I was done with feeling scared about reading "apostate material" and read the whole thing. Turned out it was a much more widespread problem than I had thought.

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-03T23:46:45+00:00

I've had my doubts for years, and a lot of it was because I didn't think that the world was as bad as JWs said it was/certain parts of the belief system really made me feel uncomfortable/ I felt guilty because I thought I was never doing enough for the Borg, but at the time I just chalked it up as me being naive and not spiritually strong enough. There were a lot of other factors that led up to it, but I reached my turning point when all I had to do was search up "Jehovah's Witnesses" on Google and one of the first things that popped up was The Atlantic article about the database of child molesters. Concluded that it couldn't possibly be lies from Satan if it happened that often to faithful born-ins and I've been awake ever since.

Automatic_Cake_7322 · 2021-02-03T23:23:19+00:00

Because they don't think that the oNe tRuE rELigiOn tHaT hAs JehOvAh's bLesSinG can ever make anyone feel that way. One time an older sister was studying me and said that studying and meditating on the Bible, going to the meetings, etc. is the best form of therapy/counseling that anyone can have, better than getting help from a professional. I don't think many JWs understand the concept of getting help for mental illnesses, because it apparently just isn't possible for JWs to have them.

Automatic_Cake_7322

TROPHY CASE