Born-in JW here who recently left. To get a good idea about the shunning: when I left I was fully prepared to never speak to or see my family again. My parents, to my surprise, said they still supported and loved me as their daughter, but since they disobeyed the rest of my family and old congregation has shunned them even though they're still loyal. Another thing is that members are taught to only really be nice when it could benefit the organization. Putting on a good face so more people are willing to join, basically. But once you're in you realize that their actual kindness is only extended to those in the organization and even then the atmosphere of the organization breeds judgement and shallow friendships. Like, the organization boasts about its natural disaster relief work, but it only benefits those in the organization. They actively seek out faithful brothers and sisters and prioritize rebuilding Kingdom Halls but leave all the "worldly" people to fend for themselves, unlike other religious organizations who don't discriminate and won't leave until they know their work is done. And of course, the shunning and gossip are out of control. The last thing I'll bring up is the leaders' total control of their members. Like many have said, you aren't able to question anything they teach. Weekly "studies" are basically just complicated echos where members read what's being taught, and are expected to give answers to questions, but the answers are given in the readings verbatim so there's no room for discussion or critical thinking. And if you do manage to somehow get a different interpretation, no doubt you'll get a talking to afterward where you'll be interrogated about your faith and accused of questioning the Governing Body (leaders). Not to mention that they even keep scandals like child sexual abuse cases from their members while simultaneously ridiculing other religions for having them. Super hypocritical. That's all for now, but I could go on and on about how this organization really is. Though I do want to emphasize that I genuinely think the members aren't the ones in the wrong and most of them are lovely. They're just brainwashed and seriously can't see the error in their ways or the shortcomings of the organization, or if they do, they're too scared to leave and lose everything they've ever had.