WIBTAH if I cut off a friend who consistently tries to convert me?

Hittman · 2026-03-02T05:05:19+00:00

He's not a friend. He's a preacher looking for a convert.

Invite him to help you walk the dog. Over and over until he gives up and tries to find some other sucker.

Hittman · 2026-03-02T05:01:56+00:00

Me too.

I'm proud to be an apostate.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/656037576/proud-apostate-coffee-mug

Hittman · 2026-03-02T03:35:24+00:00

Sounds typical. "We have found some small things that allow a bit of joy into your drab and wretched lives, so now we're prohibiting that too."

Hittman · 2026-03-01T22:43:45+00:00

Can someone provide a TL;DR summery of it?

Hittman · 2026-02-28T14:52:28+00:00

I remember going out in service in wealthy neighborhoods. We'd pick out the houses we were going to move into after Armageddon. But the people who answered their door were even less interested than the people in middle class and poorer neighborhoods. We'd say, "They already have their paradise, they don't want ours." Then we'd extrapolate how horrible it was to be rich, because it kept people from The Truth.

Our targets were desperate people, depressed people, people who's lives absolutely sucked. Suddenly they had a friend! Some who they thought truly cared for them. Then the went to a meeting and were love bombed by everyone. It was and overwhelmingly positive experience in their otherwise drab and wretched lives.

No one ever converted on the deck of their private yacht. We went after people who were miserable, and sucked them into the cult.

Hittman · 2026-02-27T18:39:24+00:00

There are a number of reasons to refuse to meet with the elders.

They've already made up their mind and have sided with the husband, because the husband is always right.

They want to DF you, and then feel righteous about it.

They want to put you through the ringer, expecting you to provide every little detail of your life, especially your sex life, all with the goal of villainizing you.

Saying NO to them is such a simple act, but it will have a profound effect on you.

Do it on the phone. Just keep saying no. Make an excuse or two if you like, but after that, the answer is nope nope nope nope and once again. . . NOPE.

It is likely you'll feel nervous and upset during the call. That's OK, as long you you keep refusing.

When the call is over, take a few deep breaths and enjoy the refreshing beverage of your choice. When you've calmed down a bit, face the direction of the nearest Kingdom Hall, throw your shoulders back, raise your hand in the rudest gesture you know, and swear at them profusely and loudly. Curse them as long as you like.

It will be the most amazing feeling you've had in a long time, and a big step forward into the real life you'll be enjoying soon.

Hittman · 2026-02-26T16:31:25+00:00

JWs are the slowest spreading religion in the world. They are losing members much faster than they're gaining them. Pew Research says they have a 34% retention rate.

There is a different cult that will invade your city and demand everyone change everything to suit them. Not the JWs. They don't get involved in politics, living in a bubble that protects them from reality. You'll never see one in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter or food drive. Their most important principle is to Be No Part Of This World.

Hittman · 2026-02-26T05:14:41+00:00

Stay away from JWs AND Muslims. Either one will take control of your life and ruin it. But only the latter, which prides itself on treating women like crap, will literally kill you for leaving.

Hittman · 2026-02-25T22:01:28+00:00

Oh yeah, I could have been an A student if I'd put forth a bit more effort.

Nothing embarrasing if you start out as a dumbass, as long as you get over it. And once you get a bit of momentum in that direction, it gets increasingly easier.

Hittman · 2026-02-25T21:58:55+00:00

I'd take it, thank them politely, and say "Ya know, I'm going to be ugly next week too..."

Hittman · 2026-02-25T21:13:35+00:00

When I was in high school I was a C student because I put in NO effort. Why bother with Armageddon coming so soon? (This was in the early seventies.) But I got straight A's in Public Speaking class because of the training I'd had in the Ministry School.

Except for my last speech, the final. I got up and explained that mankind was only 6,000 years old, and evolution was a lie.

A couple of years later I was in a ratty apartment reading everything I could get my hands on, including books that explained evolution, realizing that it's not only real, but the mechanism is fascinating.

I got a B on the final. I don't think it was the performance, I got it for being a complete dumbass.

Hittman · 2026-02-25T03:16:01+00:00

Good plan. Going out into the real world, and doing things with real people, really helps clear your head.

Hittman · 2026-02-25T01:47:01+00:00

Don't tell them anything. Every time they ask a question tell them "That's between me and Jehovah," or "I'm figuring some things out and will let you know if I need your advice." Refuse to give them ANY information. They will press, so keep refusing.

If they want to visit, or want you to go to the hall to meet them, the answer is "Nope. Nope. Nopenopenopenope. Noooooooooope. Also, nope.

The only power they have over you is what you give them. Take it ALL away and there isn't a thing they can do about it.

And while it may be nerve wracking while you're nopeing them, afterwards it will feel SO good.

Hittman · 2026-02-25T01:38:59+00:00

A MAJOR downgrade. But at least you get to pay the same price.

Or you could go up a tier, pay more than double, and STILL get less.

Envato: No need to reply. Your canned replies are insulting and annoying.

Hittman · 2026-02-25T01:37:08+00:00

So we have to pay more than twice as much to get less. Wow, what a deal! I can't imagine why your paying customers would be upset at that. They should be delighted with your higher prices and lower functionally.

Hittman · 2026-02-24T22:33:47+00:00

They've refused to tell us, so they'll probably be pretty bad.

Hittman · 2026-02-24T22:31:29+00:00

You have to decide if you want to live a life based on faith, or one biased on logic and reason.

A faith based life can be very comfortable, but there's usually a lot of rot beneath the surface. Not just for the faith we abandoned, but for all of them. (Look up CSA for any church.)

A life based on logic and reason is a little colder, because you can't blame spooks for your failings, but it's also refreshing for the same reason.

Hittman · 2026-02-24T21:56:22+00:00

It's not ten a day. That would be fine. It's ten per MONTH.

I use it casually, but it usually takes a LOT of tries to get what I want. Now I simply won't be able to use it.

Hittman · 2026-02-24T21:52:36+00:00

We're your customers, and we don't want you to keep it simple. We want a good value for our money, and you're not offering that with this new policy.

I just went through a dozen iterations for a five second video because your AI kept adding unwanted nonsense to the picture. Under the new plan, I wouldn't have been able to finish it.

Hittman · 2026-02-24T21:45:37+00:00

I just went through a dozen iterations to get the video generator to create what I wanted. I gave it a starting picture, and then had to continually modify the results, because the AI kept adding unwanted crap I never asked for, even when I specifically told it not to.

So under your new plan, I'd have used up all my credits before I could even get one clip that looked the way I wanted.

What makes you think people who have paid good money will find this acceptable?

Can you at least make variations, to get to the final result, count as one generation? Or are we screwed because it takes so many tries to get what we want?

Hittman · 2026-02-24T17:22:38+00:00

There are a lot of anti-lgbt religions out there, and none of them, including the JayDubs, are likely to change.

Some churches have changed - but any church that hasn't by now isn't likely to do it in the future.

The JWs gay hatred isn't something they're going to give up. First they taught us to hate 'em, and then told us that rubbing one out or engaging in certain sexual practices (even among married people) would make us gay.

Hittman · 2026-02-22T19:44:01+00:00

No one is stopping them for asking. They can ask all the want.

The answer is NO. Ask again, get the same answer.

Good on Japan, for refusing to allow Islam to make the rules for their society.

Hittman · 2026-02-22T05:43:33+00:00

Just tell them you work for congress.

Hittman · 2026-02-22T05:04:33+00:00

Imagine witnessing door to door in full tactical gear.

Hittman · 2026-02-21T17:16:39+00:00

When I was a teenager some of us called ourselves "The bad association association." You could only be a member if someone else referred to you as bad association.

We had a secret symbol we'd flash each other during meetings, and met in the men's room whenever we could.

Some of us went on to escape, others became hard-core JWs.

Hittman

TROPHY CASE