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Post by Hotdog on Jul 16, 2006 11:48:51 GMT -5
Where are some areas of the planet Earth where the workers allow TVs without any form of punishment i.e. worker talks, meeting removals, excommunications etc.??
My guess: Texas, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, California and Arizona would be more tolerant to TVs. When you go EAST of the Rocky Mountains in USA, TVS are frowned upon and you have to hide them to be in good standing with the workers.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2006 12:59:01 GMT -5
To my knowledge there is no area on the planet where workers will approve of established friends owning TVs. The methods of expressing disapproval are different .. right from excommunicating folks who have them, right down to looking the other way if they are not conspicuous.
I am fairly well acquainted with some of the areas you suggest are TV tolerant -- and know for a fact that workers still actively discourage TVs in those areas. Albeit in less heavy handed ways than earlier in history. I have heard of workers encouraging folks to keep their TVs inconspicuous as not to offend senior workers -- this is teaching hypocrisy to be a virtue, in my opinion. (as is teaching girls to wear skirts when the workers come!!!)
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Post by SM on Jul 16, 2006 13:06:47 GMT -5
Definately a nono in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and from what I've seen ONT as well, Oh..and in newfoundland. Heck from what I've heard from relatives down there, it's a nono to even have a cd player or such.
I agree with Edgar, I've been to many places, many conventions, and it's all in how the workers in that area handle it. Some will outright tell you you're going to hell, and others will leave subtle hints, or make it their next talk at convention, or whatever. Others may well look the other way.
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ally
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Post by ally on Jul 16, 2006 13:14:44 GMT -5
Hi, TV's are definately not allowed in Ireland although many of the friends I know have them hidden away where no one can see them. Since I left the meetings I have got myself a nice TV (or rather I have brought the old one downstairs that I used to have hidden away and I take great pleasure in watching it when I so desire. I have had a few comments from 'the freinds' about my TV but my response is that at least I pay my television licence! In the UK we pay an annual fee for having a TV.
I don't know what all the fuss about TV's is really; after all surely God has given us the abililty to discern right from wrong and by default the ability to use the 'off' button.
Surely there is much more inapproriate material on the internet and I don't see anyone making a fuss about using it.
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sm
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Post by sm on Jul 16, 2006 13:28:06 GMT -5
In some area's even having the net is frowned upon. Because God Forbid someone should run across a site like this lol. Funny though that it's ok for the workers to use the net, just not the friends Alot of workers here have those little pocketmail deals which requires a monthly subscription fee, hmmmmm, wonder who signed those contracts, and pays those fee's...
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ally
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Post by ally on Jul 16, 2006 13:40:18 GMT -5
I have never heard of the internet being frowned on! What part of the world are you from sm?
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Post by selah on Jul 16, 2006 13:41:07 GMT -5
For some reason today, I just can't help it...I have to state the obvious:
How is it that so many know you're not allowed to have TV, yet those same people will adamantly state, "There are no rules!"
It's just plain frustrating! I guess I'm in a mood today.
Blessings, Linda
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Post by ilylo on Jul 16, 2006 13:59:52 GMT -5
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sm
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Post by sm on Jul 16, 2006 14:01:39 GMT -5
Ally, I'm from Western Canada
And when I was proffessing in my early 20's , around the time the net was starting to gain massive popularity, it was definately frowned on, because there were places like this on it. It was much like getting those *letters*, don't read, don't go there, lest you get caught in Satans snare of non believers .
SM
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ally
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Post by ally on Jul 16, 2006 14:04:41 GMT -5
Linda - I am not familiar with the 'no -rule' thing. In Ireland, there are clear rules that must be adhered to and if anybody is perceived to break a rule then it will be addressed. I remember sitting in convention and having the workers go over a litany of things that we could and could not do; they even went so far as to say that ladies should not have splits in their skirts and that stiletto heels were not acceptable.
Some people are so fixated with the rules, or should I say terrified to break them that it is ridiculous. I do alot of walking and the other day I climbed a mountain which took me 3 hours to go up, very steep and quite difficult. At the top I was greeted with a woman who had a long skirt and flat black slip on shoes on. She had long grey hair (in a bun) and had that meeting/religious look about her. She looked so ridiculous, as it is foolish to do this kind of activity without the proper gear.
The reason I am telling you this, is that I just think some of the rules border or ridulous and have no place in todays' world, in my opinion.
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ally
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Post by ally on Jul 16, 2006 14:06:05 GMT -5
PS - I love the 'workers' cartoon; it is halarious!!
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sm
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Post by sm on Jul 16, 2006 14:07:54 GMT -5
How is it that so many know you're not allowed to have TV, yet those same people will adamantly state, "There are no rules!" ;D OMG that's BEAUTIFUL!!!! Just when my printer's not working *laugh*
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Claire
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Post by Claire on Jul 17, 2006 8:36:54 GMT -5
Hi Ally, I'm ex-Irish too, and I understand everything you're saying, though I remember the rules as being .slightly. less strict in Ireland than in England. That was why I wore my red (.red.) shoes to sunday morning meeting in england ... Looking back, i'm lucky we didn't have to dial 999.
What part are you from? Detail need only be the 'top' 'bottom' 'left' and 'right' level. (I was middle left'ish)
c
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Post by Brick on Jul 17, 2006 8:55:02 GMT -5
Some people are so fixated with the rules, or should I say terrified to break them that it is ridiculous. Rules encourage the belief that you are saved by abiding by the rules. Furthermore, it programs the conscience to feel guilt when you perceive that you have violated a rule. Rules cause bitterness in those who can't understand the reason for being asked to do/refrain from said rule. Devoting one's self to abiding by the "rules" empowers workers over you. In such a case, they usurp the authority of God in our lives.
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Post by studylearning on Jul 17, 2006 9:51:59 GMT -5
There are only two places where a Christian lives. In the LAW or in Grace. Where do you want to live?
In the Law you are consistently fighting your failures and consistently failing because you are fighting the battle yourself.
In Grace you let God help you do the battle. The Law does not cause your conscience to feel guilty. It is Gods love which pri-cks you in Grace that your conscience speaks to you. God will not stop loving you. It is in His Grace that you seek to obey his call and show HIM your love and gratitude for that gift of love.
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Post by common TV on Jul 17, 2006 10:10:02 GMT -5
TV is common in Missouri - Arkansas - Kansas - Many, if not most, have TV.
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dea
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Post by dea on Jul 17, 2006 12:44:59 GMT -5
Many people in this area have TV's. It is not suggested to have a TV. My parents and I have had them for many years. When I was about 9, my parents bought a TV. (Before I was born they had one). We have never had cable or satellite service, we only get a few basic channels. When they brought that TV home it created a lot of anxiety inside of me. I think a lot of it was because we kept it hidden, and we weren't allowed to talk about it. Now I have my own. I still don't have cable. The workers have seen it. But I don't have it out to be 'rebellious' or whatever. Why hide it, when God knows about it anyway? Since I have stopped hiding my flaws, etc. I have felt more free and content.
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ally
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Post by ally on Jul 17, 2006 12:50:22 GMT -5
Caithleen - I am from the top of Ireland, one of those old northerners! How long did you profess for? When did you leave the meetings? Why did you leave?
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Post by ilylo on Jul 17, 2006 13:08:03 GMT -5
TV is common in . . .Kansas - Many, if not most, have TV. I disagree with the use of the word "common." I have lived in Kansas all of my life and it was never common. I'm not saying that nobody had a set. It just was never "common," and to my knowledge remains as such.
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Post by My Guess on Jul 17, 2006 13:13:33 GMT -5
My guess: Texas, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, California and Arizona would be more tolerant to TVs. When you go EAST of the Rocky Mountains in USA, TVS are frowned upon and you have to hide them to be in good standing with the workers. My guess is you do not have a good grasp of the geography of the US.
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Post by bowhunter on Jul 17, 2006 17:01:43 GMT -5
In Iowa it is acceptable to pley violent video games on a COMPUTER but a TV is definitely OUT! I hear that Montana allows TV's-according to a young professing resident i talked to recently.
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Post by hewholaughslast on Jul 17, 2006 18:44:50 GMT -5
If I follow the "rules" that don't make sense and can't be supported by scripture am I being a hypocrite? It seems that those rules put people at odds with themselves when they have no personal conviction about them. One sister worker said that we should wear skirts to go clam digging. Just safety pin them between the legs to be modest, isn't that special? LOL Skirts are not in the best taste when you're on a ladder or on your knees in the flower bed. Funny how people think it's OK to watch TV in a motel or in the store but not to own one. Lots of things that have the big NO gain appeal and that promotes sneakiness. It's better to have a juicy grapevine and be sure that everyone is notified of others failings and problems.
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Post by recentarriver on Jul 17, 2006 19:12:08 GMT -5
To Common TV Guest; I have lived in the midwest over 30 years and TV's are not common in the homes (F&W)where I have visited in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma. These are all fairly rural areas. Maybe TV's are more common in large cities.
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Post by To Kansas on Jul 17, 2006 23:27:06 GMT -5
Dear New Mamber - You are correct, in your own mind, as the only thing that you know for certain is if you or your family had a TV. The TV's in the past were more hidden, as the cartoon suggest, and you just thought that they did not have TV. They even had TV in the meeting home, in Kansas, in the 1950's (hidden)! This should be meeting homes as it was not just one home. The only change is that the TV is no longer hidden and is not a current issue with the new breed of meeting goers. the black socks went out the door, the no radio went out the door, and the no TV is out the door. If you perfer to not have TV, this your business, and if others perfer to have TV, this would be there business. I am sorry that you were led to believe, for 30 years, that the folks did not have TV. This would be a very bad thing to mislead the flock.
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Post by junia on Jul 18, 2006 0:55:57 GMT -5
While TV ownership among the friends is still in the minority here, I'd say that it's very common with those in their 40s and under. Most use it as a "monitor" for use with a DVD, while those with cable or satellite (my signal of choice) are less common but it's getting much more frequent in the past few years. Just my observation.
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Post by ilylo on Jul 18, 2006 1:46:40 GMT -5
I know a family (all 2x2) who have a RGB computer monitor hooked up to a DVD player. A non-2x2 relative happened by and observed how things were changing: "I remember when there wasn't a TV in this house, and now you have one in the living room." Someone happened to be watching a movie at the time he made this observation.
The reply from the professing lady of the house: "Oh, that's not a TV. That's a monitor."
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Post by monitor on Jul 18, 2006 11:53:40 GMT -5
To - "Oh, that's not a TV. That's a monitor". Some of the original folks lean somewhat to the simple side. That is a great observation you made! The reasons for the new and improved is that the younger generation is more educated and is moving away from the simple group. It is easier to control the simple group, but the control is going by the wayside.
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Post by hrl on Jul 18, 2006 14:44:23 GMT -5
I have a personal conviction about T.V. that has been with me for quite some time; maybe about 15 years; as even though it wasn't a religious issue for me, it's more of a personal kind of thing; I found myself watching less and less T.V. because it was broadcasting more and more 'junk', too many commercials and quite a lot of smut; not much that was wholesome. So I found myself {gladly} doing other things such as reading, music, crafts, exercise, chores; using what little time I seemed to have in the day for these things which I feel are better for your health, without regards to a certain religious mandate there might be in one's existence.
Then along came the computer and with it many similar 'things' one could encounter on a T.V. And I then found myself needing to take a look at all of the time and temptations that the comp. and the net could bring into my home. I am pretty old fashioned, I guess and I like simple, wholesome things. So the comp. and net is something that can also be a real problem.....as it's literally chaulk full of limitless possibilities........
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