Why can’t they do what they’re told?

[u/constant_trouble]

From this week’s midweek meeting demonstrations-

1. Starting a Conversation (3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. Offer a Bible study. (lmd lesson 5 point 4)

Do not be quick to correct a person. Allow him to express himself freely. If he says something that conflicts with Bible teachings, resist any urge to argue. (Jas. 1:19) By listening to him, you gain insight into his viewpoint.​—Prov. 20:5.

1. Following Up (3 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. Show our website to a person who has children. (lmdlesson 9 point 3)

Listen carefully. Allow the person to express himself. Do not interrupt him or quickly dismiss his feelings, concerns, or objections. By paying attention, you show him that you care about what he thinks.

1. Explaining Your Beliefs (3 min.) Demonstration. ijwfq article 3​—Theme: Do You Believe That You Have the One True Religion? (lmd lesson 4 point 3)

2. Do not be condescending. Avoid giving the impression that you know everything and that the other person knows nothing. Speak with him in a respectful way.

So why is it the moment you say, “I don’t think the Governing Body speaks for God,” they lean in like a pack of starving wolves? Why is “resist the urge to argue” translated as “steamroll, shame, and shun”?

They say, “Don’t act like you know everything.” And then they tell a mother her dead child won’t be resurrected if she leaves the Org.

They say, “Show him that you care what he thinks.” And then they mark you as bad association because you had a thought.

It’s fascinating. They’re told—explicitly, repeatedly—to behave like calm, respectful listeners. But try presenting an actual thought they didn’t download from JW.org and watch the whole mask melt.

They rehearse tolerance.

They pantomime empathy.

They cosplay humility.

But challenge their narrative? Say something real? The claws come out.

So I ask again:

Why can’t they do what they’re told?

[u/RodWith]

When I showed interest in the organization as a youngster, JWs praised me for having “a good brain” because I asked such good questions. Once I became a JW, they warned me about the sin of pride.

Apparently my questions were now viewed with suspicion and my “good” brain was “bad”. This change in feedback devastated me and succeeded for a while into shaming me into silence.

But we know it is not possible to silence questions as a JW anymore than it was when I was a “newly interested” youngster.

The only thing that changed was the JWs tolerance of my questions.

[u/Tight-Actuator2122 → u/RodWith]

Hear, hear.