Comments on: Advice For Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses: How To Handle It When Jehovah’s Witnesses Confront You In Public Places http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/jehovahwitnessconfrontpublic-26.htm Created by an ex-Jehovah's Witness turned atheist, Atheist Geek News is both funny and moderately informative. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:40:12 +0000 hourly 1 By: The Atheist Geek http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/jehovahwitnessconfrontpublic-26.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1062 The Atheist Geek Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:02:52 +0000 http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/?p=26#comment-1062 Thanks for the comments. Sadly, it seems like many Witnesses are unconsciously trying to bully and hassle ex-Witnesses, not so much to save us from ourselves as they claim. Their approach is usually off and they do more damage to their stated goal than good by being aggressive and mean. Many of them do a wonderful job of pushing us around, though. This is how many top-notch salesmen work as well. They push you around until you get tired of it and just buy the service plan like they wanted. Then, they're suddenly friendly again. It conditions you to just do what they want because it's easier. Both bullies and aggressive salesmen push their advantage when they sense weakness. Try to match their aggression and they're more inclined to proceed carefully. So be confident, not meek. They want the "buzz" that comes from slapping you down. If they sense that they might get slapped down instead, they'll suddenly switch to a gentler, kinder approach. This allows them to cry foul if you overdo it. That's why, in public, at least, you should only match their aggression. Note that not all Witnesses are this bad, but many are. :-( Too bad. Thanks for the comments.

Sadly, it seems like many Witnesses are unconsciously trying to bully and hassle ex-Witnesses, not so much to save us from ourselves as they claim. Their approach is usually off and they do more damage to their stated goal than good by being aggressive and mean. Many of them do a wonderful job of pushing us around, though.

This is how many top-notch salesmen work as well. They push you around until you get tired of it and just buy the service plan like they wanted. Then, they’re suddenly friendly again. It conditions you to just do what they want because it’s easier.

Both bullies and aggressive salesmen push their advantage when they sense weakness. Try to match their aggression and they’re more inclined to proceed carefully. So be confident, not meek. They want the “buzz” that comes from slapping you down. If they sense that they might get slapped down instead, they’ll suddenly switch to a gentler, kinder approach. This allows them to cry foul if you overdo it. That’s why, in public, at least, you should only match their aggression.

Note that not all Witnesses are this bad, but many are. :-( Too bad.

]]> By: apiece http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/jehovahwitnessconfrontpublic-26.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1053 apiece Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:47:32 +0000 http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/?p=26#comment-1053 Hi Athiest Geek, I wish I had read this a few months ago, it would have been very helpful. When I left the JWs, I also moved to another country - actually I moved country and then left the JWs. So, I don't bump into them often, except when I visit family. With family I'm polite, but honest when they ask my opinion. Recently, I used the polite response on a JW who confronted me about something I wrote online. At first I thought if I was off-hand/generous he would go away, and when he didn't I had to clean up my mess. And yes, he saw my generous responses as a weakness to exploit. In the end I found the exchange quite useful as it clarified some opinions I didn't realise I even held. But, yeah, if I'd read this post beforehand, I would have been spared the drama. I really like your posts, they're sane and funny, and very helpful. :-) Hi Athiest Geek,
I wish I had read this a few months ago, it would have been very helpful. When I left the JWs, I also moved to another country – actually I moved country and then left the JWs. So, I don’t bump into them often, except when I visit family. With family I’m polite, but honest when they ask my opinion. Recently, I used the polite response on a JW who confronted me about something I wrote online. At first I thought if I was off-hand/generous he would go away, and when he didn’t I had to clean up my mess. And yes, he saw my generous responses as a weakness to exploit. In the end I found the exchange quite useful as it clarified some opinions I didn’t realise I even held. But, yeah, if I’d read this post beforehand, I would have been spared the drama.

I really like your posts, they’re sane and funny, and very helpful. :-)

]]> By: Selena http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/jehovahwitnessconfrontpublic-26.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1049 Selena Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:24:08 +0000 http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/?p=26#comment-1049 This was not only informative it was very funny. I share the first part with my husband and he had a good laugh from that. -Selena This was not only informative it was very funny. I share the first part with my husband and he had a good laugh from that.

-Selena

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