Showing posts with label Nonvideo Posts 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nonvideo Posts 2. Show all posts

Sunday, March 1, 2009

I'm Back!


I apologise for my absence. I've been busy with other projects. I also needed a break from blogging about Jehovah's Witnesses and other cult related issues. There are times when I find it to be theraputic and, hopefully, helpful for others. At other times, I just need to get away and focus on other aspects of my development.


I'm pleased that this blog has continued to receive vigorous traffic, despite the lack of recent postings. So far, it's received over 43,000 visits. I'm sure that will really increase now that I'm posting again.


My intention is for this blog to be primarily a reference resource. I do not currently produce videos. The videos here are all from others and they deserve the credit. My intention is to promote videos that I find worthwhile and to make them easy to find from one location. I provide label links in the sidebar so my visitors can quickly find videos on specific topics.


Since this blog is primarily meant for reference, I'm not particularly concerned about expressing my own opinions here. (You can always check my other blog if you want to know my opinions.) Many of the videos express views that I disagree with. I still think they are worth considering. My intention is not to promote specific viewpoints, but to promote the consideration of other viewpoints. This is not generally encouraged among Jehovah's Witnesses and other high control groups. They are often very suspicious of any information that they consider to be critical of their religion. Many Jehovah's Witnesses were raised in that kind of environment and are now ready to consider opposing viewpoints with an open mind. I hope this blog will be helpful to them.


I also hope this blog will be helpful to those, like myself, who have left that religion and may be facing new challenges like being cut off from family and former friends because of the strict Jehovah's Witness shunning policy. I also believe this can be a useful resource for others who are just looking for general information about Jehovah's Witnesses, who may come to their door or attempt to convert family members or friends.


There have been a surprising number of great videos being made in recent months. Thank you for your patience as I try to get caught up in posting them.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

The Watchtower Comments Videos are Back


The Watchtower Comments videos are among the most popular on this site. They were recently taken down from Youtube as a response to a legal threat from the directors of the "Knocking" documentary. This blog also received a legal threat, despite the fact that I have nothing to do with the production of those videos. Click here for my comments or here for the latest news on this situation.


I'm pleased that these excellent videos are back. Jehovah's Witnesses are now producing two versions of their Watchtower magazine. One is a public edition that waters down their controversial teachings. The other is a study edition for Jehovah's Witnesses and contains much stronger language. This makes it much harder for outsiders or former members to know what is going on in that religion. (I have family in that religion and am very concerned about this increased secrecy.) The Watchtower Comments videos are valuable because they discuss these study articles and provide observation that won't be heard at the Watchtower studies of Jehovah's Witnesses. I hope you will take a look at them. I intend to keep posting them on this blog as they become available.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

This Blog Receives a Legal Threat


I recently received an email threatening me with legal action if I don't remove a short video clip from the Watchtower Comments series of videos. The email claimed that the clip was copyrighted. This is strange because I have nothing to do with the production of those videos. They are hosted on Youtube and I only embedded them on this site.


I learned later that the clip in question was only three seconds long. That sounds like fair use to me. If that isn't fair use, then what is? Well, the videos are now gone. I don't know if Youtube removed them or if they were removed by the producer. I hope they will be replaced soon with edited versions. I will try to embed the new videos soon after they are available. I will place them on the same blog pages as the old videos.


I hope to discuss this situation more thoroughly when I have more information. In the meantime you can check out these ongoing discussion about this issue.


"Knocking" Legal Action Against Watchtower Comments

Some of My Thoughts About Knocking's Legal Threats

Emailed Legal Threats

How to get Watchtower Comments videos back up (with Knocking section)


The three second clip in question comes from the "Knocking" documentary, a film that has caused a great deal of controversy. Here are some links.

Jehovah's Witnesses PBS Film KNOCKING Omits the Facts

KNOCKING: A New Pro-JW Documentary

Knocking on Jehovah's Witnesses


Update 4/1/08: The Watchtower Comments videos are back. See this post.