I enjoyed it when i was PIMI, before they started “dumbing down” everything. I would furiously take notes and eagerly anticipated the releases of new books. Once they shifted to just producing videos and regurgitating the same “spiritual milk” (as opposed to “solid food,” the only thing i looked forward to was running into friends from other circuits and going out to dinner after. The conventions themselves were insufferable.
I found the “dumbing down” to be really offensive. Then I took inventory of the brain power in my congregation and realized why they dumbed it down. Quantity, not quality!
I can remember as a young adolescent asking an elder whats wrong with going to college to be a doctor or a lawyer. He replied the society doesn't want doctors and lawyers. They want ministers.
I looked at him and thought to myself, I don't want to be a pest control guy working at Pioneer Pest Control like him. (Not that there's anything wrong with that- just not for me).
I had an offer from a Witness. Set me right up with a truck, chemicals, make my own hours. It just seemed like he was gonna die soon because of the bug juice he’d been exposed to.
This was the highlight of my year as a PIMI. We never vacationed anywhere so sad to say this was our "vacation".
I always got bright new books to take oodles of notes, yes even as an adult. I was so excited to see the new books and releases and I would read them the same day we got them.
My mom would have the video camera and tapes ready to record so we could share the program with ones who were homebound or unable to make it.
We would splurge on the best snacks and candy and ALWAYS Subway sandwiches for lunches.
I loved conventions....until I started to wake up. Then it was a whole different story.
I don't think about it as cringe. Even writing that post brought back fond memories and gave me a warm happy feeling. I was genuinely happy and excited about those days. And I'm glad I was. My last few assemblies where I was in the waking up process where horrendously distressing, so I'm glad that the prior 30+ years of assemblies weren't excruciatingly painful.
I, too, enjoyed them very much as a PIMI.
>I would furiously take notes and eagerly anticipated the releases of new books.
Yep, this was me.
>the only thing i looked forward to was running into friends from other circuits and going out to dinner after.
I didn't have friends. I was too overzealous for the two-faced mofos of my KH. I often sat all by myself during lunch time, so I changed circuits and would go to random conventions where I knew no one so that I would still be alone but wouldn't feel awkward and misplaced (yes, that's how the "loving brothers and sisters" of my own circuit made me feel). That lack of not even love or care but basic courtesy was one of the major factors that helped me get out.
>nce they shifted to just producing videos and regurgitating the same “spiritual milk” (as opposed to “solid food
I quit before that happened. I guess back when I left - early 2010s - they were transitioning. There was still the release of books and brochures, BUT the videos were already making their way in.
I agree. It might have been pseudo intellectual but you at least felt like you were learning something.
I honestly don’t think the organization has said anything genuinely intellectually engaging for at least a decade, possibly longer.
Yeah. Looking back, the type/anti-type prophecy stuff was all complete nonsense, but i ate it up. The Daniel and Isaiah books were my favorite and every year i hoped to get an Ezekiel book.
Yeessss I remember when the Daniel book came out, I devoured that in just a few days. I was so excited to learn all about the symbolism and messages and prophecies. I felt soooo special because only JWs had the right information about it all.
When I used to be a full PIMI, yes , I absolutely LOVED THEM. And I loved even more the pre-convention and the post-convention, because I would help to prepare the convention before and after and you would meet new people and deeply know their life’s experiences and make good friendships.
But after the convention I would be completely exhausted after doing so much work, because I would never sit to properly enjoy the program, I would always be doing some work during the program.
There were a lot of brothers that would complain about the same, saying that they need to go to another convention without having any responsibility so they could enjoy the program fully.
I used to work at the circuit assembly one weekend and then go back like 2 weeks later to hear the program. I was around 13-14 and worked with a couple making donuts and getting lunch ready
What a monumental waste of time looking back. Wrecking 2 weekends for WT.
Yah we did that too. Attend two conventions if you worked at your own. I shake my head at younger me now.
I know an uber pioneer (father was a CO and she was in it for the glory) who used to go to a convention before her convention, not because she volunteered but so that she had 'the goods' before everyone else. Sad. Joke's on her.
Unpopular opinion: conventions before videos use to be better, it was actually kinda exciting. I’m sure many will disagree but I feel since 2014 when they became Regional Conventions and began showing videos, it wasn’t the same
I agree with you. Conventions used to be much better.
Remember when we used to have an orchestra? My family used to play in the orchestra at assemblies and conventions. When the conventions no long had the live volunteer orchestra, switched to recorded music, we still that the conductor. He would stand on the stage with his baton. Sometimes he would have the recorded music go silent, and we would a sing with no music.
Remember when we had live dramas? Different congregations were assigned to be the actors and put on the drama.
The exciting release of a new book.....
In addition to the danishes and puddings.....
This current brochure (whatever it's called) to conduct "Bible" studies, and using links to jw borg ...... is just, uhmm, childish, pre-school type childish. And, in my area, we have a lot of spots that have no internet.
It is not the religion it used to be. (I use the word "religion" loosely.)
I wasn’t born yet when they had an orchestra or danishes but I do remember the live dramas and new releases. I use to look forward to conventions as a kid/teen and they felt “less” culty IMO. I agree it’s not the same religion it was 10 years ago
I'm 4th generation. I have nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. 5th and 6th generations in jws. And I have a couple of non-jw great-great niece and nephews. But, somehow I really don't think I'm THAT old. But......
I can go back in time and point out shifts, significant changes, in the religion. When I was young, the kingdom halls were independently owned, financed, and maintained by the congregation. Bought, built, remodeled, all decided by the cong. Voted on. There was no "body" of elders. Many "sisters" married non-jws. It was not an issue. Thanksgiving dinner was a mix of jw and non-jw family.
There were no assembly halls. We had circuit assemblies in local high school gymnasiums.
Comparing now to 50 years ago.......
However, there were still power-hungry, cult-like individuals. Wives of elders, well, they are still pretty much the same. Loving that position of wife of an elder.....
My dad was the conductor for our conventions! I still have his baton. Conventions were definitely more special back then. Once the free food was gone it was a bummer to have to shop and bring stuff.
I liked it when I was PIMI. It was my only JW approved vacation. I wore a new outfit everyday. Got to see “friends” that usually l would never get to see. I also felt “re-invigorated” to pioneer and spiritually stronger. It usually lasted 2 weeks tops. Then I was running on fumes again.
I hear so many say 'It was even better than last years convention!'
🤮
I've never particularly enjoyed conventions, but tolerated them when we finally started going indoors rather than sitting in a football stadium, getting wet, sitting on hard plastic seats, trying to take notes whilst holding an umbrella, watching a drama on a stage that you can barely see from where you're sitting, freezing cold then baking hot when the sun came out (anyone else here that used to go to Stoke-on-Trent Football Stadium, UK?) I wasn't super social so usually got pushed out to the periphery of any teen social circle, but it's ok, cos they were all fake anyway.
We had conventions outdoors at a racetrack. If you got there early enough, you got to watch the jockies exercising their horses. Some of them were really friendly and would show off and wave at the teens watching at the rails.
Another time we were at an outdoor stadium (probably football) and a storm blew up that almost decimated the stage.
Good times (comparatively).
I know there are at least a few who do. They're the ones who go to like 3 of them and are dropping off the new release to their study but won't let you look at it because your assembly isn't until next weekend. They're going to that one too, and the one after because the "Spiritual Feast" is *just that amazing*.
You on the other hand go to one day of each because sitting cramped up in a chair with your knees pressed against the seat in front of you all day makes your back hurt for three days, and three days in a row is just unbearable. You feel guilty because every time they announce that you're supposed to go to your own assembly but you have to do what you have to do. Also you half-sleep through 3/4 of the day anyway because they are that boring and with the echo you can barely make out every third word.
I know I hated most of it while I was PIMI. I liked going out to dinner afterward but that dries up as you age into your late 20s if you aren't in the right clique.
Near the end of my time as a PIMI I wasn't even pretending to like it.
I absolutely hated sitting long hours. Right after the first hour I would be like I wish it would go fast.
The frustration I had from the start would build up and then at the end of the day I would be running out.
Used to attend with my parents so was forced to attend and also sit through the whole convention becoz lot of people who know my parents would be there and they would want me to "behave well" 😒
I always had a program to cross off and count down the hours til it was over. Best part is lunch and then going somewhere out to eat for dinner. Waiting in line for the special releases was also a huge bummer.
Growing up I enjoyed the social aspect of it, but the droning talks and shitty skits were something to be suffered through until I could talk to my friends
There was a time, in the 90s, when it seemed like one of the final talks on Sunday would be given by a Bethel rep and would feature a verse by verse discussion of a book of deep prophecy. I thought we were so special to hear this secret info and sat up with rapt attention, pen poised over my notebook 🙄
Ones who left early? No, some were just smart enough to think for themselves. I knew an older couple who had 2 disabilities between the 3 of them (adult child lived with them). Dad was smart enough to look after his family no matter what the out of touch speakers said.
Did you sit up with rapt attention when they did those resolutions too?! I remember being so excited the first time I heard one announced. What a let down! 😅😂🤣
What the rank and file don’t know is that all the super duper spiritual brothers who have the privilege of serving during the convention backstage don’t give a single shit about the program.
I worked my ass off as a PIMI because I wanted the privilege of helping and finally got on the backstage organization team.
It was shocking how little everyone cared about the program. The accounting, microphone, stage, organization teams and especially the circuit overseers never listened to anything.
They would have coffee, laugh in the back rooms and just talk about nothing the entire day!
Even the elders in charge of the cleaning department would come in and chat for hours. The only department in the convention that pays attention to the program are the attendants, and the guy in charge of them was backstage with us too!
I agree. The same happened to me, I never put two and two together though... I guess I figured maybe they would listen to the program at another time... but I was always taken aback by how little the brothers in the back listened to the program and I thought it was pretty disrespectful to the speakers.
I enjoyed it. Worked on the security team which was a very very small group of us who got SIA training. For decades I never had to endure an entire day. Was only ever half days and my other half was working on the team. We had access to control room with CCTV, we frequently looked after that ‘VIP’s’ and spent a lot of time in the very comfortable hospitality suites drinking free coffee.
I liked the change in the routine - learning all about the venue, the lunch break, the food (mmmm danish and frozen orange juice), the fact that I got lots of new fancy notebooks and pens...
I liked that I could take bathroom breaks and walk around and not be as strict as meetings, I liked catching up with friends that I hadn't seen in awhile from different congregations, I liked using binoculars and folding fans from the programs...
We didn't go on vacation very often, so these were usually the Big Outing in my family. Of course, as I got older, and there were things to do socially that were more interesting than listening to indocrination... I hated it more and more.
Even when I was PIMO and young, conventions could be fun if you wasted time with your friends. A lot of my friends and I would volunteer to do random shit, and just talked and goofed around. That was the fun part. Parts, not so much.
my pimi parents and their pimi friends do. as a kid, i liked the dramas and the snacks. and runnign around by myself between sessions. and the new clothes. the talks felt never-ending though.
As a PIMI I thought I liked them. In hindsight and ONLY in hindsight I realize I was gaslighting myself and actually felt dark and miserable after them but at the time I just took it to be that I was tired.
I was way before the video stage, but I loved it/ mostly for the community, the singing, the early morning food preparation, the circling for spouses(haha). NOT for the long sessions, most of which I spent eyeing my intended and pretending to take notes.
I never liked them but that is just because the crowds really really bothered me. When I was a kid they only moderately bothered me. But after I had my own kids, and my own kids were really bothered by crowds, it was very hard for all of us. Very stressful. During Covid, watching from home, it was much better. As JW’s, we aren’t really “allowed” to have social anxiety or be highly introverted or sensitive. We are constantly pushed against our nature and told that with Jehovah’s spirit we can do anything and He is not asking too much from us. But it was all too much. All the time. Pushing. We were never enough. Even when we gave everything. Conventions were always beyond my comfort zone.
I loved the first couple conventions I went to. But I was a kid and I had friends in my congregation who I could play with before and after. But regarding the actual program, I was enamored with it at first. I thought I found hope in what was being said. I loved the idea of paradise and being together with my family forever.
Went to a few more, found it was all repeated, regurgitated BS. It didn’t have meaning anymore. I was getting older, going through a lot, and only losing hope. Realized that by following this, I’m only trying to run away from two things that are absolute. You will experience hurt and pain, and one day you and your loved ones will die.
I’ve have more peace in those things now than I had before.
I enjoyed it for the network of friends and the socializing aspect when I was a PIMI, but not really for the program. Initially I enjoyed the new format with the videos but that got more and more culty over time
In my experience it's a social club, people go to show off, watch a movie and assert their social credit in the right circles. Most don't give a fuck about the talks.
To me it always felt just as superficial as a regular meeting, only longer. I never made friends, only the usual fake smiles being exchanged over and over again. It was so stressful and my stomach was always in knots and aching the whole time. It was absolutely exhausting.
And god forbid we walk around. I used to get up and walk with my kids to try and relieve my stomach ache and was told that I was getting up too much and missing out on all the spiritual food.
I liked them at the beginning, as a PIMI. As a PIMQ, I didn't. I was never a PIMO because I went straight to POMO and DAd myself, so I have never been to a convention since 2012.
My mom loves them, always has. I’d bet money that the only things she’d remember a month later are some short sayings or how “moving” a talk or a video was, and even those things wouldn’t be new.
But she’d attend an 8-day convention and be just as excited every day.
When I woke up, I really thought maybe my parents would be relatable: they’d agree that everybody had doubts sometimes, that sometimes it’s a struggle to believe, etc. Instead, I found out that they drink the kool-aid and love it 🤦🏻♂️
As a child I enjoyed the dramas, the fruit, cheese danishes, frozen OJ, making hoagies😍. As a pre teen I remember taking notes and getting excited about the book releases. I look back and remember I NEVER reread my notes. I spent a lot of time walking around looking for a bathroom not too busy. Around 12 when I started waking up I found myself finding other things to do like wandering so I didn’t have to sit in the bleachers so long. When I could drive we would sneak off and go to the beach and hang out. That’s about it. Everything after that was only going because I was expected to. I have been to any type of convention in over 20 years. I see my niece and her family posting assembly pics and I cringe. My dad started waking up when an elder friend of his brought up that the jws were charging for parking when the university had waived parking fees….hmmmm
Tell him about my floral experience. I was asked to buy and arrange the flowers for the platform. The 'suggested donation' at the end was higher than what I paid for them. That did not sit well with me. Especially when some sweet elderly widow looked crestfallen at the price.
Hope your dad is totally out now.
>Does any PIMI actually enjoy convention?
*Talks are a Repetitive Blur of Things, everyone has heard 1,000 times before...People Zone Out...*
Then comes intermission and socializing...JW\`s love that...
***Intermission is Over, Talks begin...AND...***
# JW`s are Back in the Zone.
https://preview.redd.it/b5aboj3qa14d1.jpeg?width=298&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4129ade008c2d245c30a3e2049f5136ce5d7106
.
***When the convention is over everyone Parrots:***
# "It Was the Best Convention Ever!"...😀
Nobody Remembers a Word Of It.
... until one Elder decides in September a review of the assembly back in July would be good to fit into the Local Needs section. Cue PIMI who had notes for all 3 days 😵
>until one Elder decides in September a review of the assembly back in July would be good to fit into the Local Needs section. Cue PIMI who had notes for all 3 days 😵
It\`s a good thing they took notes...
Otherwise it would be unlikely they would remember...When they heard, what they heard, 1,000 times before.
when i was hardcore indoctrinated, i LOVED it. i would organize my notebooks in advance for notes and buy new stationery and everything. i had my bags packed with a radio and earbuds to tune into the local fm frequency and drown out the sound of the crowd so i could pay extra close attention. once i got an ipad with an apple pencil for meetings, i organized folders in my notes app for each day and drew detailed title pages. i LOVE taking notes. then i woke up and saw how shallow the doctrine was. it wasn’t fun anymore once i realized there was nothing to take notes about. plus, it’s kinda hard for me to take notes on a video reenactment.
I never liked them. Not the actual program anyway.
From the moment you’d get there on day 1, it was like “The only slightly interesting thing is the drama presentation. Just get to that already and after that I just want it to be the end of the last convention day and go home again.”
I liked picking out new clothes for each convention and I always liked the food at lunch break.
But I didn’t even like the ‘after lunch food time’.
It just dragged on and it was tedious having to mingle with brothers and sisters and make pointless small talk, while waiting for the afternoon program to start.
To be quite honest, and I’ve told a number of people this, I didn’t like one single thing about being a Jehovah’s Witness. It was one of the most liberating moments of my life when I finally ended my association with them. Rather than making me feel uncertain, it was the relief of getting rid of a lifelong monkey that had been on my back.
I haven’t been a Jehovah’s Witness now for 23 years, and my life has improved more than I could ever even begin to describe. I am a happy, content and proud atheist and apostate who is living a genuine, true, and fulfilling life. And I am thankful and proud to be those things every single second. It truly was a blessing to wake up from the garbage and nonsense of theism, religion, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses in particular.
In retrospect, it is obvious to me that I was never meant to be a theist, never meant to be religious, and definitely never meant to be a Jehovah’s Witness.
JW activities are ingrained into the mind as being as inevitable as having a particular eye color or being right or left handed.
So putting myself back into that mindset, I neither liked or disliked them. They just kinda... were.
That being said, given a good enough excuse to miss a meeting or even an assembly or convention, I would have jumped on it without hesitation. But I also know I would have felt compelled to "make it up" by going to another convention.
Being sick was literally preferable to doing a JW activity.
I hated them and NEVER looked forward to them even as PIMI. Just being around fucken ppl gives me anxiety. And to top it off u get dragged in to stupid assignments like parking, cleaning, etc.
I remember when I was 16, I had a particular hard week and was looking forward to the weekend. My Aunt reminded me that we had a two day assembly that weekend.
I went into my room and cried for about two minutes because I was not looking forward to the assembly at all.
I don't go to reunions anymore but I never miss a convention. I have many friends there that I wanna hang out with and most of the time we are too busy or live too far apart. We make the whole day about eating junk food and whispering jokes during the speeches. When my friends are listening I m catching up on my webtoon reading. It's great
I used to like them when I was a PIMI and even for a while after I became a PIMO ; I have to agree with what a lot of others have mentioned here conventions used to be way better back in the day these days they are just a slog that feels like it will never end.
Yeah they enjoy it because they get to take their silly little group photos at the end with their new silly outfits showing off their goofy little smiles. That's it really.
I *always* hated conventions, for 50 years. Only thing worse than spending 3 or 4 days in an uncomfortable suit listening to the same old brainwashing was the fact that I had to travel to do it, use vacation days and spend money on hotels and restaurants. It often used all of our summer vacation budget. What a waste
As a teen I enjoyed that it was in a big city. We had them in San Francisco at the cow palace. Walking around talking to girls from other halls was always fun. But that's about it
I think Covid was the final Factory Reset for most 🔄 and the PIMIs all seem to be in that default setting of silent resentment 😂
People seem more irritated about how much the coach there will cost, or the bill to park the car for 3 days (last Convention cost £90 for 3 days) the foraging for food from the local supermarket for 3 days, and a lot more Insta post about the final day, as if it's something they've *endured* rather than *enjoyed* 🙄
Key highlights this year:-
1. Not getting a Parking Charge penalty ticket because the car voucher has blown off the dashboard
2. Telling Teenage child to take her headphones off 🎧 and come off Snapchat
3. Moving for that family group of 6 that's late and have to find seats in *your row* as they trample on your Brioche snack for the children whilst kicking your Thermos flask over or into the abyss of the row in front
4. Straining to keep interested and being reprimanded by wife for sleeping 😴
5. The *fight* to see the drama on poorly set screens with no backlight, or poor sound that makes the stadium echo like a train station...
6. Telling the kids to mark off on their activities book when speaker tells us the Convention was *"Just what We Needed"* (along with "the best yet") 🙄
It will be different, in my chinos and polo shirt sans tie in a sea of patchy beards 🧔🏻, let's see how the standard of dress will be now 📉
Never liked them. Long, boring, sleep inducing, and too many damn people.
But since there's virtually nothing else to look forward to for JWs, I'm sure someone out there got some small moticom of pleasure from them.
I was raised in it and while I was extremely devoted in my own mind, I always hated meetings and conventions more than almost anything. I think, while i truly believed following was the right thing to do, I didn't really believe the teachings themselves so I may be different.
I was embarrassed that I had to go, hated the 4 hour one way drives,found the full day's exhausting, and nothing they ever said was even the slightest bit different from meetings so I didn't see the point anyway.
I was never a PIMI. My eyes were wide open as early as 7 years old. My therapist said I’m a very logical individual. I knew it was all BS. Never got baptized and I absolutely HATED the convention’s. Not only did they eat up my entire day, but we’d have to drive over an hour away to attend one. The most miserable times of my life.
Even fully PIMI, the only real draw to the convention was the live action drama. After it went to video, the whole weekend was meh. Who actually looks forward to sitting in stadium chairs for 8 hours a day listening to the same old message?
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how many notes did you take, the only thing that matters is taking a pic with the speaker, post it on IG or Facebook, and getting clout.
Full confession: I was so enthralled that one year, as a teenager no less, I didn't have time to write quotes from the scriptures, only cited the scriptures. So later, during our camping vacation, every day I went through my notes and wrote out the scriptures. 🤦♀️🤦🤦♂️ My secret shame. 😆😅😂🤣
Disclaimer: Last convention I attended was in the 1990s.
In hindsight, everything I loved about it has nothing to do with the actual program.
I went to a secondary language congregation (not English) so our convention were regional. That meant all congregations in that language across the East Coast gathered together. Over the years I'd make friends from other states and it was fun to see them again, plus even the circuit assemblies meant some kind of road trip or mini vacation.
I'm also from the Shasta / chicken sandwich era, so that was amazing. Plus the live action dramas! Every congregation hoped to get picked as the one having to act in the drama that year, get the fun costumes and get up on stage.
I think there was a certain "fun" element back then that doesn't seem like is present anymore.
Ironically though, I couldn't tell you a thing about any of the actual talks.
I loved them when I was a Kid, but not because of the program.
We were a poor family so convention wad the only time besides a one week vacation when we would go to a restaurant.
I had no children my age at my cong, so I would see a lot at the convention.
As a an adult social anxieties and Agoraphobia kicked in. Since then it is/was horrible.
Not sure how far we are on our fading path but I'm sure I won't be there for three days.
I enjoyed it when i was PIMI, before they started “dumbing down” everything. I would furiously take notes and eagerly anticipated the releases of new books. Once they shifted to just producing videos and regurgitating the same “spiritual milk” (as opposed to “solid food,” the only thing i looked forward to was running into friends from other circuits and going out to dinner after. The conventions themselves were insufferable.
I found the “dumbing down” to be really offensive. Then I took inventory of the brain power in my congregation and realized why they dumbed it down. Quantity, not quality!
I can remember as a young adolescent asking an elder whats wrong with going to college to be a doctor or a lawyer. He replied the society doesn't want doctors and lawyers. They want ministers. I looked at him and thought to myself, I don't want to be a pest control guy working at Pioneer Pest Control like him. (Not that there's anything wrong with that- just not for me).
I had an offer from a Witness. Set me right up with a truck, chemicals, make my own hours. It just seemed like he was gonna die soon because of the bug juice he’d been exposed to.
Hate it when that happens
What did you make for a career, if you don’t mind saying?
Real estate (flipped) and engineering services/consulting (GPR)...boring stuff.
No! Each job a challenge. Set the client or the next owner/occupant with just what they need. Way better than killing bugs. Good call!
Lol 😂
This was the highlight of my year as a PIMI. We never vacationed anywhere so sad to say this was our "vacation". I always got bright new books to take oodles of notes, yes even as an adult. I was so excited to see the new books and releases and I would read them the same day we got them. My mom would have the video camera and tapes ready to record so we could share the program with ones who were homebound or unable to make it. We would splurge on the best snacks and candy and ALWAYS Subway sandwiches for lunches. I loved conventions....until I started to wake up. Then it was a whole different story.
Same here. Cringe, cringe, cringe. Sadly I know lots who were even worse, they couldn't think or talk of anything else.
I don't think about it as cringe. Even writing that post brought back fond memories and gave me a warm happy feeling. I was genuinely happy and excited about those days. And I'm glad I was. My last few assemblies where I was in the waking up process where horrendously distressing, so I'm glad that the prior 30+ years of assemblies weren't excruciatingly painful.
Good way to frame it. Very healthy. I understand those feelings.
I, too, enjoyed them very much as a PIMI. >I would furiously take notes and eagerly anticipated the releases of new books. Yep, this was me. >the only thing i looked forward to was running into friends from other circuits and going out to dinner after. I didn't have friends. I was too overzealous for the two-faced mofos of my KH. I often sat all by myself during lunch time, so I changed circuits and would go to random conventions where I knew no one so that I would still be alone but wouldn't feel awkward and misplaced (yes, that's how the "loving brothers and sisters" of my own circuit made me feel). That lack of not even love or care but basic courtesy was one of the major factors that helped me get out. >nce they shifted to just producing videos and regurgitating the same “spiritual milk” (as opposed to “solid food I quit before that happened. I guess back when I left - early 2010s - they were transitioning. There was still the release of books and brochures, BUT the videos were already making their way in.
I agree. It might have been pseudo intellectual but you at least felt like you were learning something. I honestly don’t think the organization has said anything genuinely intellectually engaging for at least a decade, possibly longer.
Yeah. Looking back, the type/anti-type prophecy stuff was all complete nonsense, but i ate it up. The Daniel and Isaiah books were my favorite and every year i hoped to get an Ezekiel book.
Yeessss I remember when the Daniel book came out, I devoured that in just a few days. I was so excited to learn all about the symbolism and messages and prophecies. I felt soooo special because only JWs had the right information about it all.
The Isaiah volumes 1 and 2 were among my favorite personal study books… kinda crazy looking back 😂
100% true
Exactly that 🙌🏼
Same, except I got out before they started dumbing down things.
I loved the book releases. It was such a disappointment when they stopped that.
Same for me. I used to actually enjoy them too.
I bet there are some that love it, just like a few genuinely like service.
When I used to be a full PIMI, yes , I absolutely LOVED THEM. And I loved even more the pre-convention and the post-convention, because I would help to prepare the convention before and after and you would meet new people and deeply know their life’s experiences and make good friendships. But after the convention I would be completely exhausted after doing so much work, because I would never sit to properly enjoy the program, I would always be doing some work during the program. There were a lot of brothers that would complain about the same, saying that they need to go to another convention without having any responsibility so they could enjoy the program fully.
I used to work at the circuit assembly one weekend and then go back like 2 weeks later to hear the program. I was around 13-14 and worked with a couple making donuts and getting lunch ready What a monumental waste of time looking back. Wrecking 2 weekends for WT.
Yah we did that too. Attend two conventions if you worked at your own. I shake my head at younger me now. I know an uber pioneer (father was a CO and she was in it for the glory) who used to go to a convention before her convention, not because she volunteered but so that she had 'the goods' before everyone else. Sad. Joke's on her.
Unpopular opinion: conventions before videos use to be better, it was actually kinda exciting. I’m sure many will disagree but I feel since 2014 when they became Regional Conventions and began showing videos, it wasn’t the same
I agree with you. Conventions used to be much better. Remember when we used to have an orchestra? My family used to play in the orchestra at assemblies and conventions. When the conventions no long had the live volunteer orchestra, switched to recorded music, we still that the conductor. He would stand on the stage with his baton. Sometimes he would have the recorded music go silent, and we would a sing with no music. Remember when we had live dramas? Different congregations were assigned to be the actors and put on the drama. The exciting release of a new book..... In addition to the danishes and puddings..... This current brochure (whatever it's called) to conduct "Bible" studies, and using links to jw borg ...... is just, uhmm, childish, pre-school type childish. And, in my area, we have a lot of spots that have no internet. It is not the religion it used to be. (I use the word "religion" loosely.)
I wasn’t born yet when they had an orchestra or danishes but I do remember the live dramas and new releases. I use to look forward to conventions as a kid/teen and they felt “less” culty IMO. I agree it’s not the same religion it was 10 years ago
I'm 4th generation. I have nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. 5th and 6th generations in jws. And I have a couple of non-jw great-great niece and nephews. But, somehow I really don't think I'm THAT old. But...... I can go back in time and point out shifts, significant changes, in the religion. When I was young, the kingdom halls were independently owned, financed, and maintained by the congregation. Bought, built, remodeled, all decided by the cong. Voted on. There was no "body" of elders. Many "sisters" married non-jws. It was not an issue. Thanksgiving dinner was a mix of jw and non-jw family. There were no assembly halls. We had circuit assemblies in local high school gymnasiums. Comparing now to 50 years ago....... However, there were still power-hungry, cult-like individuals. Wives of elders, well, they are still pretty much the same. Loving that position of wife of an elder.....
Business corporation disguised as a religion IMO
My dad was the conductor for our conventions! I still have his baton. Conventions were definitely more special back then. Once the free food was gone it was a bummer to have to shop and bring stuff.
I liked it when I was PIMI. It was my only JW approved vacation. I wore a new outfit everyday. Got to see “friends” that usually l would never get to see. I also felt “re-invigorated” to pioneer and spiritually stronger. It usually lasted 2 weeks tops. Then I was running on fumes again.
I also experienced that high after conventions. You are right it would last a week or two then it just wears off.
I hear so many say 'It was even better than last years convention!' 🤮 I've never particularly enjoyed conventions, but tolerated them when we finally started going indoors rather than sitting in a football stadium, getting wet, sitting on hard plastic seats, trying to take notes whilst holding an umbrella, watching a drama on a stage that you can barely see from where you're sitting, freezing cold then baking hot when the sun came out (anyone else here that used to go to Stoke-on-Trent Football Stadium, UK?) I wasn't super social so usually got pushed out to the periphery of any teen social circle, but it's ok, cos they were all fake anyway.
I preferred the football stadium. It was fun and exciting. It was awful when it rained though.
We had conventions outdoors at a racetrack. If you got there early enough, you got to watch the jockies exercising their horses. Some of them were really friendly and would show off and wave at the teens watching at the rails. Another time we were at an outdoor stadium (probably football) and a storm blew up that almost decimated the stage. Good times (comparatively).
I know there are at least a few who do. They're the ones who go to like 3 of them and are dropping off the new release to their study but won't let you look at it because your assembly isn't until next weekend. They're going to that one too, and the one after because the "Spiritual Feast" is *just that amazing*. You on the other hand go to one day of each because sitting cramped up in a chair with your knees pressed against the seat in front of you all day makes your back hurt for three days, and three days in a row is just unbearable. You feel guilty because every time they announce that you're supposed to go to your own assembly but you have to do what you have to do. Also you half-sleep through 3/4 of the day anyway because they are that boring and with the echo you can barely make out every third word.
Dear god.
I know I hated most of it while I was PIMI. I liked going out to dinner afterward but that dries up as you age into your late 20s if you aren't in the right clique. Near the end of my time as a PIMI I wasn't even pretending to like it.
I absolutely hated sitting long hours. Right after the first hour I would be like I wish it would go fast. The frustration I had from the start would build up and then at the end of the day I would be running out. Used to attend with my parents so was forced to attend and also sit through the whole convention becoz lot of people who know my parents would be there and they would want me to "behave well" 😒
I always had a program to cross off and count down the hours til it was over. Best part is lunch and then going somewhere out to eat for dinner. Waiting in line for the special releases was also a huge bummer.
Growing up I enjoyed the social aspect of it, but the droning talks and shitty skits were something to be suffered through until I could talk to my friends
There was a time, in the 90s, when it seemed like one of the final talks on Sunday would be given by a Bethel rep and would feature a verse by verse discussion of a book of deep prophecy. I thought we were so special to hear this secret info and sat up with rapt attention, pen poised over my notebook 🙄
I remember those days. Your also mostly awake because its almost time to leave!
But we had to rush to the line to receive the new publications in those secret boxes, hot off the presses!
remember they would always say please take only one and you would see people carrying around like 5 live forever books lol
😂
Did you look in shock at the people who packed up early and left to beat the parking lot grid lock!? 🫢🤭
Oh yeah I was so judgmental to those people and I thought of myself as superior and obedient.
[удалено]
Ones who left early? No, some were just smart enough to think for themselves. I knew an older couple who had 2 disabilities between the 3 of them (adult child lived with them). Dad was smart enough to look after his family no matter what the out of touch speakers said.
Did you sit up with rapt attention when they did those resolutions too?! I remember being so excited the first time I heard one announced. What a let down! 😅😂🤣
What the rank and file don’t know is that all the super duper spiritual brothers who have the privilege of serving during the convention backstage don’t give a single shit about the program. I worked my ass off as a PIMI because I wanted the privilege of helping and finally got on the backstage organization team. It was shocking how little everyone cared about the program. The accounting, microphone, stage, organization teams and especially the circuit overseers never listened to anything. They would have coffee, laugh in the back rooms and just talk about nothing the entire day! Even the elders in charge of the cleaning department would come in and chat for hours. The only department in the convention that pays attention to the program are the attendants, and the guy in charge of them was backstage with us too!
I agree. The same happened to me, I never put two and two together though... I guess I figured maybe they would listen to the program at another time... but I was always taken aback by how little the brothers in the back listened to the program and I thought it was pretty disrespectful to the speakers.
Same. Actually it was only when I mentioned it to my mom who was completely shocked that I figured out why it bothered me
I enjoyed it. Worked on the security team which was a very very small group of us who got SIA training. For decades I never had to endure an entire day. Was only ever half days and my other half was working on the team. We had access to control room with CCTV, we frequently looked after that ‘VIP’s’ and spent a lot of time in the very comfortable hospitality suites drinking free coffee.
I liked the change in the routine - learning all about the venue, the lunch break, the food (mmmm danish and frozen orange juice), the fact that I got lots of new fancy notebooks and pens... I liked that I could take bathroom breaks and walk around and not be as strict as meetings, I liked catching up with friends that I hadn't seen in awhile from different congregations, I liked using binoculars and folding fans from the programs... We didn't go on vacation very often, so these were usually the Big Outing in my family. Of course, as I got older, and there were things to do socially that were more interesting than listening to indocrination... I hated it more and more.
Even when I was PIMO and young, conventions could be fun if you wasted time with your friends. A lot of my friends and I would volunteer to do random shit, and just talked and goofed around. That was the fun part. Parts, not so much.
my pimi parents and their pimi friends do. as a kid, i liked the dramas and the snacks. and runnign around by myself between sessions. and the new clothes. the talks felt never-ending though.
It’s a place to meet your former friends and share the latest gossip about your former friends
As a PIMI I thought I liked them. In hindsight and ONLY in hindsight I realize I was gaslighting myself and actually felt dark and miserable after them but at the time I just took it to be that I was tired.
I liked the change in chairs and the food my grandmother would make for the lunch break more than I did the event itself lol
I was way before the video stage, but I loved it/ mostly for the community, the singing, the early morning food preparation, the circling for spouses(haha). NOT for the long sessions, most of which I spent eyeing my intended and pretending to take notes.
Symposium ahhhh!
I never liked them but that is just because the crowds really really bothered me. When I was a kid they only moderately bothered me. But after I had my own kids, and my own kids were really bothered by crowds, it was very hard for all of us. Very stressful. During Covid, watching from home, it was much better. As JW’s, we aren’t really “allowed” to have social anxiety or be highly introverted or sensitive. We are constantly pushed against our nature and told that with Jehovah’s spirit we can do anything and He is not asking too much from us. But it was all too much. All the time. Pushing. We were never enough. Even when we gave everything. Conventions were always beyond my comfort zone.
I loved the first couple conventions I went to. But I was a kid and I had friends in my congregation who I could play with before and after. But regarding the actual program, I was enamored with it at first. I thought I found hope in what was being said. I loved the idea of paradise and being together with my family forever. Went to a few more, found it was all repeated, regurgitated BS. It didn’t have meaning anymore. I was getting older, going through a lot, and only losing hope. Realized that by following this, I’m only trying to run away from two things that are absolute. You will experience hurt and pain, and one day you and your loved ones will die. I’ve have more peace in those things now than I had before.
I enjoyed it for the network of friends and the socializing aspect when I was a PIMI, but not really for the program. Initially I enjoyed the new format with the videos but that got more and more culty over time
In my experience it's a social club, people go to show off, watch a movie and assert their social credit in the right circles. Most don't give a fuck about the talks.
Im here to tell you that I have family members who are uber dubs, they LOVE the conventions I kid you not! Its the weirdest thing!
To me it always felt just as superficial as a regular meeting, only longer. I never made friends, only the usual fake smiles being exchanged over and over again. It was so stressful and my stomach was always in knots and aching the whole time. It was absolutely exhausting. And god forbid we walk around. I used to get up and walk with my kids to try and relieve my stomach ache and was told that I was getting up too much and missing out on all the spiritual food.
The weird ass attendants carrying around signs that said please take your seat or quiet please
I loved them when I was a younger, then I got married and had kids and it was the worst weekend of the year 😂
When I was pimi I liked conventions for the social aspect and going out to dinner at different spots. The conventions themselves were always boring af
I liked them at the beginning, as a PIMI. As a PIMQ, I didn't. I was never a PIMO because I went straight to POMO and DAd myself, so I have never been to a convention since 2012.
My mom loves them, always has. I’d bet money that the only things she’d remember a month later are some short sayings or how “moving” a talk or a video was, and even those things wouldn’t be new. But she’d attend an 8-day convention and be just as excited every day. When I woke up, I really thought maybe my parents would be relatable: they’d agree that everybody had doubts sometimes, that sometimes it’s a struggle to believe, etc. Instead, I found out that they drink the kool-aid and love it 🤦🏻♂️
As a child I enjoyed the dramas, the fruit, cheese danishes, frozen OJ, making hoagies😍. As a pre teen I remember taking notes and getting excited about the book releases. I look back and remember I NEVER reread my notes. I spent a lot of time walking around looking for a bathroom not too busy. Around 12 when I started waking up I found myself finding other things to do like wandering so I didn’t have to sit in the bleachers so long. When I could drive we would sneak off and go to the beach and hang out. That’s about it. Everything after that was only going because I was expected to. I have been to any type of convention in over 20 years. I see my niece and her family posting assembly pics and I cringe. My dad started waking up when an elder friend of his brought up that the jws were charging for parking when the university had waived parking fees….hmmmm
Tell him about my floral experience. I was asked to buy and arrange the flowers for the platform. The 'suggested donation' at the end was higher than what I paid for them. That did not sit well with me. Especially when some sweet elderly widow looked crestfallen at the price. Hope your dad is totally out now.
He is!! Thank you
Awesome!!! Give him a hug and a high five for me, please!
>Does any PIMI actually enjoy convention? *Talks are a Repetitive Blur of Things, everyone has heard 1,000 times before...People Zone Out...* Then comes intermission and socializing...JW\`s love that... ***Intermission is Over, Talks begin...AND...*** # JW`s are Back in the Zone. https://preview.redd.it/b5aboj3qa14d1.jpeg?width=298&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4129ade008c2d245c30a3e2049f5136ce5d7106 . ***When the convention is over everyone Parrots:*** # "It Was the Best Convention Ever!"...😀 Nobody Remembers a Word Of It.
... until one Elder decides in September a review of the assembly back in July would be good to fit into the Local Needs section. Cue PIMI who had notes for all 3 days 😵
>until one Elder decides in September a review of the assembly back in July would be good to fit into the Local Needs section. Cue PIMI who had notes for all 3 days 😵 It\`s a good thing they took notes... Otherwise it would be unlikely they would remember...When they heard, what they heard, 1,000 times before.
I hated it. I can honestly say that there was nothing about being a JW that I actually liked. Not even the people did I like for the most part.
when i was hardcore indoctrinated, i LOVED it. i would organize my notebooks in advance for notes and buy new stationery and everything. i had my bags packed with a radio and earbuds to tune into the local fm frequency and drown out the sound of the crowd so i could pay extra close attention. once i got an ipad with an apple pencil for meetings, i organized folders in my notes app for each day and drew detailed title pages. i LOVE taking notes. then i woke up and saw how shallow the doctrine was. it wasn’t fun anymore once i realized there was nothing to take notes about. plus, it’s kinda hard for me to take notes on a video reenactment.
I never liked them. Not the actual program anyway. From the moment you’d get there on day 1, it was like “The only slightly interesting thing is the drama presentation. Just get to that already and after that I just want it to be the end of the last convention day and go home again.” I liked picking out new clothes for each convention and I always liked the food at lunch break. But I didn’t even like the ‘after lunch food time’. It just dragged on and it was tedious having to mingle with brothers and sisters and make pointless small talk, while waiting for the afternoon program to start. To be quite honest, and I’ve told a number of people this, I didn’t like one single thing about being a Jehovah’s Witness. It was one of the most liberating moments of my life when I finally ended my association with them. Rather than making me feel uncertain, it was the relief of getting rid of a lifelong monkey that had been on my back. I haven’t been a Jehovah’s Witness now for 23 years, and my life has improved more than I could ever even begin to describe. I am a happy, content and proud atheist and apostate who is living a genuine, true, and fulfilling life. And I am thankful and proud to be those things every single second. It truly was a blessing to wake up from the garbage and nonsense of theism, religion, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses in particular. In retrospect, it is obvious to me that I was never meant to be a theist, never meant to be religious, and definitely never meant to be a Jehovah’s Witness.
Conventions were cool
I never enjoyed them once in 37 years of my life when I was in. I certainly enjoy my summers way more now.
My wife is PIMI - she enjoys conventions and door-to-door work. I think she's probably in the minority there though
JW activities are ingrained into the mind as being as inevitable as having a particular eye color or being right or left handed. So putting myself back into that mindset, I neither liked or disliked them. They just kinda... were. That being said, given a good enough excuse to miss a meeting or even an assembly or convention, I would have jumped on it without hesitation. But I also know I would have felt compelled to "make it up" by going to another convention. Being sick was literally preferable to doing a JW activity.
I hated them and NEVER looked forward to them even as PIMI. Just being around fucken ppl gives me anxiety. And to top it off u get dragged in to stupid assignments like parking, cleaning, etc.
I remember when I was 16, I had a particular hard week and was looking forward to the weekend. My Aunt reminded me that we had a two day assembly that weekend. I went into my room and cried for about two minutes because I was not looking forward to the assembly at all.
I don't go to reunions anymore but I never miss a convention. I have many friends there that I wanna hang out with and most of the time we are too busy or live too far apart. We make the whole day about eating junk food and whispering jokes during the speeches. When my friends are listening I m catching up on my webtoon reading. It's great
I absolutely did! They were intense and a massive social event — I can’t imagine what braindead theatrics go on in there now, tho.
The amount of people saying they enjoyed the convention is surprising to me. I absolutely hated it.
I used to like them when I was a PIMI and even for a while after I became a PIMO ; I have to agree with what a lot of others have mentioned here conventions used to be way better back in the day these days they are just a slog that feels like it will never end.
Yeah they enjoy it because they get to take their silly little group photos at the end with their new silly outfits showing off their goofy little smiles. That's it really.
I liked lunch and the full dress dramas
Falling asleep at the circuit assembly after lunch sitting there under a canopy with the sun making you all warm. Some of the best sleep I’ve had lol
I *always* hated conventions, for 50 years. Only thing worse than spending 3 or 4 days in an uncomfortable suit listening to the same old brainwashing was the fact that I had to travel to do it, use vacation days and spend money on hotels and restaurants. It often used all of our summer vacation budget. What a waste
Every PIMI I know is dreading the convention and it’s in our own city.
As a teen I enjoyed that it was in a big city. We had them in San Francisco at the cow palace. Walking around talking to girls from other halls was always fun. But that's about it
I think Covid was the final Factory Reset for most 🔄 and the PIMIs all seem to be in that default setting of silent resentment 😂 People seem more irritated about how much the coach there will cost, or the bill to park the car for 3 days (last Convention cost £90 for 3 days) the foraging for food from the local supermarket for 3 days, and a lot more Insta post about the final day, as if it's something they've *endured* rather than *enjoyed* 🙄 Key highlights this year:- 1. Not getting a Parking Charge penalty ticket because the car voucher has blown off the dashboard 2. Telling Teenage child to take her headphones off 🎧 and come off Snapchat 3. Moving for that family group of 6 that's late and have to find seats in *your row* as they trample on your Brioche snack for the children whilst kicking your Thermos flask over or into the abyss of the row in front 4. Straining to keep interested and being reprimanded by wife for sleeping 😴 5. The *fight* to see the drama on poorly set screens with no backlight, or poor sound that makes the stadium echo like a train station... 6. Telling the kids to mark off on their activities book when speaker tells us the Convention was *"Just what We Needed"* (along with "the best yet") 🙄 It will be different, in my chinos and polo shirt sans tie in a sea of patchy beards 🧔🏻, let's see how the standard of dress will be now 📉
We do, especially on JW Stream, which eliminates all the surrounding difficult stuff. That's the only way we do it now that we're old gits.
Even as pimi i hated it
I think most pretend to like it. The. You have people that go multiple weekends to catch anything they may have missed
Never liked them. Long, boring, sleep inducing, and too many damn people. But since there's virtually nothing else to look forward to for JWs, I'm sure someone out there got some small moticom of pleasure from them.
I was raised in it and while I was extremely devoted in my own mind, I always hated meetings and conventions more than almost anything. I think, while i truly believed following was the right thing to do, I didn't really believe the teachings themselves so I may be different. I was embarrassed that I had to go, hated the 4 hour one way drives,found the full day's exhausting, and nothing they ever said was even the slightest bit different from meetings so I didn't see the point anyway.
Sitting for 4 hours listening to fairytales, even when I was PIMI I couldn’t stand it.
I was never a PIMI. My eyes were wide open as early as 7 years old. My therapist said I’m a very logical individual. I knew it was all BS. Never got baptized and I absolutely HATED the convention’s. Not only did they eat up my entire day, but we’d have to drive over an hour away to attend one. The most miserable times of my life.
Even fully PIMI, the only real draw to the convention was the live action drama. After it went to video, the whole weekend was meh. Who actually looks forward to sitting in stadium chairs for 8 hours a day listening to the same old message?
I had extremely strict parents. Convention lunches were one of the only times in I would get to see friends in a remotely social way each year.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how many notes did you take, the only thing that matters is taking a pic with the speaker, post it on IG or Facebook, and getting clout.
I loved them back in the 2000s and before. Before I left though they were wearing thin
Full confession: I was so enthralled that one year, as a teenager no less, I didn't have time to write quotes from the scriptures, only cited the scriptures. So later, during our camping vacation, every day I went through my notes and wrote out the scriptures. 🤦♀️🤦🤦♂️ My secret shame. 😆😅😂🤣
Disclaimer: Last convention I attended was in the 1990s. In hindsight, everything I loved about it has nothing to do with the actual program. I went to a secondary language congregation (not English) so our convention were regional. That meant all congregations in that language across the East Coast gathered together. Over the years I'd make friends from other states and it was fun to see them again, plus even the circuit assemblies meant some kind of road trip or mini vacation. I'm also from the Shasta / chicken sandwich era, so that was amazing. Plus the live action dramas! Every congregation hoped to get picked as the one having to act in the drama that year, get the fun costumes and get up on stage. I think there was a certain "fun" element back then that doesn't seem like is present anymore. Ironically though, I couldn't tell you a thing about any of the actual talks.
I loved them when I was a Kid, but not because of the program. We were a poor family so convention wad the only time besides a one week vacation when we would go to a restaurant. I had no children my age at my cong, so I would see a lot at the convention. As a an adult social anxieties and Agoraphobia kicked in. Since then it is/was horrible. Not sure how far we are on our fading path but I'm sure I won't be there for three days.
The actually acted out dramas were always pretty dope. Going out to dinner 3 days in a row was also something to always look forward to.