Most definitely Sam. She is not baptized yet and I was really pleased to see her asking questions and particularly pleased when she told me that she had come on here and read my story. I thought, "Finally, one of them will truly understand why I did what I did." Call me crazy, but just the fact that she is holding off baptism makes me hope that she will take her JW blinders off and really think twice before she takes this step. She doesn't understand what it means for her and I have so much compassion for her. I even tried to warn her that if she gets baptized, she will no longer be able to go on certain web sites and certainly not ex-jw sites. I asked her if she really wanted anyone telling her what she could or couldn't do. I tried to say these things with as much kindness as I could because I really do like her and admire her on many levels. I understand where her attitude comes from and I do not hold it against her.

She and I were having a civil discussion about unconditional love and this other JW came on being nasty, and only then did she get nasty with me. I get where that comes from too. She doesn't want to appear to be nice to me in any way in front of other JWs. Again, I get where that comes from. It is the mind-numbing fear instilled in all of them. I have compassion for this poor woman, I really do. It's funny but it seems like the nastier she gets with me, the more compassion I have for her. Yes, all the JWs want to shut me up. They want nothing more than for me to go away but I will not. Never again will I allow anyone to muzzle me. My JW mother did that for far too many years. When I am done with this group, I will leave of my own accord and not before then.