What a good thread Dude.

I dont care about russell, im trying to help people move on here by stimulating though and enabling people to take away bits of positive, not by getting angry over Russells pointless lies. I feel this is therapeutic and good for mental health, especially after leaving a org like the jws. please dont hijack this thread with nonsense.
I didnt grow up as a jw but joined as a young married man.    When i first left i tended to see the whole experience in a negative light, but in time came to see many positives.  Joining the witnesses helped me to control my violent tendencies.  I learned self respect and self control.  They gave me confidence to stand up for what i believed in. I have little doubt that i would not be here had i not met the witnesses. The path i was following was not a good one.
I also met some wonderful people, committed, honest, who truly thought they were serving God.  And had i not been a witness i would not know all the wonderful ex-witnesses i now count as friends.

 I also got the confidence to speak in public, something i was able to use when i came to see the dark side of the Watchtower.  And of course we can use our experiences to help others.  We know why a witness acts as they do,we can understand. After all we once stood where they now stand. 

I was raised a Roman Catholic and as a witness came to resent everything about Catholism, but as with my witness experience i now see many positives that came from my upbringing as a Catholic.  In fact i try to see the positives rather than the negatives.  This is of course my position and i fully understand others will see things differently.