Calavicci

Yeah, that's pretty much it. Rupp teaches the first few sessions. He does his trademark phony laugh a few times, "heh,heh,heh" (alaways 3 "heh"'s). Longley does several of the sessions following Rupp, and he fares somewhat better. He seems a little more "natural" compared to Rupp, if that can be said. Ch@v0usti3 follows with the last ten or so segments. Dave comes across not so much stiff, but carefully rehearsed. He mouths many of the Way-isms with frequency, his favorite being "...God's matchless Word..", usually with his VPW-esque hand movements and gesticulations. His phony, cackling laugh and tendency to repeat twice any "important" statements grates my nerves.

Aside from the class itself, there was the usual pretentious pomp and circumstance, including name tags "Don't lose these!", questions for the students to answer, carefully timed breaks, and loads of yawn-inducing way music. I barely made it through this time, and am certain it's my last.

I am amazed at any new person who isn't creeped out, bored, or annoyed enough to run for the hills after the first couple sessions.

Watching this, I though maybe Longley might be a good choice for pres, but I think he is just too goofy-looking to be taken seriously, and Dave might be good, as he apparently tows the way line to a "T", and presents a somewhat non-threatening emasculated appearance.

I'm sure that if I were stick around and keep coming to fellowship, they're going to get around to confronting me about my lack of "Abundant Sharing™". I need to be reproved or corrected, or some such nonsense. Bah.

Warmer?

I laughed like a fool when I saw that. We have a winner!

He is a shell of a man. His entire existence is dedicated to doing whatever Rosalie asks of him. He even did a way corps teaching several years ago on saying yes to leadership's requests. It was a terrible teaching that was un-biblical. Say yes at all costs, be a sold out yes man, or in his case a "yes ma'am." Disgusting.

I like to think of him as a "sock puppet".

No, not a racist remark. That's a reference to one of the endearing little stories Rupp tells in their new FNC about his childhood, where he used to mix up chocolate milk, and he relates it to the Word. It's extremely cheesy. You know, like someone is pretending to be genuine but hasn't practiced that act very much in 20 or 30 years?

Haha I remember that! I barely got through it this time,and vowed it would be my last. The class is mind-numbingly boring, to say nothing of the fact that we had to listen to the "Frumpy Ladies of the Way" and other lousy music during the break between sessions.

And what gives with the intro? C0yle comes across as some kind of wild-eyed fanatic and speaking as though she were addressing three year olds.

Rupp very well may be crazy, but would that hurt his chances in light of TWI's history?

Just chilling, becoming free

God willing, guess I'll see.

(Oops, how many words was that?)

Back to the subject at hand, what I find amazing is RFR's aversion to computers.

That is boneheadedly stupid. Even by her logic she should be thinking, "Hey the adversary uses the internet, so why don't we turn it against him and use it to move God's Word"

But noooooo. Their idea of high-tech is freaking DVD's, which are hardly cutting-edge.

Just a couple of years ago, me and my wife order this audio class called "Keys to Financial Liberty", thinking it'd be CD's. Nope. Apparently TWI's warehouse is still full of unused blank CASSETTES! That's right, in 2008 they're sending out audio tapes, which I can't even play. Pfft, what a ripoff.

I guess downloading teachings on MP3 will be a long time coming, if they make it that long.

Welcome to the cafe, Calavicci..

can I call you Al?

By all means. That was my favorite show in the early nineties. Bakula and more so Stockwell were brilliant in their roles.

Thought about using "Ziggy", but people might think of the comic strip or David Bowie.

So glad to be here!

Hello to you as well.

I'm new as well here, and like you, I have probably a lot to say about TWI. Never did the Corps thing, thank God! I did, however endure years of pretense, fake smiles, and thinly veiled elitism. Still, I managed to no be repulsed and learn a bit about God.

I'm not fully out yet, but it is happening. I am gradually easing out of it. I feel like I am coming out of a long slumber, and am seeing things a little more clearly. For me, the worm has definitely turned.

Hello all, new guy here. I sat through the stupid FNC class again (3 people!), and I wasn't even asked. It was assumed I'd participate, apparently being one of the the "workhorse" people. Somehow, other people never get asked for anything, including leading or teaching (rehashing the boring magazine). That's another story, and of the many reasons I'm slowly doing the "fade out" method.

Been having problems lately with the whole "Job's fear caused this calamity to befall him" idea associated with "negative believing". I guess that's what happens when you think for yourself. This has nagged in my mind for some time now.

Anyhow, I was thinking, during the first couple of sessions that are "taught" by Rupp, that this stiff will be the next pres. Gotta toe the VPW-centric line, and he's the one to do it. Like a lot of these people, there's no real person there. Just a well-groomed little sock puppet for them to hold up.

Donna's got the stigma of the last name, too many negative associations with it. They may not want to bring up a last name they worked so hard to eradicate from the ministry.

But I could be wrong.