# *Final Post -- Maybe

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Posted by OneGlove [OneGlove] on November 15, 1999 at 19:44:25 {AS5l1tybL6ddh6ih/xtgVOGhhkwG5g}:

In Reply to: Final Post -- Maybe posted by ros4GB on November 15, 1999 at 18:20:39:

All but the most gullible should already be convinced that GB is no Governing Body member. If you are still unsure, I will say that while open minds are good things, don't leave yours so open that flies buzz in. And I'll leave it at that.

The main question I have had has been whether or not Ros was writing these posts herself. I was unsure at first. But as time passed I have become more convinced that it has to be her. Of course, I have no conclusive proof one way or the other. But I think that the evidence available to us shows with a high degree of probability that the author of (Ros4)GB's posts was actually Ros herself. If new evidence comes to light, I will reexamine my theory.

The form in which the Ros4GB affair has been carried out is the first indicator. For reasons of 'anonymity' GB has contacted Ros and only Ros. He posts only through Ros. He conducts extended discussions only with Ros - granting Ros alone a deeper understanding of GB than the rest of us. And Ros alone has control of any information passed on to us.

Some of you will instantly recognize this as the classic form. The form, of course, is hardly conclusive, but highly suggestive. Also, the 'anonymity' defense rings somewhat hollow on H2O, but others have already covered that topic for me.

If you read the relevant posts carefully, it will not take long to notice that the same phrases keep occuring in both Ros' and (Ros4)GB's posts. In general the style is the same, and in specific compare their comments on the piano question, or on any specific topics both mentioned seperately.
Further, it is surprising the number of times in which either Ros or GB speak as if they have knowledge of the other party's mental and emotional state. It is in the very latest post that many examples of this can be found on GB's side. They are fairly well littered through all of Ros' posts, as she spent most of her time talking about GB. If this follows the classic model we can expect that the explanation will be that extended private discussions have given the two special insights into each others' thought process. Assuming any explanation is offered.

When we read one of Ros' older posts, her overall thought process is obvious:

:What I see--or think I see--is a troubled individual who has what seems to be a sincere interest to help people, but does not know how to go about it. I think he
genuinely wants to do something good and feels he has a gift to give, but feels that without some kind of extraordinary status, no one will listen to him. I sense an
underlying sincerity in his posts, not intending to do any harm, just a longing for acceptance, and a belief within himself that he could accomplish something good if
people would listen to him.

Ros is obviously not writing as a person who has just realized she has been fooled. In fact if you read carefully, her real thought process stands out. She is a "troubled
individual" who thinks that she "a gift to give" but without "extraordinary status" no one will listen to her.

I am happy to conclude, though, that the posts were in no way intended as malacious. If you read her quote, you will see that they stemmed from some sort of hero-complex. I do not say that in any demeaning way. Rather, Ros sincerely wanted to do something to help a great number of people.

We can all be glad that this was no prank on the part of Ros. Unfortunately, her deception has hurt people instead of helping them. Thousands of lurkers read H2O daily. For the most part, they are at a stage of life in which they must make several important life decisions. They are in a highly charged emotional state. Susceptible people should not be lied to - even for the best of reasons - being told that what they want most in the world is reality. It is especially true when all the evidence points to the opposite. When Ros tells people that reform minded GB members exist, H2O readers may base life decisions
on her words. On words without any basis at all. If you think that unlikely, remember the thousands of H2O readers, and the fact that even one person hurt would be a tragedy.

You may fault me for calling lurkers here 'susceptible' and 'unskeptical'. But the words are unfortunately correct. These are people who have been drawn into a relgion based on falsehoods. They have held grand illusions that are only now beginning to unravel. They are now at their most vulnerable. Even more vulnerable,
perhaps, than when they first entered the religion. This has been true of every Witness I have known to leave, and of myself as well. This forum is no place to tolerate those who would take advantage of the vulnerable.

I believe in Ros' good intentions. But I think she has caused an unknown amount of damage. In my opinion - and it is no more than my opinion - I feel that her only course is to undo as much of that damage as possible with a public mea culpa. I think something like that would be hard to do, but I feel that Ros has enough strength of character to find it within herself to do the right thing. And all of us on H2O should be big enough to accept any apologies and realize that she has only meant the best.

In conclusion I think we should be more careful with how we ourselves use the powerful and nessecary anonymity granted us by H2O. Recently several people have misused it. We should all be careful with this privilege. It is important that we use it to protect ourselves, not fool others.

As for the important issue of religious reform that has sparked this incident, we should keep one thing in mind: Reform will be evidenced by concrete actions and not words. Until the actions begin all the words in the world will be meaningless.

--OneGlove

Follow Ups:

- **Final Post -- Maybe Amazing 10:28:01 11/16/99 (1)
  - ***Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 12:03:10 11/16/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe Antique 06:11:49 11/16/99 (2)
  - ***Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 06:25:39 11/16/99 (1)
    - ****Final Post -- Maybe Antique 13:59:42 11/16/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe COMF 05:41:58 11/16/99 (2)
  - ***Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 05:57:06 11/16/99 (1)
    - ****Final Post -- Maybe COMF 16:58:34 11/16/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe Snowball 22:37:01 11/15/99 (1)
  - ***Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 05:41:20 11/16/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe proplog2 21:19:57 11/15/99 (5)
  - ***Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 05:37:45 11/16/99 (4)
    - ****Final Post -- Maybe proplog2 06:27:23 11/16/99 (3)
      - *****Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 06:34:41 11/16/99 (2)
        - ******Final Post -- Maybe proplog2 10:42:19 11/16/99 (1)
          - *******Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 11:31:00 11/16/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe Rick 20:53:21 11/15/99 (3)
  - ***Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 21:08:08 11/15/99 (2)
    - ****Final Post -- Maybe Moddy105 22:18:18 11/15/99 (1)
      - *****Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 05:26:32 11/16/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe jimmyjames 20:43:31 11/15/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe Randall Watters 20:31:00 11/15/99 (4)
  - ***Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 21:01:03 11/15/99 (3)
    - ****Final Post -- Maybe JF 05:09:30 11/16/99 (2)
      - *****Final Post -- Maybe OneGlove 05:30:27 11/16/99 (1)
        - ******Final Post -- Maybe Amazing 10:35:25 11/16/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe Observer 20:16:34 11/15/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe Lobo 20:09:35 11/15/99 (0)
- **Final Post -- Maybe d'art 20:09:12 11/15/99 (0)

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