What do Jehova's Witnesses think about RPGs?

yup. it's a more common practice than you think.

there's lots of safety(pic related as a basics example) to learn and a bunch of tips and tricks that you pick up either by long trial and error, practice(I share my submissive with my apprentice), or by picking a mentor to learn from.

my apprentice is less sadistic than I am, but makes up for it by being somewhat more thorough about certain things. additionally it is sometimes a good thing to have an extra pair of eyes to watch for health and safety issues, or hands to hold something/someone in place.

How does one get involved in this kind of thing? It's always seemed like something mysterious that happens in seedy backrooms of questionably legal clubs in Cambodia.

and in that castle thingie in some big american city you can see in Kink.com videos

there's websites out there that help people in these communities meet. the one I use is called FetLife it looks, and acts almost exactly like facebook(a couple of dozen generations ago anyway) it's got friends lists, news feeds, a personal profile where you can list personal fetishes, write an "about me" piece, images posted by users, like buttons, etc. most of it is free, BUT you can only post or view video content if you are a paying member though.

in a 45 mile radius around my home there are maybe a dozen groups that meet regularly. we dress in plainclothes and go out and sit a dozen or three people in the corner of some restaurant or other and talk about all kinds of things, not just kinky shit. get to know whose in the area, whose into what. make friends and stuff. most people looking at one of these events from the outside think we're "theater people" or "a bunch of eccentrics" unless they hear something definite and clear

once you've been to enough of those public "Munches" (usually 2 or 3) you might get invited to a private party, where you could watch, learn, participate, or just chill some more with the people in a more private setting.

and because we're a frequently persecuted group of people we're pretty protective of our own, girl in a traffic accident thrown from a car got rides to the doctor and regular check-ins till she was off the meds sort of thing.

sadly most cities don't have a place like The Armory but we make due.

>questionably legal clubs in Cambodia.
nah man, if you're going to travel for the more interesting stuff I recommend you go to clubs in eastern Europe, sit too close to a stage there and you might catch some blood-splatter

>nah man, if you're going to travel for the more interesting stuff I recommend you go to clubs in eastern Europe, sit too close to a stage there and you might catch some blood-splatter
Please do elaborate.

the most physically violent studios are in russia and the eastern european countries. thats where Elite-Pain and MOOD studios are located IIRC

SPECULATION HERE
I'd bet it's because in those countries you can legally consent to self-harm, or that it is easier to produce contracts that allow that form of consent...

either that, or russians are just crazier than most folks...

>russians are just crazier than most folks
we are

Is that where the videos of girls having their breasts drilled through and things come from?

the non-amateur videos mostly come from there.

but there are always home-grown hardcore masochists out there, I saw someone nail their areolas to a board once, with actual nails. I do not wish to witness a repeat performance.

>I do not wish to witness a repeat performance.
Not your thing?

Personally that stuff is all way too extreme for me. The nicest thing in that vein for me was something I saw on /gif/ with a girl who had some kind of stitching pattern in their back, then the guy pulled the thread and all the stitches came out and tore her back.

>Not your thing?
no, it certainly isn't.

>spoiler text
you might try looking for "needle-play art" or "corset piercings"
those aren't my thing either, but I know a few people in the community for whom it is. and if you wish to try that sometime, you will want to get some education on the process first from someone who knows how not to accidentally give your partner tetanus or some other nasty problem. another benefit to joining your local fetish community is that they frequently give educational demos, I went to one featuring the erotic application of fire and knives a couple of months ago.

that could well be it then.

As much as I would love to do that, I know I'm way too shy and too much of a permavirgin loser to ever join something like that right now.

then what you do is go to the munches(public and plain clothes meet ups) and sit in the corner of the table till someone like me, who used to be someone like you, spots you and drags your ass into the limelight to meet people.

we can be jovial or introspective or loaded with scholars or neck deep in working class earthy people. best groups in my opinion split the difference in every direction at once. some groups put age limits (usually 18-35) I prefer the ones that don't because thats where the usually untapped wells of experience-knowledge can be found.

go, sit at the table, learn about the schoolteacher on your left, surgeon on your right, or the machinist boasting or toasting his raw skills across the table.

Ex-JW here and currently "in" mentally "out".

The plague against TTRPGs summoning demons and spirits that occurred in the 80s is still a thing with them. If my parents knew I liked this stuff they would probably kick me out of the house with how other things are going for me already.

Former Witness here, it's pretty much this. My family never outright banned anything, I never played any pen and paper games back then, but I do remember my mum being very concerned about me playing Final Fantasy 7 mainly just because the big bad was called Jenova.

However, I knew another family that was VERY strict, like belting their kids for just saying damn levels of strict.

Do current witnesses even use the internet?

Doesn't the net kind of contradict their bullshit?

>However, I knew another family that was VERY strict, like belting their kids for just saying damn levels of strict.

We were probably in the same hall, ha. I wasn't even allowed to play Pokémon because of ghost types and Star Wars Battlefront was almost out had it not been for Clone Wars (shooting at robots, not people)

I am , yes they do. They use Facebook and stuff like normal people but it's always a reminder during meetings (church service) of how you need to stay safe. Safe as in "don't go looking up evolution theories and porn" not password safety.

well, thats kind of shitty.

good luck man.

...wow, that sounds like it blows.
but you guys have slaked the curiosity I mentioned in so thanks for that.

They're Jehova's Witnesses, not the Amish.
That's unfortunate, most of the JW's I've known have been decent people. I remember when I left, my mum was devastated, but about 1 or 2 years later she left too, and was dis-fellowshiped. She's still quite religious, and believes it's 'the Truth', but really doesn't like how the people treated her.

Question, is it true that according to witnesses only an exact number of people, 144.000, will be saved? why do they keep trying to gain more adepts then?

Isn't it like a pyramid scheme?

I thought they were promised their own planet after death or something.

JWs believe all people will be resurrected onto a paradise earth. The 144,000 are basically the super faithful that get upgraded to Angels instead.

>upgraded to Angels
Shit, that sounds cool, I'm going to use this on a campaign

That's awesome man, I wish mine was the same.
Elders in my hall are absolute shit and treating my mother like shit. Bunch of reasons for things but yeah she also thinks it's still the Truth and tries her best to stay in the org. Worshipping Jehovah is just about the only thing keeping her happy too so I can't be a dick and try and change that.

It's a cult, man. The Governing Body (the big guys) are a bunch if old dudes making a quick buck and have millions donating their money for their beach houses. At this point their bullshitting as much as they can just trying to keep the members they already have.

Yep, the "New System" and sometimes just "Paradise." Basically god is going to kill everyone except witnesses and then make an earth where there is no death or disease. Hell also ressurect anyone who has ever worshipped him.

Would play

Damn, this post just hit me with... nostalgia isn't the right word, maybe just remembrance. I've been out for about 8 years so I'd forgotten most of the terms they used. A serious blast from the past.

My friend lived with me for several months in high school because his JW family excommunicated him. They do not appreciate the RPGs.

They oppose Thai Food so probably don't like it too much.

That's generally more associated with Mormons/LDS. It's not exactly an inaccurate statement of their beliefs but it is greatly oversimplified.

i used to be one, and basically they're against it. they dont like anything where you waste time doing it instead of going "witnessing", so youre shit out of luck if you wanna have fun.

also the supernatural and spiritual shit is a big no no. you'll probably get a "shepard call" if you got caught doing it, all the way up to disfellowship if you continue to do it.

>"shepard call"
Please explain.

Not that guy, but basically an "intervention" where they go hardcore re-indoctrination on your ass.

I don't know user. Maybe next time they knock on your door you could invite them in, offer them some refreshments, and then ask them.

I'm not into 3dpd sex, but going by your description you people seem pretty cool. Almost makes me want to go to one of those munches just to chill and maybe play some board games with them.

we have a local "nerdy and dirty" group, but it's run by someone who doesn't like me much.

we'll talk about almost anything, and who knows you might find others with common interests, or you'll find a fetish of your own to look for or look at.

I tried to sign up for FetLife but it wants my phone number and a ton of other private info. I don't suppose there's a way to find out about that sort of stuff without forfeiting my privacy?

>I tried to sign up for FetLife but it wants my phone number and a ton of other private info. I don't suppose there's a way to find out about that sort of stuff without forfeiting my privacy?
How do you think "free" dating sites make money?

I suppose you think those "free" phone apps were just made by kind-hearted programmers who just want to entertain you.

What do Latter-Day Saints think about RPGs?

What about Scientologists?

What about Adventists?

Asks about Jehova's Witnesses, posts picture of LDS missionaries.

>What do Latter-Day Saints think about RPGs?
They're big on them, quite popular, as are all board games, mind you I'm not LDS I just happen to have grown up in Utah.

>How do you think "free" dating sites make money?
I'm not familiar with them, having never used one.

>I suppose you think those "free" phone apps were just made by kind-hearted programmers who just want to entertain you.
I only use Free as in Freedom software. I'm not sure what kind of apps are available outside of F-Droid, but the few I use (Firefox, AnkiDroid) do seem to have been made for altruistic reasons.

^^^ Basically this

Also, practicing JW here. The amount of misinformation and nonsense in this thread is so mindblowing, I don't even know where to start. First thing I will say is nobody is going to tell you what you can and can't read watch play etc assuming it doesn't directly contradict bible principles that they try to live their life by, ie fornication adultery etc. I play card games, tabletop RPGs, and vidya and a LOT of the people in my congregation also do. Obviously it's not for everybody, and some people might not see it in the same light that I do, but that is going to be the case no matter what group of people you're around.

Also want to say the comment about the governing body "taking donations to fund their beach houses" is absolutely insane, and a complete fabrication.

it didn't take mine and still doesn't have mine. does it REQUIRE the numbers? or is it just asking?

>How do you think "free" dating sites make money?
fetlife has free and paid subscriptions

>The amount of misinformation and nonsense in this thread is so mindblowing

Are you new to the internet?

No, and honestly at this point it's comical. My favorite is I was once accused of engaging in ceremonies where, and I quote, "you people drink the urine of virgins." Still haven't the foggiest idea where that one came from.

I will say I'm pleasantly surprised that this thread is at least not as hateful as I would normally expect, even if it is full of crap that's just plain wrong..

Every Veeky Forums thread is riddled with misinformation. My point is that the reason you think this one is any more than the others is that 1) it offends your identity; and 2) you lack the critical reasoning to notice it on the other threads.

>Implying you don't crave that virgin urine
Seriously though that's the first I have ever heard someone accused of that, and I would totally accuse some group or another of it now if it just didn't sound so silly.

sorry.

I just tried "signing up" a new account. I didn't know they'd added that verification. but they have been changing things lately.

I must investigate this.

Yeah, I'm saving that one.

>Most of the thread is people asking BDSManon about his inclinations and community
>Two people telling their personal experiences that perfectly fit with your "some people might not see it in the same light i do" comment
>Full of crap that is plain wrong

Dude, chill. Your religion is not under attack here, loosen up with the damage control.

I just don't bother to point it out on other threads unless it directly effects me. And it's not really offense, but if I can correct some of the myriad misconceptions I see I like to.

Heh, most of people here in Russia saw some idiot nail his balls to Red Square

thus reaffirming; Russia is where you go for the craziest shit.

I was referring to this:

Nobody is going to be disfellowshipped for TG, a shepherding call isn't an "intervention" or "hardcore re-indoctrination." The pyramid scheme, cult, and "being promised their own planet" comments, etc etc etc.

Ok, then. My mistake.
So, how about if instead of shaking your head in disappointment you point out why those beliefs are wrong.

As far as i know the ol ladies that go door to door speak to me about the day of reckoning or how blood transfusions are evil. Maybe the old guard is a little out of touch with how your religion works now.

I also had a friend in HS who was a JW. Let me tell you the thruth, he didn't speak as if he disagreed with anything or was angry in any way, but your beliefs do creep me out a little bit.

Still not as creepy as zen buddhism and asexuals, but that is for different reasons.

all right, I've sent a message over to tech support. they took the idea from email service providers and added this one-time text message verification thing, it's like a captcha you don't even need to use your own phone to receive it. they don't keep or disclose the number. they just use it once to send a verification code.

the other "private info" like where you live and how old you are, can be changed at will. according to fetlife the population of antarctica is ~41,000 kinksters, and the average age of individuals listed is 87 years old.

you aren't forfeiting anything by joining, and if you do join, don't freak out over the greeter. that's normal for the website(where it isn't for others). hell, I'll encourage you to track me down if you sign up. name I use here is the name I use there.(intentional misspelling and all)

Why don't you just drop the hoohah and start fedora tipping you fucking pussy. You're already breaking the Bible's rules and using loopholes.

Gary Gygax was a practicing JW until he was disfellowshipped for D&D.

Citation needed, please.

newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-tangled-cultural-roots-of-dungeons-dragons

Those are mormons. Actually its people pretending to be mormons

JWs are Christian, they believe very seriously in what the bible says. The problem is Christianity has been skewed by people who manipulate it for monetary gain or for their own ends. It's been labeled as a religion of fear mongering and as a tool to control the blind masses. And to a certain extent, that's true, if you look at the history of Catholicism, Baptists, etc. But those beliefs, steeped in fire and brimstone and man-made tradition aren't what we believe in. Our beliefs are based solely on what it says in the bible, and we try as hard as humanly possible to live by the laws set forth in it. As far as how out beliefs differ from mainstream Christianity, we don't believe in hell, for example. It's a product of the catholic church. It's never actually suggested anywhere in the bible that you might go to some place of torment when you die, it clearly says "you go back to the ground .. your thoughts perish." It's the same way for blood transfusions. It may seem a bit peculiar, but in the book of Acts it very clearly says to abstain from blood. And ironically enough, blood transfusions have been proven to be substantially less safe than other alternate procedures (blood expanders, cell saver machines, etc) which were only developed to accommodate people who wouldn't take blood.

cont

Now we do believe that there is a new world or paradise to come in the future. Not something in heaven, but here on earth. In Revelation, there is two distinct groups that are mentioned; the "great crowd" who are depicted as living on the earth in perfection, as god originally intended for mankind, and 144,000 ruling as "kings and priests in heaven." Why this exact number I honestly couldn't say. Most christian religions assume these two groups to be the same all living sa angels in in heaven, but the great crowd is never said to be in heaven, and the repeated use of that specific number says otherwise. In fact, just like I mentioned earlier, the idea that you go to some ethereal plane when you die isn't supported in the bible at all. And again, neither group is "only Jehovah's Witnesses," we don't purport to be perfect or really anything special. And the idea that god would turn a blind eye to people who throughout history may never have had a chance to learn about him or the truth from the bible goes against everything that the bible says about him. That kingdom is for anyone who is willing to learn about him and live life according to his laws.

>Adventists

Well, user, you don't have to worry, cause according to them you're already damned.

The article also mentions he was a smoker, which, if any of it is true is more than likely the actual reason. Smoking, or really anything that's life threatening and wholly unnecessary, shows a lack of reverence for life.

What about Zen Buddhism and asexuals? I used to be asexual (then I hit puberty at 17) so I'm kind of curious.

LDS are pretty big on the RPG scene, actually.

Larry Correia being the most famous example of such I can think of.

hmmm, that got me to stop and think. still not converting, but it's well thought out explanation devoid of the condemnation I usually get from "the old ladies peddaling the watchtower"

it's fun to watch them reconcile the fact that they spend several minutes condemning [some thing that I happen to be] for me to inform them that I am one and asking them to leave. their faces freeze up a little and they start to stutter.

Honestly, if somebody is coming to your door peddling fire and brimstone or "condemning" you, they either aren't actually JWs or.. hell I don't even know. That's simply not how we do things. Again, the reason we go door to door is very simply because the bible says to, but it's a message of peace and hope not of condemnation.

>peddling fire and brimstone or "condemning" you,
oh it's not THAT open.

they'll talk about "those sinful sexual deviants" or "worshipers of science" or "foolish atheists"

I admit that I am any of those things and they usually leave politely after apologies and the aforementioned face-freezing.

>Also want to say the comment about the governing body "taking donations to fund their beach houses" is absolutely insane, and a complete fabrication.
Lmao, you're still brainwashed. Give me a few moments and I'll see if I can find the article or whatever it was.

>Nobody is going to be disfellowshipped for TG, a shepherding call isn't an "intervention" or "hardcore re-indoctrination." The pyramid scheme, cult, and "being promised their own planet" comments, etc etc etc.

I won't disagree on disfellowship for tg stuff but your elders must be pretty lax and/or not doing their job correctly. Do the circuit overseers and district overseers know about people playing ttrpgs in your congregation? Or do you keep it a secret?

I know witnesses that smoke, but I'm sure it was more than D&D

Then why do you nitpick on what to follow from Leviticus?

Oh by the way, aren't JWs supposed to stay off of Veeky Forums? You're giving the impression that JWs are the kind of people who go on Veeky Forums. Aren't you giving Jehovah a bad name?

Used to play Magic and D&D with a JW back in high school. This kid was in full teenage rebel mode, wearing all black and listening to goth music and cursing and smoking cigarettes. Like, every Magic deck he played had to be either black or red and black.

His parents were pretty concerned, and I don't think they liked it, but they were also not very strict and pretty tolerant. They always invited us over to play and were pretty nice about it and welcome to us.

Meanwhile, I had two friends in Boy Scouts and they got banned from playing Magic, Pokemon, and D&D at meetings because it was Satanic.

yourprettygood

>Catholic
>BDSM

I fail to see any real contradiction between faith and fetish here.

yeah, but a lot of them still get super judgy about sex stuff that isn't your typical buisiness.

the real amusement is the vow of chastity till marriage...but then that kind of what fetish play is for, sexual gratification that doesn't actually require sex.

It's just like when if you're gay and someone from any homophobic Abrahamic religion says "love the sinner, hate the sin", and get all passive aggressive about homosexuality.

This is a religion that claims to know the correct and true interpretation of the Bible, something that even theologists and dedicated scholars of the Bible don't come to a consensus about. And not just that, but one independent of Catholicism of the past, which I'm sure is bullshit. For one, "Jehovah" is a mistranslation of "Yaweh" that occurred in the Renaissance era.

Then again pretty much every Christian sect says they have the right interpretation.

Sure, find the article. I can also find articles that say that scientology is totally real and absolutely provable fact, doesn't mean it isn't all bull.

Also, it isn't the elders, CO or DO's job to babysit and nitpick everything each person in the congregation does. Obviously I'm not inviting people I know will either have no interest or know it would offend them to play D&D, but at the same time it doesn't bother my conscience. Just like everywhere else in the world, I'm sure not all of your friends have TG related interests, and the ones you don't you don't invite to join in.

Also also, if you're referring to the Mosaic law, it was superseded by Jesus teachings. Certain things in the Mosaic law (eating pork, for instance) were there for reasons the ancient Israelites never fully understood, but were beneficial for them at the time. By Jesus day they were no longer applicable.

Also also also, no? I'm here to chat about my hobby and now because reasons my religion, but I'm not here to look at porn or engage in political debate. That's like saying you shouldn't use search engines because you might accidentally have porn come up.

I mean yeah, basically. There is at least one person in my congregation I'm fairly certain isn't straight, but they just don't pursue it. If you have those urges or feelings that may be something you have to wrestle with, but it's your actions that determine who you are not any predispositions you might have.

Also, it isn't actually a mispronunciation. It's the closest translation to English you can get from the Aramaic letters YHWH.

You don't already have the most devout paladins become angels of their god upon death? I thought that was pretty standard.

>Sure, find the article. I can also find articles that say that scientology is totally real and absolutely provable fact, doesn't mean it isn't all bull.
And I can point you in the direction of the Royal Commission in Australia in which a GB member Bullshits backtracks and admits what's wrong in the org

>Also, it isn't the elders, CO or DO's job to babysit and nitpick everything each person in the congregation does.
That is literally their job.

>Also also, if you're referring to the Mosaic law, it was superseded by Jesus teachings. Certain things in the Mosaic law (eating pork, for instance) were there for reasons the ancient Israelites never fully understood, but were beneficial for them at the time. By Jesus day they were no longer applicable.
Yet you still don't take blood transfusions.
10:6 is about letting your hair become unkempt, long hair is at least a social taboo within the org. 19:28 is about tattoos which is a big no no if you're in but must be hidden if you got them before you became a witness. 25:23 says you can't sell land permanently, I know a JW thats a realtor agent.

>Also also also, no? I'm here to chat about my hobby and now because reasons my religion, but I'm not here to look at porn or engage in political debate.
It's not what you're here for its that you're here. I am 100% that's what your elders and other brothers would say if they knew you browse Veeky Forums and what this place is usually associated with and does have.

>That's like saying you shouldn't use search engines because you might accidentally have porn come up.
And isn't that heavily warned about in the meetings during Our Christian Life and Ministry sections? And also during the Watchtower at times.

Why not just call him Yahweh? Is it wrong to call him by the same name that Paul, Moses, and Abraham called him by? Or is it because that's what Jews call him by and you want to be special snowflakes?

It's not, though. You obviously have some serious issues with the organization, and whatever caused so much bitterness I'm really sorry for, but your simply wrong here.

To answer your questions:
Long hair and tattoos are because they're associated with fringe elements of society, and Jesus stated that his servants were to be "no part of the world." Sure they are specifically stated in the mosaic law as well, which does have some small part to do with it, but that isn't the entire reason they're frowned upon. Not taking blood is specifically mentioned in the new testament in Acts. The not selling land permanently was a law the Israelites were to follow only when selling land to each other, in a world outside of the twelve tribe nation of Israel, it has no application.

Sure, using the internet in general is something that's brought up at meetings, but like anything else it's a tool that can either be used for good or for bad. You seem to think that Witnesses are supposed to avoid all forms of entertainment because it could potentially have something offensive in it, but that's simply untrue.

And no, there's nothing inherently wrong with using the Jewish/Aramaic pronunciation, but there's nothing wrong with using the English pronunciation either. Just like people who speak Spanish use the Spanish pronunciation and people who speak Mandarin use the mandarin pronunciation.

>homophobic Abrahamic religion says "love the sinner, hate the sin"
for the record I am emphatically heterosexual.

I think the sudden simultaneous boost in the angel population would make a good setting twist, no?

Heh, if you are still around:
It's not like there is anything wrong with you. It just creeps me out how you are detached from something that is just so ingrained in our being asexuals are. I mean, i am bisexual and i sometimes have troubles reconciling the fact that even "monosexuals" (heh) can't find beauty or something to be attracted on a whole gender. Besides they seem to operate in a different level, or maybe we are the ones who do. I don't know, it just makes me queasy. Not that i would be anything but understanding and tolerant of any asexual, way too much shit thrown at me to do the same to others because of prejudice.

Pretty much the same with Zen. To put it bluntly, they are people who can't be bargained, bought or "reasoned" with. People with spiritual tracendentalist beliefs already sound pretty iffy to me (Who cares about the Earth? There is Heaven waiting for us if we are good).
I am a very materialistic person, not in the sense that i love money and material wealth, but in the sense that i think this existence is all we have or will ever have. Anything deviating from that creeps me out.
Detaching yourself from the material world, worldly connections AND futilely trying to control your emotions? Man, you ARE your emotions, you can never control them more than you can make your own heart stop beating.

I am sorry if i gave the impression that i go bashing people for their beliefs irl, i don't.
But if i can live with the fact that many people who tolerate those like me also find it disturbing, can you live with the fact that it also works the other way around?

A Latter-day Saint wrote Call of Cthulhu.

Most hardcore religious people don't like role-playing just like they don't like any kind of fantasy type entertainment. It's because it's too similar to what they believe, so they perceive it less as make believe and more as a competing mythology.

>you can never control them more than you can make your own heart stop beating.
People can do that, you know. Takes a lot of practice, but totes possible.

You are super ignorant of that which speak, you know that? You have a very, very poor understanding of Buddhism.

Honestly, the fact that you are apparently so at the mercy of your own emotions and urges to the point that you find it disturbing to think that other people aren't, is sad. I really hope you're a teenager and not older.

>complains about someone "at the mercy of their emotions"
>swallowing bait
>clearly booty blasted

D&D is okay with the JW's I know, but they only play adventure modules published by Watchtower.

There is no such thing :v

...