On Wednesday evening something very rare and unexpected happened. I had a phone conversation with Anthony Morris III – a Governing Body member (and one of Advocate magazine’s Craziest Right-Wing Conspiracy Theorists of 2014).
As almost anyone outside of Watchtower headquarters will tell you – having a tete-a-tete with one seventh of the faithful and discreet slave is not something that happens every day.
But on this occasion, the odds were slightly more in my favor. I was armed with inside information from a reliable source who gave detailed instructions on how and when to get through.
Before the call I had tried a few times to get hold of various people in Watchtower HQ, with mixed success. The bethelite who screens PR spokesperson J.R. Brown’s calls did a masterful job of deflecting my request for a response on the Rama Singh misquote. I also had a nice chat with the bethelite responsible for the “Happy at Bethel” video, which will remain private because he was actually a really nice guy.
When it came time to try and get through to Tony, I had in mind that if I succeeded I would pretend to be someone else – at least for the first few moments of the phone call. Being open about my true identity from the beginning would almost certainly not result in a conversation of any significant length.
And so I concocted a humorous scenario in which I would be “Brother Cedars” – a newbie bethelite calling from the Brooklyn laundry room, and asking what should be done if tight pants or yoga pants are discovered among bethelite clothing. (If you don’t get the joke, click here.)
Tony was cordial, good-humored and polite, and took the call in good spirits. He quickly figured out that my cover story was a ruse, and after some light banter he set about trying to find out who I was. For the majority of our 2 minute, 20 second conversation he seemed under the impression that I was a high-spirited bethelite. Almost as soon as he realized I wasn’t an admirer, he put the receiver down.
Shortly after making this call I posted the obligatory video to YouTube, which clocked up 3,700 views in the first 24 hours. There was a huge reaction from viewers – the majority of which was positive. Many exJWs seem to have derived vicarious pleasure from hearing me tell a Governing Body member directly that I think he is deluded.
Some have questioned the wisdom of insulting Tony when, having come so far in getting through to him, a conversation seemed on the cards. But from the moment he discovered I wasn’t a bethelite, I knew I was on borrowed time. And I wanted any conversation with him to be on a frank and honest footing. Calling him deluded was NOT an invitation on my part for him to end the call – I was more than willing for him to challenge me on why I said that.
Others have suggested I should have kept my “bethelite” rouse going for longer so that I could elicit more information. However, that scale of deception is not in my nature. My aim from the beginning was to get my foot through the door and then be open with who I was as quickly as possible.
If, once the inevitable barrage of questions about my identity came, I had added yet more layers to my subterfuge, the accusations that I was living up to the lying, deceptive apostate stereotype would have been inevitable and deserved.
Still others have said I was “juvenile” and that my prank call represents a “wasted opportunity” to confront a Governing Body member with tough, meaningful questions on serious issues. Well, I make no secret that I have a juvenile streak in me, and I actually think humor is one of the most effective weapons against cults. If there is one thing cults hate, it is to be laughed at.
And I invite anyone under similar circumstances to see how many probing questions on shunning, child abuse or blood transfusions a Governing Body member will listen to before taking the easy way out.
I am not saying for a moment that my phonecall couldn’t have gone better. I am my own worst critic over this sort of thing, and can conceive of any number of ways I could have made more of the opportunity. Hindsight, after all, is a marvelous thing. But I can also easily envision the phonecall going much worse, and ending far more abruptly.
Despite drawing the ire of a few armchair activists, I feel my phone call was quite productive. It showed any JWs (or still-indoctrinated exJWs) who listen to it that a Governing Body member will readily be flippant about ‘bible counsel’ he expects ordinary JWs to treat with deadly seriousness.
You can imagine how a devout sister who has not long since thrown out all her yoga pants and husband’s tight trousers would feel listening to this conversation. For those on a tight budget who actually have to pay for their own clothes, these petty, capricious injunctions are no laughing matter.
But perhaps more importantly, my phone conversation with Tony reveals his unvarnished human side. He is not some saintly, mystical guru with a hotline to heaven, but a fairly ordinary old man who just so happens to be a spiritual overlord to 8 million doting followers.
Well, I say 8 million. Tony will have left this conversation under no illusions that not even everyone under the rooftops of Brooklyn bethel truly believe him to be anything special. And if he hadn’t figured that out before this incident, he certainly should have. You cannot claim the unquestioned, uniform loyalty of a group of people who you are threatening with cruel, immoral punishment if they dare to walk away.
As to whether there will be any more conversations with Governing Body members – I am sure this will be more problematic in the wake of my intrusion. But that needn’t stop me from trying.
Many thanks to Vincent Deporter for supplying artwork for this article!
For an Italian translation of the conversation, please click here.
i thought it was great! Especially that they will be on high alert now. You will get criticism, Lloyd. But if you had tried to talk about a serious question, you wouldn’t have got anywhere anyway.
I don ‘t see the big deal with you calling him, for whatever reason. He’s not the Pope for goodness sake. No harm, no foul as far as I’m concerned. Sheesh, just because eight million JWs think the GB are God’s own spokesman doesn’t mean we have to buy into their collective delusion. Good for you Cedars.
LOL. If they find your inside helper, he will be doomed to wear shrunken yoga pants forever! You endangered the blood circulation of a poor chap, Sir! :)))
This prank phone call will really shake-up the Jehovah’s Witnesses! “How could an Apostate get through to one of the Governing Body members?!?” “How could one of the Anointed not know he was speaking to a child of Satan?!?” “And they had such delightful banter, too!”
It’s funny, but my deluded father-in-law, who is the Spiritual overlord in his backwater town, acts very similar to tight-pants Tony. He is all jovial, and trying to make the cult ‘cool-for-school’ but as soon as you make fun of the wacky-religion or ask some tough questions… Click. Not even enough manners for a polite goodbye.
These people do not want to be questioned, or poked fun at and they are too ignorant to treat others with some respect.
I find it is like with most abusers, they demand the rights and freedoms that they deny others. Hypocrites!
someone in the offices, is getting the old boot lol
All who have ever done door to door witnessing have been called
“Deluded” and worse , but we have stood our ground and put up a
defence for what we believed in, this is what we were trained to do.
Objections we were told are an opportunity to explain the reasons
for our beliefs and maybe find a sheep for JHVH.
As an “Apostate”, If a J,W, rang me and said I was deluded, I would
be absolutely delighted to explain why I have changed my mind,
and which one of us is being duped. I wouldn’t put the receiver
abruptly down, as Tony did. I’d keep them on the line till I’d put
case, even if it took an hour or two.
Especially since they were paying for the call. LOL.
Ahhhaa! That was awesome Cedars. Ahhhaa! You’ve made my week!
The way he said “yeh…yea…” to your sarcastic joke about Jehovah’s hand was pretty disturbing too- granted he seemed to have been struggling to catch up with what was happening in the conversation at that point; but it was still pretty uncanny, almost like a “Freudian slip” or something…
I agree, making fun and using humor like this could sometimes be a great alternative way to cut through the indoctrination and cult nonsense. It’s unlikely that you could’ve made more of a statement than you did. He made it clear by promptly hanging up when the going got tough that there weren’t many other directions in which the conversation would’ve gone.
Well done, tight pants tony (tpTony) had it coming! :)
I think humour was the ONLY way to to do this. Such an experienced brother would have detoured and diverted if he didn’t completely end the call as soon as more serious matters were raised. A little cheeky, but I think I get why Lloyd did this. How else on earth do you get a GB member on the line other than by subterfuge. Having said this, I think it’s time to push towards getting an interview with them or at least see them balk away from an actual, serious discussion. The GB live in a Bethel, they visit other local KHs and someone must have their schedules. There must be ex-JWs willing to do some stalking interviews…
Personally I was shocked and delighted when I heard you got through! His reaction to you telling him you were a big fan of his was interesting – like he was impressed, not humble the way Jesus would have been. I was told once while out in the JW door to door preaching work that I was so narrow minded. It really affected and bothered me. Like in the back of my mind it ringed true. Perhaps your comments about him being deluded will have a similar effect. You never know, but either way, it’s out there now and I loved that you said it!
Oh, it’s wonderful !!
Good job Cedar !!
I love it !!!
The cartoon you put up is hilarious! Glad you shot him with the real truth about his mental condition. If we could take being told that we are deluded from householders, they should be able to take it too. That is the great thing about being disfellowshipped, you haven’t got anything to lose by at least giving it a try.
Cedars..
The reason Tony asked if you were from Wallkill Bethel was because the Laundry department in Brooklyn was moved to Wallkill when they sold that building last year. The laundry is now shipped back and forth. I know this because my son works in laundry.
If I were still a J,W, I’d be very disappointed that one of
my gov, body, ducked out of an opportunity to defend
the “Truth”? Not emulating or obeying his master is he?
I love it! You have cajones of steel bro lol!
Court cases – fines – rotten press – This phone call can only add to the growing pressure.
Sure they can blab about false prophets in the last days; and they enjoy, to an extent, being society’s Christlike outcasts, being despised by the establishment.
The doublethink required, though, to both enjoy martyrdom, and at the same time, to want to promote themselves as charitable, all round clean living and wholesome, must get wearing.
Tightpants’ abrupt hanging up was an example of the tension leading to a sharp break.
I got a kick out of it. Just you getting thru was enough to make them now start a campaign to “filter” calls more intensely n have an uneasiness about the exes n the abilities to make things happen. But the best part for me was your face after he hung up n you looked into the camera n said something to the effect of, “I just talked to Tony Morris!” It was a look of fun, mischief n roguery!! It was cute as hell! Rock on Cedars.
I truly fail to see how this was any sort of victory for you, Cedars. You admittedly lied to him and were “juvenile” and Morris came off as friendly and simply did what most people would do when they get a prank call: he hung up.
You’re really reaching for straws if you think some ill-advised counsel against wearing tight pants or “spanx” is some unfair financial burden for the poor JWs who must now throw them all away. That’s just implausible and silly, in my opinion.
Furthermore, Morris didn’t hang up on you because you weren’t an “admirer” of him — note how he didn’t feed into your comment about you being a “fan,” which might have tipped him off that you were a rather bizarre witness in the first place — he hung up on you because he thought you were an apostate. Now, I’m all for apostates, but I’m not for juvenile, pointless antics that accomplish nothing.
If I would have seen this video when I was going through my crisis of faith and exit from the org a dozen years ago I would not have been impressed by your little prank but probably would have felt that the GB member handled it pretty well. He comes off as humorous and human. I never expected anything more from individual GB members when I was a JW. There is plenty to criticize the organization about, but this sort of thing will only impress those who are already long gone from the organization and cheer nearly every statement and action made against the organizations.
…and we all know how unforgivable it is to be juvenile. :)
so the holy spirit can control the weather when it comes to a new bible with major modifications, but it can’t help a switch board operator? mayhap the creator does have a sense of humor?
The point is this: he didn’t say or do *anything* in the phone call that made him appear foolish, egotistical, angry, weak, or whatever. The very fact that he was, as you admit, “cordial, good-natured, and polite” is a victory for him, and your loss. And this would not go unnoticed by doubting JWs who are still racked with fear and are hypersensitive to detecting apostate “lies.”
You should give more consideration to how JWs who are on the fence might take this video, Cedars. That’s all. Good luck with your future projects. I find much on your site informative, but I can’t help but feel you frequently overreach in your criticisms.
Tony laughed off an issue regarding which he told an audience of JWs in Rome: “You chuckle! I don’t think it’s funny, I think it’s disgusting!” If you can’t see why that would be of interest to ordinary JWs, then it doesn’t surprise me that you think I overreach in my criticisms.
Lloyd!!! I wanna buy you a beer mate. You made my day.
I think more seriously (and what they need to be concerned about) is just how many disgruntled people there are at a very senior level who are willing to pass on information. Another example is the handling of suicide for the elders school, which really only the COs up would of had access to. For someone to have leaked these, along with the happy at bethel video (least we forget) must be telling them something.
Morris laughed at your obviously humorous suggestion that the brothers in the laundry department should contact him if you found tight pants or yoga outfits in the laundry at Bethel. He clearly understood it as a prank/joke by what he thought was a Bethelite very early on in the conversation and very understandably laughed. That’s not a big deal, Cedars. You’re nit-picking a point because the overall conversation didn’t make him look bad at all. There’s plenty out that there makes Morris look foolish, but this isn’t an instance of that. Sorry. Fail.
The joke is only “obviously humorous” because Tony’s tight pants prohibition is clearly outrageous and not to be taken seriously – but you wouldn’t think that from listening to his Rome talk where he all-but berated his audience for laughing.
You say I’m nitpicking. I reckon, for whatever reason, you don’t like the idea that I’ve exposed a duplicitous streak in a member of the Governing Body.
The fact that you can level the “juvenile” accusation at me (which is really a non-argument because there’s no crime in being juvenile) says it all.
But it’s no surprise, there is always a long line of quasi-apologists, anti-activists and armchair activists queuing up to piss on my work. I’m used to it now. I would be more surprised if one of your number didn’t put in an appearance.
I thought it was great! Good job!
I don’t think the call showed a “duplicitous streak” in a GB member, although I would have welcomed it if it would have since I am convinced the JWs are both mistaken in their worldview and often cause harm. There is plenty to criticize the GB and their entire organization for, but this call did nothing but make Tight-Pants Tony look “cordial, good-natured, and polite.”
That’s all. You won’t hear from me more on this thread. I’ve said my piece and just hope that others don’t fall for this “you’re either with me or with the GB” attitude on your part.
And I never said acting juvenile was a “crime” but just because something is legal doesn’t mean you have the right to do it. (Actually, your prank call may have been illegal since you taped him without his consent, but I doubt anyone would push for prosecuting you.) And, remember, you admitted it was a “juvenile” thing to do yourself.
How gracious of you to bow out of the exchange after making the same tired, whining and incoherent arguments repeatedly in bullish “say it enough times and that might make it true” fashion.
And for your information, my “juvenile” act was not illegal. New York law stipulates that a telephone conversation can be made public so long as at least one of the two parties gives consent. And I give consent.
Finally, I don’t think you’re in league with the GB. I think, like many former JWs (a good number of which can be found on a certain well-known internet forum) your whining criticisms stem from a deep-seated guilt complex due to the fact that I and other activists won’t follow your lead by doing absolutely nothing to stem the tide of abuses by our former faith.
Lmao!!!
This was hilarious! After all the pain and anguish this organization caused me growing up, I think a phone prank is the least that they deserve. We all need a little injection of humor now and then. Incorporating a little levity into your very important and often serious work is quite welcome.
Haha, smarty pants!
That’s Hilirious! Nice smooth intro. I think he seemed so honored to be speaking with a British person. I thought it went well.
The video showed how unwilling even one of their grandmasters would not engage in serious conversation in order to “defend the faith”. Is this where the rest of their 8 million adherents get it from? Absolutely!
Here is a perfect example of cult tactics in full operation.
Would he have shown a better bible response by using the Fruitages of the spirit to guide him in responding to you rather then hang the phone up? Would he not have set the proper example to all those under him if he conversed with you and tried to reason with you from the scriptures? It just goes to show how anyone who is so deluded and one sided that they really have no answers because they are not open to any other ideas except which comes from them only.
He missed a real good oppertunitie to set matters straight and defend his faith but chose to just bail out.
How we hide behind our Insecurities when pressed about the real Truth of a matter.
These folks have had their minds brainwashed into a belief system that is purely not backed by real verifiable truths.
Look up the meaning of belief and truth and the differences between them and you will come to appreciate they are more a belief based religion rather then a truth based one.
When it’s the “Truth” it is constant never changing and based on reality proven by research.
So if a organization that predicted so many end of times dates that have failed to come true then they are simply based on “Belief”
This is the number one reason your thinking abilitys should tell you to run as far away from their deluded thinking as possible.
Great Job Brother Cedars. Lol
Lloyd, that picture of tight pants is so frikkkin funny ! ! ! !
Yes i guess your right….nothing wrong with being juvenile once in a while, especially with the people who took our childhood from us.
rouse?? or ruse.
Good catch! I’ll fix it! ;)
I know how you got to have such a privileged conversation Cedars,you sound like Ringo Starr on Thomas the tank engine ,ToMo3 thought he was talking to a celebrity,you sly dog you.
Cedars, normally I appreciate what you do, but I think you wasted a valuable opportunity for a more mature approach, not that I suspect it would have made any difference to Anthony Morris.
I too think it was juvenile, the kind of thing I used to do when I was 10 years old.
Not your finest moment,
Oubliette
Again, what’s so wrong with juvenile? Would you prefer me to have shown him veneration? Appreciation? I can’t help but wonder whether these “juvenile” criticisms stem from a latent fear and ingrained reverence of these men. I would urge you – let it go. They are not worthy of your respect. You of all people should know that. Don’t let the JWN mob grind you down.
As a former R, Pioneer, it should have been a reflex action for Tony
to leap to the defence of his beliefs. But now he’s at the very apex
of Gods earthly arrangement, one of only seven, out of seven
billion people on earth to be a member of the “Composite” F,& D,S,
( I thought the Bible said only “One Slave,? but never mind. )
Maybe now he’s too exalted for a one to one confrontation.
Or maybe he’s lost the zeal or the knack.
Born 1950, how the hell does he get to be anointed? when the cut
off was 1935, and even then they would need a record of faithful
service. Can’t even stick to their own rules. It’s all off the cuff,
playing it by ear, winging it. ( but that’s another subject )
So he was polite at first, but that doesn’t make him a saint, politeness
Is an entitlement. The tax man was very deferential to me, but he still
took my money
Jeepers man you attribute people saying what you did as silly to them have reverence for these man? How deluded are you? It is so ironic that you claim AMIII is so deluded (which he is) yet you yourself post some very strange comments which show you are in equal delusion, so everyone who disagrees what you did was positive has reverence for these men? People can disagree that what you did was positive and not be armchair activists or anti-activists etc, we just simply disagree that it was positive compared to the other things you have posted in the past.
I’ll repeat what others have pointed out for you. Was it juvenile? Maybe but as you say there is nothing wrong with that…and I agree. The prank call was funny and you nailed him.
But is it juvenile in the sense that a man has setup a site devoted to helping others and has successfully ran a great site with great blog posts that have helped many, many who have not even left mentally UNTIL they read your site.
You have tarnished your reputation and credibility with pointless stuff like this and your personal attacks on AMIII.
To attribute people who disagree with what you did that they revere these men is unbelievably arrogrant, ignorant and shows how far from understanding your own followers you really are.
As I’ve mentioned the difference in your posts prior to officially coming out of the org and after is drastic. You have just become another bitter mentally diseased apostate in the minds of many who frequent this site who are having a crisis of faith.
That is sad for me, you are losing something very unique.
I hope it is worth it for your sakes.
I didn’t say everyone who disagrees with what I did has reverence for these men. I merely said that “This is juvenile!” is not a good argument against my actions, since there is nothing wrong with being juvenile – unless you think these men are somehow worthy of respect and reverence, which they are most certainly not. I personally can’t think of any reason for banging the “juvenile” drum unless you are still grappling with a deep, subconscious belief that these men are somehow untouchable and should be afforded respect. Mind control can manifest itself in these strange ways. I’m not saying that’s an unquestionable fact – it’s merely my opinion based on observation of the exJW “community,” in which people can still grapple with the effects of their indoctrination for decades after they’ve left. Believe it or not, I am just as entitled to an opinion as you are. And if you can come up with a coherent, logical reason why being juvenile with a Governing Body member is a bad thing APART from them being worthy of respect, I am all ears.
I loved how this phone call was so juvenile! It does remind me of when we were young and we’d call up old fuddy-duddies that were mean and had no sense of humour. Those people deserved it (because they were mean to children) and the Governing Body certainly deserves it too!
I also think that this short phone call proves a number of things: Tony was being ‘friendly’ but he was attempting to find out where in Bethel you were and who you were. He was going to have you punished, make no mistake about that! He was being cordial thinking he could trap you! When he realized that you were in a different country then he knew he could use his ‘powers’ to get you, he just walked away. He did laugh at his own stupid talk about tight pants, so that shows you how seriously he takes his own counsel. He couldn’t have cared less if the laundry found tight pants in Bethel. Finally, he did love having a fan! I always found it so sickening when brothers would give a pathetic, boring talk at an assembly or convention and then others would give the obligatory “what a great talk!” and these uneducated and incompetent nitwits would eat up the praise. They always have the false humility, “I’m not a good speaker” but love feeling that they gave a powerful talk.
I find that saying that the #1 fear of most people to be public speaking is totally false. Every idiot I’ve ever met dreams of speaking before a large group of people. And most of these people have absolutely nothing to say. Like Tony Morris.
Possibly the unforgivable sin. You have grieved the holy spirit with your juvenile antics. :-(
lol, that’s what’s going through a few people’s minds it seems! Indoctrination sticks, often permanently.
oh wow…sounds like he forgot to put his “governing” hat on. sounded nothing like a prophet of a Christ…sounded like he was taking a lunch break from his customer service job lol. sounded like he had his feet up on his fine glazed oak wood desk, latte in hand, aromas going, lights dimmed, nice smooth jazz playing in the background….
the takers and the givers. its so black and white it makes their members look literally mentally retarded…I mean like helmet wearing mentally ill individuals…seriously.
wish I could ask a jw how do they think jesus would be living right now…think he would’ve upgraded to wearing purple yet?? XD
I know if I had the personal phone number of a Governing Body member, that I’d love to talk to them but most of us will never get the chance but if I did get the phone number, my hand would be shaking like crazy and my heart pounding when that man on the other end picked up the phone and answered it but it wouldn’t be because I have any respect for them.
Those men are so insulated from criticism and they deserve a whole worse criticism than that prank call from Cedars calling him out for such stupid talk about tight pants.
Because of those men, many thousands of people including children, have died because they couldn’t take blood and these men protect child abusers and wife beaters and elders who have committed sins that anybody else would get disfellowshipped for. These men are nothing. In fact, they are less than nothing and deserve no respect at all.
All these men are, is self-appointed demi-gods over the rest of us and want all of us to bow and cower in their presence and to say that Jesus and Jehovah appointed them but they appointed themselves as “faithful” instead of letting Jesus do it. They are frauds. Nothing more than blood guilty frauds. They mock the Bible and deserve no respect from me.
The great Voltaire was the master of using ridicule to attack the pious fools of his day with great effect. Sometimes the only way to prick the conscience of an otherwise deluded and blind fool is to fire a hot barb of ridicule and parody into his backside. No rational debate with a member of the GB will ever work, only mocking and ridicule is what they deserve. Well done Lloyd.
Be gentle. Be kind. Go easy on Anthony Morris iii He can’t help it that he’s mentally retarded.
You did what you did Cedars and as you admitted on your own now when you looked back you think you could do better job or worst.
It’s hard to have control over such spontaneous situations as unpredictable dialog of two persons who stand of opposite side or barricades. It’s psychological challenge.This phone call is past and can’t be change or undue.As any other actions in our life’s even this event will bring reaction at some point & time.Positive ,negative or both ! You will see same apply to rest of us!But there is one thing about you Cedars for sure.
You are not the same Cedars as you were when you started your blog & web.There is many reason why not and what contributed to that change.You changed which is normal and natural all of us we do the same as we go through our life.Every day is giving & taking away something from us.However keeping in mind your original objectives you had in mind when you were starting and your current position you should be able to see your personal developed on this journey.There is time for everything under the sun as one guy wrote in one book and this include time for self reflection &examination.Your weakness nowadays is how you react to your “opposers or critics” here.So of the they say you overreact ,that you are eruptive etc…”
So please if you are able to be less defensive toward few of your critics here or just simply keep your own opinion for yourself when you feel like you have to react ! I wrote you before I honestly think it would bring more benefits to your objectives that harm.Some kind a shrewd diplomacy or tactics. I know Cedars it’s not easy because you are spontaneous and sensitive person!
Also now you are becoming more Croatian than English ! :-)
The main challenge for anybody who want to succeed with their own agenda and objectives is not how do they face & deal with their supporters and fans but how do they face & deal with their critics & “enemies”.
I wish you would succeed as much as is possible with your original objectives Cedars !
btw:the call prank was funny for sure !
Hi Man from the lions pit – I hear exactly what you’re saying, but I’m afraid I don’t really do diplomacy. And frankly, having given this a lot of thought, I don’t see why I need to. Diplomacy is for politicians, and I have no political or leadership aspirations. ExJWs need no leader in life apart from themselves. My sole purpose is to expose Watchtower by uncovering truth, and thereby wake up Witnesses and indoctrinated ex-Witnesses. In pursuing this objective, I have encountered naysayers, whingers, armchair activists and anti-activists throughout my activism “career” – and I am tired of them. I want them out of my way. I have repeatedly said – the majority of criticism for my work comes, not from JWs or even Watchtower, but from within the exJW “community.” I feel there are deep and complex psychological reasons for this. Likely a lot of it stems from the residual effects of Watchtower indoctrination, including an instilled distrust and dislike of anyone who tries to make a stand for anything (“seeking prominence”) and a latent fear and respect of the Governing Body (“don’t be juvenile with them!”). I also feel the majority of my critics may well be grappling with guilt complexes because I am doing what they are either unable or unwilling to do.
Yes, I suppose a little diplomacy now and then would be beneficial, and I do make an effort occasionally – but I am who I am. I’m afraid you must accept me warts and all.