JW Commercialism

[GStorrs46]

I would agree with Stavro. While I believe a "dignified" use of JW.org helps promote the truth and obviously provides

people access to so much accurate information about us, anything can be abused. Look at what happened years ago

among us with the "cross and crown " pins. Will the organization's website become because of abuse be  our new "cross

and crown" pin ? At the same time I must say I was amused to see the JW.org shoes. I can't belief anyone would

really want to wear those. Isn't that a little like trampling the logo into the "dust". Something to think about.

 

GStorr46

[timpin]

JW Tie.JPG

 

I personally would not buy this tie but if I had it, I would wear it to the KH but not out in service. That's just me, my taste, my opinion.

does it come in a little Bow-Tie version?

[Tortuga]

does it come in a little Bow-Tie version?

Let me know if you find one, maybe we can get a group rate..

[2EVES]

Photoshop is a wonderful tool.

 I'm really confused by this...did you look at the site? Are you saying none or most of those items are real...they're photoshopped?

[Tortuga]

 I'm really confused by this...did you look at the site? Are you saying none or most of those items are real...they're photoshopped?

It sounds like someones needs to contact the seller and find out...

 

(let me know how much they want for the tie...)

Edited July 24, 2015 by Tortuga

[2EVES]

It sounds like someones needs to contact the seller and find out...

Oh...I think you're up for it. When will you make that call?   

[Tortuga]

Oh...I think you're up for it. When will you make that call?   

 

Oh, wait...let me see who started this topic....

 

Nope..not me...

[2EVES]

Oh, wait...let me see who started this topic....

 

Nope..not me...

 

[Shawnster]

 I'm really confused by this...did you look at the site? Are you saying none or most of those items are real...they're photoshopped?

 

No, I didn't look at the site.  I was just looking at the photo posted.  Now, the photo may be photoshopped to show what they can do with real shoes.  Maybe it's not photoshopped.  It just looked it to me.

 

Edited to ad - I looked a the Pintrest site.  Some of the images are definitely photoshopped.  Again, they may be photoshopped to show the potential customer what can be done.  

Edited July 24, 2015 by Shawnster

[Stavro]

 I'm really confused by this...did you look at the site? Are you saying none or most of those items are real...they're photoshopped?

 

The shoes are obviously faked. The perspective is completely wrong, the edges are badly cropped, there are no natural shadows, etc.

 

Other images on that site, and most "JW" instagram pages, are just unlicensed stock images with JW.org overlayed randomly.

 

For example:

Instagram:

Google:

 

Since almost none of these suspect images have any sort of seller name or link, it's clear that they are just jokes that have been passed off as real.

[kejedo]

I previously had a keyring attachment that said "abstain from blood". Is this overt commercializing? It did start some conversations. I was thinking of making (or buying) a lanyard with "No blood" and/orJw.org. Now I need to meditate on this more. A sister gave me an ugly lanyard because of my tendency to misplace keys. Nothing says 'over 60' like a lanyard. (I'm sixty and I like it.) I made a very attractive necklace key holder with swarovski crystals and other beads.  It was very delicate and didn't last long. I might be making a new one soon. Thinking of my next design. Hmm.

Edited July 24, 2015 by kejedo

[2EVES]

The shoes are obviously faked. The perspective is completely wrong, the edges are badly cropped, there are no natural shadows, etc.

 

Other images on that site, and most "JW" instagram pages, are just unlicensed stock images with JW.org overlayed randomly.

 

For example:

Instagram:

26ef5900080f9590511dedd951d89ea4.jpg

Google:

sick_dog_iStock_00001268904.jpg

 

Since almost none of these suspect images have any sort of seller name or link, it's clear that they are just jokes that have been passed off as real.

 good eye!

[Tortuga]

I have no idea what Pinterest is but it looks like it tracks social media posts, I guess it is similar to Facebook, I don't know. It does look like that picture may have been posted by someone as a meme and it was shared through Pinterest. Does that sound right?

 

If that is true, this is a good example of how a joke or picture taken out of context can cause a lot of concern.

 

Is anyone more familiar with Pinterest?

[JABA]

Pinterest is social media where you can post images and make comments about it. It is also possible to pin it images in comercial websites and include it in your pinterest account view.

Edited July 25, 2015 by JABA

[Tortuga]

If it will help someone to figure out who's behind all of this...I'll tell you that I got this website from another JW forum.  

 

So, let me see if I understand...

 

Someone creates a picture as a joke,

It gets posted on a forum,

It gets shared with someone that has a Pinterest account

It gets posted on their account along with some JW supplies they are interested in

It looks like the shoes are being sold as JW supplies

Someone sends you a link to the Pinterest account

 

Is that right?

[2EVES]

So, let me see if I understand...

 

Someone creates a picture as a joke, I don't know

It gets posted on a forum, yes that's where I got it from, 

It gets shared with someone that has a Pinterest account It appears that way

It gets posted on their account along with some JW supplies they are interested in ????

It looks like the shoes are being sold as JW supplies YEP

Someone sends you a link to the Pinterest account No one sent me anything

 

Is that right? don't know,Yes, appear to be,???, Yep, No     

I just posted something hoping that someone would be able  to deny or confirm the website validity. Nothing more...nothing less. I'm done with it.   

[Tortuga]

I just posted something hoping that someone would be able  to deny or confirm the website validity. Nothing more...nothing less. I'm done with it.   

 

Hey, it was two days of entertainment. Thanks!

[niall]

Well I bought a JW.org lapel pin with the aim of wearing it at work (a Hospital), as a way of discreetly identifying myself as a Brother to any Witnesses who didn't know me. Even though it's quite small, I felt it was too big to be discreet and decided against wearing it at work. But, I do have it attached to the lapel of my coat that I wear to meetings, and I sometimes pin it to the strap of my witnessing bag when in Field Service.

I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it at any other times, as I think it could easily be taken as some kind of religious emblem (like a cross).

I know some have small JW stickers on the rear window of their vehicle. It's an easy way to identify others when we are travelling to a convention.

[Dash21]

Personally I think it's going too far. Enthusiasm is exceeding good taste.

 

I not only agree, but an important quality that was manifested by Jesus and the early-Christians, was their refusal to couple commercial interests with the Truth- as Christendom so frequently does.

 

Nor did they resort to distasteful, undignified methods to promote the Truth.

 

And high-heels do not reflect the moral cleanness of Jehovah and the "Lamb".

 

This type of advertising does not represent the serious nature of either Jehovah or his Son, sorry.

[Tortuga]

I not only agree, but an important quality that was manifested by Jesus and the early-Christians, was their refusal to couple commercial interests with the Truth- as Christendom so frequently does.

 

Nor did they resort to distasteful, undignified methods to promote the Truth.

 

And high-heels do not reflect the moral cleanness of Jehovah and the "Lamb".

 

This type of advertising does not represent the serious nature of either Jehovah or his Son, sorry.

 

At this point I don't think the website or person is advertising the shoes. It's possible the person was 'following' several social media forums and some of them were JW supplies and one of them was a forum that had posted that picture, probably as a JW meme. The fact they all were on the same page made it look like the person was selling the shoes.

 

That's my story and I'm sticking to it until I don't.

[Tortuga]

The picture is on JW Meme and it's a spoof of the Christain Louboutin red bottom shoes.  I haven't found the original picture but I did find this one. Mystery solved!

 

 

BTW: These are only $965.00, the JW.org logo is extra...

Edited July 25, 2015 by Tortuga

[timpin]

It sounds like someones needs to contact the seller and find out...

 

(let me know how much they want for the tie...)

somebody else found the neck wear too   ... http://www.meekspace.org/index.php?do=/profile-309/

still no definite source or pricing ?

Edited July 25, 2015 by timpin

[2EVES]

does it come in a little Bow-Tie version?

[hatcheckgirl]

We do have to be so careful this doesn't become a craze.  Those on the outside will be seeing this as crass commercialism, as I know my daughter who left the truth has commented on this already.  If we feel icky about seeing this, it doesn't help those on the outside come back, or attract new ones.  I hope we get more direction as reminders not to take this too far.

[ChrisC]

I have an uneasy feeling about all this so I have decided to mind my own business!