2022 Governing Body Update #1

[Qapla]

I keep my camera on - it doesn't bother me. My wife, on the other hand, makes it a point to stay out of camera view. She does not like being on camera. This is not "new" since starting Zoom. She didn't answer at the meetings if she had to use a microphone and was not on the school. She has a hard time with those sorts of things but could go door-to-door with no problems.  All people are different.

 

While I would like all to keep their cameras on, I understand why some don't.

 

 

[RNGuzman]

Probably 70-80% of our congregation keeps their cameras turned on for the most part.  We have announcements made at the beginning of each meeting to not be distracting if our camera is on.  There are a few who are camera shy and don't turn the cameras on at all.  But then there are others who live outside of town and don't always have the best Internet connection so their Zoom works better with the camera turned off.  When my husband has Audio-Video responsibilities, I log on separately and have to keep the camera turned off so the songs and videos will play properly.   I will have it turned on before and after the meetings.

[coolbrz731]

Many in our congregation have had to compromise when it comes to keeping the camera on.  I jokingly say that we live east of nowhere.  Internet connection is pretty bad in most areas.  Satellite internet bad.  I'm fortunate to live in town, which allows me to enjoy cable internet.  In the beginning, many friends would keep their cameras on at the cost of their connection.  They'd get kicked off several times each meeting.  Finally, they learned to only turn on the camera when they're commenting.  Some of our elders set the example by doing that.  Our congregation is a big fan of Starlink internet.  It's enabled many friends to leave the camera on and have crystal clear connections. Many more are on the waiting list.  Maybe Elon can thank us by accepting a bible study. 😋

[Miss Bea]

Well, I’ve sort of decided to, “use less make-up, and stop really fussing over my hair” , on occasions.

I strongly suspect we sisters will not have access to what we fuss over, one day. And, I don’t want the friends to say, “Who are you”. 

[coolbrz731]

4 minutes ago, Miss Bea said:

Well, I’ve sort of decided to, “use less make-up, and stop really fussing over my hair” , on occasions.

I strongly suspect we sisters will not have access to what we fuss over, one day. And, I don’t want the friends to say, “Who are you”. 

I have to admit, a sister brought over the food that the branch was distributing during the early days of the pandemic, and she didn't have makeup on.  I thought, "Wow!  That whole family is pretty".  I thought her sister had come to town.  I didn't recognize her.  

[Tortuga]

10 minutes ago, Miss Bea said:

Well, I’ve sort of decided to, “use less make-up, and stop really fussing over my hair” , on occasions.

I strongly suspect we sisters will not have access to what we fuss over, one day. And, I don’t want the friends to say, “Who are you”. 

Do you mind calling my wife????

 

[Qapla]

1 hour ago, RNGuzman said:

We have announcements made at the beginning of each meeting to not be distracting if our camera is on

Our Congregation uses a "slash screen" displayed 2 minutes before the meeting begins

 

 

 

[Miss Bea]

8 minutes ago, Qapla said:

Our Congregation uses a "slash screen" displayed 2 minutes before the meeting begins

 

 

 

I love this.  Just love it. A reminder my home is a Kingdom Hall. Plus the rest. Covered almost all the bases.

[Pereira]

15 hours ago, Miss Bea said:

I don’t think any of us like that camera. To me, it’s thinking more of the speaker, then ourselves. Do it enough, and it gets to be okay.

Yeah I know where your coming from.

[Qapla]

 

 

 

If you are one who thinks all cameras should be on - look at your JWT avatar ... is it a real picture of you?  If not ... Do you really have room to complain?

 

[Miss Bea]

1 hour ago, Qapla said:

 

 

 

If you are one who thinks all cameras should be on - look at your JWT avatar ... is it a real picture of you?  If not ... Do you really have room to complain?

 

 

[Miss Bea]

Um, it’s my cat. I think a picture of me is somewhere on this site. The cat takes better pictures then ones of me! 
Ler me think about this one!

[Old]

I will match my pug against your cat. It is not jumping into my lap, it is her licking my face on camera. Good news is she doesn't lick mouth (Maybe I need breath mints?)  

[Dages]

6 hours ago, Qapla said:

 

 

 

If you are one who thinks all cameras should be on - look at your JWT avatar ... is it a real picture of you?  If not ... Do you really have room to complain?

 

Our meeting aren't the same thing as a web forum.

 

[New World Explorer]

27 minutes ago, Dages said:

Our meeting aren't the same thing as a web forum.

 

But we do not shy away from reality, there is Club "Real pictures of Us" nothing hidden, real us.  just saying....

[Hope]

7 hours ago, Qapla said:

 

 

 

If you are one who thinks all cameras should be on - look at your JWT avatar ... is it a real picture of you?  If not ... Do you really have room to complain?

 

I agree. I've always been a bit sad that barely anyone on this board has a real pic of themselves as their avatar. One of the best moderated sites for Witnesses out here- but you don't show your face to your brothers and sisters? Your business, of course. Still... a pity... 😔

[New World Explorer]

7 minutes ago, Hope said:

but you don't show your face to your brothers and sisters?

I will bite the bullet for a while ...LOL 

[Dages]

20 minutes ago, New World Explorer said:

But we do not shy away from reality, there is Club "Real pictures of Us" nothing hidden, real us.  just saying....

I know, but this is still different. Anyway, my picture is a family member : our cat.

Edited February 2, 2022 by Dages

[JanBar]

21 hours ago, Qapla said:

I keep my camera on - it doesn't bother me. My wife, on the other hand, makes it a point to stay out of camera view. She does not like being on camera. This is not "new" since starting Zoom. She didn't answer at the meetings if she had to use a microphone and was not on the school. She has a hard time with those sorts of things but could go door-to-door with no problems.  All people are different.

 

While I would like all to keep their cameras on, I understand why some don't.

 

 

I am the same as your wife. I don't have the camera on but love going door to door. 

[carlos]

4 hours ago, Hope said:

I agree. I've always been a bit sad that barely anyone on this board has a real pic of themselves as their avatar. One of the best moderated sites for Witnesses out here- but you don't show your face to your brothers and sisters? Your business, of course. Still... a pity... 😔

I think everybody loves pictures. We like to see those we are talking with.

 

That being said, profiles on this site are visible to everybody, not only members. So I understand why some friends would refrain from showing their real picture.

[Qapla]

A couple of my daughters pointed out - it's not so much that they don't want others seeing them ... they don't like seeing themselves on camera - this could be typical of many who keep their camera off ... they don't like seeing their own picture and every movement they make.

 

 

[Tortuga]

3 minutes ago, Qapla said:

A couple of my daughters pointed out - it's not so much that they don't want others seeing them ... they don't like seeing themselves on camera - this could be typical of many who keep their camera off ... they don't like seeing their own picture and every movement they make.

 

 

Some in our congregation cast the meeting from their device to a larger screen so the family can watch the meeting together, but their device is at the wrong position to use the camera.

[Qapla]

3 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

Some in our congregation cast the meeting from their device to a larger screen so the family can watch the meeting together, but their device is at the wrong position to use the camera.

 

We do the same. The camera is on my PC not the TV

 

 

[JkentBZ]

Ok I added a "real" picture of me and my wife at the 2019 convention in Belize City.

 

I don't mind having my camera on.  But I can say that as a public speaker I really appreciate the cameras being on, it feels better to talk to faces than blank boxes.

 

[Hope]

1 hour ago, Qapla said:

A couple of my daughters pointed out - it's not so much that they don't want others seeing them ... they don't like seeing themselves on camera - this could be typical of many who keep their camera off ... they don't like seeing their own picture and every movement they make.

 

 

It's a simple thing to turn off "self view". Others have the privilege and encouragement of seeing your face but you don't have to 😊