Posted by:
candlelight
(
)
Date: April 25, 2023 02:33AM
Although not having been raised Mormon (or BIC from what I have gathered from the vernacular), I came across this site several years ago because I worked for a Mormon boss, and was looking into getting some insight into the whole mindset.
It was clear he was mightily devout, but never once preached at our workplace, and rose through the ranks eventually becoming a Stake President. His son worked there too - decent enough kid - worked HIS way up the ranks at the company eventually becoming CFO or its equivalent. He is still an active member in the Mormon church.
Boss and I had a pretty good working relationship; he relied on me heavily for over 20 years, and even though I was a working woman, and eventually a single working woman after my divorce, I believe he had a grudging respect for me as a person, and certainly for my work ethic.
But I digress...
I came here tonight, because after several years of not looking at these posts, I've come to notice a shift in the rhetoric.
At first, it seemed that there were a lot of women posting, and bemoaning their lot in life as brood mares, having to take responsibility for the well-being of all and everything on the home front, as well as fulfill all the obligations piled on them to be active in church activities. While their husbands were free to come and go as they pleased - and mostly gone a lot fulfilling their own church duties. What a time suck!
My thoughts after reading several recent posts, is that there has been a real shift since my last visit, to wit:
- It appears that there are more submissions by men than before.
- The general age seems more mature. To cite an example, I read a gentleman's (impassioned!) post about leaving his mission back in 1979, at which time he probably was in his early 20's, if I'm not mistaken. If I do the math, that would put him in his 60's now. Other submissions include time ranges such as "I spent 20 years here, or 30 years there..." while they were working adults, putting them at or close to the same age range.
- I see much more of a tendency to address politically leaning topics, such as gay rights, voting trends, etc., leading me to believe that those who post here have, or are becoming more aware of a world that exists beyond the realm of the church.
- I also see a drift to becoming more outspoken about specific church leaders/elders/office-holders (I don't know all the lingo there, at all), but sometimes alluded to by initials or nicknames that are unfamiliar to those of us "outside the fold". Downright critical at times as to their attitudes, "Nixon-esque" denials of things they have done, flipping the script about things they have said they would do/never do...
Am I way off base here, or has the site generally become more progressive in airing grievances?
Trust me...I'm no troll, just someone who is genuinely curious. And I have the greatest respect for those of you who have chosen a life outside of this oppressive cult (my view.)
Thanks to any and all that choose to respond.