This is the fourth installment in the series titled, “The WOFF “Don’t” List”.  The subjects matter has been far reaching as the “don’ts” for the members of WOFF are extensive to say the least.  As a short review; the purpose of this series is not to repeat every “don’t” at WOFF, but to show the scope and purposes of the “don’ts”. By now, it is safe to say the scope of “restraints” is evident in EVERY area of personal or public life for members. Behavior modification for “keeping people in their places” seems like the defined purpose. What would be considered “their places”? The answer is becoming more clear as we keep going.  For sure, the list continues to grow.

      For many years, it was understood that members of WOFF don’t go hunting or fishing. Who has time? Besides the “deer hunting devil”had been “hit” years ago. In more recent years, we heard of “leadership” surf-fishing and taking other men there to the “house” to help “get ahold of them”. I am not sure if that was to help them see they need to join WOFF or to prove that WOFFers weren’t THAT strange? In any case, if you did shoot or catch some animal or fish; it is always better to eat it. Don’t waste the meat! That would be killing for sport and “we don’t do that”.

     Since I have left WOFF, two different WOFF survivors who do not have regular contact with each other, have told me about the house at Isle of Palms,SC. One fellow had spent time there relaxing and “fellow-shipping”. Another fellow related the experience he was told by a third person stumbling upon the house while working. Why had this not come up in the services while I was at WOFF? “We don’t talk about things like that”. Besides, there was a houseboat and jet skis for attendees to enjoy. Why would there be jet skis for use when “we don’t do that.” What had changed? Boating and water recreation had been frowned on for years, at least for the regular members. “Would Jesus be out on a jet-ski?” Out of the mouths of two or more witnesses let a thing be established. How could someone who makes $600 a month and gives $200 to her husband, afford part ownership in a resort house on the Isle of Palms?  (see previous post here.. http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=277   ) The list of others who may own a part is of no regard to me. County records show the church approved realty company owner is a very active owner of property in Charleston County, SC.  But, when the “don’ts” change and a person has to go to the coast to find out; that seems a little fishy. Full financial disclosure on how church offerings are spent would help explain if indeed there is any part of the house owned by Jane Whaley or by WOFF. But, then again members of WOFF don’t talk about that idea of full financial disclosure.

     The information about the house in SC reminded me of this part in Hassan’s book.  In “Releasing the Bonds” (copyright 2000), Steven Hassan explains that “People are given only the information they are deemed “ready for,” or as much as they “need to know” to perform their jobs. Cult ideologies allow for many levels of “truth”.  (page 49) Why would he know this? Steven Hassan is a survivor of the Moonies and has helped over 1,000 folks deal with their time in mind control groups.

     We must forge ahead with our list. In the clothing department; WOFF members don’t wear cargo pants or anything else baggy. Many of the don’ts were discussed in services usually when a violator was discovered and needed help to know the “don’ts”.  Don’t wear a t-shirt with a slogan. For men- Don’t leave the house without a white t-shirt under your top shirt. The Holocaust teacher said, “Men are not fully dressed unless they have a white t-shirt on.” Over the years, the acceptable choice went from full neck to v-neck.  It was not WOFF fashion to let the t-shirt show. Also, if you wear a baseball hat- DON’T wear it backwards or even sideways! Doing so would warrant a scalding for sure.  WOFF members don’t wear  black tennis shoes or even “boot like” high-cut tennis shoes.

     Previously, we mentioned cars. WOFF members don’t have bumper stickers. (except during political season..) Also, they don’t have any dingle dangle type things hanging from the mirror,  no stickers in the windows. They don’t have a flashy front license plate. Well, one of Jane’s relatives used to drive a vehicle with a trendy slogan on the front license plate. But, we don’t talk about that. WOFF members don’t own sporty racer type cars. NO PT Cruisers. Don’t even ask. “What is in you that would want a race car or worldy looking car?” Get that “race car devil” out of you! To WOFF members, cars are a big source of accomplishment. Sam made sure of that.  WOFF members don’t speed. (sorta)  If you do and get a ticket, Jane Whaley could call you out in a service and give you what you deserve. I saw it more than once. Read more as there are yet more don’ts to share…

     At WOFF, the games children or adults would play was a matter of “don’ts” and few do’s. Don’t play with any electronic game on any computer or hand held phone or device of any type. Your could be taken over by the “computer devil“. Use a Game Boy? Are you out of your mind? “You won’t be tempted to sin if you don’t have solitaire on your computer”.  Games where the players could get loud and show some signs of enjoyment or competition were always suspect. Don’t play with regular cards. Uno® was okay, but ALL GAMES were subject to being stopped and “taken to leadership to be checked out”. That meant asking Jane Whaley. Your computer could be checked for games by someone showing you love. Checkers were okay as long as the “competition devil” didn’t show up! WOFF members played Monopoly® for a while, until the “money devil” showed up! Other games of that type were approved. WOFF members don’t play football. You could throw it back and forth but, no playing with teams. Soccer and basketball were approved. “Don’t give over to it and lose hold of Jesus” at any time.

     For the most part, boys and girls played separately. The younger children (don’t say “kids”, kids are baby goats, children are not goats.) could play together if supervised. Well, when would that not happen? There was a question about young boys playing with dolls; boy dolls. Jane heard God that “it depends on what is working in the child”. WOFF children don’t play doctor. Well, I think some things have changed. All “don’ts” for children are subject to change when Jane becomes personally involved in the life of a particular child that she spends a lot of time with and happens to live in her house. I think the term is related.

    As with FLDS children; Elissa Wall in “Stolen Innocence” (copyright 2008)  states, “For one thing we weren’t supposed to play with other kids in the neighborhood, and we usually kept the curtains in the house drawn to protect our privacy and the secret life we led. (page 8 ) WOFF children don’t play with other children who are not in WOFF, as a rule. (wow, another similarity!) That was/is another good reason for WOFF members to live closely grouped in certain neighborhoods. It made these “don’ts” easier to obey.

     Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. It could very well save their life. There are readers at WOFF. I hope this is a help to them. Use the comment section to let me know of any “don’ts” that I missed.

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      (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. )