This is my first post… hi! 🙂 I’ve been reading the forums for a while but I never have much to say… until now. I found this post and realized I actually have something to add to it… so here I am.
Firstly, to say this is “just a simple question” is ridiculous! Of course this isn’t just a question! a simple question is “do you prefer coffee or tea?” …NOT “do you own something that is very controversial in the frum community, or not?” There is NOTHING simple about that question. Let’s stop trying to hide behind that facade and call it what it is. It’s a personal question that can (and likely will) be used against a person at any given time in the future by people who answer opposing to you. Why else would anyone ask!?
I’m not sure how to copy quotes here so I’ll do the best I can…
It was said here that TV is worse than internet b/c TV can’t be filtered.
Is this 1984?!? Of course is can be filtered! It’s not rocket science and much simpler than computer filters (and much more reliable!) so throw that notion out because it no longer applies.
secondarily consider this – most people with umm… shall we say “problems” don’t have TV-problems, they have INTERNET problems. That stuff is FREE on the internet, not on TV. enough said.
weather girls entice you with their immodesty? Well find a channel with a dorky weather guy dressed from head to toe in a old suit like I did 🙂 you’ll have no problems keeping your mind on the weather! Or… don’t watch it. nobody is making you have to watch anything you don’t want to. The TV does have an off button you know. It doesn’t turn on unless YOU push the button. take responsibility! don’t blame the gun for shooting you.
Consider another problem – there is FAR more available for FREE on the internet than by TV. You can find any show, program or movie out there by googling it. Not to mention all the trashy ads on even respectable websites. And no matter what TV you watch, there will be commercials, even on kids programming, that you shouldn’t be watching.
what concerns me the very most on this thread is that it seems people have an idea that they are “safe” from the world’s trash by not having TV or simply having an internet filter. that is a delusional ideal that can get people into big trouble. the truth is, trash will often find you. You must be proactive against it… not just assuming so long as you don’t look for it that you will be safe. Putting up fences is great, but you also need to keep your eyes peeled for people jumping over their fences… b/c they will.
Having a TV and internet is a big responsibility. some people like to avoid the work that goes into that responsibility all together, and some don’t mind putting in the work. There have been times where i got rid of TV b/c it served me no good purpose, and times when I brought it in again b/c I found it useful (like when I had a colicky baby that kept me up all night for months and I was very happy to not just have to stare at the wall all night long!) And perhaps if i was born into a religious household like some of you all were, I wouldn’t understand the depths of this concern, but because I was raised “secular” for a long time in my life I see just how serious a problem this can be. I’m astonished with how naive people are here thinking they are safe from the world simply b/c of a filter! wake up!!
Have a TV, dont have a TV…. but whatever you don’t ever fall into the trap that you’re safe just because you have internet filters or don’t own a TV. that’s just asking for trouble.