@DBM your statement
2. “But DBM,” I hear some of you bleating, “are you saying that we mere mortals can trust ourselves not to seek out the forbidden? Don’t Chazal say that we cannot police ourselves in matters of arayos?”
Well, if it’s nose-to-nose with you, yeah. Few, if any, human beings can resist THAT sort of temptation. Notice, however, that Chazal did NOT say that we cannot police ourselves in, say, talking to a woman, walking on the same side of the street or even (gasp!) seating oneself next to a woman on a bus. Do you why? Because WE HAVE THE HUMAN CAPACITY TO SET LIMITS AND BIDE BY THEM.
If you read my original post, you will notice that I mention simply not going online or going online in the presence of my wife as deterrents to visiting improper content. Those are natural–not artificial and pandering–means of self-control.”
End quote
You dont seriously mean to compare having unlimited access to unfiltered internet to walking by women on the street! A better comparison, perhaps, would be to yichud. (Because in both cases you have access without any outside interference or fear of discovery)
yes, we all agree that the internet is a new thing that has no precedent in halacha as “assur”, so there is no easy mishna brura or shulchan aruch to quote.
But i think, with a little intellectual honesty( and some bleating:) we can clearly see how being exposed to the web is within the categories that our chachomim forbade in “stayin away from arayos”, similar to how they forbade looking at pictures or clothing. And how they forbade being alone with a woman, i.e. yichud.
However its not written specifically, so theres nothing to quote.
I didn’t want to start talking like this, but come on. If you’re a man, can u really take seriously someone who says “im pure, im in control, i set boundaries” etc. We’ve been around the block before, we’re all internet users( if not, how are u reading this) we know what goes on when men have unfettered access to inappropriate material! Were not stupid!!
theres a stat by the American Psycological Assosiation that 86% of men would open an inappropriate website,if given the chance. Thats almost 9 out of 10 men. Tell me, are you that 1 or 2 in 10 who wont? Is everyone in this thread the 1 or 2 who wont? Where are the other 9? Who are they? Can we please take our heads out of the sand? We’re not malachim, we’re human!! Deal with it!
Im sure that many times you are in control. But even if you are the 1, as a public standard set by our leaders,theyd have to be literally INSANE to allow everyone in klal yisroel to have unlimited internet, just to protect the rights of the 1 or 2 in ten who will stay pure.
This should all be obvious.