Computers and Yiddishkeit

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  • #593288
    bpt
    Participant

    Much has been written about the evil side of computers and electronic communication. And while that is true, not for nothing, did Hashem give us this powerful tool and ability.

    Not sure how Chanukah gelt might fit this train of thought, but somehow it might. Any thoughts or comments?

    #714681
    BP Zaideh
    Member

    Not too bad. But you forgot who were those who initiated the wording on the currency. Yes everything has an ????? . There is a known ???, ?? ????? ????? As well as meaning as they were it is not a Mekor Kadosh. You want your Emuna to be influenced by them?

    #714682
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    Yes, and obviously chazal could have made computers, so the fact that they didn’t shows that we are not meant to have them.

    #714683
    erm_saywhat
    Member

    @popa_bar_abba – You should think carefully before you make blanket statements. It’s not so obvious that Chazal could have made computers. Your statement can be applied to a million things.

    It’s obvious that Chazal could have made penicillin. The fact that they didn’t shows that we are not meant to have it.

    It’s obvious that Chazal could have made YWN. The fact that they didn’t shows that we are not meant to have it.

    It’s obvious that Chazal could have made cars. The fact that they didn’t shows that we are not meant to have them.

    And the list goes on: heating, indoor plumbing, tupperware, lightbulbs etc.

    I agree with the original poster that computers should be used towards their immense potential for good things.

    It’s idiotic comments like yours, @popa_bar_abba, that give the frum world a bad name amongst the modern orthodox, the the irreligious and thenations of the world. Statements like “It’s obviously an omen that you are doing something wrong.” or “We’re better off without him” (in reference to the President or any person) display an innate boorishness that we cannot afford to display. It’s a Chillul Hashem. If you have strong feelings, keep ’em to yourself!

    @BP Zaideh – If you are thinking about “mundane things like money”, don’t you think that you have a long way to go until you can worry about the implications and effects of merely seeing a phrase as you make your way through daily life?

    @BP Totty – Perhaps you should use paper currency a little more and stop using “plastic” as much.

    (Despite Keynesian theory, spending is not a sign of a healthy economy, but a possible side-effect. A healthy economy is built up on savings not spending. If you’re saving money, where did it come from? the answer is: debt or savings. It sounds like you’re using too much credit.)

    However, you have made an excellent point about the powerful potential of technology and the fact that we are not using it is a shame. Perhaps if we spent more time being productive and less time spewing l”h on these forums, the Gedolim would shun the internet less, if only slightly.

    Happy Chanuka to all!

    #714684
    ulisis
    Member

    There’s no such thing as a Jewish computer. “Jewish” computers were taken from old Russian, Polish, or other Eastern European computers.

    #714685
    tzippi
    Member

    This calls to mind the archeology wireless joke…For those who know, “62” (did I tell it right?), for those who don’t, no time to type it up.

    #714686

    I’m stuck on the babies drinking milk from ox horns. What’s that all about?

    #714687
    bezalel
    Participant

    I’m stuck on the babies drinking milk from ox horns. What’s that all about?

    Thay didn’t have plastic bottles at the time.

    #714688
    pascha bchochma
    Participant

    I named my computer something like “pascha_serving_Hashem” for that reason.

    #714689

    Bezalel, I’m aware of that, but didn’t all babies nurse? They didn’t have formula then either.

    #714690
    bpt
    Participant

    “You want your Emuna to be influenced by them?”

    Good point, Zaideh. True, the founding fathers of the great land were not the gedolei ha’dor, but I’m pretty sure the G-D they had in mind was the One we look to.

    #714691
    charliehall
    Participant

    “In God We Trust” never appeared on a US coin until the 1860s, nor on paper money until the 1950s. I’m old enough to remember currency that did not have it!

    #714692
    erm_saywhat
    Member

    @Bezalel – Well, obviously chazal could have invented plastic bottles. From the fac tthat they didn’t shows that we’re not meant to have them. 😉

    #714693
    bombmaniac
    Participant

    this is teh same shtuss as people who believe that after moshiach comes we will go back to teh stone ages, technologically speaking. WHY?! why must a computer be labeled good or bad, why must it be labeled acceptable or unacceptable, why must it be black or white…? perhaps computers are neutral and its up to us to do what we will with them?! for heavens sake…use your brains people!

    a popular argument is as follows:

    “but look at theshmuz.com look at torahanytime.com look at theyeshivaworld.com so much good can come from it, it must be good.”

    “but look at XXXXXXXXXX.com and YYYYYYYYYYYY.com and ZZZZZZZZZZ.com see what kind of tumah comes from there, computers must be bad”

    that argument answers its own question, its neither! its a Schroedinger’s cat if you will. you cannot know which it is until you use it, and when you do use it its status is decided by you. computers, and technology as a whole is not good OR evil, it is simply what we make of it.

    #714694
    bpt
    Participant

    “never appeared on a US coin until the 1860s, nor on paper money until the 1950s”

    No kidding? I did not know that. I would have said it was from the colonial days. Guess not.

    #714695
    bombmaniac
    Participant

    no it was put on in the 1950’s in an atttempt to unify the nation someohow…

    #714696
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    It’s idiotic comments like yours, @popa_bar_abba, that give the frum world a bad name amongst the modern orthodox, the the irreligious and thenations of the world.

    I totally forgot that I posted on this thread. This is great.

    #714697

    this just brings to mind… did anyone read the mishpacha article about kids on the fringe? last week had some responses. I have to say that i just cried from one of those personal stories. Yes im on the internet, but it kills to hear about HOW damaging it could be.

    #714698
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    I did read that article. It was absurd. As if the entire problem was that the kid had access to the internet.

    It is much easier to blame the internet than ourselves. And when I say ourselves, I mean the parents.

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