The day i stopped going on this website

I’ve made so many excuses as to why it’s ok to read articles on this website. secular new sites have inappropriate content (true), and they promote values and messages that are antithetical to our purpose in this world, but which any human is susceptible to inculcating with even minor exposure (also true).

But what about terrible loshon hara and motzi shem ra about yidden? what about being a breeding ground for resentful individuals (like myself in this post) to write whatever they want, no matter how disgusting, about whomever they choose, as long as there is no “name” mentioned?

Are we ok with embracing a welcoming environment for Hashem’s children to throw away their nitzchiyus with the things they post, or a place for others to innocently read an article on the “frum” website, only to see some reviews that look juicy, and to start reading, slowly descending into reading more loshon hara, more motzi shem ra, more anti-gedolim critiques, when he thought he was getting “Kosher” news.

i’ve often wondered in the back of my head whether and to what extent guidance is sought by the moderators. sometimes, when an article is posted that seems to cross some lines, they may be able to boast that their Daas Torah told them to post it. Perhaps that’s the case in posting an article about a school unfortunately closing. They may have received a psak that despite the potential for damage, it’s important to publicize this information to increase awareness. did they have to post the letter written by the school? who knows if they had to, who knows if they asked a shaila whether they should or should not, but maybe they can post it and continue to hold themselves as a safe site for readers who want to grow in this world, and who don’t want to fall in the process because of dangerous pits advertising themselves as helpful ladders.

but what about the comments? allowing people to post their opinion on such sensitive issues. what about the coffeeroom, welcoming anonymous debate, which always seems to bring out the worst in people, as if we believe in the secular ideal that the world is better if everyone has a microphone?

would those who are responsible for this website respond that daas torah wants this website to allow leitzanus about our (unnamed) gedolim, and that direct criticism at (unidentified) communities should grow and prosper?

It was on wednesday evening, February 18, 2026, when i made the decision to stop going on theyeshivaworld. i first read a thread in the coffeeroom (advertised on the right side of the home page, to spark the curiousity of people who dont click on the coffeeroom directly) discussing who is at fault for a terrible situation unfolding now, hurting so many individuals and communities. not knowing the back story, i clicked on the article the debaters were referencing, and i read about a school closing. i was also treated to (neccesarily, im sure, to raise awareness) the letter written by the school.

after reading this article, i was able to follow the order of events. some who read this article vented their feelings in the comments section on the bottom. others in the coffeeroom. some, to their credit, asked why these posts were being allowed. all readers, however, were exposed to harmful content written by members of our tzibbur about our tzibbur.

i hope that one day i will find a website that publishes only appropriate content, where we are not at risk of distancing ourselves from our father in heaven with every click of the mouse. i think i have to stop deluding myself into thinking that i’ve already found it.

for now, as i say good by to theyeshivaworld.com, i happily remind myself that The Yeshiva World is, baruch hashem, a wonderful, beautiful, and growing population, full of good people who strive to serve hashem and be mekadeish shem shomayim every day.