chaimss

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Viewing 50 posts - 51 through 100 (of 101 total)
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  • in reply to: Sheltering kids #809113
    chaimss
    Participant

    R.K- That actually may be easier than you think. Usually someone who, say, watches TV, is better at a different middah, say, chesed. So all you have to say is that you try hard in this area and they have other areas that they’re improving in. That way it isn’t a matter of better or worse, just different.

    in reply to: I am the youngest on the CR anyone nearly 13 and a half?? #811310
    chaimss
    Participant

    Legally you have to be 13 years old to join an online forum, so it would be pretty hard to beat.

    I agree though, this is _not_ the place for a teenager (at least some discussions)- but some are fine. I just hope the OP knows what to avoid!

    in reply to: Out of Town Yeshiva #806882
    chaimss
    Participant

    While I would definitely second the recommendation of Ohr Yisroel in Atlanta (definitely worth the trip in my opinion!) I would also recommend Yeshiva Sha’arei Torah in Monsey if you want to stay “local.” It’s exactly what you described- Yeshivish but not over the top, and with a very good english program. You can actually take a full year’s worth of college courses (directly from colleges, not AP’s) in 12th grade.

    in reply to: To what do you attribute the rise in the number of shootings in NYC? #806443
    chaimss
    Participant

    Maybe if more people owned legal guns…

    in reply to: Irene in Far Rockaway #802717
    chaimss
    Participant

    Long Island Power Authority…

    in reply to: Irene in Far Rockaway #802707
    chaimss
    Participant

    I’d like to third that- I’m supposed to be heading into Sh’or Yoshuv tomorrow or Tuesday, was there any damage there?

    in reply to: Why do people still wear black hats? #803552
    chaimss
    Participant

    Perhaps at one point the Fedora was specified to look respectable, but now it serves a more important purpose- to make us stand out. I am in a college in NYC and I make a point to go to class at least once with my hat (not necessarily wearing it all of class, but to have it). This immediately marks me as different, and as such I’ve never been invited to my classmates parties, etc. that they indulge in after school. It marks me as someone different, who doesn’t _mish_ with the secular world.

    in reply to: Sitting on Toilet and Bed on Tisha B'Av #1161464
    chaimss
    Participant

    I’ve had the same shaila. Obviously common sense comes into play, but should one try to be in these more comfortable positions for less time? I can easily see myself trying to be on my bed for as long as possible…

    in reply to: I want to talk about Israel etc. #791478
    chaimss
    Participant

    There’s a difference between loving Eretz Yisroel as the Holy Land and loving Israel as a nation-state. I’m not taking sides, etc. but just because you love E”Y doesn’t mean you love Israel, and vice versa.

    in reply to: What Exactly Do The Mods Know? #720563
    chaimss
    Participant

    So getting back to the OP’s original question…

    1. Until you hit submit everything’s still on your computer. Once you hit “send post” it gets sent for moderation.

    2.See #1.

    3.An IP address is how your internet service provider knows which computer asked for which information, and they can send the response back to the right computer.

    4.It’s usually not that hard to figure out after a while 😉

    5.THAT you’d have to ask them…

    in reply to: Shidduchim: Why is everybody lying and is it ok? #698111
    chaimss
    Participant

    As a guy who’s not in Shidduchim yet, this is a topic I’ve had mixed feelings about. For example, if I had hashkafa problems in the past, or if I have some “deep, dark secret,” on one hand it’s better to be honest, but on the other hand, the girl may be more accepting of it once she got to know me, versus hearing it at first when she’d say “no, no, definitely not.” The other thing I’m thinking, is omission the same as lying in this case?

    in reply to: What we are truly missing in this generation #697635
    chaimss
    Participant

    How true (both to WIY and DP) – we all need good role models, and we’re just not getting them. There’s this mentality of “what do I have to do” vs. “what should I be doing” and especially for teenagers or post-teenagers like me, it’s not doing us any good.

    in reply to: Have You Ever Googled Yourself? #686167
    chaimss
    Participant

    When I Google myself I mostly find my amateur radio records as well as products I reviewed using my real name (a practice I’ve since terminated). B”H nothing unknown!

    in reply to: Screen Names #1175718
    chaimss
    Participant

    Because Chaim’s my first name and SS are my last two initials 🙂 Much easier to tell people than my other screen name, my amateur radio call sign.

    in reply to: Amateur Radio #888696
    chaimss
    Participant

    Yeah, I’ve always wanted to go, but my local club (to which I belong) only really did anything on Shabbos, not so much on Sunday. This year may be different I’m hoping, since we’re actually in a danger zone, and I’m really going to try to go.

    Do you know any other Frum hams from your area? I have a really, really funny story, but it’s too late to post now.

    in reply to: Amateur Radio #888694
    chaimss
    Participant

    Getting back on topic… I was licensed on the eve of September 11, 02, when I was in 8th Grade. I was fairly active on my local machine, never missing a net, until I went to Yeshiva. I still have my HT with me, but I rarely find time to get on any machine there. When I iy”H get a car I plan on getting a mag mount so I can hit my home repeater(2m/70cm) from there.

    Are you in the NYC area? I’d love to attend a field day, but all the ones I’ve heard of are on Shabbos.

    in reply to: Cholov Akum #772602
    chaimss
    Participant

    Without getting involved in the discussion, I just want to explain why CY milk costs so much. Most dairy farms utilize co-ops, i.e. a bunch of small farmers milking their own cows and selling the milk to the bottling, etc. company. This is much cheaper than having it all at one farm since the overhead is much less and they don’t have to pay workers. CY milk, however, must be watched, and having a bunch of different farmers do that is ridiculous. So they have one huge farm with one mashgiach, but that requires much more land, much more workers, etc. so it costs much more overhead.

    Hope this explains something.

    in reply to: Any Runners? #695304
    chaimss
    Participant

    Our treadmill just died so I may have to actually run outside now… I’m not looking forward to it but I have a running suit. As far as my head… we’ll see…

    in reply to: College Options For Yeshiva Bochurim #631360
    chaimss
    Participant

    I’m in Sh’or Yoshuv, and I also go to Queens College. They’re very open to that option, and only insist on coming for First Seder and Shiur (although I come for night Seder as well). Many people go to Touro, some go to Queens, and one person even goes to Yale(!!!)

    Otherwise, Landers in Queens is great, as is Ner Yisroel in Baltimore (you get a Bachelors in Talmudic Law- a respected law undergrad degree, and if you follow through, a Masters in one of a number of things from various “real” colleges in the area for only two nights a week).

    in reply to: Suggestions to Improve YWN #1224959
    chaimss
    Participant

    Maybe the CR should be given its own subdomain name, i.e. cr.theyeshivaworld.com or theyeshivaworld.com/cr

    in reply to: Girls & Cellphones Yes/No? #1040649
    chaimss
    Participant

    I think what’s happening is that everyone’s seen people who have gone off/met a guy/girl through a phone, and others are seeing people who have had phones and are fine.

    Again, from being there and doing that, it really depends on where you’re holding. If you’re on a level where you’d never dream of contacting the other gender, having a cell phone, even with messaging, won’t change that. If you would, you’ll find a way around the controls your parents give you, no matter whether you have a phone or not. The only ones who might be influenced one way or another are those on the fence. The ones who only follow because they have to, not because they understand why they should. So give them the free reign and they’ll break the chain.

    So it really all depends on the person. And the reality is, people do need cell phones these days, and if you don’t give it to them, they may just become more resentful of you.

    in reply to: Being a Frum military Officer #628646
    chaimss
    Participant

    asdfghjkl- Thank you 🙂

    in reply to: Being a Frum military Officer #628645
    chaimss
    Participant

    Ashreinu- I assure you I’ve contacted informed people, both Chaplains and others. I was just looking for more opinions from the wider Frum oilam, and to know if anyone knew anyone whom I could contact.

    in reply to: Being a Frum military Officer #628625
    chaimss
    Participant

    Well, Joseph’s right that I solicited comments, so I guess I did ask for it. But I also said, I’m looking for serious pros/cons, please don’t assume it’s impossible to be Frum unless you know 1st, 2nd or 3rd hand. I don’t expect everyone to have been in the military, but maybe “I know a guy who’s brother’s chavrusa had a friend who…”

    But trying to itemize, I’ve basically gotten two three cons:

    1. It’s Pikuach Nefesh

    2. It’s dangerous in Ruchnius

    3. the all powerful “There’s no heter.”

    Does that basically cover it?

    in reply to: Being a Frum military Officer #628604
    chaimss
    Participant

    Yossiea- Thanks, but I think for me it would be more dangerous- I might spill it! 😀

    *everyone else*: Let me clarify a few things:

    1. My not going to the Israeli military has nothing to do with being anti-Zionist, etc. I’m just not Israeli, and I don’t feel any sort of patriotism or hakaras hatov to them on a day-to-day basis. I know they allowed E”Y to be opened up, etc. but these aren’t things I’m thankful for every day. Also, all-inclusive (Yanky55), my research tells me that it’s much easier to be Frum in the American military than the Israeli military (outside of nachal chareidi which is combat, and I don’t want to do that).

    2. Joseph is right, the military can assign me wherever they fell like it, but since I’m not being trained as a combat officer they won’t put me in a combat position. I may, for instance, be deployed to manage networks in Iraq, or whatever, but like was mentioned above, these aren’t the people who are R”L killed over there. I’m not saying Hashem can’t do whatever he wants, but it’s no more dangerous than, say, crossing Ocean Parkway or Lavista at Briarcliff (Hameiven yovin). It’s simply not worth re-training a person to do something they’re not good at when they’ve already spent millions of dollars training you for something else.

    3. I’m not in the Air Force Academy, I’m in ROTC. This means that I can be in Yeshiva and in a normal college while getting training once a week. I picked this route because I can get a base in Learning before having to join, which won’t happen until, the earliest, three years from now.

    4. The point that Chaplain was making is that there are people out there who want to destroy us, and those of us who have an ability to defend us against them must. I’m not sure I agree with him 100%, but I am sick and tired of reading stories about what’s going on and not being able to do anything about it.

    5. The main reasons I’m considering this, though, have to do with, believe it or not, ruchnius. The discipline and self-control they teach you can be applied wherever you go, and the concepts of respect and professionalism apply to the Frum world as easily as the military one. I can honestly say my davening has been better since I started, and I now have more of a concept of Kiddush Hashem/Kiruv.

    in reply to: Being a Frum military Officer #628588
    chaimss
    Participant

    yros- Obviously there’s a heter, I’ve already received one from a gadol. And why would Israel be any different? If it’s about defending Jews see my last post.

    And like I said, please be specific. Why is there no heter? Because it’s impossible to be Frum? Because it’s pikuach nefesh? Please clarify.

    in reply to: Being a Frum military Officer #628586
    chaimss
    Participant

    For the sake of preventing this thread from turning into an attack I’ll assume Joseph was seriously asking a question and not rushing to judgment.

    The answer is two-fold.

    1. My position would not be inherently life-threatening (I wouldn’t be flying planes or anything like that), and according to the statistics, the number of that kind of Air Force Officer that was killed in Iraq was exactly 1. Which means there’s the same chance of getting killed in the service as with any other way, cv”s.

    2. haba lirodef acharuv, yihareg oso techila- We all know what these terrorists are capable of, at least I’ll be able to join in the fight. (based on an Army chaplain)

    But after everything’s said and done, your choice of words in “non-Jewish” military takes me aback. I’d be protecting over five million Jews, so yeah, I’d say it’s worth it.

    in reply to: Girls & Cellphones Yes/No? #1040561
    chaimss
    Participant

    I think we’ve been getting off the topic to analyze R’ Wallerstein’s point.

    I am one of those teens who would never be able to get around without my cellphone. (A point I made very clearly on one or two occasions when I accidentally forgot it at home and my parents, etc. couldn’t reach me. They never bothered me about ‘needing vs. wanting’ a phone after that.) Anyway, not only do I not have a Kosher phone, I have an LG Voyager which, if you’ll google it, you’ll find it’s quite the opposite. But I use the features (besides for the live TV, which I blocked) responsibly and it’s very nice to be able to listen to music, look up bus/train schedules, e-mail, etc. wherever I am. Do I need those things? No, but they’ve saved my parents a lot of trouble.

    I really think it all boils down to finding the balance between the danger and the benefit. (And if this makes no sense, that’s what you get for posting at 3:00 AM 🙂 )

    in reply to: IDF FINALLY POUNDING GAZA: OPERATION CAST LEAD #630224
    chaimss
    Participant

    While I welcome the move, I’m afraid it’s come too late, and is really only a political move to counter the hawkish opposition. But then again, that’s what war is defined as: An instrument of national policy through violent means.

    in reply to: A Humorous Item #1171786
    chaimss
    Participant

    Brooklyn-

    Here’s a story that actually happened 🙂

    My grandfather (who wasn’t Frum) was in the mall during The Season, and saw all the kids on Santa’s lap, so he went too! So he was sitting there and Santa asked him, “So, what do you want for Crachsmuch?” to which my grandfather replied, “Well, actually, I’m Jewish.” So the “Santa” whispered to him, “So am I.”

    🙂

    in reply to: Girls & Cellphones Yes/No? #1040525
    chaimss
    Participant

    Precisely… they can both abuse it.

    in reply to: Suggestions to Improve YWN #1224936
    chaimss
    Participant

    xerox- Thanks 🙂

    in reply to: Starting Threads on the YWN CR #628013
    chaimss
    Participant

    I guess people like me don’t like starting the hot-button topics, but will chip in when open… *shrug* I guess I don’t like to be the start of the thing.

    in reply to: Suggestions to Improve YWN #1224920
    chaimss
    Participant

    Oh, and another thing on that same note, maybe an automatic e-mail when you’re post’s approved.

    in reply to: Suggestions to Improve YWN #1224917
    chaimss
    Participant

    I was just thinking, even if they can’t actually go through each post and really comment to the guy why it was deleted, perhaps just an automated message being sent to the poster when his comment’s been deleted/edited. Because it’s quite possible that the person keeps reposting because they’re not sure whether it was deleted or just didn’t make it in.

    in reply to: Is there a Drug Problem in the “Frum World”? #1100322
    chaimss
    Participant

    I think that while all this is true and must be dealt with, we should also remember that there is still that (hopefully) majority of bochurim and girls who don’t do this stuff, and opening up the drumhead can have some major negative repercussions on those bochurim who may be trying to stop on their own, or perhaps just started, and could be taken care of without exposing them. The problem should definitely be addressed, I’m just not sure names should be exposed.

    Oh, and for the record, I never drink except Shabbos, etc. and I’ve never smoked. Ever.

    in reply to: Suggestions to Improve YWN #1224904
    chaimss
    Participant

    Getting to the most recent page is nice, but if my last visit only covered the first few pages? Clicking on the link should take you to where you last looked. I know many boards have that feature. Also, a PM system (or an e-mail member button) would be nice so that there would be a private place to take things instead of everything being fought out on the boards themselves.

    in reply to: The Yetzer Hara of Bitul Zman – Online – Internet Addiction? #1076945
    chaimss
    Participant

    No, I don’t think so, the coffee room has its good points too, but I think Dveykus is making a good point. Many things can be kosher, but still not good in mass quantities, namely food 🙂 Seriously, though, there are certain things that just kind of go too far. Having three or four “posting times,” for instance, would make conversation extremely annoying, not just from a back-and-forth standpoint, but you’d have people replying to the same comment without seeing the next persons, a case that couldn’t work.

    Anyway, we have to use our judgment- for example, set a timer. If you’re structured enough, that should work.

    in reply to: Inspiring Quotes #1083660
    chaimss
    Participant

    Well while we’re on the subject of computers:

    “Keyboard not detected- press F1 to continue.” – a REAL message from Windows ME

    in reply to: Black Friday #1192240
    chaimss
    Participant

    Yup, I’ve learned that nothing beats Black Friday prices, and even on the off-chance that they do, it’s not worth the “risk” to wait.

    in reply to: Suggestions to Improve YWN #1224848
    chaimss
    Participant

    I’d like a feature where we were e-mailed when someone replied to a topic we were subscribed too. Especially with news stories, it’s a shtickel annoying to have to keep checking back.

    in reply to: What is Your Hashkafic Affiliation? #626944
    chaimss
    Participant

    I love this question, because it just shows how people think 🙂

    I’m litvish and ashkenazik, but after that, I firmly believe that labels are for suits. I much more prefer the 20 q. game, i.e. Do you learn? If so, b/c you want to or b/c you have to? etc. etc.

    But, just to satisfy everyone else, if I had to label myself, it would be liberal yeshivish. I’m in Yeshiva, and I learn when I can, but I believe in going to college to get a parnasa and not having to rely on others. At the same time, I believe in growing for growing’s sake, and I’m into Kiruv. So put your own label if you’d like.

    in reply to: Talking With Members of The Opposite Gender #662939
    chaimss
    Participant

    Shkoyach-

    Shkoyach (:p) on your remark about gedarim, it’s mamash really something people don’t know enough about.

    When I spoke with ( deleted by YW Moderator ) about joining the Air Force, his response was (or at least as much of it as I’m sharing), “As long as you won’t be mechallel Shabbos.” This was distinguished from working on Shabbos, which may happen, but without actual chillul. Another thing I’d like to add on, though, is the idea of “inconsistency is not hypocrisy.” Just because a guy tries not to speak with girls doesn’t mean if one holds the door open for him he shouldn’t say thank you, etc. etc.

    As for speaking to people online, even when gender is implied in a user name, I think the internet’s inherent anonymity makes it ok since you really have no idea what gender they are. That and the filtering, as well as the public forum, I think makes it, though not ideal, ok.

    in reply to: Black Friday #1192232
    chaimss
    Participant

    You really have to do what I did… stay online. I got a $250 camera plus a free printer for $119, a decent printer for $30- all from my house, and all at a normal hour 🙂 They really have some decent deals available online these days, so unless you want that laptop for $200 or some other doorbuster, it’s really better to stay online. Even with the (not-always-present) shipping costs it’s worth it.

    in reply to: Inspiring Quotes #1083629
    chaimss
    Participant

    Just btw, the “better to keep your mouth closed…then open and remove all doubt” quote is Abraham Lincoln.

    “1 out of 10 people understand binary. The other one doesn’t.” – The internet

    “The image of a disciplined … member who can be relied

    on to do the job excludes the extreme, the unusual, and the faddish.” – (sound like a mussar shmooze? It’s actually the) Air Force officer’s textbook, level 1

    in reply to: New to YWN, & Frumkeit – Questions? #626348
    chaimss
    Participant

    There’s not much I can say to add onto what’s already been said, but another book I’d recommend is “Gateways to Judaism” by Rabbi Mordichai Becher. It’s a great resource into what, when and why, and it’s in very friendly terms.

    Also, aishaudio.com has many amazing classes, and I personally recommend Rabbi Weinberg’s Five levels of pleasure.

    Mazal Tov, and hatzlocha raba!

    in reply to: Facebook #691118
    chaimss
    Participant

    (Mod, my connection went down, so I’m not sure if this was posted or not. If it was, feel free to delete this.)

    While I immensely respect the posters who saw that FB was giving them problems and so deleted theirs, the reality is that for them, that was a good thing.

    “My side” of the argument has been trying to say this for the past two pages, but let me try to put it into perspective.

    I’m a Yeshiva Bochur who learns morning and night and goes to college in the afternoon- this was with the full support of my Rebbeim, and NOT because I’m not capable of learning all day. (I’m not saying that to brag, just to make it clear that they didn’t feel that it would be a waste of time for me.)

    I have a Facebook account. I use it to connect with many of my high-school friends who are now in E”Y, and as such would almost never have a chance of contacting them, and others whose updated phone numbers I was only able to get through FB itself. Yes, friends I talk to a lot are on my friends list too, but I usually talk to them.

    The reality is this: FB by itself is parve, like everything else. You (and your friends) can post pictures- whether they’re good or bad depends on the person. My parents also have accounts, and they can see everything I post since they’re also my “friends.” You can post videos- good or bad depends on the person. You can update your “status”- a one-liner about what you’re doing, i.e. “Chaimss is on his way home for Shabbos.” Again, these can be perfectly fine, or they can be filled with nivel peh- Depending on who writes it.

    I only join groups I actually care about, and I never invite friends that I don’t know personally. I have already received a few invites from people- all with Jewish-sounding names, I may add- and turned them down politely, explaining that I didn’t know them. I think it’s important to note- you have to confirm your friends, simply being added isn’t enough, it’s a two-sided street.

    Now, I do believe that a shidduch, Yeshiva, etc. should check someone’s FB account, and here’s why. A lot of people who seem so fine in reality are different people online. They feel that the anonymity that the internet affords (even though people still know who you are, but it is (emphasis) online, so there’s still that fact) allows them to do certain things, so they may post pictures of things, or write things they’d never do in public. Most of friends are not this way, and have perfectly Kosher, clean FB pages that wouldn’t embarrass them even if their Rebbi saw it.

    Enter Applications. These are online-based programs (nothing’s installed on your computer) which allow you to do different things, from comparing bowling scores to sending “postcards” and “bumper stickers.” Here’s where things usually get problematic on a person’s profile- again, depending on who they are, there are good stickers and bad stickers, but people can sometimes send you stickers, and then you have no idea how to take them off. There is a way, but I personally just removed those applications from my profile.

    Is there a waste of time factor? Of course! But no more than on YWN- I probably waste the same amount of time on both sites. Time management is something everybody has to work on (or parents have to control) but that can’t be used as a reason to say something’s bad, just because it’s possible to waste time on it. In that vein, reading a book is bad too!

    Is Facebook bad? Inherently no. If someone wants it to be? Yes. So as long as you don’t do something which could be dangerous, like adding random people or applications, it could be a great tool to keep in touch with people you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.

    P.S. I want to make it very clear where I stand. I can and will try to answer all genuine questions, arguments, etc. I will completely ignore any personal attacks.

    in reply to: A Humorous Item #1171691
    chaimss
    Participant

    Squeak, that’s actually pretty good 🙂

    An “Enlightened” man was walking down the street without a yarmulke. (Note: These were the times of the actual enlightenment and these people were real apikorsim, not tinokos shenishbos like today.) The Rebbe goes over to him and asks,

    “Tell me, are you a kohein or a Levi?”

    “Why would you think I’m a kohein or a Levi?” he asked, surprised.

    “Because you certainly don’t look like a Yisroel.” 🙂

    in reply to: A Humorous Item #1171564
    chaimss
    Participant

    This joke just came to my mind when I opened the Gemora we’re learning this zman:

    A bochur gets engaged to the daughter of a simple, yet pious, man. This man wants to make sure that his daughter is getting someone learned, so he sits his son-in-law-to-be down and asks him what Gemora he’s learning. The young man replied, “Hakol Shochtin.” (Chulin 2a). The man looks up, startled. “What?” he cries, “everyone is going to be shechted? Including me?” “Don’t worry,” the chasson answered, “the Mishna continues, “Chutz m’cheirish, shoteh, v’kutun.”

    in reply to: Web scam – HDcameraworld #620866
    chaimss
    Participant

    I haven’t seen any set proof that this is by frum people… but either way, always do a BBB (or even Google) search for some out-of-the way website and see what they have to say. The better choice would be to search through Froogle, Yahoo! Shopping, etc. that usually rate merchants that fit their search results.

    For cameras and stuff, though, I agree with the aboves: B&H and J&R are the ways to go! (Which, you’ll notice, are also Jewish-owned, and get amazing ratings….)

Viewing 50 posts - 51 through 100 (of 101 total)