WolfishMusings

I mean anyone pre college age and still under their parents authority.

Well, I have three high schoolers at home right now. All of them have school assignments that require the use of the internet. All of them have friends scattered around the country and globe and use it to keep in touch with them.

Do they “have to” keep in touch with friends? No, of course not. But I think that it’s good that they do so.

Do they “have to” do their school assignments? Absolutely.

Yes, sometimes my kids use the net for “play,” and yes, perhaps there are other options available for that. I should point out that my kids do a lot of play away from the net as well — board games are a strong component of parent-child bonding in my household.

Your question of “What does a frum yeshivah kid ‘need’ or have on the internet?” and follow-up sentences implies that there is no need whatsoever. I disagree. Of course, that doesn’t mean carte blanche either — like everything else in life, there is a happy medium.

I’d rather my kids retain their childhood friendships rather than lose them. I’d rather my kids be able to keep in touch with family around the globe. And I’d rather they learn to use the Internet responsibly. And I’d definitely rather they be able to do their homework.

Of course, that’s what I determined is right for *my* kids. YMMV for your own.

The Wolf

Wolf seems to think that young R’ Tarfon would have read his name in a mishna before he himself aid the “opinion”.

Actually, I firmly *don’t* believe that that’s what happened.

The Wolf

I can tell you that I know alot more teenagers reading this site than adults.

Considering what is (sadly) available on the Internet, I highly doubt any teens are reading the Coffeeroom solely for salacious interest in topics about arayos.

The Wolf

My #1 rule: Don’t get involved with other couples’ marital relationships. If it works for them, great. If not, they’ll work it out.

The Wolf

Granted she can’t expect them to buy personal items for her

Why not? My mother is disabled and has been for quite a long time. And there were times when I was sent to the store to shop for various things, including “personal items.” Was it embarrassing for me, as a teenage boy to buy these things? Yes, it was — but it was also necessary. The other option was having my mother go without.

The Wolf

The gemara (Megilla ad loc) says it was forgotten and Onkeles restored it.

Does that apply to everything else as well? For example, were R. Tarphon’s opinions in the Mishna forgotten until he “restored” them? Or were they transmitted down throughout the generations and then when young Tarphon was learning in Bais Midrash he must have said to himself “Oh, I guess I’ll have to hold like this when I get older…?”

The Wolf

Ultimately, does it matter whether or not you can be prosecuted? Lying is still forbidden.

The Wolf

[ putting on flameproof suit ]

FWIW, I always vote based on the candidate and not based on the party.

The Wolf

Moq,

I had a more proper response, but the moderators chose to edit it.

The Wolf

the response was unchanged except for the removal of the self-denigrating comments

Moq,

Your question is beside the point. I wasn’t arguing for violating the S”A. I was merely pointing out the fallacy of saying that a Rishon personally knows anyone alive today better than their family. You disagree? Fine, so you disagree.

The Wolf

or at least try to limit yourself to say one a week.

Some days and weeks are better than others.

The Wolf

lashon hara is usually (always?) the truth. that doesnt make it positive

I’m not sure I agree with your premise, but that’s neither here nor there. I don’t want to hijack the thread… let’s keep it on the topic of segulos and superstitions.

The Wolf

Anivus is self-effacement, which is a commendable trait; self denigration is not.

I never claimed to be an Anav. I do claim, however, to be one who speaks the truth. That’s one of the few positive character traits that I have.

The Wolf

rumpelstiltskin

Who? The guy who spins straw into gold? (Hey, maybe there’s a segulah there! 🙂 )

this is the root of the idea of segulos. but were all mixed up today and often cant tell a segula founded in reality from one that may not be.

Fair enough… but I’ve always been of the firm belief that tefillah is the strongest “segulah” of all. Davening for parnassah is worth far more (IMHO) than saying Perek HaMon at the “right” time or any other segulah that’s out there.

But then again, I’m as dumb as a pile of bricks, so what do I know?

The Wolf

Wolf, in other instance people have cited S”A chapter and verse, you’ve retorted “no longer applicable in modern times.” So I don’t believe you have credibility to demand such claiming you’ll then mend your ways.

In other words, there is nowhere where a shiur is given. So it’s just a vague, amorphous “don’t talk too much.”

That’s not helpful at all. Perhaps I shouldn’t say anything to her at all out of doubt?

The Wolf

I have no idea what color eyes ppl have. Thats one thing I dont notice!!

Heh. I’m like you.

At one point, after Eeees and I had been dating for a few months, we were talking on the phone and she asked me what color her eyes were. I had no idea, so I guessed.

I guessed wrong. 🙂

She still married me anyway. 🙂

The (unobservant) Wolf

The Gedolim are far more knowledgeable about human nature (especially on aroyos issues) than any of us.

Perhaps on the populace as a whole, but not on the individual level. There’s no way a Rishon, who lived in a different place, a different era, spoke a different language and lived in a different culture knows my kids better than I and my wife do.

The Wolf

I’ll tell you what. Show me a siman in S”A (or any other halachic source) that gives the shiur for “Marbeh B’Sicha.” Until then, I’ll talk with my wife as much as we both want.

The Wolf

The Psaks of the Shulchan Aruch and the Gedolim are based on the Halacha of the Torah, which is the word of Hashem.

Do you know your kids better than Hashem?

Wow — that’s quite the leap of logic there. Firstly, we weren’t talking about HKBH, we were talking about the gedolim. I believe that a parent knows their kids far better than any gadol who lived 500 years before they were born. If that makes me an apikorus in your opinion, then so be it.

The Wolf

What is a kula?

A leniency.

The Wolf

I recently thanked the waitress who served our table at a chasunah which I attended, and then went to her supervisor (the maitre d’ or manager, not sure what his title was) specifically to tell him what an efficient, pleasant, and truly excellent employee she had been.

I make it a point to ALWAYS say “thank you” to waiters at halls or restaurants that we attend whenever they serve us, clean up our dishes, re-fill our water, or do anything else helpful.

I never, however, went and complimented them to the maitre d. perhaps I should in the future.

The Wolf

Wolf, you should know better than to say that here. Should I raise the hue and cry?

Well, yes. We all know that extra blank lines are among the worst things a person could possibly suggest. I’m surprised the mods even let it through. 🙂

The Wolf