Sorry for any unintended offense taken. 

To clarify, when I talk about Bnei Torah, I am not interested in externals.  For example, someone who learns in a Hesder Yeshiva with a big knitted Yarmulka and is Medakdek b'Mitzvos, is a Ben Torah in my book (and, I am confident, in the Ribbono Shel Olam's book as well).  He is not Modern Orthodox.  Or, if he chooses to identify with MO, I would hope that other MO follow his example. 

Rav Herschel Schechter, perhaps tongue in cheek, is said to have given the Chazon Ish as an example of MO as it should be: 100% Makpid on Torah and Mitzvos, yet willing and able to apply Halacha to modern situations, such as scientific advances.  Of course, no one really considers the Chazon Ish to be a MO leader.

There are certain lifestyle choices that people who identify with MO usually make, as opposed to Bnei Torah.  Do you have a television in the home?  Do you go to the movies?  I personally stopped watching movies in 1984, and stopped watching TV around the same time.

The Internet changed things, because it is, for many people, a necessity, not merely a source of entertainment.  So many Bnei Torah, who had long ago stopped watching TV and movies, began using the Internet, and ended up doing things much worse than watching TV and movies.

Hope that clarifies things.

A wonderful Shavuos to all.

I put up the flyer again in the same Shul a little while ago (no one was around).  Let's see if it stays up this time.  In the meantime, it is still up in the other Shul where I put it up.  The Rav of the second Shul is well aware of the dangers of the Internet, and implored every member to get an Internet filter.  In addition, the Shul gave out instructions and guidelines as to how the filter should be used.

kedusha

keep up the good work

where can I find the link to the flyer?

you are very brave to hang the flyer.I see so many people that "have the look" I wish I can approach them and tell them look at me I was helped you can also be helped.

there are people In the community who only beleive in filters etc.
To me it is like telling a drunk that from now on he can only drink old-williamsburg with a mehadrin hechsher.
I dont want to knock filters kosher internet well meaning rabbanim and askanim.

But THEY DON'T GET IT.IT'S AN ADDICTION BABY!! GET REAL CATCH UP ON YOUR  INFORMATION>

I am not trying to CH"V knock rabbanim etc. but they NEED to learen how to deal with addicts.

humble and still very happy althogh I am venting
bardichev

The flyer can be found at www.guardureyes.com/GUE/Images/Flyer%20GUE.pdf.

As I see it, filters are necessary, but not sufficient.  Even for an addict, they give the opportunity to buy time, to turn back before it's too late.

The Rav who requested that everyone install filters very much gets it.  The flyer has been up in his Shul for over a week.  The other Rav needs to be educated, but I have a great deal of respect for him.

Was I really brave to hang up the flyer?  I'm not sure - it's a very busy Shul, but I waited until late morning, when the building was almost empty, and the hallway (where the bulletin board is located) was completely empty.  I didn't want to be seen by anyone, but I, especially, did not want to be seen by the Rav, because he would then figure out that it was I who wrote him the previously cited letter.

i just thought of a great idea
why dont we send out this flyer on an email to 10 people we know
and have them forward it to 10 people they know
then this can be a small trickle that can become the niagara falls

let me know if this is a good idea

lets have 10 people respond to me either here or on my link bardichevs battle
respond when you put together an email list of 10 people

I will bl"n compose a letter

like they say in New York

Hey you nevah know!
bardichev

The dilemma is that we don't want GUE to be confused with spam or chain letters, but we do want to spread the word.  Also, many people will not open attachments, unless they know the original sender.  To that end, I suppose this can be done without any attachments at all: your letter can be in the body of the e-mail, and you can include a link to the flyer.

What about sending a link to one of the articles - e.g. the Jerusalem Post article - instead of, or in addition to, the flyer?

www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1242212387707&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

tizke lemitzvos tzadikim!

Dear Barditchev, about your "vent", I think these Rabbanim are hoping to PREVENT addictions in the first place.

And even in the case of addictions, healing can't begin without a filter in place. So either way, a filter is a MUST.

So although you're right that for real addicts a filter is just one step, it is still the first step.

We should highly praise any Rav or askan who makes a fuss about filters... But we should also let them know about more serious addictions and about the GYE handbooks, which address all levels of this problem.

By hanging up flyers, you are spreading the word in the best way possible!

kedusha
you are 100% rightabout spam

Guard you are 100%right about rabbanim.

Everyone is right

I wish there can be a way to educate well meaning people.

h&h

bardichev

Well, I checked tonight in the Shul where I put the flyer today.  Although the flyer was taken down, I checked a different bulletin board in the basement and it had been moved to there.  Apparently, the bulletin board in the hallway is for community notices only.  Oh, well - hopefully many people will see the flyer in the basement.

good for you in my shul it wouldn't last 10 seconds

people are very closeminded and dishonest

in my shul all they say is filter filter filter

and I argue addiction adiction addiction

somehow everyone comes over to me and they say bardichev you are right but it does not PAS to talk about it.

so i scream p**n PASes lust PASes hirhurim PASes no!! they are modeh I am right but they are too ashamed to talk about it in my honest open often too loud with a bit of humor and a touch of cynacisim.

H&H
bardichev

I have to work on a letter

I will post it here first BL"N

Ano Nymous wrote on 27 May 2009 20:32:


I totally agree with Ano Nymus.  Word for word.

Perhaps this letter should be put up as a template for anyone else who is in the same situation. I am going to copy it bn for myself now. Thanks.

bardichev wrote on 02 Jun 2009 17:19:


Okay, good. So, who is going to teach them? Maybe we have to, one way or another.

Just a quick update: The flyer is still up on the main bulletin board of my Shul, and it's still up on the basement bulletin board of the other Shul.