(9) Raphael , October 6, 2008

Net addictions are serious!

I have seen the sad effects of Internet addiction first hand. Thanks for talking about it.

(8) gerald weiner , October 6, 2008

How do I install an ad blocker?

Can you please tell me how to install an ad blocker as mentioned in a previous letter from Moe.

(7) Moe , October 6, 2008

Practical Suggestions that work

Thank you for raising this issue. I'd like to offer some practical ideas to help minimize time on the computer and exposure to inappropriate material. 1. Purchase software that monitors your computer activity. One program is called eblaster (under $100, one time fee) and it sends a list of the websites you've visited to whomever you want, and it all very customizable - look into it. Make sure to someone else has the password. 2. Install a filter, like K9 (free) to block the types of sites you don't want to visit, and the ads you don't want to see. Again, make sure you don't have the password - give it to someone else. 3. Install an ad blocker. While making personal commitments is important in has been my experience that they can easily buckle under pressure. With suggestion 1 and 2 above you are forced to be serious about your personal commitment. Much success to everyone in this important matter. Gmar Tov.

(6) Shaun camilleri , October 5, 2008

I have been wrestling with myself and G-d for a while regarding my PC use and this seems to be a reply in writing as I already had a reply but have always come up with excuses to ignore it.

This article seems to be coming directly from my creator.
Thank you Rabbi Dovid Herskovits and Aish.com.

(5) Neil , October 5, 2008

True..is it not?

Sadly this subject has to be tackled. Putting it really simply...life is short...there is a lot to be done. If you are on this site then there has to be an inclination to do good. How can we be doing good when we get sucked into these sites? There is only one sin in all of it. We are wasting time when we could and should be doing good deeds in the world. I am weak like the rest. It applies to me too. I do not feel guilty about it and I certainly would not want to be forced into a deceptive response by it. The sad thing is that it is not bringing out the best in us..and time is extremely precious.If you only live ten years more then there is only 3,650 days left. How many days of our lives do we waste on porn? No not me , not just me, all of us. No wonder someone called it the Interporn as opposed to the Internet. I must say this is a really good time to turn the big ship round in the opposite direction.

(4) A , October 5, 2008

social network addiction

Thank you for this introductory article. I hope to see more on this topic. I have seen articles about rabbis that have warned against the dangers of the internet but it''s a topic that needs to be taken more seriously. This is something that snuck up on me, so to speak. I could go on about the various pitfalls the yetzer hara -- the evil inclination can lead one into on social networking sites in particular, aside from the time wasted which is bad enough in and of itself. Personally I had to "hit bottom" and called a mentor who could not have said it better in telling me that I have to quit said site. Leading up to that moment I kept thinking I just need someone to tell me to stop directly. At that point I let my husband take over my account so I could only have controlled access and added another measure of "security" by giving him over access to my computer''s filtering software. These sites can take over your life and lead you to have inappropriate discussions with people you might not know as well as you might think, spy on other people, etc. This message needs to get out. I did NOT see this coming but thank G-d for taking me out of it before more damage was done.

(3) Batsheva , October 3, 2008

We've lost the ability to communicate face-to-face

I love using the computer to get Torah knowledge from Aish.com and to share it with friends. What I don't like is people forwarding me junky e-mails in lieu of picking up the phone and talking to me, or even better, making a date to see me. With instant messaging (IM) and e-mail we've surrendered the social graces and substituted them with time-consuming, insubstantial, inconsequential, unmemorable messages.

(2) Denise , September 29, 2008

I rue all the time I've spent on the computer

I am definitely addicted and this is a good reminder that I can spend my time in much better ways. I have also received so many hurtful emails. My husband and son are always reminding me that nothing important should be said in an email, face to face or on the phone are much better ways to do it so you can gauge the other person's reaction, tone etc. On the computer one always has the stinging words in black and white to reread and it can get forwarded to the whole world.

(1) Lai Hon Leong , September 28, 2008

Print Out Necessary Articles

I usually print out necessary articles and read them off the computer. This will minimise my exposure to flashy adverts. Also, sometimes I just plain don't use the computer and head on to the library.