Monday, August 01, 2005
Limits
The internet is a place with many obstacles for a striving frum Jew. The Jewish Blogosphere, while removed from the blatant pornography widespread on the internet, does have its own set of hazards. Particularly because we feel at home, safe with Jews from similar backgrounds, it is easy to let our guard down. But a lot of Jewish blogs are filled with filth that may not be as extreme as other stuff out there, but may be just as dangerous, if not more. Hearing of behavior casually referenced by what we believe is an Orthodox Jew can have deeper personal repercussions than any trash we might see "out there" but which faces steeper hurdles to actually penetrate into our system.
It is to address this concern that I am setting down what should be the five official rules of every Frum blogger.
1) Be respectful. Too many bloggers, and those that comment on them [the Meforshim], don't exhibit basic levels of respect for others. Whether a specific person whose statement you object to or a more general disagreement, it is vital to focus on asking critical questions and raising relevant points. Character attacks are pointless. Aside from the issue of Loshon Hora (slander), silencing another blogger violently ruins the opportunity for an open, fun, and fresh dialogue. In Judaism multiple views are often tolerated. When a view seems outside the bounds, say so. Don't resort to callng names.
2) Don't display your sin. I recall a teaching in Jewish Law that a person should not confess in public to their sins. While pointing out our failures, temptations and general weaknesses is productive, pointing out specific examples of religious violations does not have the spiritual productivity that we might think. When somebody performs a sin three times, the Rabbis teach that the act becomes to him like it is permitted. Psychologically, repitition wears out the sense of shame that comes with performing a sinful act. Similarly, confessing a sin on a blog has the same effect on the writer, as well as the readers. The sin becomes perceived as unavoidable to a wide group of people. This doesn't mean that personal and communal failings shouldn't be discussed, just that we must think with a religious mind (if that is who we claim to be) if we want to be productive with our openness. For example, let's say I have a friend who is struggling with his homosexuality. I can write that, A) I have a friend who is struggling with his homosexuality, and discuss what I perceive to be flaws and outcomes of how our community deals with the issue, or B) I can tell you (descriptive!)stories of what he's done. A) is the way for a frum blogger. No need to censor the issue, but no need to bring up specific sins.
3) Don't be pornographic. Following on the previous point, there is no need to be obscene. Tznius, Nivul Peh, and other forms of tactless talk aren't becoming of a frum person. Again, there is no issue that can't be debated, but there is always a way to do it. This goes for foul language as well.
4) Say when you don't know. We aren't all Gedolei Torah (great teachers). That doesn't mean we can't talk about things based on our individual understandings of Torah. But we have to be prepared to admit when we aren't the absolute expert. When quoting a halacha or other source, say if you are quoting it, paraphrasing it, repeating something you heard, or vaguely remember once learning the topic at hand. You never know who in the audience may unwittingly be using you as a source for their own practice.
5) Don't hold back. Judaism has a tradition of rational, open debate. Use your logic, and don't hold back. Challenge and question, all in the spirit of openly pursuing truth.
It is to address this concern that I am setting down what should be the five official rules of every Frum blogger.
1) Be respectful. Too many bloggers, and those that comment on them [the Meforshim], don't exhibit basic levels of respect for others. Whether a specific person whose statement you object to or a more general disagreement, it is vital to focus on asking critical questions and raising relevant points. Character attacks are pointless. Aside from the issue of Loshon Hora (slander), silencing another blogger violently ruins the opportunity for an open, fun, and fresh dialogue. In Judaism multiple views are often tolerated. When a view seems outside the bounds, say so. Don't resort to callng names.
2) Don't display your sin. I recall a teaching in Jewish Law that a person should not confess in public to their sins. While pointing out our failures, temptations and general weaknesses is productive, pointing out specific examples of religious violations does not have the spiritual productivity that we might think. When somebody performs a sin three times, the Rabbis teach that the act becomes to him like it is permitted. Psychologically, repitition wears out the sense of shame that comes with performing a sinful act. Similarly, confessing a sin on a blog has the same effect on the writer, as well as the readers. The sin becomes perceived as unavoidable to a wide group of people. This doesn't mean that personal and communal failings shouldn't be discussed, just that we must think with a religious mind (if that is who we claim to be) if we want to be productive with our openness. For example, let's say I have a friend who is struggling with his homosexuality. I can write that, A) I have a friend who is struggling with his homosexuality, and discuss what I perceive to be flaws and outcomes of how our community deals with the issue, or B) I can tell you (descriptive!)stories of what he's done. A) is the way for a frum blogger. No need to censor the issue, but no need to bring up specific sins.
3) Don't be pornographic. Following on the previous point, there is no need to be obscene. Tznius, Nivul Peh, and other forms of tactless talk aren't becoming of a frum person. Again, there is no issue that can't be debated, but there is always a way to do it. This goes for foul language as well.
4) Say when you don't know. We aren't all Gedolei Torah (great teachers). That doesn't mean we can't talk about things based on our individual understandings of Torah. But we have to be prepared to admit when we aren't the absolute expert. When quoting a halacha or other source, say if you are quoting it, paraphrasing it, repeating something you heard, or vaguely remember once learning the topic at hand. You never know who in the audience may unwittingly be using you as a source for their own practice.
5) Don't hold back. Judaism has a tradition of rational, open debate. Use your logic, and don't hold back. Challenge and question, all in the spirit of openly pursuing truth.
# posted by Josh : Monday, August 01, 2005
