Tomorrow's Protest

[RR88]

Any New Yorkers should consider attending:

http://www.facebook.com/events/320642868009045/

[MrsYoungie]

Can I get a quick run down on what this is about?

[gardenvarietycitizen]

Can I get a quick run down on what this is about?

It's a counter protest against the big Internet Asifa being held at Citi field.

The asifa ("gathering") is a big men's only event for the ultra-Orthodox to gather and have a rally about how the Internet is terrible and should be regulated, etc, share information about internet filters, that sort of thing. There's arguments over whether the event will condemn the entire internet or just say you should filter it, but the main opinion seems to be that regardless of the details, the main thrust of the event is anti-Internet. This is a world where you can have your kids kicked out of school because you have Internet at home (and it's found out - plenty of people in that community do have Internet at home).

But more and more Internet is needed in business and daily life (paying bills, interacting with city hall, etc) so they're maybe trying to finesse a compromise.

But anyway. Thing is, there are more pressing issues in the community (such as some child molestation cases and a tendency to cover those up or not report the molesters to the civil authorities because "they're upstanding community members!" and "it's forbidden to turn in one of our own" type reasons, so there's a counter message now saying, the Internet is not the problem, these larger issues are a problem, how about having a rally about those?

I don't live in New York and I'm not a member of that community or any with standing to really go, but absolutely the counter-rally is the one I'd be supporting.

[RR88]

Women aren't allowed to attend the asifa because what it's really about is porn. And we all know women don't look at porn. :roll:

[RR88]

Here's an article, by the way, about the original event:

washingtonpost.com/blogs/under-god/post/ultra-orthodox-jews-to-gather-at-citi-field-for-event-on-evils-of-internet/2012/05/18/gIQATsK0YU_blog.html

[margiebargie]

Interesting. I wonder if this is their way of responding to the abuse scandal. The catholic church has tried to take the focus off itself by attacking women. Perhaps the orthodox are doing something similar? You know - "we're not the bad guys, look what's on the Internet".

[RR88]

One of the event organizers is tweeting photos live from the protest: pic.twitter.com/eVkqAq8A

[doggie]

fear of information as usual.

[RR88]

This photo is my favorite.

[attachment=0]1.jpeg[/attachment]

[RR88]

vosizneias.com has a live stream of photos as the event unfolds.

[RR88]

One last photo:

[attachment=0]Yup.jpg[/attachment]

[gardenvarietycitizen]

vosizneias.com has a live stream of photos as the event unfolds.

*clicking*

Wow...

[RR88]

Wow indeed.

I can't decide if these people are modern-day Luddites, destined to disappear within the next century or so...or a group of people who will reproduce at such a rate that they will take over the earth.

[gardenvarietycitizen]

I think in some ways this event is probably because they've realized this is a moment of truth of sorts for them, they know that banning the internet is just plain not gonna fly in 2012, no matter HOW religious you wanna get, and so they're trying to backpedal with various "guidelines." However I find interesting that:

(1) No one is admitting they were wrong to ban the internet to start with, they're pretending it was always about "guidelines" all along, which is BS

(2) So many of the supporters of this thing seem COMPLETELY unable to understand that yes, in fact, 100% secular people are able to use the internet without filters and not be constantly pulled into porn addiction.

I mean, adults in a secular office know how to not look at pr0n at work. The acronym "NSFW" has a useful meaning in the secular world, which people are able to obey, and so it's not that hard of a stretch to limit yourself to "nothing NSFW" on your computer, with your own willpower. (And if you can't, and you're tempted to turn the filter off "just for tonight" - well, what can I say, if you're technically savvy enough to install a filter, you can certainly turn it off!)

But I'm cynical and all that too, so I suspect the protesters are right in that the bigger fear for those in power is that the little guys are able to find out more easily what they're up to.

Separately from all that it's interesting to see the various people in threads who are paranoid that the discussion is "available to the public" - yeah, bummer, people like my heathen self are reading it all, just as we have for years :)

Interestingly it seems there was a Ustream link at some point but it's not working now.

[RR88]

I'm surprised the news isn't reporting more on the fact that women were barred from this event. Schools throughout the New York area, though, sent out letters requiring fathers to attend.

[gardenvarietycitizen]

I'm surprised the news isn't reporting more on the fact that women were barred from this event. Schools throughout the New York area, though, sent out letters requiring fathers to attend.

Yeah, and then didn't have enough tickets!

Supposedly there's various "overflow rooms" completely separate from the event where women and high school girls can watch a live stream (but not on the internet, oh no) for $10. Dunno how that worked out though.

[RR88]

There was a "live telephone hook-up" (even though it's through the internet, not the phone, the word "internet" can't be mentioned regarding an event that is created by people who hate the internet) at various local synagogues.

[JesusFightClub]

Believe you me, I have a LOT of members who haven't worked out looking at porn at work means you fail at life. One spent five hours a day looking at some, er, unusual things indeed. One of the first things we said to him was "What the HELL were you thinking?"

Another member stole. Not wee things like pens. Big things. And both said the same. "Doesnae everywan dae it?"

Er. No.

[Sola]

I think in some ways this event is probably because they've realized this is a moment of truth of sorts for them, they know that banning the internet is just plain not gonna fly in 2012, no matter HOW religious you wanna get, and so they're trying to backpedal with various "guidelines." However I find interesting that:

(1) No one is admitting they were wrong to ban the internet to start with, they're pretending it was always about "guidelines" all along, which is BS

(2) So many of the supporters of this thing seem COMPLETELY unable to understand that yes, in fact, 100% secular people are able to use the internet without filters and not be constantly pulled into porn addiction.

I mean, adults in a secular office know how to not look at pr0n at work. The acronym "NSFW" has a useful meaning in the secular world, which people are able to obey, and so it's not that hard of a stretch to limit yourself to "nothing NSFW" on your computer, with your own willpower. (And if you can't, and you're tempted to turn the filter off "just for tonight" - well, what can I say, if you're technically savvy enough to install a filter, you can certainly turn it off!)

But I'm cynical and all that too, so I suspect the protesters are right in that the bigger fear for those in power is that the little guys are able to find out more easily what they're up to.

Separately from all that it's interesting to see the various people in threads who are paranoid that the discussion is "available to the public" - yeah, bummer, people like my heathen self are reading it all, just as we have for years :)

Interestingly it seems there was a Ustream link at some point but it's not working now.

Oh this^

There is absolutely no will power in these people - and that goes for all fundies regardless of religious persuasion. It goes further than that though, it isn't just internet porn. They make such an issue (Duggars saying Nike for example) over things, while the ordinary everyday person just lets it pass over their heads.

Sure, there will be porn on my son's computer; he's 16 when all is said and done and right in the middle of wank central teenage years. He'll grow out of and move on - if anything he already is as there is less porn on his computer now than there was a year ago. The only time my husband watches porn is if we occasionally watch it together if we are feeling that way inclined.

It seems though these people have never had the opportunity to build in their own self control, so the moment they are 'free' as it were, they go mad watching it. With the Duggars and the like, maybe if they taught their kids healthy attitudes about sex and the body, they wouldnt have so many problems.