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Sunday, November 19, 2006

Are Weblogs Really Undermining Da'as Torah?

In the official Agudas Yisroel advertisement for the upcoming Agudah convention, much ado was made about weblogs undermining Da'as Torah.

It amazes me that Agudas Yisroel feels threatened by weblogs.

Are weblogs really so powerful? Do they really have such a great effect?

Besides, I would assume that many weblogs, such as this one, though they may have an independent twist, are not advocating anti-Da'as Torah views. I know many are, but are those really so powerful?

Just an interesting observation.

14 Comments:

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

I don't see anything wrong with blogs such as this one but I understand the Aguda not wanting it because anything on the internet can be harmful and it's easier for them to say it's all evil.

Independent Frum Thinker said...

Thanks for stopping by. :)

Their main issue is that some blogs undermine Da'as Torah. And that amazes me. Are blogs THAT powerful, that one of the main addresses of the convention is to deal with this issue?!

socialworker/frustrated mom said...

Apparently they think so lol.

Anonymous said...

The answer is very simple, all the crackpots come out of the woodwork.It is hard to seperate the sane from the insane

Anonymous said...

As somone who barely looks at blogs anymore due to the averos involved(i'm here on a trail basis) I would say-One the worst aspects of blogs is aside from the OPEN loshen horah,machlokes and kefirah-is the OVERT tremendous amount of letzonis involved in them.Some points made on blogs would even be valid where they presented in the right manner,however the bloggers present them in a manner of such letzonis that they are forbidden to read(collateral damage).IMHO this mindset that blogs work so hard to create (perhaps unitentionally) is what indirectly undermines daas torah even off blog.
It was only after blogs came out that I understood why(1) chazel speak so severly about the onesh of letzonis(2)how the maskilim were so succesful(3)why there was little rabbinic response to haskalahs arguments-It would of pointless to respond as any response would just be met by further ridicule and false accusations and distortions of Torah.The blogs follow that example and manipulate the avrege persons (1)tragic lack of abilty(and at times intrset )L'asukey shmatshe aliva d'hilchosha(2)willingness to accept loshen horah(3)desire to feel independant minded.

Anonymous said...

Once the gedolim said the internet is assur except for business purposes, what need is there for the Agudah to say that blogs are treife. It's like the Torah coming to tell us not to eat the pig's tongue after we already know it's assur to eat the whole pig. I think there is a hidden agenda in this. They feel threatened after being exposed by the likes of UOJ and being a party to the YTT lawsuit.

Anonymous said...

Who is UOJ?
And what's this about YTT lawsuit?

Please explain.

Independent Frum Thinker said...

Though I don't subscribe to any conspiracy theories (like were mentioned in some comments) regarding why the Agudah felt the need to "take on" the blogs, I'm honestly amazed that they feel blogs wield such great influence.

Anonymous said...

I think they have an influence. I can say, without naming names, that the way certain MO blogs learn Torah--and more importantly, the more relaxed, sociological perspective on halacha--did have a hold on me for a while. This can be problematic if they are wrong.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Who is UOJ?
And what's this about YTT lawsuit?

Please explain.




-----------------------------------
http://theunorthodoxjew.blogspot.com

http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/complaint_kolko.pdf

Anonymous said...

The Agudah is impotent and irrelevant and fears being exposed as such by bloggers.

anonym00kie said...

YES they are that powerful :(
not only are they destructive but they are so easily accessible that its almost impossible to fight the pull towards them.. and unfortunately the impact of them really hits you when you least expect it,. when youre down and feeling confused or doubtful, suddenly all the nonsense you read pops up in your mind..
so sad..

Independent Frum Thinker said...

Anonymous Nov 21, 1:27 –
I see your point.

Avakesh –
Interesting thoughts.

Anonymous Nov 25, 7:37 –
I have to disagree. The Agudah is still doing much good work. Nowadyas it is more in terms of political benefits for the Frum community and less in terms of Chinuch.

Anonym00kie –
Thanks for sharing.

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