Many years ago before we were married, my dear husband and I agreed we would not have television in our home. That was a good decision. We don't miss it. Our minds aren't filled with images we can't get rid of, music that we can't stop humming, and the desire for things we just gotta have because we saw them advertised by someone really cool. In addition, we don't have time for television, but if we had one, we would make time for it. You know what I mean. Kind of like blogging. Ahem.
We were blissfully unaware of Hollywood for several years. One day we were introduced to email. My mom and dad felt we NEEDED to have a computer, because that way we could write each other every day, and it would be just like talking to each other! And besides, we were getting to be behind the times. We insisted we did not want internet for the same reason we did not want television. Our life was peaceful, and we liked it that way. And besides, the internet had too much trash, trash that was multiplying in exponential proportions. Being an all-or-nothing kind of person, I would prefer to have no internet than try to filter the content. But we reluctantly gave in, and when Dad upgraded his computer, they drove all the way to Alberta and brought us the old one.
Forward many years and many computers later. The kids use the computer every day. I use it every day. We all do. It consumes hours of our time! And, while I don't hold to a double standard about what is viewable for kids and what is viewable for adults (it's all sin, right? why is it okay to watch it if we're grown-ups?), I get really irritated when "inappropriate" ads show up on pages my kids are looking at. That stuff was one of the reasons we banned the television!
So what am I getting at? Are we giving up the computer? Well, no... not yet. We have several good excuses why we still NEEEED it. In the meantime, though, we have found a solution. This won't be news to some of you who are way more techie than we are, but Alison discovered an ad-blocker for Firefox, which happens to be our browser of choice. It is awesome. It works. It's FREE. I love it. No more belly fat ads in my face. No more b**bs in my husband's face. No more couples making out in front of my children. Ahhh.
I have said all this to promote Alison's latest blog entry on how to install the Firefox ad blocker. If you follow her instructions, you can do it without any techie expertise of your own.
Forward many years and many computers later. The kids use the computer every day. I use it every day. We all do. It consumes hours of our time! And, while I don't hold to a double standard about what is viewable for kids and what is viewable for adults (it's all sin, right? why is it okay to watch it if we're grown-ups?), I get really irritated when "inappropriate" ads show up on pages my kids are looking at. That stuff was one of the reasons we banned the television!
So what am I getting at? Are we giving up the computer? Well, no... not yet. We have several good excuses why we still NEEEED it. In the meantime, though, we have found a solution. This won't be news to some of you who are way more techie than we are, but Alison discovered an ad-blocker for Firefox, which happens to be our browser of choice. It is awesome. It works. It's FREE. I love it. No more belly fat ads in my face. No more b**bs in my husband's face. No more couples making out in front of my children. Ahhh.
I have said all this to promote Alison's latest blog entry on how to install the Firefox ad blocker. If you follow her instructions, you can do it without any techie expertise of your own.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.
Psalm 101:3
Psalm 101:3
Oh, praise the Lord! I have been complaining about ads but didn't know there was anything I could do about them. I'd love to trash the computer along with the tv....but we're in the same boat.We "need" (HA!) the computer!
ReplyDeleteYayyy! I got Amy's package today! The girls were just as excited as I. We decided that she will be our official nature museum mascot and we've named her Nature Nelly. Absolutely adorable! Please tell Amy she's an excellent crafter and thanks thanks thanks!
ReplyDeleteBTW, is she selling these? I probably should e-mail you with these questions, sorry.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings, Julie
What a great post! I like your attitude. We attended a very conservative church years ago (Uh . . . we helped start it, actually). But it always bothered me when the young "preacher in training", with the spiritual gift of being "prophet" (love 'em or hate 'em) and declared that anybody who had a TV in their home should get rid of it. Excuse me? Hey, Fred, if God is telling YOU to get rid of your TV because you can't control it, then you better do it. But allow the rest of us to have the freedom in Christ to examine our own hearts in that area, OK.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I was a child of the Golden Age of TV and was pretty much addicted to it, we controlled the viewing time for our children...."movie" night on Friday (renting one of those old, clunky VHS machines before we could buy one!) and "Star Trek" on Saturday night. Or "Bonanza." I quickly become "un-addicted" when I had children.
Sometimes I feel like I'm wasting my $$$ to pay for cable TV when we don't watch hardly anything. It records the history or FOX talk shows, which I never have time to watch except if I'm on my treadmill. Life is just too short, ya know?
But being easily drawn into addictions, I can tell you what has replaced the TV. Internet marketing, blogging, Facebook. Gee, no surprise there. That is the main reason why I have a Sunday fast from all that---I have to make sure it's not my idol, ever!
Just be glad you don't have any sons. I think Satan has corrupted the internet with those little boys in mind.
Are you on Facebook? Come friend me! (Or are we already friends? With over 150 friends I can't keep track. (and "friend" is such a "loose" term on Facebook, since I don't know half of them...They're contacts, I guess. And I have made some GREAT new friends that way, but really!)
I know what you mean about the ads! I'm so glad to know about this blocker and will be visiting her blog to do so!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're doing well! It's been a long time since I've been around to the blogs to visit - please forgive my long absense!
God bless you ~ Julie
Thanks for sharing the ad blocker :)
ReplyDeletemarie
The email system for my job just changed from Outlook Express to Google Mail in order to increase the size of the inbox. The "spam" is horrendous--x-rated ads, and what isn't x-rated is phishing emails. We actually had a better firewall with our smaller inbox. So much for improvement.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the Lord is blessing you.