I am referring to electronic games/ipods/cell phones/palms with internet access. Lets try not to be naive..
I am not being naive.
However, I ask you to consider the following:
First, these products do serve a positive function and fill a need — entertainment. Yes, entertainment is a need. Granted, it doesn’t quite rank up there with food, clothing and shelter, but our lives would be pretty miserable without entertainment of some form or other.
Second, again, like any tool, these tools can be used properly or misused. As I mentioned above, you don’t “need” a car, an air conditioner, a camera or a microwave — but that doesn’t make them bad. I could use my car to drive to a shiur, or to drive to McDonalds for a cheeseburger. I could use my camera to take nice pictures, or I could take improper ones (however you want to define that). I could use my microwave to heat up kosher food and I could use it to heat up tarfus. And on and on. Every person has to be responsible for how they use any tool. Should I be deprived of my ability to listen to a shiur or watch a video on photographic technique or listen to a podcast on DIY plumbing or whatever just because some people choose to misuse it?
The Wolf