shemirateinayim wrote on 27 Dec 2009 21:55:
here's the real dilemma: I'm in the position of helping a handful of teenagers who are all undoubtably, and admittably addicted to their ipod touches, and the occasional laptop. hey i can't blame them, their parents where dumb enough to 'trust' them with it, and hey! so where mine!!!
the question is whether to confide in this to any of them. I'm not a fraud, so i can't help them without admitting my involvement too. plus, how else can i know all the tricks of the trade. But on the other hand I'm not interested in them blabbing to the world that I'm cool cuz i watch p#$ . That's not why i want them to relate to me! So i'm in a dilemma about it. the only thing i did about it was mentioning, in a neutral way, that i can help them break addcitions... and if they want their addictions, i can help them not want it.
if GUARD made a 'information pachet' that could simply be mailed to the yeshiva office, it would be an easy way of getting these kids involved with the site, or the cure. How about it? i know you are overworked, and put all of your heart and soul into this. how about making a printable collection of the handbook, 12 steps, how the 12 steps isn't kefirah, 'reality check' (how rampant internet misuse really is), and a letter adressed to the mashgiach ruchani that will get the point across, and get him on-board in DEALING with the issue. oh yeh, and make a collection of the 'best' stories, in case he doesn't check the site himself.
I made a note of your "Info Packet" idea in my GYE-To-Do-List... One day, with enough time, man power and funds, we'll get to all these great ideas, be"h... On
His time-table.
As far as these boys you are helping, don't tell them you struggled yourself, simply share with them the handbooks and read through parts of BOTH handbooks with them... Tell them that every teen-ager today needs to know the info in these handbooks... If they ask about your own struggle, you can "smooth over" the question and imply that you
have been tested in the past (who hasn't?) - and you know many people ho have fallen into this, and that GYE and the handbooks has helped a lot... But don't get into any major detail. That's my opinion.