Koogle

[Peikko 1,575]

A new "kosher" search engine called Koogle has been launched for orthodox Jews living in Israel, allowing them to surf the net without compromising the religious standards set by their rabbis.Koogle, which is a pun on search engine behemoth Google and a popular Jewish noodle dish, will filter out forbidden material, such as sexually explicit images or pictures of women deemed to be immodestly dressed, and restrict purchases of taboo items including television sets, which are banned in orthodox households.

Rabbis encouraged the development of Koogle to meet the needs of the country's religious communities and to discourage them from using internet cafes.

Amos Azizoff, who helped to set up Koogle, claimed the business directory alone, which lists everything from restaurants to bridal wear, was already enjoying 100,000 hits a month. He said Koogle was for adults and children alike.

"There is so much happening on the internet that isn't healthy and this search engine allows people to surf without pop-ups or anything that is inappropriate.

"There are lots of orthodox homes that don't have computers but for business purposes, or for people who want to be part of the 21st century, if you're going to have one the best way is to use one that filters the internet."

The search engine also has a facility that blocks online shopping during the Jewish Sabbath, which begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday.

Azizoff said he recognised that the site would not appeal to everyone. "We have to be realistic. Just as you have orthodox Christians and orthodox Muslims, there are people who like to take the easy approach on life, right or wrong. Unfortunately that's our society. But there are different needs for different communities."

Link

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It sounds a bit like Conservapedia.

I thought that was stupid too.

Self-censorship to ward off temptation? Shouldn't the orthodox folks be a bit more strong willed than that?

[Ladylethal 12]

It sounds a bit like Conservapedia.

I thought that was stupid too.

Self-censorship to ward off temptation? Shouldn't the orthodox folks be a bit more strong willed than that?

That's my view on anything religiously imposed.

[almaty 19]

strange and a bit over the top

[Peikko 1,575]

Mine too.

It's self serving though this idea that one should be removed from temptation and that somehow if temptation is around one can't be blamed for being tempted. That's how women being covered is justified, and then how rape is justified for those not covered. Plus ca change...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It does take the onus off the religiously minded individual from being able to resist temptation. If you remove the temptation entirely (not that this is realisticially possible a lot of the time) you aren't really doing much to "maintain" your faith as it were.

Seems a lazy way out.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's worse than lazy, in my opinion.

[jundp 191]

It might be a cool idea for kids. But adults? No way. I have decided to live my life according to a set of beliefs, but they are 'self-imposed' I suppose you would say. I am not forced into resisting temptation or believing a certain way. If you can't surf the internet or look up information without getting sucked into teh evils, well, you aren't very strong-willed, then, IMHO.

[Peikko 1,575]

I think one of the many problems is that for many people, it is very difficult to understand why sins are sins. They are told that they are, but they don't actually understand or believe the rational (such as it is, and sometimes it's very difficult to give one that makes sense).

[Peikko 1,575]

I think it's far better to teach children the rights and wrongs of behaviour on the basis of how it affects them personally. Leaving it to religious dogma to stop them doing something is asking for trouble.

[scandal 951]

"There are lots of orthodox homes that don't have computers but for business purposes, or for people who want to be part of the 21st century,

The concept of the Ultra-Orthodox Haredim and the "21st century" in the same phrase is itself an oxymoron. They are firmly planted in 18th century Poland. Not much unlike the Amish in Pennsylvania Dutch country.

My bubbie (grandmother) used to make a fine lockshen koogle (noodle pudding). Also a mean meren tzimmes (carrot stew) .

It's not much of a directory, by the way. I just tried to find a mehadrin Kosher shwarma in Ra'anana, of which I know there are at least two. There are zero in the directory.

Anyway guys-- take it easy. It's a voluntary service. No one is forced to use it. This is not like China or Iran where they close off western tools like Google or Facebook. Anyone who wants to use Koogle or whatever strikes their fancy, can. Anyone who thinks it's silly can ignore it. Free choice, and all that.

[Peikko 1,575]

I wasn't trying to suggest that it was a form of indoctrination. I just wondered why anyone would deem it necessary. Interstingly, as search engines go, I would have thought one that could produce results that were tailored in some way towards say, judaism might be useful, but not simply for censorship. Hey ho...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I get that it isn't mandatory - but its still the same argument. Anyone who uses it is essentially declaring that their faith is so weak that they can't trust themselves to avoid temptation.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Interesting that they took the name of a now-defunct brand of flavoured peanut-butter.

[Peikko 1,575]

Flavoured peanut butter? You mean, another flavour on top of the peanuttedness? How odd is that?