[Athanasius]

Taken from a recent thread:

Originally Posted by Guest3153513

The thing with a password is that I'm too good with computers to keep me from finding a way past it. I hate to admit it, but that's just how it is. I know in the future I'm going to be tempted to bypass the settings that they put on and just go on again.

About the job issue, I already have a job during the weekdays from 9-4. As soon as I get home from that is when the problems start to happen.

I recommend that people in this situation download ContentProtect ASAP and do the following:

ContentProtect URL: http://www.contentwatch.com/

Have someone else install it and set the admin account up, giving you no access to control it. You cannot get around this piece of software, and what is better...when you uninstall it toasts your internet connection! (Nasty, but useful side effect)

If you are serious about beating this problem, you need to get a filter to retrain yourself. This filter will block you very effectively (WWW, P2P, FTP, USENET, you name it!) AND it has the added bonus of keeping very detailed logs just for accountability's sake. You need that accountability...someone else needs to know about your struggle to encourage you. It is probably best if that person can be your parent or a godly friend. You cannot beat this problem alone.

I am (was) a computer professional, and I took this piece of software and kicked it around as hard as I could and I only found 3 ways around this product...two of them are so incredibly drastic (and noticeable) that I'm not concerned. The third is rather obscure, and I'm not going to get into it in this post so as to protect others who are using the product right now. I am sure that the company that makes ContentProtect is attempting to address it. Out of all the filters and programs that I have looked at

Youth Pastors, Christian School Administrators, SS Teachers and Parents:
You should be recommending filters for your kids (both boys and girls)...they are seat belts on what can be a rather vicious information superhighway. Some may think that a freebie piece of "accountability" software like x3watch is going to help. It probably won't, as soon as the child discovers that P2P, Usenet, IRC, and other various avenues are not shut to them by the product. (It's also really easy to shut off x3watch without it reporting) Furthermore, many other commercial products have serious holes...such as not watching a particular avenue, or being easy to bypass.

Accept the fact that your kids are smarter than you when it comes to computers.

If a parent is even half-way vigilant in reading the ContentProtect logs, in addition to becoming familiar to the configuration of the computer...then there should be no problems in trusting ContentProtect.

If you are considering ContentProtect for your children, your spouse, or a friend...and are concerned about the loopholes I talked about, PM me and I will let you know how to watch them.

To the mods: I hope you don't mind me posting this here...it seems to be a recurring issue, so I wanted to recommend what I thought was the best tool.

[charlie]

Originally Posted by Athanasius

I am (was) a computer professional, and I took this piece of software and kicked it around as hard as I could and I only found 3 ways around this product..

An 85 year old computer whiz???? Now I've seen everything
Was this a new career you started in retirement or were you working on those room size computers years ago?

But seriously, how does a technical "fix" solve a problem of the heart/sinful nature?

[Athanasius]

Originally Posted by charlie

But seriously, how does a technical "fix" solve a problem of the heart/sinful nature?

Do you take someone who struggles with alcohol abuse and leave them alone in a room filled with whiskey bottles? Or do you take away the whiskey bottles so that they can focus on working on the heart issues?

[superflyguy]

Originally Posted by charlie

An 85 year old computer whiz???? Now I've seen everything
Was this a new career you started in retirement or were you working on those room size computers years ago?

But seriously, how does a technical "fix" solve a problem of the heart/sinful nature?

Matthew 18:8-9

If someone is looking at pornography, they aren't growing closer to god. It gives an opportunity to grow closer to God, allowing god to help that person become less sinful.

[flytier]

I know some people that only go on the internet when their parents, or spouse is with them, that way they are not tempted (or atleast the temptation is not to strong). If your spouse or parents don't care if you look at it then you can get counsling.

[AlphaSigma]

From my personal experience:

It's a two way recovery. You must get rid of the temptations (i.e. no internet while in you're alone, ect.) and you must seek God. Seems pretty broad but you should really occupy the time you would have spent looking at porn doing something else. (i.e. when tempted go for a short walk or call up a buddy you can trust) If you just drop it cold turkey without subsidizing you're time with something else, it becomes easier to go back to old habbits. This road to recovery doesn't mean we won't still screw up because we're human and we'll always be on our second, third, or five-thousanth strike, God's not interested in us being perfect because he'll know we'll never be perfect or even close to that, he knows that we're going to screw up over, and over, and over again until we die, he's interested in our fellowship because he's about relationships and he loves us uncondtionally regardless or how much we do or don't do.

I'm not saying this is the right answer but this is my personal experience as someone who does struggle with lust. Hope this helps someone. PM if you have any questions, I"ll be glad to talk with you.

[Narcil]

Absolutely, I was in the same boat as the other posters here. I beat it by having my wife install a filter on the computer and by focusing all my previously misspent time on her instead. When she's out, instead of going to the computer, I look for things around the house that need doing. The laundry, dishes, yardwork, etc. Stuff I don't normally do, but make life so much easier on her (she is so worth it, too!).

The best part is that this strategy has a double benefit. Not only am I occupied and not doing things I shouldn't, but she appreciates me so much more now too and is always bragging to her friends and family about what a great husband I am. (a little male ego gratification is a great benefit)

[Iceman-bass14]

Thanks man Im gonna have my youth pastor or dad set it up.I think it will really help cause I can bounce my eyes and everything else out in public but when Im bored and alone....I get online.Then it starts going downhill.I say "just a few emails" then Im doing stuff i shouldnt but thanks again.

[Athanasius]

Iceman,

I'm really glad to see your message, and I am encouraged by the fact that you can speak to your Dad or YP about it. Admitting the problem is so freeing, as it takes you out of darkness and into light. God's blessings, brother.

not free

[PatchworkMan]

My solution was to set Content Advisor with a password that would make me think twice. I recently got married, and so passwords have included my wife's name and "husband." Another thing I'm trying to do is get out of the habit of getting online without a specific purpose in mind (a good idea anyway). I too have the problem of being able to get around any safeguards I set. The only solution is to train myself.

[superflyguy]

another important thing when choosing a password that will make you think twice; if you ever, for any reason, type it several times in a row, you should probably change it, because it can become enough of a habit that you start to be able to type it without even thinking about it's meaning.

[Novan_Leon]

Get rid of the internet.

[SomeCallMeTim?]

Then I wouldn't have relatively anonymous access to great advice, neither would I have friends. Maybe that is another issue I need to look at, but I don't know how.

[RiverJordan1]

BeSafe Online is a great filter. it not only keeps a accountability record of sites you tried to visit but were blocked, but it sends the list to a accountability persons e-mail.