Is Your Blog Open On Shabbos?
A question for those bloggers who are Shomer Shabbos, but really for anyone who wishes to answer.
If you had a choice would you close your blog for Shabbos? Does it bother you that people are reading/commenting upon it during Shabbos?
The floor is open.
(Visited 38 times, 1 visits today)
Jerusalemcop September 26, 2006 at 10:58 am
Because of the time zone difference, I dont think it would be practical to close sites for shabbat.
On the other hand, I like Miriam’s idea about the shabbat icon, maybe Jameel can whip something up.
I personally wont IM someone (or answer their IM) when I know that it’s shabbat where they live.
I’m also a firm believer in people choosing for themselves whether to keep shabbat or not (I think they should, but I wont force the issue).
I think the best answer you’ve receive so far from the 1,023,083 visitors is Shifra’s. Maybe someone will learn a bit about Judaism, Israel or Torah while reading a blog over shabbat.
’nuff said
J.
Jack's Shack September 26, 2006 at 5:40 am
Sarah,
The time zone difference is a good point and something of a challenge.
Chana,
Fair enough.
WBM,
I can see how someone might use it that way.
AT,
The time zone issue is thorny, but I tend to favor your solution.
Stacey,
Yes, in cleveland it is.
Prag,
Interesting.
SD,
I’ll have to look.
JA,
It sounds like a good way to keep people happy.
Rhea,
I hear you.
TG and TP,
Ultimately the individual has to decide what is best for them.
Pearl,
As to the time zone issue, you have to do what makes you comfortable but I never worry about the time zone stamp. It is based upon the blog you are on, not where you are.
Since I know that I have international visitors I know that the time stamp doesn’t relate well to what time it is where they are posting from.
Tzvee,
Thanks.
Miriam,
Icons. I like it.
Orieyenta,
To me it really is a question of whether someone is being hurt by it.
Back of the hill,
Hanging out at a empty blog is a little depressing.
Shifra,
That is a good attitude, but not always so common among the frum folk.
Shira,
As I said to Pearl, what you do is up to you but I wouldn’t not post just because it is still Shabbos somewhere.
Chana,
🙂
Chana September 26, 2006 at 4:46 am
Come to think of it, I have checked out Jameel’s blog right before Shabbat here, which means it’s Shabbat there. Erp. I guess I’d better read the particle Soccer Dad posted!
Shira Salamone September 26, 2006 at 3:18 am
I turn my computer off every Friday and holiday evening before lighting the Sabbath and/or holiday candles. So *I’m* “closed,” even though my blog isn’t. Frankly, given the fact that I’m “technology-challenged,” I wouldn’t dare try turning off my blog–I’d probably never be able to figure out how to turn it on again. But I hadn’t thought about the time difference. Oy. Now I have to wait an extra three hours to read a California blog, and ditch the Israeli blogs after Thursday night? Maybe I’ll just follow TorontoPearl’s example and refrain from commenting while it’s still Shabbat and/or Yom Tov where the blogger lives, so that the time stamp on my comment doesn’t make it appear that I’m desecrating the Sabbath and/or holiday. Thanks for the suggestion, TP.
Shifra September 26, 2006 at 2:31 am
My blog gets very few hits on Shabbos it doesn’t bother me though – if a Jewish person is looking up Jewish topics (even on Shabbos) it will hopefully lead them in a positive direction.
If a yid drove up to my house on Shabbos because they wanted to learn more about Judiasm I wouldn’t turn them away either.
The back of the hill September 26, 2006 at 1:59 am
My blog is open on shabbes, but I am not.
Make no mistake, I’m not shomer shabbes in a full Red-Sea pedestrian kind of way. But most of the blogs I read are by Sabbath more-or-less observant people, who do not comment on my blog during shabbes, and I feel uncomfortable cruising into their blogs when no-one else is there. It seems unsporting to allow myself to have the last word when other people have limitations. It isn’t fair to the others.
And a conversation without the others is a boring monologue.
FrumWithQuestions September 26, 2006 at 1:20 am
I would cause my blog to close on Shabbos because my blog is geered towards people who I would hope not be breaking Shabbos.
orieyenta September 25, 2006 at 10:50 pm
I bet that those of us who are Shomer Shabbat have blog readers who are not, so it seems like it wouldn’t make sense to shut a blog down. As long as the blogger who is observing remains observant, I think that is what counts…although I do find the idea of possibly of keeping other Jews from breaking the Sabbath intriguing.
Anonymous September 25, 2006 at 9:14 pm
It would be cute if bloggers had a little “closed for Shabbat” icon on shomer-shabbos blogs. I use the computer on Shabbat but stay away from blogs I know to be shomer shabbat.
Anonymous September 25, 2006 at 9:02 pm
my blog has had visitors from every time zone – and it is always chol somewhere in the world. no I wouldn’t close http://tzvee.blogspot.com
torontopearl September 25, 2006 at 6:47 pm
It is an individual choice for the reader. I am not sending an invitation to read my post on a Shabbat; the individual is hanging around blogland, anyhow.
And yes, time differences make for an issue. I feel odd, almost guilty, when Shabbos is out in Toronto, and I go online and read West Coast posts I might not have read on Friday.
I often refrain from commenting because the time shown in the comments would be California time, and it looks as if I’m desecrating Shabbos to do so, with the 3-hour difference.
tikkunger September 25, 2006 at 5:28 pm
I don’t really think its a big deal at all. the way i see it, its up to each individual to workout what is good for him/herself regarding something like this. Hum I must be reform or something.
Rhea September 25, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Interesting question! I do not keep the Sabbath but I did feel funny blogging a bit over the weekend with Rosh Hashanah.
Jewish Atheist September 25, 2006 at 2:54 pm
I’m obviously not shomer shabbos so I can’t answer your question, but I sort of do the opposite — I refrain from commenting on Orthodox people’s blogs on shabbat/yt. And I don’t post on the blog I share with OJs on shabbos/yt.
Soccer Dad September 25, 2006 at 2:16 pm
I believe this article discusses the relevant halachos.
Pragmatician September 25, 2006 at 2:07 pm
it doesn’t bother me at all.
I don’t work with ads either so that isn’t a problem either.
I try not to post on blogs where when Shabbes is over by me, but not yet there.
I don’t think it’s necessary but I’ve made it a habit.
Stacey September 25, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Live and let live. Is this really such a big deal?
Air Time September 25, 2006 at 11:45 am
I would keep it open. It is halachikly acceptable to keep a web site open and conducting business on Shabbat, and my blog doesn’t have any commerce on it at all, so I dont see the problem. Also, the Time Zone issue would mean people who are not in the middle of Shabbat would not be able to read my blog.
westbankmama September 25, 2006 at 9:43 am
If there was a way to close it I would – although the time difference would complicate matters. Not only would it keep other Jews from breaking the Sabbath because of me (fits in with my latest post, by the way)but it would be a great educational tool to teach about the importance of the Sabbath.
Chana September 25, 2006 at 8:04 am
Hmmm, that’s a hard one. I can’t control what other people do. I haven’t really thought about it. Not enough people read my blog for me to care so far, I guess, LOL.
~ Sarah ~ September 25, 2006 at 7:47 am
I think the time zone difference would make it a little difficult to ‘shut’ a blog. When Shabbat starts here, it’s not even Friday in LA for example. But when it’s finished here, it’s definitely still Shabbat everywhere else (except perhaps NZ) and that’s the time I like to catch up on reading some blogs!
I wouldn’t close my blog, it’s really up to each person as to what they choose to do.
(But if I know of a blog who is jewish but not shomer shabbat I try to avoid commenting on their blog until shabbat is over in their area. The reason being is some respond to comments rather quickly so I just feel that it’s better to wait till after shabbat so that my comment is not a reason for them to break it… even if they are not keeping it much anyway.)
However, I did go to have a look at Artscroll’s website after Rosh Hashanah and they actually had closed it down until Yom Tov had finished in NY to prevent trading and commerce on their website for those days. Which is fair enough of course but I couldn’t look for the book I wanted till it was ‘open’ again, around midday today (monday).