Tips on Staying Free of Pornography

  1. Avoid stores that sell porn, especially those that display it behind the cash register so you can see it as you check out
  2. Don't surf the internet alone
  3. Avoid sexually explicit movies (usually R rated and some PG rated)
  4. Avoid looking at people in a sexual manner.  If you can't look at a person without having sexual thoughts, then don't look at all!
  5. If married, avoid being separated from your spouse, especially in the evening
  6. Avoid being alone
  7. Pre-plan alternate, non-pornographic activities you will do when you feel the urge to view porn.  Examples:
  1. Install internet filters on your computer and give a friend the password; use a text only browser (like Lynx) if search engine pictures are tempting you
  2. When tempted, remind yourself the truth about the lies behind the temptations
  3. Take actions to clean out your home from any physical or spiritual stumbling blocks related to porn
  4. Take action to build your spiritual walls of resistance through our online courses
  5. Here are some helpful tips provided to us by a site visitor:

1) I'm an IT guy. I have a laptop. However, I don't need to bring it home with me every night, though I used to. One of the easy steps to assist me was to simply leave it at work when its not needed at home. I'm too afraid of not properly covering my tracks or of getting caught by my wife to browse porn on her computer, so not having my own is a help. On the nights I need to work from home, I use it only on the couch in public view where anyone can walk up behind me and see what I'm doing. 

2) OpenDNS is free and awesome. I know there are benefits to a lockdown-type application and giving the password to an accountability partner. However, sometimes this doesn't work or the free solution is just as good. I use OpenDNS for free and have the options set to filter out the following categories:

Sexuality
Tasteless
Nudity
Pornography 

Additionally, I've also added the "Academic Fraud", "webspam", "adware" and "typo squatting" categories. Basically, you sign up for free service with them and set filters. You then update your router to use their DNS servers. This in effect protects the whole house… or anyone behind the router. So not only does it help me, but it helps protect my children from unwanted exposure to sexual material (as well as popups, malware, and the temptation to cheat on their homework). It also protects any guests at my home that want to use my wifi. There are other good categories in there as well including "dating sites", "lingerie/bikini", etc that could be enabled. If my kids need to research something for school that is blocked (say a biology thing), my wife can login to OpenDNS and approve the specific page or domain. When dealing with addictions in general, there are categories for tobacco, drugs, gambling, etc. Its awesome for a free service. For someone that hasn't explained the situation to their wife *yet* and doesn't want her questioning a monthly charge for internet software, this helps. Also, for people with work-provided computers where you cannot install your own software, this is a good work-around. I have an Airport Express from Apple that I use when travelling and its also configured with OpenDNS. Can I bypass it? Sure, but at least its a deterrent to hopefully buy me some time if I'm tempted. 

3) For free accountability, Google's web search history is awesome. If you have a gmail address, you have a Google account. I specifically enabled the Google web search history feature. It records all searches and keeps a record of every site I've gone to. I then gave my gmail password to my accountability partner. He is then able to see where I'm going and what I'm searching and if he sees chunks missing he knows I'm covering my tracks. Combined with OpenDNS, I have a blocker/filter and a accountability and I'm not paying a dime. :) 

4) When it comes to TV and cable, etc I have personally found that shows like Law & Order and specifically Law & Order SVU are about as bad as porn. All Law & Order episodes center around a homicide or rape. The SVU ones center on sexual crimes and go into all areas: bondage, S&M, rape, teen sex, abortion, murder, prostitution, homosexuality, etc. I have personally found that a "Law & Order marathon" on a holiday can be more spiritually draining than a month of not praying or reading the Word. 

 

 

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