Day 29 - Filters

You know what's funny is that over the past 29 days, I haven't run into a scenario where one of the internet filters has stopped me from accessing porn - because I haven't sought it out. But I would not consider taking it off because it's not there for the time of victory, it's there for the potential of failure.

I can see several strong benefits to having a filter on, even long after someone might have broken free of a daily addiction to porn. The first is that it guards me against the legitimately accidental exposures. Looking back on times when I've failed and given into temptation, many of them started by accidentally seeing something that I chose to linger on. Having a strong filter has helped me steer clear of accidental encounters.

The second benefit I see is in the scenario where my resolve has failed and I am actively looking to get in trouble. The filter is something I can certainly work around, but it is a reminder to myself that this isn't what I want. It is a note to my future self to say, "There is a significant part of you that didn't want you to do this - remember why."

Also, the password to deactivate my filter is "Clear Conscience" which is impossible for me to write if I know I'm about to go do something that violates my conscience.

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