Well, again, as I said earlier, it is, IMHO, not in the spirit of the law. That being said, however, I do realize that it is simply a higher standard that I have set for myself; and as such, was not really seeking a solution. I just wanted to complain a bit. 
Zev Steinhardt
Well, here’s an interesting thought. Suppose some anonymous Doper were to mail you a videotape of the show, without your having asked them to do so. Would your refusing to watch this tape deprive them of incurring a mitzveh? (Granted, it’s not a mitzveh on the scale of donating to the poor, or becoming an organ donor, but every little good deed helps in this sorry world.)
I face similar issues, although my family feels comfortable taping on Shabbos and holidays. We tape Giant games and playoff Ranger stuff, and yell at people who tell us about the outcome before we race home after Shabbos to watch the tape.
Of course, all of this has led to mental images of Dopers performing a hand-pupper reenactment of the Giant game, which is something that I think that I’d like to see sometime. With play-by-play, of course.
Zev said
I thought Star Trek was an all-encompassing lifestyle etc. Or have I watched “Trekkies” one time too often?
As others, and you, have pointed out, this is not something that the law imposes upon you. It is something you have imposed upon yourself. This could be seen as trying to be “holier-than-thou” or indulging in the sin of pride at being more observant than others. Refusing to tape the show because of your heretical interpretation of the law (just kidding) could be a bigger sin than taping it.
Perhaps you could speak to your rabbi about this. If he says it’s all right for you to tape it, would that be satisfactory?
It’s easier when you think that ST hasn’t been well written recently. I’d stick with Judiasm and catch it in reruns.
Saint Zero what are you talking about? Judaism is all reruns. In the begining, God created the heaven and the earth and in the end Moses showed them the sights of Israel. Year in and year out same old thing. The storylines are predictable, the writing archaic and filled with cliches, and most of the characters aren’t that interesting. It’s simply amazing the ratings have been as high as they have when everyone knows all the plot twists well in advance. They don’t even spice the parashim up for the months of Sweeps!
Well, if you feel the need for divine guidance, I believe there are branches of Judaism whose interpretation of “Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath sday” aren’t quite so insanely restrictive.
And there’s also Christianity (Don’t worry, not all Christians are rabid homophobic intolerant young-earth creationist pro-life pro-censorship freaks.) - to most Christains, “keep holy the Sabbath” means “Go to church on Sunday, and the rest of the day is yours”.
But if you believe that God doesn’t want you watching anything broadcast on Saturday, even if you’re just watching a tape of it the next day, your beef is with God, not UPN.
Why is no one pissed at UPN for scheduling Enterprise on Yom Kippur? I mean come on, no one has a calender with Jewish holidays noted on it at UPN? Seems kind of rude of them to schedule it then. (Even if most observant Jews will simply tape it or see it in re-run.)
I think that is just mean.
A late addition, but I have to say something.
Zev, bless him, took my post in the spirit that it was intended - a very mild rebuke in the form of one of my usual silly jokes.
But this character above not only over-reacted, but quoted me as saying something I never said. Look back if you don’t believe me, but I never said “Unimportant stuff you really don’t care about”. For one thing Television shows are not unimportant!
Probably don hangs around in Great Debates mostly, where I believe the standards of courtesy are lower (boring your fellow readers is not a crime, for example).
Mate, you’re welcome to disagree with me, your choice of language only makes you look bad, but if you misquote me…
Sir - you are no gentleman!
Redboss
Sorry to get all serious on you like this, but it doesn’t work like that. Two things:
I hope you realize that that line has me picturing Zev standing in an open field, his hands clenched in fists, which he is shaking, as he is screaming to the heavens “Why have you forsaken me?!”
???
You admit that it was your own choice, and not even a religious obligation to forego taping or watching the show. Why, then, must you complain to us about it? Claiming that you set “higher standards” for yourself sounds a little like pride to me. If I decide to eliminate ice cream from my diet, and then all my friends decide to go out for sundaes, I certainly wouldn’t feel a need to “vent” about it, because it is my choice whether or not to have ice cream. So, why did you???
Of course I’m not a gentleman. I’m a redneck! We beat up gentlemen for sport. And I wouldn’t be caught dead in Great Debates; in fact, that’s where I thought you came from, since you dredged up atheism.
I wasn’t suggesting that Zev get permission from his rabbi. Technically Zev already has permission from his rabbi, insofar as it is not written that he can’t watch a tape recorded on Yom Kippur. What I was suggesting was a discussion with the rabbi regarding Zev’s interpretation of the law in a setting that’s a little less half-assed than a message board.
Do you kiss your grandmother with that filthy mouth? And does she like it when you give her your tongue?
Well, it’s the worst of both worlds…
I couldn’t watch it, even if I wanted to. Besides the fact that it was Yom Kippur, it also turns out that because of the WTC center incident, I can’t get Channel 9 ( I don’t have cable).
WWOR (Channel 9 in New York) will be re-running it on Sunday at 6p.m. and I’m hoping I’ll be able to pick up Channel 9 half-decently on Sunday…
Zev Steinhardt
IMHO, zev, you didn’t miss much.