Haredi Eyeglasses Meant To Blur Out Women Also Come With Blinders

Discerning haredi male customers can not only buy those blurry eyeglasses meant to make it difficult for wearers to see women on the street, they can also buy blinders and special hoods to make it nearly impossible to see anything except your own feet.

As I reported Monday, Mea Shearim-based haredim are now selling special glasses with blur-inducing stickers on their lenses. The glasses allow wearers to see clearly for a few feet, but anything beyond that is blurry — so blurry that seeing a hot woman (or any woman) walking on the street won't be any different than looking a a blurry sack of potatoes. And that, of course, is the purpose of the glasses –haredi hyper-"modesty."

Now the AP is reporting that the glasses can be purchased alone for the modest price of $6. But haredim are also selling blinders and hoods to go with them, further limiting what haredi male eyes can see.

[Hat Tip: Dina.]

Comments

[Reb Mendel]

Why should and ehrlicher Yid have to wear this instead wommen shoujld learn to dress with modesty.

[balansen]

I take heart that, misdirected as it may be, this is another example of haredi entrepreneurial spirit. As long as haredim eventually contribute to the economy I really don't care if they wear these glasses.

[Eli, what me messiah?]

you gotta be kidding me... not that I don't believe you on this stuff, but on this one I had to follow the AP link just to make sure.

how would you even begin to parody something like this?

"the packaging doubles as a bag you can put over your head"?

"the instruction manual explains how to buy a blurry sack of potatoes without inadvertently picking up a hot woman?"

they've outmatched us. I give up, and throw in the towel with a nod of respect. this is much much funnier than anything we could possibly dreamt up.

[Bas Melech]

These men don't need special glasses to blur and blind them. They need a special pair of glasses to open their eyes to reality.

[seymour]

I feel this is not enough since they could be tempted to remove the glasses.

They need to get an operation to blur their vision permanently

[John Nagle, Silicon Valley, CA]

So these are being sold by "modesty patrols", not retail outlets. Sounds like a protection racket.

[PeninaD]

You know, I like this idea....why should the women overheat for what is in essence, a guy's problem...those men that don't want to look can use these, trip and fall all they want, and women everywhere can now dress in comfort.

[jomadar]

I WILL GO INTO THE CHASTETY BELT BUISNESS FOR MEN NO ERECTIONS NOT SHIHVAS ZERA LAVATALA.

[Dave]

Are there any plans to sell this here in the states?

[JK2]

They need to get an operation to blur their vision permanently

Posted by: seymour | August 08, 2012 at 11:37 AM

But then how would they be able to read Torah/learn all their waking hours?

Wait a minute! It could be quite the lucrative package. Sell the glasses, along with very LARGE print holy books and other adaptive items.

[Dave]

This nicely takes care of visual issues the next issue is one of hearing women's voices. I propose some form of ear plugs that muffles the sounds so one cannot distinguish between male and female voices.

How does one contact the distributors of these glasses. I would propose that these two items be packaged as a kit.

[yuk]

I think they should include a mini cylindrical ice to slip on to his shmekil so that he doesn't get a hard on from a sack of potatoes.

[Sabine]

//For men forced to venture outside their insular communities, hoods and shields that block peripheral vision are also being offered.//

This is downright dangerous! I don't think this will really catch on.

[Sabine]

Who knows? Perhaps Rabbi Ovadia Yossef will come up with the idea of 'seeing-eye goyim'?

[AztecQueen2000]

Please tell me that this is Poe's Law at work. I honestly thought that Jews were known for intelligence.

[Dave]

//For men forced to venture outside their insular communities, hoods and shields that block peripheral vision are also being offered.//

This is downright dangerous! I don't think this will really catch on.

Posted by: Sabine | August 08, 2012 at 01:17 PM

This is silly and only a fool believes that this has any staying power. If they sell a dozen they are lucky.

Just another pointless look at the fringes of humanity. Sort of like keeping tabs at what goes on behind the walls in a mental asylum.

[Dave]

//For men forced to venture outside their insular communities, hoods and shields that block peripheral vision are also being offered.//

This is downright dangerous! I don't think this will really catch on.

Posted by: Sabine | August 08, 2012 at 01:17 PM

This is silly and only a fool believes that this has any staying power. If they sell a dozen they are lucky.

Just another pointless look at the fringes of humanity. Sort of like keeping tabs at what goes on behind the walls in a mental asylum.

[Rochel]

I am very happy about this. This, and earplugs, solve many of the problems we have been reading about. Women (and young girls) now do not have to worry about men throwing stones at them for showing 1mm of skin and women can now even speak (or sing) freely! Now these charedim can leave everyone else in the world alone and not bother them.

[WoolSilkCotton, rock star and sports superstar]

They should simply shut down all eye doctors and opticians.

Since a high percentage of the men wear glasses, the problem is instantly solved.

Pharmacies should be prohibited from carrying any eye drops that might treat eye diseases.

[Garnel Ironheart]

$6? For $3 I'll paint your glasses with liquid whiteout or black tefillin paint (your choice and you supply the stuff)

[No Light]

Sabine. - that's brilliant. The seeing-eye goyim could be recruited from secular/non-Jewish kids who could do it for their sherut leumi! They could have little harnesses and everything.

JK2 - they should do what Muslim scholars do, and memorise the Torah.

There are kids of nine and ten who know the Quran and hadith from beginning to end, and when prompted to recite a certain section or ruling they do so.

If kollel-schmucks could do that then they wouldn't need eyes. A simple splash of battery acid applied to the ocular region and *BOOM*, no more pesky distractions! Plus, they'd get extra welfare for being disabled. It's win/win.

[Sarek]

Right - they can jab needles into their eyes & ears so they can never again see or hear women. God absolutely wants them to do that.

Not sure what you do for the nose, though...maybe a clothespin?

(what f***ing morons)

[dh]

These glasses are low tech for Israel. Google 'augmented reality israel'.

Did you hear the one about the black hat with these blurred lenses who couldn't figure out where he was? He called 911 for help. They asked him his location. He responded, "on the corner of walk and don't walk".

[Abracadabra]

ANNOUNCING The First Unofficial Failed Messiah Get Together THIS SUNDAY, July 12th

A bunch of us commenters on Failed Messiah are getting together this Sunday, July 12th, for an evening of live, face-to-face conversation, discussions and just some good ol' shmoozing. Come and chat with some of the regulars and meet like minded people.

If you are interested in attending, send an email ASAP to either APC: ahpeechorus@gmail.com or to Abracadabra: zehtov2@yahoo.com

You MUST include in the email your Failed Messiah screenname and email address you use for posting comments. Once we verify that they match up, we will send you the time and place of our gathering which will be in the greater NY/NJ Metropolitan Area.

Trolls Be Warned: We will have a bouncer at the door who means business, as well as the 3rd Billy Goat Gruff, and trolls will not be tolerated.

The Small Print: This event is not endorsed or sponsored by Failed Messiah, and Shmarya will not be attending.

[flat earth]

Welcome to Mea Shearim, I guess you all know why we're here.
My name is Yosef and I became Hasid this year
If you want to follow me, you've got to control your balls.
And put in your earplugs, put on your eyeshades.
You know where to put the cork

[dh]

Abra - this Sunday is August 12.

[Eli, what me messiah?]

Posted by: flat earth | August 08, 2012 at 02:51 PM

Very nice. A haredi wizard?

[SkepticalYid]

$6? For $3 I'll paint your glasses with liquid whiteout or black tefillin paint (your choice and you supply the stuff)

Posted by: Garnel Ironheart | August 08, 2012 at 02:13 PM

That's a brilliant idea!!! Just shmear some rabbi to give you his personal endorsement and a business exclusive.

[Dave]

A bunch of us commenters on Failed Messiah are getting together this Sunday, July 12th, for an evening of live, face-to-face conversation, discussions and just some good ol' shmoozing. Come and chat with some of the regulars and meet like minded people.

I didn't think you could book Citi Field in such short notice.

:)

[Abracadabra]

CORRECTION – AUGUST 12th – The First Unofficial Failed Messiah Get Together will be this Sunday AUGUST 12th (and NOT July 12th).

[mimi]

Hopefully the next one-have got unalterable appointments this week!!

[Fleishike Kishke]

2,000 years from now, if for nothing else, Jewish history will remember FM for the Seeing Eye-Goy. Sabine, your brilliance humbles me.

[NeverFrum]

I'm going to Israel next week and I am honestly torn....on one hand I want to buy a pair for comedic value but on the other hand I do not want to contribute even a penny to these fucking people's community (it is a given that the state of israel won't benefit as I am sure that I will be instructed to pay cash to avoid sales tax). Not sure what to do.

[Yosi]

Troll Level:

Rebbe

[Eli, what me messiah?]

Shmarya, I would pay $25 for a pair of "haredi glasses + blinders" if they came with an FM sticker on the side (or on the glass). They could include a short instruction manual on ways to prevent reality from intruding into your life.
Off the top of my head, I can think of several people I already want to order these for.
Seriously. Think about it.

[flailed]

omg...it made it to the aol front page! heeeelp!

[rebeljew]

Wouldn't it be more efficient and quicker to get a lobotomy, take an icepick to your eyes and ears, and have your extremities chopped off? (Not necessarily in that order.) No need for blurry glasses or internet filters.

If you are hesitant about the lobotomy, you can get a Haredi education instead. It is a lot more expensive but it comes to more or less the same result.

[Yoel Mechanic]

I feel this is not enough since they could be tempted to remove the glasses.

They need to get an operation to blur their vision permanently

Posted by: seymour | August 08, 2012 at 11:37 AM
===========================================
This comment is far beneath your dignity.
I mention it because you are one of the few to tries to understand the issues and think about it.

[Yoel Mechanic]

Wouldn't it be more efficient and quicker to get a lobotomy, take an icepick to your eyes and ears, and have your extremities chopped off? (Not necessarily in that order.) No need for blurry glasses or internet filters.

If you are hesitant about the lobotomy, you can get a Haredi education instead. It is a lot more expensive but it comes to more or less the same result.

Posted by: rebeljew | August 09, 2012 at 10:46 AM
=========================================
This comment is far beneath your dignity.
I mention it because you are one of the few to tries to understand the issues and think about it.

[JK2]

No Light, I like your strategic thinking.

Yoel Mechanic, what is the issue? What's to think about? What's to understand? That a group of people who presume to be authorities, who are spiritually superior to everyone not like them, who believe they should control everything: all the money, education, law, religion, politics, absolute authority, all rights and freedoms, really - will be driven mad, filled with uncontrollable lust, if they see a woman's knee, a little girl's elbow?

Is that it?

[Yoel Mechanic]

Yoel Mechanic, what is the issue? What's to think about? What's to understand? That a group of people who presume to be authorities, who are spiritually superior to everyone not like them, who believe they should control everything: all the money, education, law, religion, politics, absolute authority, all rights and freedoms, really - will be driven mad, filled with uncontrollable lust, if they see a woman's knee, a little girl's elbow?

Is that it?
======================================
JK2; That is not how it is to me. So I'll answer: I think these glasses are a very bad idea. I've heard of rare cases of men who, unhappy with the unzntius sights will carry a newspaper, and pretend to be reading it as they walk. That seems more reasonable. Moreover, no one need know they are avoiding looking at that which they wish to avoid. I think one only needs resort to this if they happen to be immersed in some holy Torah thoughts. These glasses strike one as strange, unnecessary, and even hazardous. It's a bad idea all around.

I cannot be sure of the motivations: is it a sincere but misdirected urge for holiness? Or is it peer pressure from corrupt leaders, as you are suggesting? First ask if the stage is being set for rational conversation, or if the stage is set to just bring up passionate hatred.

Well, both of these stages are being set, and it should be obvious who is setting which stage. Just ask yourself.

As for the glasses, I don't know the motivations behind it because I am still skeptical as to whether this is taking place.

[Zoobiemanyak]

I fail to see(sic) how any self-respecting Haredi male can properly pretend not to enjoy a good old fashioned "Slut Walk" wearing those bloody things.

It's just wrong!

[Hometown Postville]

ROFL! So now they can't distinguish between the "slutty women" or the "little boys?" Ignorance is bliss! Maybe the little boys should wear them too!

[Yoel Mechanic]

Is that it?

Posted by: JK2 | August 09, 2012 at 01:27 PM
--------------------------------------------
As far as the authoritarianism you are referring to: Many an academic sociologist has tried to explain this, and stumbled. Perhaps someone from the inside will be able to shed light.

[Sabine]

2,000 years from now, if for nothing else, Jewish history will remember FM for the Seeing Eye-Goy. Sabine, your brilliance humbles me.

Posted by: Fleishike Kishke | August 08, 2012 at 08:04 PM

;)Fleishige.. I have my moments, lol

[Eileen Hill]

I thought the blurry thing is attached already to the glasses. I cannot comprehend why they have to do that for modesty. There can be many ways to resolve that and not putting the risk of those who wear glasses.