Joseph: I don’t think there is such a thing as an “MO” institution. YU is referred to as the “flagship institution of Modern Orthodoxy” by many, but again, you don’t have people inside YU declaring “we are YU”. I’ve been in YU and I’ve been in Yeshivish Yeshivos. As have many friends of mine. The hock in all places is the same. The same Hashkafic spectra, the same discussions, just with different impetuses depending on the place.
I will grant that many use the term “Modern Orthodox” as an excuse to try and get out of Halachos that they find difficult. But that by no means applies to most. Most just listen to their Rabbis, like any other stream of Orthodoxy, and most Rabbis Pasken out of the Mishnah Brurah, like any other stream of Orthodoxy.
Someone I respect a lot once explained the difference between YU and Lakewood as how public the hobbies are. Guys at both places might have a collection of Star Wars books. The YU guy keeps his on his shelf; the Lakewood guy in a drawer.
I think this is indicative of the differences, but far from the cause. There certainly are different outlooks. The main difference, as many say, is how much people think they can learn from the outside world as opposed to how much it should be avoided. Everyone agrees there is what to be learned from the outside world. Everyone agrees there are things in the outside world to be avoided. The difference is where the risk/reward line is drawn. For the YU guy, the hobbies are on the shelf–he’s okay with his interactions with the outside world being part of his life. For the Lakewood guy, everything is hidden in the drawer–he only learns from the outside world when absolutely necessary.
R’ Schachter is famous for saying that the difference between YU and Lakewood is how far the concept of “Daas Torah” is extended.
HaKatan: You have been saying things like your last line for years, yet your only examples of such are a high schooler making a crude joke and an assumption that all “MO” people go to Broadway shows. At some point, put up or shut up. Explain what you think that “MO” does that changes the Torah or stop spewing your hatred.