Pashuteh Yid-
Thanks for typing out exactly what I was about to post. (Why DO we waste our time on this site?)
I cannot believe Will Hill agreed with me (and seemed to think I had no doubt that wearing a hat is more important than tefilah b’tzibur) when I said it is a sad commentary on the state of frumkeit when such a question is posed.
It truly IS sad that people believe wearing a (black) hat equals being frum, and (ad kidai kach) that one should daven beyichiydus if a hat is not available.
I’ve read many krum posts here, but this takes the cake.
I think the yeshivos are responsible for this. They teach boys NOT to think. Each and every thing must be presented to a Rav or a Rebbe, no matter how simple.
This results in mass production of ignorant men, who if presented with a situation where there is no one around to ask a shayla of, are completely lost.
Very sad………….