Rav Miller was not addressing the need for leisure, recreation, or relaxation. It is clear that he specifically addressed the environment. And it is also clear that he was speaking in general about that subject, not only pool halls. How about the places where people congregate to eat chulent of Thursday nights? Is the environment one of Torah, or is it about hedonism, gluttony, olam hazeh, and allowing social interactions to deteriorate to mockery and degradation? It is necessary to recognize the message in the words of the Baal Mussar. If we miss the message, we may take it is psak halacha, which is a greater challenge to ascribe to core values, rather than a specific instruction or prohibition.
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