notpashut, thank you for the compliment! You are wrong though – I do have an agenda (I’ve been pretty clear about that) and its to try to get others to understand that just because someone is to the left or right of you, their halachic psak is still valid (assuming its within the box of halacha).
Now, I have another question for you. You said “I am not saying & never said that everyone has to listen to chareidi Gedolim. I happen to believe that anyone who doesn’t is mistaken, but that is just my opinion – everyone else can do whatever they want.”
Yesterday, I went out with my department for a holiday lunch. There are two other Jewish people in my department. One doesnt really keep anything (he lights Chanukah candles, thats about it – doesnt even take off for Yom Kippur). The other is moderately practicing. He keeps a kosher home, but outside the home he just doesnt eat shellfish, ham, meat and milk together etc. He travels on shabbos, but does celebrate shabbos in some manner. He takes off for holidays, but last year Shavuos time he had to work (it was pretty crazy here around then). Anyway, I was talking to the second guy who asked why I didnt bring any food so I said I ate beforehand. He told me he was proud of me for keeping fully kosher, and that he tries the best he can.
I look at him and think “You are a wonderful person, I realize you are trying, but you are missing the proverbial halachic boat.”
Do you look at me (and other modern orthodox people) the same way? Please give me an honest answer.