RABBAIM: Its “chumros” like this that cause embarrassment and denigration to the halacha. No one disputes that “asu s’yag l’TOrah” has a valid place in the halachic system; and no one disputes that each individual, using their own good judgement (hopefully they have some of that) can and should make those fences that they, knowing themselves, feel are needed in order for them to keep within the bounds of halacha. The problem is when chumors – especially personal chumros – cease to be mere chumros, and instead become issurim gamurim. This trends very close to baal tosef. Unfortunately, many people don’t know enough and cant distinguish between a d’oraysa and d’rabbanan, takana, gezeira, minhag yisroel, chura, and just plain kannaus. They lump them all together, and just to be on the safe side, make them all yeharog v’al yaavor. This is not Torah. This is individuals remaking the Torah in their own image instead of remaking themselves in the image of the Torah.
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