I`ve just made a post on "Loshon Horrors" and one issue that has surfaced is using the sages to exempt one`s self from a misdeed or wrongful action.Would contributors please give me their views on the right and wrong of using various sages to excuse themselves?I got a reply to my post on "Loshon Horrors" that perceptively points out that people say,"I can do this or that action because rabbi X says I can."(See Avi d`Israeli.) Are people using a source that exempts them from having done a wrong thing, to change a wrong action to a rightful action?So,"shifting the goal posts" by using the sages in this way is permissible?I guess it is,but to me it doesn`t seem quite right somehow.It`s like evading responsibility.Do you think that when a person uses a sage to white-wash what they do,they dishonour the sages?

Referring to my "Loshon Horrors"post,I can see that my person `B` could be advised to keep silent or speak-out with equal weight by different sage-based opinions.Very difficult.How would person `B`know which opinion to follow?

Thanks ,David

David,
I venture to say that the majority of times people invoke the name of some rav, they are either not telling the truth or they are distorting the words of that particular Chacham. So I never accept their word on that rav. I just keep my mouth shut and move on, because it's no use. They are addicted to lashon hara.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Avi d'Israeli:
David,
I venture to say that the majority of times people invoke the name of some rav, they are either not telling the truth or they are distorting the words of that particular Chacham.

Thanks.Thats a good point.So they are using someones good name falsely...they`re not even picking between differing opinions to support themselves,in some cases.So this is dishonouring the sages in a really blatant way,not even using a genuine opinion to excuse themselves.OK.Thanks,David

Davey,
I think that many people in our communities are quick to invoke the name of some rav in order to shut people up. Next time someone does that, if it's a local rav, say "let's go and ask that rav." Much of it is from people who are not very learned and they try to shut you up because you can't "challenge" their rav.....or worse, they are trying to justify something they know they are doing wrong.