I’ve been watching this thread carefully. As someone who decided many years ago -long before the avoda zara hulabaloo-to stop wearing shaitlach I wanted to see what people would say. I’ve been quite impressed and was planning to stay out of the discussion, but…
Sarah- I just have to tell you, everything this poster said is true and happens on a regular basis in Lakewood. It has gotten better in the last few years, and perhaps it doesn’t happen during the week as much, but on shabbos (especially at a kiddush) and at simchas (chasunas, bar mitzvahs, even brissim) dirty looks are the norm and nasty comments aren’t unusual. I’ve learned to deal with them, sometimes I respond, sometimes I ignore them, but they are definately there. I’m not saying that it’s everyone, but I have found that it is worse in Lakewood than in other places. In Brooklyn people seem to be more used to diversity, they just think I’m not so frum (it always throws them off when I speak yiddish to my baby) and out of town, they barely blink. So yes, unfortunately ModernLakewoodGuy is telling a story that ring true, I wish it wasn’t so…