SJS – just for the record – the sign of a big rav is not how easily he says “assur.” anyone can say that something’s assur. (and unfortunately anyone can say things are muttar and people will buy it too…) but my point is that a great rav knows halacha well enough to honestly pasken when something is muttar and when it’s assur. so don’t go on saying that the blacker the hat, the more things are assur. no, it’s probably based on the fact that they know what they’re talking about a DROP!
wothin the black hat world it’s very apparent that if you’re looking for a heter you go to a big rav. that way you get a psak that is thoroughly thought through and from a person you trust.