lakewood

Question

As another "Lakewood person", I would just like to add to the comments of other commentators by saying that the messed up attitudes and hashgachos of this town manifest themselves in the relationships between parents and their children. My parents were originally extremely normal frum people. today they have completely lost it. They are still good sincere people who are trying to do the right thing, but nonetheless, they have not been able to resist the overwhelming majority of the people who make up this town.(who by the way are also for the most part trying to do the right thing). I have many friends from Lakewood who have similar stories and as i can see from this website, there are many others who i dont know who also seem to experience it. My relationship with my parents has suffered as a result of this "attitude" as i'm sure many others' have. Lakewood people need an education in Judaism. Not "yeshivishness", Judaism. Until that happens Lakewood will continue to be the most lost, pathetic jewish community on God's given earth. Women\Girls have it even worse then the guys do. Tznius and all the other issues they have to contend with makes me wonder how any normal girl from Lakewood actually stays religious (kudos to them). Although I do have a hard time accepting some of the things posted on this web site due to their contraversial, it is definitely better then anything i hear in Lakewood itself. (I am also willing to acknowledge that some of the difficulty I experience with decisions on the website may be caused by Lakewood and some of the schools that i have attended rubbing off on me). This problem that Lakewood has by no means is unique to Lakewood. I was speaking to a friend of mine yesterday and i recalled being approached a number of times by members of the hanhala in my Yeshiva who wanted to discuss with me the important issue of wearing my hat and jacket in the street. When Rabbis in your yeshiva feel that the matter requiring their immediate attention and guidance is wearing your hat and jacket in the street, you know all is lost. incidents like the ones told in other posts on this website no longer shock me. I have seen it all and experienced some of it first hand. The only thing you can do is laugh about it because actually complaining about it or trying to do something will not work. I appreciate AA's candor and I know CYA personally and respect them both. Thanks for all your help.