SJSinNYC – “Wise people also realize that today, not talking to your wife unless its 100% tachlis will be detrimental to your marriage. “
Truly wise people also realize that the Chachomim of the Mishna were far, far wiser than anybody alive today, and if they wrote something down foe all future generations, you better believe it applies to all future generations. Now, obviously this teaching must be applied to today (R’ Twerski, for example, brings down a number of different interpretations in his sefer on Pirkei Avos), but that doesn’t mean we have a right to summarily dismiss a mishna, saying “today it’s different”. Hashem’s Torah still applies today.
Wolf – “Why? Do you feel that rabbis are the only ones who are qualified to talk about halacha?”
No, but the Rabbis are the only ones who are qualified to paskan what the halacha is.