"Abaye said, Consider: Whatever has a common use and an uncommon use, the Rabbis followed the common use, [even] in the direction of leniency"
For example wine. Most often wine is used for drinking. On occasion a much smaller amount might be applied externally as a remedy. But the "minimum" standard (that is the amount which is considered illegal carrying on Shabbat) follows the more common use - which is a greater amount.
However:
"where it has two common uses, the Rabbis followed the common use [which leads to] stringency."
So, for example, honey - which was commonly eaten and also commonly applied as a remedy. The amount which constitutes "eating" is generally the size of a dried fig, so you might think this would be the amount set as a minimum. However, based on the above principle, the Mishnah chooses the more stringent amount: HONEY, SUFFICIENT TO PLACE ON A SCAB.
So, the Shabbat laws vary depending on how things are used. What happens when their usage changes? Does anyone use honey for healing a scab? Do most people?
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