they aren't just ignoring the spirit of the law. they are ignoring the letter and then making excuses that they aren't violating the law.  the op example is the exact same action as flipping a light switch and ends with the exact same result. but they say they aren't violating the law because "they aren't turning on the lights. the lights are turning themselves on and i am just flipping a switch that does nothing but allow them to turn themselves on."  it is clear that they are breaking the law, but they have convinced themselves they have not on the flimsiest of reasonings. they believe they have bested god. the story of the the oven of akhnai is just a story of them "beating god by knowing the law better than him".
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