Spring is upon us, Easter is coming soon, and baseball season is about to begin here in the U.S. It is the time of year many people wear all sorts of hats, until winter hats are again needed. Actually, this topic has been on my mind for months, waiting for just the right month to do it, and here it is!
Indoors: So… how can I say this nicely without yelling in all capital letters: No man or woman, young or old, should ever, ever, ever, ever wear a sports hat — especially a baseball cap—indoors. Not in restaurants, in someone’s home, at the dining table, at church, a funeral, in a classroom, in a museum, at a movie or performance theatre… on and on. There is absolutely no purpose to keeping your hat on… not even when you are having a bad hair day or need to cover up a bald spot on your head. It’s all about when it’s proper or not proper to wear a hat. It’s purely out of laziness and a false sense of looking cool and in fashion… not! There is equally nothing cool about wearing your baseball cap backwards… again especially indoors.
Except In Public Places: You may wear a hat indoors (yeh… even a baseball cap if you absolutely must) in public buildings, such as airports, public lobbies, and crowded public elevators. However, historically a gentleman will always remove his hat when a lady enters or is in the same elevator. We don’t see this much anymore. When in an apartment building, even though somewhat public, gentlemen will take off their hats while in the company of ladies… another dying art.
[SIDE BAR: A foreign visitor kept seeing Americans wearing their baseball caps indoors, and at times backwards. He determined this style indicated a direct correlation to the wearer’s apparent I.Q (intelligence quotient). Wearing a baseball cap indoors meant an I.Q. was reduced by 50%. Wearing the cap backwards meant an I.Q. was reduced by another 50%... so what’s left? These findings make total sense to me.]
During a Pledge or National Anthem: Another major peeve of mine is how men and women don’t take off their hats and caps during the playing of a national anthem. Regardless of which country’s anthem is played, hats must come off, period. Parents… please train your kids!
During a Prayer at a Ceremony or Event: Display your respect and take off your hat.
In Places of Worship: Some places of worship require head coverings for both men and women, such as Muslim mosques and Sikh temples. Do your research or ask someone before entering such places of worship. Women should always pack one large scarf and one long skirt when traveling internationally for such a need to cover your head. I sure needed them in both Mexico and Greece.
At a Church: Historically churches required women to wear hats or scarves. Now, it is not as required. However, some churches encourage women to wear hats, and in some places it has become quite a lovely display across the entire sanctuary. It is considered disrespectful for men to wear hats in a Christian church.
At a Jewish Synagogue or Temple: Men are required to cover their heads with a “yarmulke,” a small round skullcap, also called a “kippah,” meaning dome or cupola. There is great symbolism and deep meaning behind wearing a yarmulke. Observant men wear theirs during all waking hours, except when bathing and swimming. Doing so bears witness to their faith. It’s a constant reminder of their humility before God and strong belief in something greater than themselves.
How to Take off a Hat: When taking off your hat, hold it so only the outside of the hat shows, not the inside and lining. Hold it in your right hand across your chest and heart, or place it on your seat while standing tall and respectfully.
Exceptions
People in Uniform: People in the military, Boy Scouts, police and people in other uniformed organizations keep their hats on during “full dress.” Many other interesting regulations about hat wearing in the military exist, so hat etiquette is a required course in the military.
Women’s Fashion Hats: Traditionally, women wearing fashion hats are not required to take them off. That said, unless they are small and tight around the head, they too should be removed when at a dining table or in a theatre, sporting event, or other places where they may hamper someone’s view or be disruptive to others. Large hats are generally for the outdoors, not indoors. Think hat civility!
Question of the month: Have you ever been the subject of or a witness to someone being disrespectful or rude by wearing their hat inappropriately? If so, I’d love to hear from you. Enter your comments and questions below for me to reply.
Happy Practicing!
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Tags: baseball caps, hat etiquette, wearing hats
It irritates me that you guys are so concerned about something so trivial… Are you all walking on egg shells? I’m glad that this troupe of hat etiquette snobs are a dying breed.
You know you are correct we are a dying breed. thats why your young men have no respect for people, especially the girls; and its hard to get a girl to act like a lady if her boy cannot act like a man themselves. you men dont teach the boys anything so they dont learn any thing.so why should we act like a lady and do things for them- cook, clean, wash, iron and respect them for being the GENTLE-MAN in their life. try being one and yur girl wont curse you out in the street.LOL THINK ABOUT IT
Dear Dustin: It must be noted that hat etiquette is not trivial and not meant to snobbery. All etiquette is meant to help people know what to do in various situations that will help everyone feel more comfortable. It’s all about respectful to others in certain ways, in various cultures. It’s meant to show your (“you guys”) level of education, consideration, and respect. Grant you everything in life can be “over done” and become “snobbery.” Yet, the purpose of this blog is to simply get people to know what to do and think a little bit more “outside of themselves” when out and about in society.
Girls don’t cook and clean as much because they all have careers now. My mom hasn’t worked since she was about 22 and she is now 58… There isn’t as many stay at home wives as there use to be. I treat my ladies with all the respect in the world… But chivalry isn’t what it use to be. I would definitely remove my hat if my grandma or someone old fashioned cooked me dinner. But in today’s society, any of my “young couple” friends with new born children and a fresh marriage wouldn’t care if I wore a hat or not… At this point the world is going through a major shift and the economy is in a crisis… I understand etiquette is important in some
Ways but people on here sound down-right upset and heated over how complete strangers wear their hat… I think people go over board. Even in a church if someone I don’t know is wearing a hat, it doesn’t bother me at all… It’s just an article of clothing… In the grand scheme of life it means absolutely nothing to have a piece of cloth on your head and it by no means is a reason to be offended or upset… Just my opinion.
Is it proper to wear a hat while dining outside when the sun is not a factor?
Only bad things happen when someone takes their hat off, like you being born unintentionally because your dad took off his jimmy hat
Dear Martin: Yes, it is absolutely fine and encouraged to wear hats while dining outdoors. Ever more so now with all the UV alerts. On the flip side, most instances hats are not invented or designed to be worn indoors which is my point.
Dear Mr. Dustin, Yes alot of women have careers now, but i gues that’s okay if you allow them to use that as a response not to cook for you. and you are right it is your opinion. I have a career and come home and cook for my loved ones, my mom did it, and my grandma did it. I am very happy you DO NOT have your lady friend, woman, or wife with a career this way she can stay home and be the loving woman and take care of the household. that is WONDERFUL! If you are in a church and a man has a hat on well you dont have to worry about having it on b’cause someone (another man) will tell him to remove it. Just out of respect to Gods’ house. Also, to each his own. It might sound trivia to you, but to some of us Ol’ fashioned gals IT IS NOT.
Hey for the record when you visit a young ladys’ home do yu call b’fore yougo to ask if she want anything? LOL
Sorry it’s just that I have a different opinion and it isn’t going to change… The church I go to you could show up with a speedo and snorkeling mask and you would still be welcome. Go figure… It’s one of those churches with a lot of young people.
Ladies do not remove hats (except baseball caps) during the National Anthem.
http://www.ravistailor.com/customtailor/Men_And_The_Etiquette_Of_Wearing_Hats.htm
Found this interesting.
Etiquette today is almost unexpected.. the sign I believe of a different time.
Etiquette for me has always been as much about my self respect as respect for others. I live over seas and have for many years, when I returned for an extended stay in Houston, many in my office glanced askew at me when I opened and held doors for ladies, Stood when they joined me at the table at restaurants or entered my office… and yet EVERY ONE of them smiled and said thankyou… Hey I am back home over seas, where I live, but I know I left an impression with many.. I was in Houston 3 years and remained consistent in my politeness . I think it is a good thing..
Dear Garvin: Thank you for writing. It is obvious your parents and others helped you see the merits of politeness. As much as etiquette may not be expected, I suppose it does make it that much more appreciated when it is displayed. I applaud you for your good sense and discipline in sticking to doing what’s right and not allowing yourself to “follow the crowd.” If you would like to receive other etiquette tips each month, we invite you (and anyone else reading) to receive a complimentary subscription to our “Etiquette Tip of the Month” newsletter at http://www.AdvancedEtiquette.com/blog. At the upper right corner, enter your name and email address. We promise never to give away or sell your information.
Dear Mitzy: Glad we agree on the baseball cap removal. Historically you were correct, because women only wore specialty hats. Nowadays with women wearing a variety of hats—many of which are like men’s hats—the opposite holds true. There are only a few women’s “decorative” hats that do not need to be removed during a national anthem. That said, most hats whether worn by men or women are to be removed during national anthems and other respectful situations.
Dear Ti: As you know we aren’t really talking about that kind of hat. I approved your post because I did get a laugh from it.
An interesting side story…
About 10 years ago there was a celebrity softball game at Denver Coors Field. My son, then 20 was working for the Rockies and had the unique privilege of being on the field with the players. He happened to sit and play near Garth Brooks. During an intermission many of the celebs went around the perimeter of the field to sign autographs. He was with Garth much of the time and was blown away when Garth would sign signed something for a women. He would remove his hat and and INTRODUCE Himself. My son was not a country music fan at all but came home to tell the story and simply said that this guy was a CLASS ACT! Sure, it’s just a piece of clothing but sometime I think we are continually lowering the bar out of laziness!
Dear Kevin: I love hearing stories like this… Thank you for sharing and let’s hope society doesn’t t continue “lowering the bar” any further.
I directed my son to remove his baseball cap while we were having lunch at an outdoor patio restaurant. Weather and/or health was not an issue.
These are all WONDERFUL stories especially Mr. Kevin. I think if i was in his presence i would have fell in love. WOW!!! Again its a wonderful thing to learn that our young men are learning etiquette. this way they know how to treat a lady or their young girlfriend, and they know how to handle themselves in different situation. Keep up the good work.
I’m a college student and notice other guys wear their baseball caps, of various sorts, all the time. I used to remove mine when entering a classroom when I wore one, but now I usually just leave it on. It feels weird to be the only one de-hatting, kind of like I’m unnecessarily calling attention to the fact that I’m wearing a hat. Luckily the intense sunlight isn’t much of an issue for now so I don’t even wear one anymore since really, they aren’t particularly comfy anyway.
Dear Dan: I appreciate your submitting your comment. You are not alone in your thinking and actions. Yet this is exactly why I write these articles is to alert people to their behavior and how it may be perceived. In allowing yourself to go along with the crowd you are placing yourself and your image with the crowd. All it takes is one professor, one potential employer who does not appreciate the poor upbringing of wearing baseball hats indoors for no reason to have a not as positive image of you. Rather, so what if you stand out in a crowd and are different. You are different in a positive way, not negative way. To me, displaying appropriate behavior is all about displaying a great image and showing how well educated and “in the know” we are about such matters. If and when you do choose to wear a baseball hat, I truly hope you will continue to always take it off indoors in a classroom, at a restaurant, or at the movies. Wearing it while walking around in a Mall is fine.
Dustin.
Really? You could wear a teenie tiny speedo to your church and not an eye brow would lift? WOW. I can not even fathom such a thing. I was raised that ladies wore MODEST dresses (below the knee and high in collar) to church and men wore at least dress slacks and a shirt minimum (and a tie and jacket if they could afford it). Sunday morning and evening service is a FORMAL occasion and so like a wedding or funeral. You wear your best “sunday going to meetin clothes”. In these modern progressive times the Ladies wear pants at my church today. And a man in the choir has very long dred locks. (This is points of individual doctrines of Biblical teachings and personal conviction of obedience in faith) But more important to the do’s n don’ts is that everyone is loving, respectful, and friendly. I must say I could not worship God if everyone was in swim suits all around me (bikinis, thongs, speedos, and trunks) which would be EXTREMELY distracting. It won’t kill you to show some reverence and respect and wear something nice. Worship isn’t about YOU its about reverence and respect to a HOLY and ALMIGHTY GOD. Was ya raised by feral wolves? A SPEEDO… aka a banana hammock. really?????? Are you a hippy? A ganster? What is this “church” you go to? Church of the holy weed and almighty crack pipe? Please share a link to this mythical church I do not believe you. Do you also go to work in a speedo because “its ok”? No? Church in a tiny tight speedo. Just shaking head. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was so amused I forgot that the topic was hat wearing. Here is the way to judge any given situation. Look around you. See hats? yes? no? Do accordingly. Like I told my kids when they were playing under the clothes racks like kids will do in stores. “HEY! Do you see any other kids doing that? NO? Well KNOCK IT OFF! Grant it some time doing as you see others doing is going to get you in trouble. In Germany I saw a man peeing right out in front of everyone. He was next to a busy downtown street on a sidewalk and he peed right there in the gutter. Must have been drunk as a skunk. Anyhow it shows humility and selflessness to CARE ABOUT not offending others and to want to be curteous. Kudos to those with such civilty and manners. As for the younguns here with the lip and attitude. Looks to me like your mamas didn’t smack you on the back of the head often enough. “Stop figgiting and listen to the preacher son. God’s word will scare the heathen outta ya if ya let it.” Thanks mom and dad for my goodly smacks. Even this blue collar raised gal has an ounce of decorum for it.
i.e…. My mother in law thought Pres. Obama should NOT have bowed to the other politician in China. “He is the top leader of the free world and bows to know one”, she said. BUNK! He made a very polite shallow bow he didn’t crawl on his belly and kiss the guys toes. Its better to error on the side of curtesy I think. In asian culture one is curteous and bows to another in respect. Right? I come from redneck central and even I know you take off a baseball cap inside a building. A BBQ at a friends is hardly formal and beer and pizza at Joe’s house during a BB game isn’t either. NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT EXTREME CASUAL here. Yes wear a BB cap at Hooters while eatting wings. No do not wear a BB cap to dinner where table clothes and lining napkins are on the tables and a theres a maitre d’ in a suit and tie. Am I right? Just take a look around people and figure it out.
I’m an educator an I do teach my students hat etiquette in my classroom. As a rule I do not allow my students to wear beanies, cap or their sweatshirt’s hoods inside my classroom. Many of the parents have expressed their sentiments in a positive way towards this rule by saying that it was about time someone taught etiquette besides academics to their children. This has promoted in my students desired to learn more newer norms of etiquette; Etiquette for me has always been as much about my self respect as respect for others not a sign of snobbery or overdoing something. Besides it promotes healthy relationships of mutual respect between the boys and girls in my classroom.
I have an exception! I am very much in agreement with the rules of etiquette involving hats. I myself have worn hats most days of my life. However, my boyfriend has what’s called a Pseudo Cerebral Tumor, which presses on the optic nerve, making any bright light quite uncomfortable. As such, he has taken to wearing baseball style caps, as they successfully block light from his eyes, whereas sunglasses just dim it, making it difficult for him to see indoors. Short of wearing a sign around his neck that says he has a medical condition which warrants the wearing of said hat indoors, what do you all say to this scenario? Thank you for any input on this matter.
Linda and Dustin: To end this conversation I want to say that both of you are within reason. I’m a believer in all things should be acceptable if there is a reason for the behavior. For instance, if Dustin is stating a person wearing snorkeling gear to church would be accepted… Yes, absolutely. I doubt any church would turn someone away because of their attire. Perhaps it were a unique situation that caused that person to only have that to wear. What Linda is talking about is when people under regular situations—who could have a choice of wearing something nicer, don’t take the care to do it. Also, whatever a person chooses to wear as an under garment that no one sees is their own business and no one else.
Scarlett: Yes, there are always exceptions to every rule in terms of wearing hats indoors. Also, I recognize people in general should not be so quick to prejudge something… as often happens. We no longer live in a predictable world. Exceptions are everywhere. What makes the difference is whether the exceptions are legitimate and for good reason. What I do know is through patience and kindness in not blowing up at such people who are perhaps judgmental of your friend wearing a heat indoors, this will go along way toward helping others to understand this unique situation. My best suggestion is to find a friend or milliner who can design and make nice hats that will serve your purpose and not look like a generic sports hats is my best recommendation to attract positive comments, versus negative criticisms. Good luck!
Oh, good grief. Don’t confuse clothing with courtesy. The hat protocol originated back in the days when noble men wore helmets, and it made some sense to remove one’s (combat) helmet when in the presence of a superior or lady or safe spot indoors (except when under arms). It’s been centuries since that protocol made any sense, unless we’re talking football helmets! Folks who insist on adhering to a centuries-old protocol that they don’t even understand are the ones who need an IQ downgrade.
Wearing certain types of headgear indoors has always been common practice. Monks and religious in Christian Churches, students and faculty at graduations, chefs and food service workers, artisans, westerners, people from various religious and cultural traditions, on and on. The modern baseball cap ceased to be a sports hat generations ago, and now is generally considered casual wear and is appropriate indoors or out any time casual wear is appropriate.
I confess when I see men or women remove a hat they’ve had on for most of the day, I’d much prefer they kept it on rather than look at their matted, sweaty hair.
I have an IQ of 184 and wear a cap backwads.
You people are such zombies, wear what everyone else is wearing. The Nazis did that as well!!
Good grief, most guys just wear caps because they are going bald, leave them be, they have enough to worry about!
How utterly lame! I just don’t get WHY! Maybe somebody here knows something I don’t. Help me out here, please…
I just got grilled by 3 insensitive people who verbally attacked me for wearing a small fedora dress hat indoors. They publicly informed me of how rude I was being to them all as if to say FU to them. Realy! Those were their words…
It is below 40 degrees in Florida and yes, I am cold indoors. I’m not trying to look cool. I’m not trying to disrespect a single person ever. I’m one of the more considerate people I know. I take great pride in opening doors for women, kids and even men, at times. I am frequently asking others if I can do something to make them more comfortable like a drink, snack, etc.
So social etiquette typically stems from something of significance. We shake with our right hand because that was our sword hand and it says “Hi. Come close and be friends. Let’s not stab one another.” Also, men walk on the closest side to a street to protect a woman from being splashed by a mud puddle from a cart and buggie. Protecting her, really. Another is men open doors for women because they spend more time looking good and were to be proudly shown off and as a sign of kindness.
But this hat thing?!? How does it apply? Maybe someone says “Come in and make yourself comfortable.” If you leave your hat on, it may appear as if you are ready to leave at any moment making others feel uncomfortable like standing while others are seated. So “Make yourself comfortable” is an order and someone is dictating what is and is not comfortable?!? What if my hat makes me feel more comfortable? What if I am bald, or have psoriasis, bad hair day, am cold, bad hair cut, mohawk, multi-colored hair, chemotherapy, tattoed bald head, etc?
I get it in a classroom setting or a formal gathering, but in general I just do not get this and I am so glad this is aged and dying…
Isn’t it really rude to dictate to someone else how they should and should not be comfortable?
Now i appreciate your time on this post.
However, when you mention it is inappropriate to wear a hat in certain situations it all falls back on tradition. If i choose not to accept your tradition, how does that make it inappropriate?
What i was hoping to find out here is why is it inappropriate? What makes it offensive to wear a news boy hat at the table? I think its offensive when someone wears too much perfume and it gives me a headache. I am not going to go over to that person and tell them to go wash up and take that smell off.
Why is it appropriate for a woman to wear a hat in church but not a man?
WHY IS IT OFFENSIVE?
Hat Etiquette Rant…
@Brent Nelsen – I’m with you, in general. It is rude to force others to conform to their opinion of what is and is not acceptable for no known reason! To voice that opinion is even more offensive, IMO.
At a table, a hat keeps hair from falling on food. That is a good thing! Who wants hair in their food? Probably nobody… :-/
On the other hand, I can see a few good examples…
1) Anyone sitting in a public auditorium with rows could block the view of the person behind them if they had a medium to large hat. A baseball cap would hardly block anyone’s view. It might make the view better, actually. If they are on the back row, who cares?
2) In a classroom, court room or other places where respect and order is required, it says, “This is my house. I am in charge. You’ll do things my way or else.” Then I can see taking the hat off.
3) Any place of high or mid protocol in a fancy dress setting can require everyone to be uniform and in unison. It is agreed upon prior to entering.
4) One wouldn’t normally go to a Florida Gators party with a Miami Hurricanes hat on. It might get your butt kicked… LOL
5) If the hat was smelly or very beaten and dirty, some may take offense.
Dear Will: Thank you for taking the time to write. You are not alone in not understanding why it is inappropriate for men to wear hats indoors.
Regrettably, a fedora hat was first invented to be worn outdoors. It was never intended to be worn indoors. It’s only in modern times certain groups of individuals have tried to turn a fedora into a fashion statement, wearing it indoors… yet this still does not mean it is appropriate.
Overall, as explained in another post, regrettably there are no mainstream men’s hats—to my knowledge—that were invented to be worn indoors. And as to the why of it, it’s because in most cases—aside from ignorance—many men don’t remove their hats out of laziness. They don’t like having to remember not lo leave it someplace.
Sure there are exceptions to the rule. A previous post was from a man who does suffer from a medical condition requiring him to wear hats at all times. For him he went to a milliner and had the person fashion him several nice and decorative head coverings/caps to be worn indoors. There are many cultures where men do wear decorative hats indoors… East Indians being one of them.
It’s all about acquiring the intelligence in knowing when, how and why to do things. Yes, etiquette does stem from some significance. It stems from enduring traditions that are established over time to display the best consideration, respect, and honesty about the various aspects in life. It’s now up to you to gain the deeper knowledge and intelligence about wearing a hat indoors and perhaps other etiquette situations.
As I keep saying, “It’s not about what you do, but when and how you do it” that is the difference in today’s society. It is clear you have gained some intelligence, given you know not to wear a hat in certain situations, now just add this and perhaps a few other situations to your list of when “not” to wear a hat. Happy Practicing!
Dear Brent: I had to take a moment to address your comments which I appreciate your time to write. It shows are you most eager to find an answer by which you can live.
1. At its core, you are correct about what is deemed appropriate, or not, is something every person has the right to choose what to do… no different than the right to choose to kill someone, or not… and everything else in life. The key to what separates the choices is an intelligence and understanding about how any action will ultimately affect yourself and others… and in the deepest and broadest terms.
2. Every action we take ultimately either helps build or not build a better life for yourself and everyone around you. I have begun to study and learn how etiquette is something that greatly affects a person’s “xi or chi” (energy force) which is at the center of all life. How you behave affects yourself and others as a “quality of life” issue.
3. Easiest way for me to explain the why of things stems from your first thinking about what was the original purpose and why was something invented? With regards to hats, most hats were first invented to be worn outdoors, including women’s hats. As a result cultures throughout the world and through time—which I agree—deemed it inappropriate to wear a hat indoors. It’s only in modern times, as people take more liberties to “do their own thing” traditions are lost.
4. You are correct that in some situations you would not approach the offender about their lack of considerations, yet because of that person’s actions it had left you with a poor impression of that person in not being more sensitive, considerate, and respectful of others around… including you.
5. Historically women’s hats were invented to be a fashion statement with some intended for indoor wearing, as well. They are a part of a woman’s overall outfit… like jewelry. For men, no one to my knowledge has invented specific “mainstream” hats for men to be worn indoors as a new trend. Maybe this is an idea for you??? Thus, for men it is still deemed inappropriate to wear outdoor hats indoors, no matter how cold your head is.
6. Another way to look at this is a good part of what makes things inappropriate and offensive—or not— starts with logic and common courtesies, then popularized through society as more and more people adhere to the same courtesies a sign of being “in the know,” and displaying your respect and consideration.
7. Bottom-line: In today’s ever increasing diverse world… “It’s not about what you do, but how and when you do it.” Even I wear hats indoors… albeit only in certain places.
Happy Practicing!
@ Will, I agree with you. Respect does come first. In fact, if an older person asks me to take a hat off, out of respect to them I will do so even if i don’t understand why.
@Syndi attempting to acquire the proper etiquette is why i even searched and found this blog. Tradition is ok and etiquette is great but both tradition and etiquette has some basis of a beginning. As i read in an earlier post, taking a hat off started back in medieval times well, I don’t live in those times any more.
I read in one post that hats are dirty and to wear at a table means dirt and crusty stuff getting in food. Then we shouldn’t wear coats at a table. I guarantee my hat is more clean than my coat. In fact, i never wear my hat unless i have just taken a shower. It is an accessory to me. Just like a watch; talking about dirty.
I was simply seeking out the WHY it is offensive and I can’t seem to get an answer other than, because society deemed it so a long time ago now there.
Well in that case, society needs to deem wearing jeans past your butt as inappropriate.
Syndi I appreciate your comments. Thanks for your input and response. I agree with you.
I don’t See how being traditional has anything to do with intelligence. I will continue to wear hats inside aside from churches and really fine dining restaurants. I’m sure people find it a childish mentality that I would be apathetic about other people’s valued traditions but quite frankly I find it a silly tradition. I have a right to disagree so I do.
Dustin,
There is no excuse for ungentlemanly conduct, unless you are not interested in being a gentleman!
Exceptional people think and act exceptionally and thus move ahead in life.
Best of luck,
-Rich
Most Americans have no idea what manners or etiquette is. That’s why Europeans and other nations see us as rude and in mature culture.
Also no military branch will slow you to wheat a hat inside. It’s called discipline. Hat wear invented for bad weather not a indoor fashion statement or trend. Most men and guys where hats inside because their to lazy to groom their hair or ashamed that they might not have any.
I found this site after telling my 15 yo about taking his hat off. He’d gone to a New Years party. When I saw him the next day, I inquired as to whether he takes his hat off when he enters someone’s home.
He said sometimes. I explained it’s gentlemenly behavior to take one’s hat off.
My wife would take me to task for not always holding a car door open for her (perhaps another thread), yet, she didn’t back me when requiring him to remove his hat.
Since we’re no longer together, perhaps this is why she doesn’t feel compelled to be in agreement.
Granted we live in different times, but respect remains constant. To this end, I find it VERY rude when a man or a young male does NOT take of his hat while in my presence or in a church. You have to teach our young men what respect entails. It’s daunting how disrespectful some men and young men can be. What’s worse is the fact that we are allowing our women to accept disrespect as a sense of normalcy. I’m a social worker, a mother, a wife and a daughter. I believe in respecting myself, my husband, my children, my parents and you! My son knows to take off his hat, he knows to open the door for a woman, he knows how to pull out the chair for a woman, he knows how to put on and take off a woman’s coat. He knows to help his 84 year old Grandmother. This all comes from my Grandparents!!! The world is very diverse. We should all know what cultural diversity entails.
Grants question is exactly what I’m talking about. Why should anyone find a hat as a sign of disrespect ? It’s a dated tradition. At least taking your shoes off keeps the carpet clean. I can understand why Asian cultures do that. Here is an article talking about it. http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/03/why-we-are-supposed-to-take-our-hats-off-for-the-national-anthem
Why not stop holding car doors open for women? Or when approaching a door, not allow a woman to proceed before you after holding it open? All a sign of respect. Years ago, I thought I’d test out wearing my cap in a restaurant.
My wife asked me to take it off, I said I want to wear it, knowing I’ve never done it before. Sure enough, the maitre’d comes over and politely requests I take it off. Sheepish me, for knowing better, and having my wife say I told you so. The same one (in my above thread) who didn’t back me when reproaching our son.
Why is it a sign of respect ? And to who? Your comment makes it out like it’s only to respect women. Opening a car door has nothing to do with wearing a hat. If you told me spinning in 3 circles and tapping my head was a age-old tradition that Shows respect I wouldn’t do that either. That’s exactly how ridiculous taking off an article of clothing sounds to me.
@ Dustin.
Ok. YOU wear your hat inside. My sons won’t.
@Zeus: Well im glad your so proud of yourself and your sons but you didn’t answer my question.