Here's a dumb question

[solo1]

Do you think it's ok to leave your hat on when eating at home or in a restaurant?   Standing up and eating on the job doesn't count.

I was taught at home AND in the Service that you take your hat off.

Not trying to start something here. Jes curious.

[Serk]

I don't take my hat off.

Just about ever.

(And to add insult to injury, I wear my hat with the bill pointed towards the back.)

Maybe it's generational, maybe I just wasn't taught right or maybe I'm rude, but you asked...

[Super Santa]

I was taught and still believe that you do not eat with your hat on.

[Chrisj CMA]

Do you think it's ok to leave your hat on when eating at home or in a restaurant?   Standing up and eating on the job doesn't count.

I was taught at home AND in the Service that you take your hat off.

Not trying to start something here. Jes curious.

There are exceptions..........if your head is so ugly without the hat, then keep it on.  But normally hats are off inside not just while eating but anytime inside.......some will flame us saying that's old school and isint required any more........sometimes the old ways are better, new sometimes is surely different but seldom better.

[Gavin_Sons]

I dont wear a hat much anymore but when I did I would remove it for the prayer before dinner and for the pledge of allegiance.  After both it went back on my head. Its kinda wierd because my generation you get both sides, It was not required in my house growing up but my wife says her dad required it.

[Gavin_Sons]

I think it also matters if your x military or not. I still see solders take their hats off before entering any building.

[Rams]

Depends on where I'm at, if I'm at DQ with my wing friends, I will remove it if I'm inside.  
If I'm at my home or your home, it's only courteous to remove the headgear.   Comes off for prayers and the pledge and our national anthem.

If I'm under arms, it stays on my head.

[Davemn]

Take your hat off when inside. Why would you wear a hat inside? Also, NO sleeveless shirts at my table. Ever. Put a real shirt on. I don't want to see your hairy pits while I am eating. Yuck. My table, my rules.

[Michvalk]

I was taught to remove the hat inside. I don't wear a hat much, but, I still take mine off inside.

[RainMaker]

Hats off inside. Definitely at the dinner table if nothing else.

[cma1]

I spent my formative years on a cattle ranch, later in my life I rodeo'd for a living, I was always told (and don't laugh) that in Emily posts book she said to always remove your hat to eat, with the exception of farmhands or cowboys, because they only had time to run in and eat and run right back out to work.

I never read the book, so go ahead and laugh now.

[sandy]

I'm ex Air Force. Remove a hat indoors and the pledge. It's not a clothing accessory. It's functional. Keeps the heat in and the rain off. Sorry Serk but wearing them backwards looks dumb. But I'm just a grouchy old man stuck in my ways.

[BF]

Do you think it's ok to leave your hat on when eating at home or in a restaurant?   Standing up and eating on the job doesn't count.

I was taught at home AND in the Service that you take your hat off.

Not trying to start something here. Jes curious.

Okay.  

Living in a resort/tourist area, causual is the norm.

If in a casual type restaurant (which is just about all of them around here), my ball cap stays on.  

If I'm going somewhere fancy, I'm not wearing a ball cap anyway.  

I don't care if you wear one or not.  

Of all the things to get riled about, wearing a hat indoors or out is not one of them.  

Perhaps it was more the norm "back in the day"......and required in the military, but it's not "back in the day anymore, and I'm not in the military anymore.  

Just like "back in the day" EVERYONE wore their Sunday best to church.  Anymore, going to church is a causual affair.  

Chose your rules, but don't force yours on me....especially something as trivial as whether one wears a hat or not.  

Now lets get on to something more important...like what kind of truck do you drive.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think it also matters if your x military or not. I still see solders take their hats off before entering any building.

I agree. 4 years of taking your hat off when you enter a building is a hard habit to break.

[BF]

I think it also matters if your x military or not. I still see solders take their hats off before entering any building.

I agree. 4 years of taking your hat off when you enter a building is a hard habit to break.

You had to wear a uniform in the military too.  Do you still abide and wear a uniform everyday too?

[Tundra]

I served 13 years and was taught take it off indoors...but why? I was also raised at home to take it off indoors or my Marine father would remove it for you...but why?
I'm told it's disrespectful and don't buy that. People and their actions and attitudes and tongues are disrespectful, not my hat.
 I do still take my hat off indoors unless riding, helmet off and hat goes on, indoors or out.
Screaming kids are disrespectful when I'm eating, not my hat. Blowing your nose at the table is disrespectful when I'm eating, not my hat and the list goes on.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think it also matters if your x military or not. I still see solders take their hats off before entering any building.

I agree. 4 years of taking your hat off when you enter a building is a hard habit to break.

You had to wear a uniform in the military too.  Do you still abide and wear a uniform everyday too?

No, but when you are forced to take off and put on your hat 5 gazillion times a day it tends to stick with you (at least it does with me). I'm not saying it's any big deal. There have been times I walked in to McDonalds and left my hat on while I ordered. But it's just a habit that was drilled into us. At least us in the Navy, I can't speak for the other 3 minor services .

[BF]

I served and was taught take it off indoors...but why? I was also raised at home to take it off indoors...but why?
I'm told it's disrespectful and don't buy that. People and their actions and attitudes are disrespectful, not my hat.
 I take my hat off indoors unless riding, helmet off and hat goes on, indoors or out.
Screaming kids are disrespectful when I'm eating, not my hat. Blowing your nose at the table is disrespectful, not my hat.

^^This^^  

People with too much perfume on at the table next to me is disrespectful.  

[Rams]

(And to add insult to injury, I wear my hat with the bill pointed towards the back.)

I am curious about this, why would wear a billed cap that was meant to shade the eyes with the bill on the back of their neck?    Just doesn't make sense to me.

I think it also matters if your x military or not. I still see solders take their hats off before entering any building.

Gavin,
Unless a Marine or Soldier is "underarms", they are required to remove their headgear upon entering a building/structure.    While "underarms" they will not remove their headgear.    I assume it's the same for the other services.

[The emperor has no clothes]

(And to add insult to injury, I wear my hat with the bill pointed towards the back.)

I am curious about this, why would wear a billed cap that was meant to shade the eyes with the bill on the back of their neck?    Just doesn't make sense to me.

It's just a style thing Rams. It's not for function. Kind of like in our day when we wore those huge bell bottom pants. I'm sure our parents wondered what the f$!k was wrong with us. My son wears a cap with the bill perfectly flat (no curve to fit the head) and the sticker that comes on it when you purchase it. It makes me chuckle. Sometimes he cocks it to the side of his head

[Rams]

(And to add insult to injury, I wear my hat with the bill pointed towards the back.)

I am curious about this, why would wear a billed cap that was meant to shade the eyes with the bill on the back of their neck?    Just doesn't make sense to me.

It's just a style thing Rams. It's not for function. Kind of like in our day when we wore those huge bell bottom pants.

Sorry, never wore bell bottoms.    Was reared on a small ranch/farm in KS and bell bottoms would have been kind of stupid on a horse, tractor or on the back or a hay truck/wagon.    So, I guess that's why I don't understand.    Thought they looked silly back then.    Then again, I think a lot of things are silly.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

(And to add insult to injury, I wear my hat with the bill pointed towards the back.)

I am curious about this, why would wear a billed cap that was meant to shade the eyes with the bill on the back of their neck?    Just doesn't make sense to me.

It's just a style thing Rams. It's not for function. Kind of like in our day when we wore those huge bell bottom pants.

Sorry, never wore bell bottoms.    Was reared on a small ranch/farm in KS and bell bottoms would have been kind of stupid on a horse, tractor or on the back or a hay truck/wagon.    So, I guess that's why I don't understand.    Thought they looked silly back then.    Then again, I think a lot of things are silly.   

They were kind of stupid on a Yamaha RD350 too. But there is photographic evidence of it.

[R J]

In the Marine Corps, I was taught to remove my headgear unless I was armed when entering a building.

I did that for several years, and in my Boot Camp days, I had my headgear knocked off for wearing it in a building.   Also did a lot of pushups till it got grained into my fat brainless skull.

Got used to it, and still used to it.    My kids were taught to remove their headgear while eating.    If they didn't want to do so, they got to eat at the card table set up for the little ones.

Cap removal is just a courtesy.   Do you open and hold the door for any ladies entering or exiting a Building?

Why not, that is also a common courtesy.

I think it is just to show respect for your elders.

Reason for wearing a cap backwards, is to keep the sun off of your neck.    You wear any cap in my house I'll politely ask you to remove it.

I have politley asked people to take their cap off during the singing of the National Anthem.

As Forrest Gump would say:
“That's all I have to say about that.”

[Serk]

I am curious about this, why would wear a billed cap that was meant to shade the eyes with the bill on the back of their neck?    Just doesn't make sense to me.

I wear my hat with the bill pointed to the back for comfort and field of view. With the bill pointed to the front I find it obstructs my view an unacceptable amount for casual wear.

Now I will, if the sun is in my eyes, turn my hat around and wear it backwards with the bill facing frontwards to shade my eyes (And to make sure I don't end up on a meme like this one: )



But no, it's not style or fashion or anything like that. I'm old enough I really don't care about such things any longer (It's questionable as to if I ever did at all really...)

[CajunRider]

Don't eat with a hat on in front of my grandmother!!! 

I miss her, God rest her soul...   

To this day, I always take my hat off when eating.   

[Willow]

Do you think it's ok to leave your hat on when eating at home or in a restaurant?   

Not for me it isn't.  I am influenced by my spending twelve formative years as a U.S. Marine and I am sixty-three years old.

I wouldn't think of forcing my requirements on anyone else (other than my children) in a restaurant but at my own table I would.  I do think less of men in restaurants who don't remove their headgear or open doors for ladies.

Interesting discussion on being "under arms".  As a staff sergeant I was instructed by a young major that even when one is under arms he should remove his cover when he sits down to eat.  Of course I did have to put it back on when I rose up to reprimand two young men on mess duty.

[John Schmidt]

Never understood the purpose of wearing a cap/hat indoors. Outdoors....yes. But the purpose for wearing it outdoors disappears when indoors. As for removing it at the table, I've observed many who wear a greasy old baseball type cap to the dinner table and it's downright disgusting. Often when sitting next to that person I can smell it and have said something about it a few times. Here amongst the Florida bunch I get teased about it, all in good fun. They know where I stand and also know I won't press the issue, even though I'll also zing them from time to time. For myself, removing headgear inside was drilled into me long before I went into the service. For the most part, I don't wear any headgear anyway unless I'm going to be in the sun for an extended period, then I might wear something for protection. What gives me a good chuckle is seeing some dufus with his cap on backwards, and shading his eyes from the sun with his hand. A bumper sticker I've seen a few times around Orlando was quite amusing. Was a picture of a duck and next to it a picture of a guy with his cap on backward. Under the duck it said "DUCK." Under the picture of the guy with hat on backward it said "DORK."  

Rather apropos I thought.    Just keep in mind, as stated elsewhere; my house, my rules.  A causual visit, no problem, but other than that....leave it outside along with your smelly tobacco.

[Serk]

Never understood the purpose of wearing a cap/hat indoors. Outdoors....yes. But the purpose for wearing it outdoors disappears when indoors.

I started wearing a cap all the time when I grew my hair out. I wear the cap to keep my hair out of my eyes (My last haircut was in 1997.)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know... "Get a haircut ya' cursed hippie!" Actually sat down and worked up how much money I've saved by not having a haircut for the last 17 years, and the amount will buy a whole lot of hats!

[Willow]

It's a tradition to which I hold but it is relatively meaningless today.

Unless my memory is flawed (and it has been from time to time) the tradition began when men of war would demonstrate their trust and friendship by removing the protection on their heads.

That would also explain why Marines and soldiers wear covers when they are under arms. 

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

You know, this is actually a large part of the reason I keep my head pretty well shaved now. My usual procedure used to be putting on a hat when I got off the scooter. I thought I was being polite by hiding my helmet hair. When I first read about the hat thing on this board years ago I was kinda "befobulated" because I'd been wearing a hat in order to be polite.

Afterwards I got a little self conscious about it I guess and for the first time in my life actually looked around to see if other people were wearing hats occasionally. Usually some were and some weren't. I'd always taken my hat off for the Pledge or National Anthem of course but it never occurred to me that it mattered to anyone at other times.

Now I keep my head shaved down to 1/8" stubble and it "maybe looks less white" and for sure looks the same after I take my helmet or dew-rag off as it did before I put it on. Now I mainly wear a hat when I'm gonna be on foot after dark. The built in LED's in my camo hats are damn handy in the yard or around a campfire.

And this brings up another question, are dew-rags also thought of as impolite or only hats?

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

A couple of other reasons to wear your hat backwards are under a welding hood and to keep the wind from blowing it off when you ride. But, the wind thing depends on the bike. Some I've had, I could ride all day with the hat backwards without loosing it. Doesn't work on my valk. Or, my head is just slicker now. 

[dreamchaser]

I was taught as a child that a gentleman removes his hat when entering into any building.  It was reinforced in the army.  I call all strange women not waiting on me Maam, all people older than me Sir and Maam until given permission to use their name, open doors for ladies, say please and thank you and excuse myself as required.  I was taught by my family that all men who did not behave in this manner were "poorly brought up"........... I came from a really stuffy background!  I am proud of it, not sorry for it.  Cod fish aristocracy from Baltimore, Maryland....that was the root of it, and yes, I do realize none of it means a cursed thing anymore.  Old habits are hard to break.  Gary

[Hef]

I'm 65 and was raised by strict parents who taught respect and manners. However, I don't really care if you wear a cap or don't wear a cap. Wear a cap to the table or not I will not think anymore or less of you. I know men who will remove their cap at the table but are very rude and offensive in speech and manners. My cap always comes off for prayer or national anthem but must confess I have ate with my cap on.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I've always opened doors for women. And they always say thank you or nod their head.

When/if a women gets offended by my door opening and tells me I don't need to do that just because she's a women..... I'll tell her it was because of her age. 

[Jess from VA]

No hats indoors.  Certainly not at a table.  On a covered outdoor porch, fine.

My first time in the Officers Club bar (first week on active duty), fellows conspired to have my hands full going thru the door, and before I could whip my hat off, someone rang the bell.  When that happens, you buy a drink for every swinging dink in the bar.  Cost me about $50, and never did that again.  Plonkers.  

Sometimes when I get off the bike for a quick 711 stop, and I judge my (1/2) helmet is not safe from theft, I just wear it in the store and checkout. (I have a lock, but that's a bigger PITA)  In the city, 711s can be viewed as possible combat zones, so a helmet fits right in.

I no longer wear a uniform, but I will forever square up my gig line... shirt placket, belt buckle, zipper. 

However, I do on occasion wear Air Force gloves (hands in pockets).    

[cookiedough]

Never understood the purpose of wearing a cap/hat indoors. Outdoors....yes. But the purpose for wearing it outdoors disappears when indoors.

I started wearing a cap all the time when I grew my hair out. I wear the cap to keep my hair out of my eyes (My last haircut was in 1997.)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know... "Get a haircut ya' cursed hippie!" Actually sat down and worked up how much money I've saved by not having a haircut for the last 17 years, and the amount will buy a whole lot of hats!

cut your own hair, that is what I have done the past 25+ years of my adult life.  Yah, I am a cheap _astard! 

As far as caps,  I could care less one way or the other, it is your head, not mine.   I do agree as most others though that if in their house, their rules, do as they say or get out.  That is what I did in 1993 in our new house built brand new when my older brother came over and he forgot to take off his VERY muddy shoes on our new champagne light carpet in our living room and hallway.  Told him to take his shoes off but was way too late took well over 1 hour to clean up the mud/dirt all over each step of our brand new carpet.  To this day,  he hasn't really stepped foot in my house some 20+ years later.  OH well, don't care, my rules or stay home! 

Just because he lives on hardwood floors and lives like in a pig sty doesn't mean I have to as well. 

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I was taught and still believe that you do not eat with your hat on.

Same here 

[ricoman]

in most cases it is disrespectful to wear a hat inside
disrespectful to your host or to the others who are sitting at the table with you
not understanding having respect for others (whether you like them or even know them) says a lot about having an attitude that says "it's all about me"-guess what, bubba, it ain't all about you

[Patrick]

We can't blow our nose at the table now either !?

[Robert]

Hats in most cases out of respect should be taken off but another point is how this hat thing started.

1Co 11:7  For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
1Co 11:8  For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man;
1Co 11:9  for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake.
1Co 11:10  Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
1Co 11:11  However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
1Co 11:12  For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God.
1Co 11:13  Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
1Co 11:14  Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,
1Co 11:15  but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.