I still think there is a distinction between wearing a hat indoors, and wearing a hat at a meal table. We haven't abandoned that particular piece of etiquette as far as I can observe.
Aside from "hat etiquette" from times long ago, that no one governing body is in control of, why would anyone care if there is nothing offensive on the hat, the hat isn't falling off into the food, isn't interfering with others enjoyment of the food and isn't obstructive to peoples view of food or others at the table?I still think there is a distinction between wearing a hat indoors, and wearing a hat at a meal table. We haven't abandoned that particular piece of etiquette as far as I can observe.
I didn't say it was rooted in tangible benefits, just that I have observed that most people do remove their hat when they sit at a meal table, of course with the exception of vendor type carts or trucks, a seedy diner, or any Waffle House.Aside from "hat etiquette" from times long ago, that no one governing body is in control of, why would anyone care if there is nothing offensive on the hat, the hat isn't falling off into the food, isn't interfering with others enjoyment of the food and isn't obstructive to peoples view of food or others at the table?
I am glad of that, Phil. I am always surprised to have you and me disagree about nearly anything! Maybe we are not far off each other here. I am not saying I would expect men to remove their hats when entering a shopping mall, a Walmart, or even a hardware store. I suppose any place where I would expect to keep a winter coat on, I would not expect folks to be expected to remove their hats. My experience with waffle houses is limited!I still think there is a distinction between wearing a hat indoors, and wearing a hat at a meal table. We haven't abandoned that particular piece of etiquette as far as I can observe.
Ha! You knew au courant, but not "gauche"! I actually had to look up "gauche" myself. I did not just now find the definition I thought I found originally. But "lacking social experience or grace" or "lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless." A implication, I thought, of not knowing the "rules." Of not of offending anyone exactly--who does care about whether someone else wears a cap or not! But of dissing someone for lack of polish, silently. Sort of a social class thing. So to that extent, an outdated thing indeed.Thanks to this thread, I learnt a new word....Gauge.
If you were caught wearing a beret inside the doors of our dining hall, someone spotted you, the doors closed, bell was rung and you bought everyone inside a round of drinks.The military still has strict guidelines on headwear, but it's uniformity and safety as the basis rather than etiquette.
A military member wouldn't wear a cover in the vicinity of aircraft unless it was chin-strapped in place to avoid the possibility of Foreign Object Damage (FOD) to engines.
Covers are generally not worn indoors unless the wearer is armed or otherwise engaged in an official on duty capacity.
Wearing a cover in a military dining facility is a strict no-no, unless you are on duty as a mess cook or mess attendant.
Covers are generally a must do if you are outdoors except when to do so would appear rude or disrespectful.
"I do not know much about history, government, politics, economics, business, or the arts. My formal education is lacking. But I do know exactly what to wear to an afternoon garden party, and that makes all the difference."
If anyone has that exact quote, I would love to have it!
It's a fishing hat. It may have a legal exemption!
HereI'm reminded of the Soprano's scene where Tony gets upset because some wimp is wearing a baseball hat at the next table in a nice restaurant.
My Dad if he were Italian!Here
When I go into a restaurant (particularly casual ones) and see guys sitting at their table with a hats on, I just wish they would take it off. I'm not a stickler, but I think it's just better manners.I still think there is a distinction between wearing a hat indoors, and wearing a hat at a meal table. We haven't abandoned that particular piece of etiquette as far as I can observe.
I imagine the origin of why it is seems "offensive" or at least a bit "insensitive" goes back 100+ years ago when we were an agrarian society, where most people did manual labor and needed a hat for protection outdoors. That when coming indoors to a clean setting a person would take off their dirty or wet outwear before dining or generally socializing. In a similar vein, I find it very difficult to keep on my shoes when inside the house knowing that dirt is getting tracked in. I am not implying that a hat is as dirty as a pair of shoes, but if you live in a rural area around dirt roads it can get soiled pretty fast.Aside from "hat etiquette" from times long ago, that no one governing body is in control of, why would anyone care if there is nothing offensive on the hat, the hat isn't falling off into the food, isn't interfering with others enjoyment of the food and isn't obstructive to peoples view of food or others at the table?