It's just tradition and recognized etiquette. Nothing to get riled up about.
Yes of course we no longer remove our helmets as a sign of subservience to our feudal lord. But to say that one shouldn't remove their hat indoors because it originated in removing ones hemlet is a bit silly.
Everything we do originated somewhere, and much of what we do is for no good reason except that it is recognized as being good manners.
I don't believe that saying "God Bless You" when someone sneezes is actually preventing the devil from jumping into their body. I do it because it is recognized as being good manners.
I say "Yes Sir" and "Yes Ma'am" not because I fear getting in trouble with the Sire or the wife of the Sire of the Barony where I live, I do it because it is recognized as good manners.
When I meet someone, I shake their hand, not because I want to make sure that he is not secretly holding a weapon, but because it is recognized as good manners.
"Please", "Thank You", and "You're Welcome" or "My Pleasure" have similar roots, and likewise have similar use today of only being recognized as common decency and manners.
So yes, taking off your hat indoors is indeed rooted in a long forgotten and unnecessary ritual which is no longer valid. But we don't do it because it is rooted in some ancient and discarded ritual, we do it as a means of displaying proper courtesy and manners.
If this were not so, then no one in this thread would care at all that people sometimes fail to do it.
Is it mandatory? Of course not.
You can go your entire life if you wish ignoring the common and accepted displays of courtesy and manners without ever suffering a single consequence other than what some may think of you.
Whether or not what someone thinks of you is important is up to each of us, and I dare say, varies depending upon the specific situation.
Yes of course we no longer remove our helmets as a sign of subservience to our feudal lord. But to say that one shouldn't remove their hat indoors because it originated in removing ones hemlet is a bit silly.
Everything we do originated somewhere, and much of what we do is for no good reason except that it is recognized as being good manners.
I don't believe that saying "God Bless You" when someone sneezes is actually preventing the devil from jumping into their body. I do it because it is recognized as being good manners.
I say "Yes Sir" and "Yes Ma'am" not because I fear getting in trouble with the Sire or the wife of the Sire of the Barony where I live, I do it because it is recognized as good manners.
When I meet someone, I shake their hand, not because I want to make sure that he is not secretly holding a weapon, but because it is recognized as good manners.
"Please", "Thank You", and "You're Welcome" or "My Pleasure" have similar roots, and likewise have similar use today of only being recognized as common decency and manners.
So yes, taking off your hat indoors is indeed rooted in a long forgotten and unnecessary ritual which is no longer valid. But we don't do it because it is rooted in some ancient and discarded ritual, we do it as a means of displaying proper courtesy and manners.
If this were not so, then no one in this thread would care at all that people sometimes fail to do it.
Is it mandatory? Of course not.
You can go your entire life if you wish ignoring the common and accepted displays of courtesy and manners without ever suffering a single consequence other than what some may think of you.
Whether or not what someone thinks of you is important is up to each of us, and I dare say, varies depending upon the specific situation.
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as a friendly gesture. However, there are many parts of the world where this is the rudest gesture you could make! Maybe there exists a culture that expresses love, happiness, and joy by extending the middle finger -- if so, I wish them much love, happiness, and joy!
