Why is it considered bad manners to....

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Oct 20, 2005
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Chaotic42...you have replied 3 times already yet have not answered the original question of "WHY" wearing a hat/cap indoors is bad manners.

Yes we know it's traditionally considered bad manners...but WHY is it bad manners? All you have done is spit out the same generic answer of "it's bad manners".
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
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http://www.emilypost.com/ask_us/question_archive.htm

For the week of February 9, 2004

Q. I know back in the day, it was bad manners for a man to wear a hat (baseball cap) to the table. My grown sons wear them all the time and my husband is forever getting upset if they wear their hats to the table. If we have a formal dinner, such as holidays, they always remove them. Is it now acceptable for them to wear their hats to the table for casual meals?

A. No, it is not. Basically, hats are removed when going indoors as a measure of respect. Therefore, caps and hats should be removed when entering a home (which includes while eating at the table), when entering a place of religion, or when going to a restaurant. When entering a store or other "public area" like a train station, the hat or cap may remain on. This applies to baseball caps worn by men or women. Hats and caps are always removed for the Pledge of Allegiance or the National Anthem.

Women's hats that are part of their ensembles and therefore fashion accessories may be worn indoors, including at a restaurant table, etc. If they are large-brimmed, they should be removed in a theater or other place where they block the vision of the person behind. Aside from garden parties and formal teas where hats are often left on, women generally remove their hats when dinning in someone's home.

The guidelines for wearing of hats by men and women are still an important part of our manners today. Hat traditions and manners may have originated in medieval times when knights lifted their face guard to show who they were, or in the days of the cowboys when a hat was lifted and removed to show there was no weapon hidden underneath. It became a sign of respect to others that has always remained.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
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tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: spidey07
It's just bad manners. There doesn't have to be a reason for it.

It's just rude.

yers actually there does need to be a reason for it seeing as not everyone thinks its rude
personbally i dont care where people wear their hate, inside outside, movies, funeral resturant...., i just dont care
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,773
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Originally posted by: Schfifty Five
Chaotic42...you have replied 3 times already yet have not answered the original question of "WHY" wearing a hat/cap indoors is bad manners.

Yes we know it's traditionally considered bad manners...but WHY is it bad manners? All you have done is spit out the same generic answer of "it's bad manners".
AFAIK it is considered polite because military personnel wear their cover at all times when they are under attack. If you wear a helmet, have your weapon at your side, wear armor, etc you might attack the people inside.

This isn't an issue now, of course, but it's one of those things that is just part of a culture. People in different cultures have them. My Russian professor told us never to shake hands through an open door in Russia. It's weird, but if they consider it polite, that's what you do.

To people raised this way, it's very impolite to wear a hat inside. Although logic would tell us that it's irrelevant, it's what some people are taught all of their lives and they never forget it.

I was raised in the deep south and was very sheltered. A lot of my ideas changed when I grew up and got to see things from all over the world, but a lot of them didn't. The hat thing is one that didn't.
 

GamingGuy246

Member
Jan 16, 2005
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Ok, screw the tradition, I have a revolutionary idea, now that some of you to some extent have answered why it is considered bad manners, now a new question comes to mind. In general, does anyone care, does it offend you? If so, explain.
 

badmouse

Platinum Member
Dec 3, 2003
2,862
2
0
I'm over 50. It's bad manners because my grandmother said so. I don't think hidden weapons was a big problem with my grandmother.

I tell my kids that it's a bad idea to ignore traditional good manners, whether they make sense or not, because like it or not, people judge you on things like good manners. If taking your hat off indoors can get you a better job someday, then it's a rule you ought to know about.

But personally, I'm indoors right now and I'm wearing a hat. So shoot me.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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Originally posted by: GamingGuy246
Ok, screw the tradition, I have a revolutionary idea, now that some of you to some extent have answered why it is considered bad manners, now a new question comes to mind. In general, does anyone care, does it offend you? If so, explain.

yes I care.

I find it rude and disrespectul. I think less of those that don't remove their hat.

why does it offend me? It is disrespectful. But this is mainly if you are in MY home. I will welcome anybody with open arms in my home, but don't be disrespectful.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
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things like holding doors or calling someone "sir" and not "hey you" make sense. Saying you can't wear a hat 'just because' doesnt.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
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Originally posted by: GamingGuy246
Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
There's only three times where I can see it being in poor taste to wear a hat:

a. when the Star Spangled Banner is being played
b. At funerals or weddings
c. when your hat would obstruct the view of others (such as in a theatre)

As you can see, choices a - c can all be indoors or outdoors, so I see no reason to restrict hat-wearing to one or the other. It's just silly I think.

I completely agree, other than those situations, I just don't see anything wrong with it.

 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
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Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: OdiN
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
It's bad manners to wear a cap or hat anywhere that military personnel can't wear their cover.

Why? You have a problem with someone shopping at WalMart wearing a hat?

Yes.

It's bad manners just like it's bad manners not to say "sir" and "ma'am", not to hold doors open for people, not to offer to carry things for women, not to abstain from cursing infront of women, not to stop when a flag is being lowered and raised, etc...

People, however, have forgotten about manners.
Women have been screaming about equality for years - so have we "forgotten" or given them equality?