Hats

[Dargo]

I'm not here to point fingers but when I ws growing up, we were taught to remove our hat/cap, etc when we walked in the door and never, never, wear a hat at the dinner table... perhaps old fashioned but that's how a I was taught... rightly or wrongly...
As an aside, I mostly wear a wide brimmed hat, cuz this Texas sun is brutal...

My son is in the military and currently attending VMI. What you describe is mandatory with all there. I'm not in the military and it greatly depends on the situation with me. I'll admit that I've gotten a bit stubborn when someone has approached me to tell me to remove my hat at an outdoor picnic on a beach in Hawaii. Outside, in the sun, while wearing swimwear doesn't qualify as a place or time to remove my lid when eating. I always remove my hat during the national anthem and indoor eating (except at home) but I don't follow military protocol. It's my preference. I'm older but not shiny on top. Still, at times it looks less offensive if I have a ball cap on than with a really bad case of 'hat hair'.

 

[tdan300]

Hi All! Boy, posts can sometimes get interesting. As far as hats go, I normally wear ball caps every day. When the sun is out (not really that often in Washington State - except this year) I wear either a straw cowboy hat or my old delapidated outback hat. I also have light long sleeved shirts that I normally wear when working out in the sun.
As far as manners go, I too was raised in a strict environment to follow strict rules of etiquette when in public. I still open doors for women, I speak to women as maam, I don't swear in front of ladies, etc. I have always tried to follow the rule to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As far as the hat goes, I feel that it is my choice to take it off. I don't go to fancy eateries, so normally leave my hat on when I eat. I may decide to take it off, but that is my decision when I do. I have never had anyone be so rude as to remind me of proper etiquette. If they did, I would probably just thank them for their concern and go about my business. No use me being rude just because they are. If the restaurant asked that I remove my hat, I probably would go to a different one. I still have 90% if my hair, so that is not an issue. I just personally do not believe that wearing a hat is rude. I live in the country and though I only have 18 acres to farm, I take that serious. I normally have work clothes on. If I need to go to town during the day, I leave them on. They may have dirt on them, but it is honest dirt. If we are going out to dinner or a show in the evening, I will wash up and change into better clothing. I definately follow strict personal hygiene practices, so even though I may be dirty and dusty from a days' work, I am "clean".
I believe that you should always look past appearances and try to evaluate the real person. Some of the nicest and most honest folks I know are farmers who do not dress in "go to town" clothes. And, some of the most dishonest and despicable folks that I know are well to do. Be tolerant and judge folks on what really counts in life.

 

[two_bit_score]

Please excuse me for steppin in so often here, but you guys keep giving me thoughts: yes I have an entire ball cap made of that stuff you soak in cool water, squeeze out the excess and wear it in the hot sun a while before doing it again. Its great on those very hot days when stuck out in the sun!!

Also, just wanted to "justify" and "excuse" my "bad" manners regarding wearing hats indoors. Oh yes, I was raised by an extremely "strict" father who was just about as unforgiving of bad manners as possible. So I am "well" aware of the hat rules especially in the dining room.

Then much of my working life, was also spent in strict compliance with rules and "manners", . . so yes I really practiced the manner thing from birth till the day I was finally released from Society's "MANNERS" and began living life for "ME", . . stopped shaving and visiting the Barber and began wearing a hat when and where "I" decided, ..etc, etc, etc, and so on !!

Oh yes I still shower, wear clean clothes and am polite and honourable in most situations, . . BUT, I am MUCH, MUCH more relaxed in my old age. It is very rarely that I offend people on purpose, . . but if I offend anyone by wearing my hat in a restaurant,...or "any"where else, my apologies!

. . tug

Most pople know when to pull their hats off or not wear them in the first place if they anticipate looking bad when they pull it off. Nobody is going to do any good trying to teach their version of 'manners' to anyone else by reprimanding them in a public place. And wearing a hat in the wrong place at the wrong time is not, in my opinion, so "offensive" as it is just showing that you may not have respect for the situation or that you just may not know better.

If someone REALLY doesn't know when to remove a hat in a particular place maybe someone they know will be kind enough to politely and privately let them know about it, maybe even after the fact, so they won't look like a dufus or a hick or just rude unintentionally the next time they may be in that situation.

I wll give you one situation where I would politely remind some one in close proximity to me to remove a hat and I wouldn't care what they thought;
that's during the Star Spagled Banner and the Pledge of Allegience.


Now, where did you get that cap made out of stuff you soak in cool water? Sounds like that would be worth having.

 

[tugboat-2]

Two Bit Score : Regarding the "soakable" cap, . . my wife says she got it from some (now forgotten) mail-order catalogue a few years ago. She can't recall the details.

But examining the labels in the hat: GORGONZ, Baltimore, Maryland, CA#40498 Of course it also says: Made in China and gives the web: 180s: Products for Gorgonz (seems valid)(click it)..it also says on a separate label: "hydroweave" and there are patent numbers and label of instructions for use.

That's about all I can tell you except that it "looks" like any other good ball cap other than the material is slightly thicker, almost like a thin liner with a good stiff curved bill. It is very comfortable to wear and it certainly works well as advertized.

Sorry, thats the best I can do,
. . tug

PS: the minute I posted this with a "www.address",..it changed automatically to the above (in blue) so I clicked and on the left side under work hats,...click and VIOLA!! There is this great hat that keeps you cool or warm and its only 20 bucks. Geeeeeze, had I known I'd have posted the web-page and saved you all the above gobledegook,..sorry.

 

[pitt_md]

In cool weather with bright sun just a ball cap. In hot weather I wear a fishing hat. It has a little bit longer than normal bill, cloth across the top with mess side, and a curtain across back hanging down to cover the neck. It's the best I've found so far. Better than straw and wide brim hats.

I use the same thing. I like my cowboy hats but they get in the way all the time.

 

[robertk]

I usually wear a baseball cap all the time unless I'm out in the sun for long periods of time then it's a cowboy hat.
As far as I'm concerned you all can wear any hat any time you want.

 

[RalphVa]

A floppy hat is about the best. A ball cap won't shade you from the sides nor protect your neck.

When I used to sail in Singapore, I'd put sunscreen on the back of my neck. That area seemed to always be exposed no matter what tack I was on. That worked, but that was only for 2 to 4 hours. If I were out all day, it'd be the floppy hat or one of those Japanese hats with the flap that goes down onto the neck in the back.

Ralph

 

[MESSMAKER]

I tend to wear an old "boonie" if I know I'll be working in the sun, and a baseball cap if I'll be working mostly under the trees.

Roy

Me too.

 

[SCDolphin]

The Straw Safari Pithe helmet is the absolute best but the most uncool.

 

[Redbug]

I think the pith helmet would be better than something like a cowboy hat since it is stiffer, breathes, and does not flop around in a stiff wind.

I usually wear a very stylish military cap. Depending on the social occasion, it may be OD green or desert brown. It does not give much UV protection on the red neck or ears and I try to remember to put sunscreen on. I'm set in my ways...I hope my ears don't fall off...

However, I think the British version of the pith helmet with the royal knob on top...would demand royal respect...and be cool as well as coooool. Hmmm...I may order one...