[wendyquat]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

And there may be no place to conveniently put their hat; not to mention the likelihood that if they take it off they will forget and leave it behind.

The only time I ever wore a hat at the table, especially when eating out, was in Texas where I was wearing a cowboy hat. I went into a restaurant where there were about 40 people, mostly men, and all of the men were wearing cowboy hats at the table. There was no place to hang hats in the room.

I wore my hat throughout the meal. When in Texas, do as the Texans do.

It is considered ok etiquette to wear a cowboy hat while eating!

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by Abster

I'm from Virginia where many of us pride ourselves on etiquette and manners. We were all taught at a young age that you do not wear a hat in side. Period. You can leave it in your cart or car. I just assume nowadays most people don't know any better.

I know better, I just choose not to follow an arbitrary rule that makes no sense.

[ilovetv]

Once, a few years ago, I saw my former boss in a restaurant with his family and it seemed so odd that he was wearing a baseball cap at the table. He was always a gentleman and was about 70 years old at the time.

A couple of months later, I read his obituary, which said he had lost a long and valiant battle against cancer.

He was wearing the baseball cap because of chemo baldness.

A baseball cap looks far better than most men's toupees (bad rugs).

There are far worse things at the table. Like people blowing their nose at the table.....eeeewwwwwwww.

[Polar Bear]

There was a little old lady standing at a corner. She had both hands holding her hat on while the wind blew her dress up around her waist.

A dignified southern gentleman came up and said, "Ma'am, you should be ashamed of yourself, letting your skirt blow around, being indecent, while both hands hold your hat."

She said, "Look mister, everything down there is seventy years old, this hat is brand new!"

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

There was a little old lady standing at a corner. She had both hands holding her hat on while the wind blew her dress up around her waist.

A dignified southern gentleman came up and said, "Ma'am, you should be ashamed of yourself, letting your skirt blow around, being indecent, while both hands hold your hat."

She said, "Look mister, everything down there is seventy years old, this hat is brand new!"

I like it.

[rubicon]

I read an article by an enterprising female author who was addressing the topic of its time she explained how it was once improper to smoke in front of a woman and that back then men would exit a room stepping backward from a woman's presence so as not to offend her. Her defining point was that women could straddle the boardroom and the parlor and that civility was essential to society and did not interfere with such progression

Advance to today and what has replaced civility? Where has respect for oneself and others gone? Is it any wonder that we fail to communicate by agreeing to disagree. Customs and traditions are wonderful guidelines passed down from one generation to the next...and yes I know there are exceptions. If I am wearing a hat I tip my hat to a lady. I do not swear in front of a lady and always treat a lady as a lady even if some of them don't deserve the title

Our society is regressing and it is one of the reason for America's decline.

I opine you decide.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

And there may be no place to conveniently put their hat; not to mention the likelihood that if they take it off they will forget and leave it behind.

The only time I ever wore a hat at the table, especially when eating out, was in Texas where I was wearing a cowboy hat. I went into a restaurant where there were about 40 people, mostly men, and all of the men were wearing cowboy hats at the table. There was no place to hang hats in the room.

I wore my hat throughout the meal. When in Texas, do as the Texans do.

As Burt Reynolds said in Smokey and the Bandit, " I only take my hat (cowboy hat) off for one thing". Actually there is one more reason a Cowboy hat is not removed. A good 7x beaver can cost upward of $250.00. They must hang on a rack or placed upside down on a flat surface or otherwise they will lose their shape. By the way, it is still good manners to remove your Cowboy hat but this is why most don't.

[bkcunningham1]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

I know that it is common etiquette, but I really don't understand the rationale for that rule other than it's considered common etiquette. I just don't get it. I usually take mine off in restaurants, but I'm not bothered by others who choose to leave it on. Does anyone know the rationale for requiring men to remove hats in a restaurant?

"Until the cultural revolution of the mid-20th century, gentlemen wore hats. Normally a gentleman wore a hat outdoors, not indoors. And if he were a normal well bred man, he knew a passel of rules to follow regarding when to doff the hat and how to do so.

"Besides protecting a man against the elements, a hat properly worn gives him dignity. It also permits him to practice a small ceremonial, that is, an act recognizing the right, condition or social status of others.

"Unfortunately, the hat has found a poor replacement today: the ubiquitous baseball cap. In principle, I understand the practical use for this cap in sports. During a baseball game on a hot summer day, it shields the face of the player so he can see the ball in the bright sun. However, the mania of wearing baseball caps all the time and everywhere seems to me as irrational as it would be to wear football or motorcycle helmets all the time and everywhere. There is no practical purpose for such a custom. It is worn because it is in style, a fashion that promotes what is casual and egalitarian. It has become the standard complement to the blue jean, T-shirt and tennis shoes. This ensemble is what an American youth wears in public today, depicting our sadly proletariat mentality and way of being.

"The rules of distinction were thrown out the window with the baseball cap. It does not lend itself to protocol. No one lifts the baseball cap to a passing lady. In fact, today the young man may well see a similar cap on the head of the passing lady. It is found today on youth in homes, classrooms, even fine restaurants. Regardless of its other consequences, this is a breach against civility. A civilized man should avoid this mania." Hat etiquette for men by Marian Horvat

[ssmith]

Perhaps Bert Reynolds won't remove his hat because HE doesn't want anyone to notice HIS toupe!!!!

[batman911]

Gentlemen take their hats off when inside. Any excuse for poor manners is not acceptable. Isn't it easy to make excuses for poor behavior.

[TheVillageChicken]

I was raised in the deep south. I address ladies of all ages as Ma'am, open doors for women, return their shopping carts to the cart corral for them, etc. In a casual dining setting, such as at a golf course, my cap will stay on. If the setting is fine dining, I wouldn't have a hat on anyway.

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by batman911

Gentlemen take their hats off when inside. Any excuse for poor manners is not acceptable. Isn't it easy to make excuses for poor behavior.

But People do.

[BarryRX]

Originally Posted by JB in TV

I don't buy it. Sorry. Common etiquette is hats off inside.

Men – Hats can be left on…
•Outdoors
•At athletic events (indoors or out)
•On public transportation
•In public buildings such as post offices, airports, and hotel or office lobbies
•On elevators
Men – Take hats off, including baseball caps …
•In someone's home
•At mealtimes, at the table
•While being introduced, indoors or out (unless it's frigid!)
•In a house of worship, unless a hat or head covering is required
•Indoors at work, especially in an office (unless required for the job)
•In public buildings such as a school, library, courthouse, or town hall
•In restaurants and coffee shops
•At a movie or any indoor performance
•When the national anthem is played
•When the flag of the United States passes by, as in a parade

Hats Off! The Who-What-When-Where of the Hat

More common etiquette:
Women should only wear dresses when dining out.
A woman may wear a hat in a restaurant, but a man should remove his.
No family member, except a small child should ever be introduced to employees.
Women should rise when an older woman enters the room.
To end a date, the girl should place her unfolded napkin to the left of her plate and look questioningly at her escort.
The male should always pay for the meal.
It is not proper for a single girl to have dinner in a bachelors apartment without an escort.
Men should stand when a woman enters or leaves a room.
Men should always enter a cab first so the woman doesn't have to "scoot" over in a dress.
Men should walk on the curb side of the sidewalk.

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

More common etiquette:
Women should only wear dresses when dining out.
A woman may wear a hat in a restaurant, but a man should remove his.
No family member, except a small child should ever be introduced to employees.
Women should rise when an older woman enters the room.
To end a date, the girl should place her unfolded napkin to the left of her plate and look questioningly at her escort.
The male should always pay for the meal.
It is not proper for a single girl to have dinner in a bachelors apartment without an escort.
Men should stand when a woman enters or leaves a room.
Men should always enter a cab first so the woman doesn't have to "scoot" over in a dress.
Men should walk on the curb side of the sidewalk.

From the 1895 Book of Social Rules no doubt?

Common courtesy on the men's hat removal at ANY dining establishment. Any man keeping his on in a dining establishment is a crude lout. 'Nuff said.

[eweissenbach]

I generally remove my hat in a restaurant, but I can't see how someone wearing a hat - or not - affects anyone else's dining experience. I choose to save my indignation for more egregious acts.