Wow, more than 50 posts, some quite quarrelsome, about hand positions! You would think we were discussing something really important like white hose or ties....

For what it's worth, the things CopperNGold's parents told him, right or wrong are certainly accepted 'rules of thumb' among many folks in the south, my grandmother was a big fan of that theory, applying it to everyone from political figures to my school friends.
Like it or not that sort of thing is pretty well ingrained in society, at least around here, I mentioned this thread to a friend yesterday and he actually mentioned a few people in the public eye that he had strong opinions about because of the hand thing. His example relatable to this forum was that he thinks Prince Charles is a little nuts because of his vest pocket thing. (disclamer; I do not think Prince Charles is nuts because of his vest pocket thing, so no flames)

I'll say while I was always taught to avoid the pockets, I like to keep my hands still, if I don't have my stick, a girl or a drink to hang on to, I'll stick my tumbs in my sporran strap or clasp my hands in front, right over left, in what I call funeral rest as that's what you always see funeral directors do.

Examples;
here's me with idle hands, at funeral reast;


And here's more optimal hand positions;