Bonnets on or off?

[Jack Daw]

On the subject of removing one's(male) headwear and I don't know if it is common place, but removing one's headwear whilst in a graveyard is very much a custom here.

Ah, a new one for me to remember.

[Tobus]

I believe it was considered common courtesy once, nothing more nothing less.

This is an important point. Common courtesy is not about "rules"; it's about being courteous to those around you, per the expectations of the culture in which you happen to find yourself. And if you're in a position where offense might be given, common courtesy dictates doing the least offensive thing possible.

With that in mind, today's society is such that people aren't offended at hats being worn indoors (unless one lives in ultra-high society, of course). For us regular folk who are just trying to be polite while we do the things necessary to live our lives, given today's standards, and in a scenario such as I described in my previous post, I would think that the least offensive thing to do would be to keep a hat on one's head rather than take it off. There's going to be more offense taken at unkempt hat-hair than at the hat itself.

So while that may make me less than a proper gentleman, I take umbrage at the declaration that it makes me a rube or an oaf.

On the subject of removing one's(male) headwear and I don't know if it is common place, but removing one's headwear whilst in a graveyard is very much a custom here.

That is the tradition here too, at least in the circles with which I'm associated. A cemetery is like a church in terms of removing one's hat and acting reverent. Most people around here take off their hats when a funeral procession passes by on the street, too.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

A gentleman knows that the way he behaves at home is not necessarily the way he should behave in public.

So...

Hats Off:
Indoors, when a gentleman sits down, he always removes his hat.
When the national anthem is played a gentleman always removes his hat. (Veterans may leave their hats on and render a hand salute if they so choose.)
A gentleman always removes his hat when entering a house of worship, unless it would be considered discourteous to do so.

Hats On:
He may leave his hat on when seated in a public waiting area (ie: airport terminal, etc.);
He may leave it on when seated outdoors;
He may leave his hat on at McDonald's while waiting for his "to go" order...

[ThistleDown]

A gentleman knows that the way he behaves at home is not necessarily the way he should behave in public.

So...

Hats Off:
Indoors, when a gentleman sits down, he always removes his hat.
When the national anthem is played a gentleman always removes his hat. (Veterans may leave their hats on and render a hand salute if they so choose.)
A gentleman always removes his hat when entering a house of worship, unless it would be considered discourteous to do so.

Hats On:
He may leave his hat on when seated in a public waiting area (ie: airport terminal, etc.);
He may leave it on when seated outdoors;
He may leave his hat on at McDonald's while waiting for his "to go" order...

I won't quibble with you Rathdown, but I have an addition "Off" -- in my home -- and an additional "On" -- in his own home.

But I think this thread was about some myth that in Scotland bonnets are worn in church. The simple answer is "yes, when that is the requirement of the place of worship", and "no, in all other cases". Similarly, shoes are removed when that is a requirement and kept on when it is not.

58 posts

Rex

[Downunder Kilt]

58 posts

Rex

Yes thinking the same thing

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

A gentleman knows that the way he behaves at home is not necessarily the way he should behave in public.

So...

Hats Off:
Indoors, when a gentleman sits down, he always removes his hat.
When the national anthem is played a gentleman always removes his hat. (Veterans may leave their hats on and render a hand salute if they so choose.)
A gentleman always removes his hat when entering a house of worship, unless it would be considered discourteous to do so.

Hats On:
He may leave his hat on when seated in a public waiting area (ie: airport terminal, etc.);
He may leave it on when seated outdoors;
He may leave his hat on at McDonald's while waiting for his "to go" order...

Yes, 58 posts! Though it is fascinating sociology and has caused me to think about my own actions.

Well, I'll add a little more if I might:

Mister MacMillan
I think yours is a good partial list of does and don’ts; however, I again argue for “almost always” in certain instances.

For example, I have a young friend who lost all of his hair a few years ago due to an illness. He is embarrassed by his baldness and always keeps his fedora on even in indoor social situations. Once at a party, the hostess, who did not know him, asked if she could take his hat, and he said No, that he would prefer to keep it on. Not another word was said. I do not consider him less a gentleman for this, but I do consider that the hostess was a real lady.

Also, for myself, I sometimes find myself in indoor situations that do not lend themselves to the ”always take it off” dictum. Crowded bars, certain work situations, and Cowboy functions are all times when I feel most comfortable keeping my chapeau on indoors. I do not feel ungentlemanly.

There are a few hat courtesies that I would add:
ALWAYS take your hat off when meeting a woman for the first time, hold it at your chest until introductions are over, then you may put it back on. I usually ‘tip’ my hat after the initial meeting (although if the woman is older I take it off every time we meet.)
NEVER try on another man’s hat without permission
Also, I generally tip my hat when passing another man; when wearing a bonnet or ball cap, I give a ‘knuckle’ in the old fashion. (This may just be a West Texanism.)

In these days, I think that an awareness of oneself and the people around the situation should dictate the proper hat etiquette, rather than falling back on hidebound patrician judgmentalism.

[BoldHighlander]

NEVER try on another man’s hat without permission.

"Never touch another man's hat!"



:mrgreen:

[Derek Conley]

What blurs the lines and doesn't help matters is when certain publications ("GQ" comes to mind) publish excellent sartorial guidelines, yet state that it's currently perfectly acceptable to wear a fedora (yes, they were discussing fedoras) inside.

Now, at 35, I certainly don't agree with it... but others of my age range, and younger, who may read such a thing will then, at times, decide it's acceptable in modern society.

[BLHS209]

On or Off?? See the thread about Piper Bill Millin (http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ributes-63235/) starting about 1:12 to 1:22 for the answer. The Cliff Notes version - yes, they get taken off upon entering the church.

Chris Shepherd

[tripleblessed]

BLHS209, thanks for recalling that thread. Terry, as always, thanks for your
persistent search for amazing footage and and photos and getting them up for us.
I would imagine very few would get through those interviews with a dry eye.