Culture variation in the Midwest

blume357 · Mar 25, 2024

I started wearing a hat pretty regularly, probably 5 years or so ago... I till take it off if I go into a restaurant or especially my church or someone's house but not in what I consider a public building like a store. I have to admit that when I'm sitting at home or somewhere private and anther person comes in the room, especially a woman, there is still a deep buried instinct to stand up. Sometimes I still do if it is a woman older than me. As for the not taking your hat off inside if you are armed... maybe that is why in a lot of older movies they guys still have their hats on... like Humphrey in the movie the Maltese Falcon?

KIR · Mar 25, 2024

During the cold winters, when I turn the heat down in my castle, I wear a baseball cap which helps me keep warm. Outdoors, all the time.
Many years ago, while out a Pyramid Lake, the Needles at the north end, before the Indians closed it off, a "brief", "pod", "pouch", "scoop", or "squadron" of Pelicans were scared off by a couple of jets making a flyby of the lake. They all took off and headed towards their island which is a preservation near the pyramid of the lake. Awesome sight.

Johnnu2 · Mar 25, 2024

I wear a baseball cap because my doctor says I could get some nasty cancers on my baldy bean. I don't think I ever paid more than $5 for any cap/hat; so....(although now, I hear, one can spend over $20 on a cap); I can simply squash my cap, and put it in my pocket. Was 'trained' to always remove your hat indoors and always stand up when a lady enters OR when being introduced to any gender. Who knew...??? Personally, I think that it's important to feel comfortable with yourself (local customs do dictate behaviors) while being considerate and courteous to others (local customs dictate this too). There, all settled

Edit: I do wear it in my house (when no company present) because I'm always !@#$%g cold.... thanks to my lovely wife.

Chief 101 · Mar 25, 2024

I am one that always wears a hat, mostly ball cap type. Seems most rural raised people around here do the same. So many urbanites have moved in around me that don't wear hats I wonder if sometimes they don't feel a little self conscious ...even tho they are the majority now.

Bob Wright · Mar 25, 2024

blume357 said:

"....somewhere private and anther person comes in the room, especially a woman, there is still a deep buried instinct to stand up. Sometimes I still do if it is a woman older than me."

I can't remembe the last time a woman older than I entered the room..............

Bob Wright

steveodtw · Mar 25, 2024

vito said:
Why not leave the hat in your car? Or ask the Maitre d to take care of it while you eat?

I'm more likely to leave my hat in the restaurant. Done it several times. Now I leave it in the car unless it's very sunny out.

Bob Wright · Mar 25, 2024

Gary Lee said:
Sometimes I wear a cap. Sometimes I don't... Indoors or outdoors. This is exclusively based on my decision.

If it doesn't violate established law, my appearance and behavior doesn't have to meet with the personal approval of others.

Contrary to ignorant opinions, we do not inhabit a "democracy" where the collective consensus supersedes the rights of individuals.

America is the land where everyone has the right to be the unique and distinct individual that the Good Lord made them.

If others don't like me, don't look at me. Problem solved.

Well, as far as my "ignorant opinion" goes, it was instilled in me by my parents. My mother made sure I didn't embarrass her when we went out. She implanted in me the notion that what I wore signaled the respect I had for that place or person. And my Dad implanted the idea that a man should dress as a man. These are old fashioned principles today, but I still cling to them. Wednesday I'm attending my sister's birthday party. I'll dress accrdingly. And next Sunday is Easter Sunday, and again, I'll dress accordingly.

Bob Wright

375hh1973 · Mar 25, 2024

All depends on the restaurant for me.

Unless its an upscale restaurant, I keep my hat on.

JAYDAWG · Mar 25, 2024

Bob Wright said:
Well, as far as my "ignorant opinion" goes, it was instilled in me by my parents. My mother made sure I didn't embarrass her when we went out. She implanted in me the notion that what I wore signaled the respect I had for that place or person. And my Dad implanted the idea that a man should dress as a man. These are old fashioned principles today, but I still cling to them. Wednesday I'm attending my sister's birthday party. I'll dress accrdingly. And next Sunday is Easter Sunday, and again, I'll dress accordingly.

Bob Wright

AMEN BROTHER!!

Eclem · Mar 25, 2024

vito said:
Last week my wife and I were out in Grand Island, Nebraska to see the Sandhill Crane migration (very impressive to see thousands of the cranes coming in at dusk to the North Platte River) and we had dinner for the two nights we were there at a local restaurant. Just a decent burger type place, nothing fancy but not fast food. The first night there were about 25 men in the restaurant, with all but two wearing baseball caps as they ate. One was myself, with no hat, and one had a cowboy hat on. The second night there was actually one other man without a hat. What made me think of this thread was when my wife and I went out last night to eat, again as a mostly burger type place, here in Rockford, IL, probably less than 10% of men present had hats on. It just seemed to be quite a different culture even though both locations are what most folks would consider the Mid West. Just an interesting observation.

I hear ya! I live in rural NE Connecticut and am 78 years old - for about 5 years I've worn a hat all day in the cool weather ... the heat loss from my old balding head is nicely checked by a baseball cap. And I used to wear turtle neck cotton jerseys in the winter but they started feeling uncomfortable so I started tying a bandanna (silk or cotton) around my neck - very comfortable and warming. I believe we used to call them "neckerchiefs." I'm too old to give a damn about my looks! Comfort is king.

KS25-06 · Mar 25, 2024

I believe having lived in a rural area all my life that customs are much more relaxed. It would be hard to find an upscale place that required removal of a hat or cap before you could eat. Most men in our area wear caps, cowboys and ranchers were hats. If and when I go to church, attend a wedding or a funeral my hat is removed out of respect. What you do with your cap or hat is your business. However, never mess with a man's hat or cap. Where I come from that may get you in trouble.

Fox Mike · Mar 25, 2024

Bob Wright said:
blume357 said:
I can't remembe the last time a woman older than I entered the room..............
Bob Wright

Nor can I. Five + weeks and I hit 87 (if the good Lord is looking out for me). I don't visit assisted living and rehabs so I am not around many older than me. I still remove my hat if a lady is present, in elevators if a lady is there, and once I am inside a building. I visit the Kirk Army Clinic pharmacy and see numerous men, in the waiting room, with hats on. Now these are generally retired military and should know better. My hat is on my knee.

Huskerguy72 · Mar 25, 2024

I lived in Grand Island from 78-83. Both kids born there, loved it, just a bit too cold for my old bones now. The cranes were just a common appearance and we watched them and it wasn't the "event" it is now. They wanted to put a new interchange into GI from I80 and it was blocked for years because the environmentalists were certain that it would change the migration of the cranes. Turns out the cranes don't care but no one bothered to ask them. They just move on to find another corn field. It's not like they come back to the same exact spot each year on their migration trip.

As for hats, I am not a hat guy but I am amazed at how many men wear hats in church of all places.

BIgMuddy · Mar 26, 2024

I wear a hat every day and have for most of my life. My mother had a picture of me at two years old, buck neked in the bathtub, with my cowboy hat on my head.

I don't have hard and fast rules about wearing one or not when indoors. Sometimes leave it on, sometimes remove it. Guess it depends on my mood. Never frequent restaurants with dress codes so that's not an issue.

I do remove it for the National Anthem, passing funeral processions, or when I ride my horse past Comanche's grave (the best horse I ever owned). I also remove it when greeting a lady.

Dan

Zonker5 · Mar 26, 2024

Years ago when he was the Head Coach of the Oilers, Bum Phillips never wore his trademark cowboy hat in the Astrodome. Said he was taught to take it off when he was indoors.

foolslife · Mar 27, 2024

After three Squamous Cell surgeries on my head I have to be a hat connoisseur. I also wore hats during my early machine shop career because most things were cut and/or ground in oil. The entire shop would be covered in a mist of oil every day. I wonder how I made it out alive sometimes.

foolslife · Mar 27, 2024

Dave P. said:
Some manual jobs on aluminum I need to run the air blast and a mister....is it getting foggy in here?
KoolMist 77 is not supposed to kill you.......

I ran cool mist frequently on a small surface grinder. Boy am I glad I don't do that any more!

jav · Mar 27, 2024

I wear a hat a lot of the times but not always more now that I shave my own head

BULL'S-EYE · Mar 27, 2024

I wear various ball caps all day long outdoors and inside during the cold weather months...They help keep my head warm, (I'm not even close to being bald) and occasionally during the Summertime, when I tend to wear my hair much shorter, and even then, usually just when I'm mowing, working outside or shooting. Thankfully, taking your hat off indoors has been a passe, outdated concept where I live, AND...Has been for a long time now...And, I say good riddance to it!

epags · Mar 27, 2024

It must be an age thing as well as a mentor thing.
My education included such guidance as was never wear a hat indoors, stand for women, hold chair for women, open doors for women, walk on the curbside of the sidewalk when with a woman.
Grandson's hat behavior not so much.... except when he enters my house...my house, my rules.....inheritance desired....my rules.
Seems to work at least while in my presence.

Culture variation in the Midwest

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