Can you wear a baseball cap to a restaurant?

[dislal]

OMG this is so funny my family went out to lunch today and when we went to sit down I told my DH don't forget to take your hat off, then I realized DS had a hat on too. I told him to take it off he kept asking why and I said I don't know it is something you are supposed to do when you are eating. DS said look other people are wearing hats and when I looked around it was a lot of the younger guys 20's and younger that where wearing them and the older guys all had theirs off

So maybe it is a generational thing.

My DH is 46 and it is always something he does as soon as we sit down.

 

[hentob]

To me, and EVERYONE I know wearing hats indoors doesn't even pertain to manners in any way...

Really? And you are from The South

Regardless..Congrats on the weight loss!!

 

[yoopermom]

I teach at a public school (and have for many years), and it is a school rule that EVERYONE remove hats before entering school. I teach my sp.ed. students that it's a sign of respect and tradition in our country, that we don't wear our hats inside.

I would NEVER say such a thing to another adult, though, since it's just as rude to point out another adult's lack of etiquette as it is to commit the breach of etiquette in the first place

Terri

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Gentlemen remove thier hats indoors. That's basic ettiquete. Does anyone follow it, NO not very often. The older gentleman probably was offended because this (removing hat) was the norm when he was a young man not the exception. Mcdonalds, hey keep the hat on, a sit down resturant with menus and waiters, yeah that's probably nice enough to count. However I'm from a state with lots of cowboys, older men always remove them indoors, younger men I see wearing them more and more often.

I agree. He probably felt your dh was being disrespectful to you by not removing his hat. Not being a gentleman if you will.

 

[andy.b]

I teach at a public school (and have for many years), and it is a school rule that EVERYONE remove hats before entering school. I teach my sp.ed. students that it's a sign of respect and tradition in our country, that we don't wear our hats inside.

I would NEVER say such a thing to another adult, though, since it's just as rude to point out another adult's lack of etiquette as it is to commit the breach of etiquette in the first place

Terri

That's because they can become a distraction for students, and according to my school, they could be gang affiliated.

 

[tigercat]

My dh and my ds would never wear a hat in a restaurant whatever kind it is. My ds was taught that it was good manners to take his hat off when you eat. I would not have said anything but I would have thought that it was sad that that man's parents especially the father had never taught his son manners. I guess people now don't have a lot of manners and it is too bad.
tigercat

 

[Cindy B]

OMG this is so funny my family went out to lunch today and when we went to sit down I told my DH don't forget to take your hat off, then I realized DS had a hat on too. I told him to take it off he kept asking why and I said I don't know it is something you are supposed to do when you are eating. DS said look other people are wearing hats and when I looked around it was a lot of the younger guys 20's and younger that where wearing them and the older guys all had theirs off

So maybe it is a generational thing.

My DH is 46 and it is always something he does as soon as we sit down.

DH is the same age. He has taught my DS (now 14 almost 15) to do the same thing.

 

[marcyinPA]

OMG this is so funny my family went out to lunch today and when we went to sit down I told my DH don't forget to take your hat off, then I realized DS had a hat on too. I told him to take it off he kept asking why and I said I don't know it is something you are supposed to do when you are eating. DS said look other people are wearing hats and when I looked around it was a lot of the younger guys 20's and younger that where wearing them and the older guys all had theirs off

So maybe it is a generational thing.

My DH is 46 and it is always something he does as soon as we sit down.

I do think it's generational. I'm 40 (almost 41) and my husband 43, and this is how we were raised. Seems with each generation, things get more and more lax. Seriously, I think people just don't care anymore, and respect has pretty much gone out the window, on so many levels. We've become a society of "I'll do whatever I want so mind your own business" people. But don't get me started....

 

[Liberty Belle]

I was always taught that men don't wear hats inside, period. And, yes, I make my son take his off at the table, whether we're at home or eating out. However, I do think it was rude of the man to do that to your husband.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I think the biggest shock to us is that someone was so upset about my hubby's hat that he had to SAY something out loud and ruin our peaceful night out without kids. Now it is 8:00 at night, and we are sitting at home because hubby is in a bad mood......all because of one person's comment. Why in the world would this bother anyone????

Well, it would "bother" me, because, like I said, I was taught that it was rude to wear hats inside, and especially at the dinner table. Again, I would never say anything to someone wearing a hat. I think that's even ruder.

 

[MichelleVW]

I think everyone needs to MYOB. Who cares what your husband is wearing? How does it possibly affect anyone else and their own personal enjoyment of the restaiurant or any other facet of their lives?

TEll hubby next time to wear a big ol' ten gallon hat and enjoy his meal.

I agree. I know my DH has worn a baseball hat in restaurant before, and so have I, but I guess it's different since I'm a girl?? I know hats inside bother some people but I just don't understand why?

 

[Pakey]

I raised 3 sons and none of them, nor my husband, had better ever be seen wearing a hat in a restaurant.

 

[RN4Babies]

Nobody was right in this case.

The OP's husband displayed poor manners by wearing a hat in a restaurant.

The other patron displayed poor manners by telling the OP's husband he was wrong.

A comment from a stranger should not have left the OP's husband too upset to finish eating, or still upset x hours later.

ITA with this post.

As I live in the same area as the OP, I know where both Bravo's in this area are. Neither one is a tourist area, and they're both in malls in relatively upscale areas. I've taught my ds18 from an early age that whenever he sits at a table to eat (at home, at McDonalds, at Bravo or at the Pfister) that he remove his hat before he enters the restaurant. No exceptions, no excuses.

I still don't get why your husband is bothered hours later, being grumpy with you, because of something relatively minor a stranger said to him.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

Its not generational. Its a rule everyone should follow. It a generation lacking in manners -- lots of manners.

I can't imagine your DH didn't know he was to remove his hat in a restaurant. I guess the old man thought it was his job to teach your DH since he wasn't taught before? That doesn't make the old man right either, but now your DH will know manners for the next time.

 

[GeorgeG]

Men (and boys) should not wear a hat indoors or at a table (indoors or out). That's basic good behavior. I'm going to say that it is generational, at least to a point. I'm in my sixties and we were always taught such things at home and if it didn't set in, it was reinforced in the military... really reinforced! It's manners, but also a lack of respect. Heck, since the advent of fast food, I've seen lots of young people so used to eating with their fingers they don't even know how to properly use a knife and fork. I have a niece and nephew who are so awkward at it it's embarassing, and they both have young children of their own. I have no idea who's going to teach them.

More recent generations have less people with "proper" upbringing and military experience. That trickles down for several generations and simple rules of behavior are out the window. You know I'm also going to throw a little blame on Dr. Benjamin Spock because I think he really messed a lot of people up.

Perhaps the gentleman in his 70s had seen so many men and boys wearing hats at tables that day his own manners were worn down to the point he just had to say something. Was he right saying it? Maybe not, but as someone probably a little closer to his age than many of you, I can see his frustration enough to cut him some slack.

We might excuse the younger generation because they were never taught proper behavior, but that's a reflection on the parents... and their parents... and so on.

 

[TheZue]

I really just equate it to be disrespectfully underdressed for sit down restaurants. On par with really dirty clothes, clothes with a ton of holes, going in pajamas etc. It just shows a lack of respect for the other patrons.

 

[tonilea]

Nobody was right in this case.

The OP's husband displayed poor manners by wearing a hat in a restaurant.

The other patron displayed poor manners by telling the OP's husband he was wrong.

A comment from a stranger should not have left the OP's husband too upset to finish eating, or still upset x hours later.

 

[mumom95]

I was always taught that men shouldn't wear hats in a restaurant, and that is what we are teaching our son.

But honestly, it's one of those things that I don't understand. Someone decided years and years ago that it was rude, so now people have to abide by what someone else decided was rude a long time ago. Just doesn't make sense to me. I really can't think of one good reason why a person wearing a hat indoors is rude, other than that it has always been considered rude.

Not touching other people, not cutting in line, keeping your conversation down, giving up your seat to an elderly person, those are all things that if you don't them make sense to be considered rude, because they directly affect other people. Hat in a restaurant = rude, just doesn't make sense to me.

But like I said, I've taught my son that he is to always remove his hat while eating (unless outside in the sun). I just hope he never asks me why, because I don't have a clue what I will tell him. I guess it will just fall under, "because mommy said so".

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

WOW-
thanks for SO many replies...I didn't expect so many people to be online tonight. UPDATE:::: Hubby is all settled down now...LOL...and we made a nice fire and are just relaxing now. it went from 70 degrees this morning to 40 in a matter of 4 hours!!!
I truly have a new perspective on hat etiquette thanks to my DIS friends. I can ALWAYS count on honest answers.
My hubby is 41 and I would like to think he was brought up well. He is very close to his parents and they are absolutely adorable. My hubby was an active United States Marine in Desert Storm, so he has that military type politeness about him (if that makes any sense...). I guess he just missed the boat on this one..shame shame....

 

[tonilea]

That's because they can become a distraction for students, and according to my school, they could be gang affiliated.

It was that way in the eighties here and believe me, gangs were not a problem. It was all about respect and manners.