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How do folks react to your hat wearing?

B1ggles

Familiar Face
Messages
89
Location
Suffolk, England
Well, I clearly misjudged this one! But I definitely read somewhere (almost certainly in a thread on this learned site) that, when walking around a church eg as a tourist, it was normal for men to keep their hat on (obviously, not when seated, or attending church for religious reasons).

In my defence, she did make it clear they didn't ask men to remove their hats, or I should have done so immediately; everything was said in a very light tone and amicably, no refusal was involved on my part and no offence was taken on her part. I also passed several other cathedral guides, none of whom mentioned it at all.

When time permits, I shall certainly review the various discussions on hat etiquette and see if I can find exactly what I must have read and see exactly how it all went wrong!
 
Messages
19,139
Location
Funkytown, USA
Well, I clearly misjudged this one! But I definitely read somewhere (almost certainly in a thread on this learned site) that, when walking around a church eg as a tourist, it was normal for men to keep their hat on (obviously, not when seated, or attending church for religious reasons).

In my defence, she did make it clear they didn't ask men to remove their hats, or I should have done so immediately; everything was said in a very light tone and amicably, no refusal was involved on my part and no offence was taken on her part. I also passed several other cathedral guides, none of whom mentioned it at all.

When time permits, I shall certainly review the various discussions on hat etiquette and see if I can find exactly what I must have read and see exactly how it all went wrong!

Hey, at least you give a darn, right? Social graces are an interesting cultural dance where the steps are improvised most of the time, but everybody judges your dancing. We try, we fail, we do better next time. This is also probably one of those "you had to be there" incidences where you came off sounding a little more insensitive than what the reality was. To me, it would have been a matter of deference. Remember, you're not showing respect to the tour guide, or the other patrons, or even the church. The object in this instance is to show respect to the Lord.

Now stop squirming while I hit you with this wet noodle!
 

Moviehats

One of the Regulars
Messages
205
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
You should see what happens when someone wears a hat inside The Alamo (not me of course). Saw a man escorted out by a armed guard. It is both a church and a shrine.
 

rogerstg

A-List Customer
Messages
325
Location
Rhode Island
Hey, at least you give a darn, right? Social graces are an interesting cultural dance where the steps are improvised most of the time, but everybody judges your dancing. We try, we fail, we do better next time. This is also probably one of those "you had to be there" incidences where you came off sounding a little more insensitive than what the reality was.

Very well put.
 

Bob Roberts

I'll Lock Up
Messages
11,201
Location
milford ct
Hey, at least you give a darn, right? Social graces are an interesting cultural dance where the steps are improvised most of the time, but everybody judges your dancing. We try, we fail, we do better next time. This is also probably one of those "you had to be there" incidences where you came off sounding a little more insensitive than what the reality was. To me, it would have been a matter of deference. Remember, you're not showing respect to the tour guide, or the other patrons, or even the church. The object in this instance is to show respect to the Lord.

Now stop squirming while I hit you with this wet noodle!

Or to show respect to people who believe in the "Lord."
 

B1ggles

Familiar Face
Messages
89
Location
Suffolk, England
Hey, at least you give a darn, right? Social graces are an interesting cultural dance where the steps are improvised most of the time, but everybody judges your dancing. We try, we fail, we do better next time. This is also probably one of those "you had to be there" incidences where you came off sounding a little more insensitive than what the reality was. To me, it would have been a matter of deference. Remember, you're not showing respect to the tour guide, or the other patrons, or even the church. The object in this instance is to show respect to the Lord.

Now stop squirming while I hit you with this wet noodle!
Your assessment is pretty spot on; and I was, of course, encouraged by the certainty that I was right. Wrong! But, as someone had pointed out, mainly I'm happy to show deference to people who believe in these things, they're the ones who could be offended, the guide was just doing a job. But I had quite a long chat with another guide about the building itself, and he was most affable and never mentioned the hat.

And how did you know I couldn't stand noodles? That's not fair.
 
Last edited:

B1ggles

Familiar Face
Messages
89
Location
Suffolk, England
Parliament has a fixed rule on this. It's the same with the courts - no headwear.
In Parliament, my hat-wearing was actually accidental; I had been carrying it all day till I went into the Stangers' Gallery, where they relieve you of all your worldly goods (hat, coat, phone, camera etc) and stick them in a cubbyhole. When you come out, you are handed the lot and the first thing I did was to stick my hat on my head while I wrestled with my coat and found pockets for everything else as I got out of their way and walked down the corridor, where I was accosted. A fair cop, as they say!
 
Your assessment is pretty spot on; and I was, of course, encouraged by the certainty that I was right. Wrong! But, as someone had pointed out, mainly I'm happy to show deference to people who believe in these things, they're the ones who could be offended, the guide was just doing a job. But I had quite a long chat with another guide about the building itself, and he was most affable and never mentioned the hat.

And how did you know I couldn't stand noodles? That's not fair.

Why would you think you'd be in the right by smugly refusing when asked? You're doubling down on the "it's all about me" mentality.
 
Messages
19,139
Location
Funkytown, USA
Or to show respect to people who believe in the "Lord."

As you like it, sir (bows deeply).

Why would you think you'd be in the right by smugly refusing when asked? You're doubling down on the "it's all about me" mentality.

First, he wasn't directly "asked." Second, we weren't there and have no idea the level of smugness. Reading an account in an internet forum does not adequately convey something we would get in conversation, or having actually witnessed the exchange. A slight variation of Poe's Law. It may be a mistake to imprint our own biases on this exchange. I'm trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, and he has responded positively.
 

-30-

A-List Customer
Messages
443
Location
TORONTO, CANADA
" "Certainly", I said with a grin, having an idea of the way this was going
but deciding to ham it up for all I was worth, "What would you like to know?". "
B1ggles.

"Why would you think you'd be in the right by smugly refusing when asked? You're doubling down on the "it's all about me" mentality."
HudsonHawk.

Enough said.


Regards,
J T
 
Messages
19,139
Location
Funkytown, USA
"I was, of course, encouraged by the certainty that I was right. Wrong!" - B1ggles

So he moved off his dime. I think we owe it to him to recognize this. I'm trying to reach common ground rather than double down on the indignation.

But then, different strokes for different folks, right?
 

Bob Roberts

I'll Lock Up
Messages
11,201
Location
milford ct
"I was, of course, encouraged by the certainty that I was right. Wrong!" - B1ggles

So he moved off his dime. I think we owe it to him to recognize this. I'm trying to reach common ground rather than double down on the indignation.

But then, different strokes for different folks, right?

+1
 

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