Should they take them off?

I think that it is ridiculous that each decade erases more customs that were set into motion years ago. It wouldn't hurt to keep some of them alive, and not wearing a ball cap while dining out isn't asking all that much. Heck, I bet that in Texas cowboys still remove their 10 gallon hats before heading to the table, lol. We need to instill common manners in our younger generations to follow. I've experienced going to a decent restaurant and having to deal with a table full of youths dressed in pajama pants, t-shirts with vile sayings or artwork on them, ball caps and knit caps, 2 gallons of offensive cologne to cover up the fact that they didn't shower, and swearing like convicts loudly throughout their entire meal. It's just not right.

I agree with you, but not so much that it's proper or not proper in public. I just don't like them! My husband wears one once in a awhile, usually if we've been working in the yard and we go to Lowe's real quick or something. My ex husband wore his from the second his feet hit the floor in the morning... he had about 10 in different colors, they all said the SAME thing "King Ropes Cheyenne Wyoming" on them, With a calfing rope in a laso shape around the King Ropes part. I HATED those hats, and he bought them at a feed store in CALIFORNIA for Pete's sake! My grandmother told me that there was something 'wrong' with a man who wouldn't take his ball cap off. Well, after about 2 weeks of being married to him, I decided I should have listened to my Grandma!!! LOL!!

Thank you Crazynurse for bringing this up. I have read all the answers so far,and have not seen one that tells where the original reason for taking caps off inside came fromThis was and still is a military law. When military personnel are off duty and in restaraunts or bars,the only person to wear a cap,is the duty officer. Taking ones hat off is actually being classed as "out of uniform". Anyone caught with their cap on,bought the round for the house. Blessed Be.

Crazynurse, You are not old fashioned! It is a matter of respect and manners. I have 4 brothers who wear ball caps but never when they are indoors or at the table even if that table is an outdoor picnic table. It was custom in our home to take the hat off at the door and hang it on a nail. You would never catch any of them wearing a hat at a picnic from the time the blessing was offered till dinner was over. I think society puts too little emphisis on respect and manners these days.

Crazynurse, we are from the the "old school" and we were taught that a man removes his hat when he is "indoors" but I see many people don't follow this anymore. It is so funny, this week on American Idol Randy had on a hat and I even remarked how he should remove the hat while he's sitting there (inside) judging the contestants. I guess times have changed. In a restaurant if I see a male wearing any kind of hat I will notice it immediately and it will bother me. Exception - If a male comes in my home and acknowledges his hat and mentions a reason why he prefers to wear it, I will say say ok and then it will not bother me. That is because he acknowledged it and showed respect. So crazynurse, is this still proper or do we need to change with the times? Hmmmmmmm?

I agree, I think it's rude. It's not proper etiquette. I find it happening more and more. My father in law wears a hat any time he eats. He does take it off to say prayer though before dinner. He says when he is out and about, he wears it because he has hardly any hair. Still, no excuse. My brother wore hats for about 10 months and that was only when he was going through cancer treatments and for that, I totally understand. People who have cancer and are trying to make themselves feel better by wearing a hat are the only ones I can see and understand them wearing it.

Manners never go out of fashion. I love seeing a man remove his cap to a woman. I do think men should remove his hat when eating, unless he's at the ballpark. My husband wears his Sox cap all weekend everywhere. There was a boy at work who wears a stocking cap all the time. The boss finally told him he couldn't wear it while he was working.

I think it all depends on what type of restaurant. If it is nice, expensive one and people are dressed up then I agree but if it is just a casual place or a fast food joint then I don't think it matters.

I have no clue as to what is ok or not anymore. I have never worn any hat or caps. It doesn't bother me if others are wearing them. Who makes up all these silly rules anyway? I just don't see what difference it makes in most public places. If you are upset or irritated with the "new" practice of leaving hats and caps on, I respect your feelings and hope you can find peace in nowing that you still have a choice.

I agree with you here hun, I don't like seeing guys in restaurants wearing hats. It has always struck me as bad manners and when you see some men in baseball caps, eating with their fingers sometimes, it just turns me right off.

I think men or women should remove their caps when in a restraunt. My dad absolutely hates it even at his own house when my brother or nephew is wearing a ballcap and don't take it off when we sit down to eat. His rule is "if you're at the table and want to get fed, the hat comes off." I don't like it if someone sits down to eat at my house and wears a cap either.

Simple answer; Yes inside a respectable place, No if it's just a general dinner etc. Most don't really care these days because it's just a hat with a old outed rule, which isn't considerate to people who feel uncomfortable. ~Joey

You are right to be irritated. It is down right rude to wear any sort of hat while eating a meal. Taking off one's hat is a sign of respect, to the esteblishment, the people you are with and the cook (chef). I don't allow them at the dining room table either.

Sorry, I never answered your question!! YES! To the guys: Take them off! Leave them at home! If you MUST wear one, wear a CLEAN one and don't pull it down over your forhead and NEVER wear it backwards! my 2 cents :)

I remember a time when a lady wore a hat in public places and it was considered perfectly acceptable. Today there are fewer women donning a hat. Men seem to be the majority of those wearing hats today. Society in past years would frown upon a man not taking off his hat when entering a public place. My upbringing causes me to want to see the man take off his hat in such places. But, today, it is not so pressing an issue. Times have changed.

I have to waer a cap at dinner otherwise my food will be full of hair, that's how badly I'm balding....hehe. I rarely wear a cap (except to shade my head from the sun when it's really hot), and if I do I usually always take it off when inside. It's definitely a fashion thing at the moment with the kids, now if they could only figure out how to wear them properly, and how to remove the sales tags.

lol wearing a cap 24/7 would only stink you head. may be they like that way. i wear a cap only when its too hot outside. not in restaraunts anyway.

Oh this is so funny. You just tickled me. In Singapore, it is very "shameful" to be wearing a cap. This is because *only* army boys wear caps (they are required to have their hair shaved).

LOL. I do not mind people wearing a cap when they are eating, as they do not affect me at all, the cap is part of their costumes,(At least that is what they think),but may be people may feel strange why do they wear it even when they are eating. As from my observation,people will take off their caps when they enter some places like restaurant, and they will wear it again after they just get into the room.

actually.. last time.. i used to wear caps too.. nowadays.. more and more people wearing caps.. in my country.. it's almost all the male!.. except working ones of course..they think it's a fashion.. and .. yes.. i do think the same.. isn't that true? wearing colourful caps.. and so on... it does look cool.. but.. i think it will bring adverse effect on the wearer.. i heard that if your hair getting less and less air.. it will become unhealthy..and might drop off!!.. if you don't want to be bald.. then stop wearing it.. or you can always prove that i'm wrong.. i also need to know the true fact :)