Hats Off in the House !!!

by prophecor 24 Replies latest jw friends

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  prophecor

  Call me crazy or what, but theres a recurring issue that I have regarding my son's wish to wear his hat in the house. I've never been certain regarding the reason men were to remove their hats when petitioning the Almighty, the issue of headship and being respectful of it and the common custom in the west for a man to remove the hat upon entering one's home or church.

  Even in the military during basic training, the issue with regard to hats was a predominating theme, to the degree that we were taught that at the instant your head was no longer covered by a building of some sort, your hat was to be immediately placed upon your head, but once open sky no longer covered your head and you walked into a building of any type, that hat was to be removed !!!

  Those born in the 30's 40's & 50's may truly be able to relate to the removal of one's hat as being a common courtesy, sign of respect as well as good manners a male was expected to perform when residing in someone's home.

  Though I've never fully understood the absolute signifigance of this custom, it's one that I have kept to out of tradition. I, however, would feel much better being able to help him understand all the intricacies of such same practice, if only I understood the reasons I even practice it myself!!!

  As it stands now, I'm being viewed not as someone of understanding but one who being picky, controlling and real prick!!! .

  Can anyone give me clarification on this tradition so that I can better understand myself, as I try to help him understand that I'm not a prick but only following in the ways and traditions that have laid out before me?

  I'm not a prick,.... I'm, definitely, not a prick,..... Dammit!!!

  Pricked Out !!!

  PhessUP
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  Soledad

  I have no idea why this was and still seems to be a custom. In high school the security guards and teachers would make us remove our hats, I have no idea why.

  Not all traditions are great and are worth following, but this one just seems plain silly.
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  TresHappy

  How about in the olden days when men used to stand when a woman walked in the room?
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  Wild_Thing

  I think some manners are worth keeping around and this is one of them. Maybe I am just old fashioned! I know the tradition came from Europe but I still do not know why or how it started.

  It is just something done out of respect. And respect is something that has lost a lot of meaning. I work in a public school and all of our school buildings in the district are considered "no hat zones".
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  Incense_and_Peppermints

  the custom of removing your hat indoors originated in the dark ages, when knights would remove their helmets to show respect, and it was just carried on through the centuries. you used to have to remove your hat when the national anthem was being played, but when you watch any ballgame you can see hardly anyone observes this 'polite' tradition anymore.

  i don't know... there are worse things he could do, like smoke pot in your house. if it were me, i'd let it go...

  Hat Etiquette Source: http://www.bcvc.net/hats
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  OUTLAW

  In my house,no hats at the dinner table.Anytime else is fine...OUTLAW
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  prophecor

  Thanx 4 the help ya'll' I did some research from google and was surprised at the origin of the issue of the hat, from victorian days and the times of medievial days. Amazing and interesting what we choose to believe and why.

  Guess I am a prick afterall because now that I know, I believe stronger than before. HA HA HA!!!

  Thanx Though !!!
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  SheilaM

  My sons a Marine so he is very particular about his hat being off or on at appropriate times
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  Kenneson

  Another one of these silly traditions is the wearing of ties. They should have used it to hang the inventor..
• 

  Valis

  As it stands now, I'm being viewed not as someone of understanding but one who being picky, controlling and real prick!!! .

  perhaps you are just adding fuel to the fire of the "I am a youngster under persecution" complex. I mean hell how often will they keep even wanting to be in the house after a while. I'm not saying you should not have your house rules, but it might just be he could go find somewhere else to 'wear his hat" more often. I was the same, by the time I got to the point I wanted to wear and have my own stuff, the parental concern shifted from whether or not I needed lunch money to how it was inapropriate to have a skull on my skateboard or t-shirt. I spemt a lot more time away. Just my observations and good luck defeating the alien child....

  Or you could always resort to this..http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/27/ebay.gifts.ap/index.html

  I was also going to add that this may not be one of those lessons you have to teach him. Perhaps making himself look stupid by not being polite gets the message out a lot easier than you trying to go round with him. If that is one of the only lessons he has to learn the hard way then I would say you are a good dad and he is a lucky young man.

  Sincerely,

  District Overbeer