'Splain something to me in re to baseball-type caps

[Dunkopf]

When I take my kids out, they are very well behaved. Obnoxious kids are annoying in a restaurant or theater. Restaurant staff is always apprehensive when they see us walk in with 5 young kids. By the time we leave each of the kids usually has a free soda and lots of smiles from the staff. I won't tolerate bad manners, but i don't care if they don't use their napkin properly. As long as they eat with their mouth closed and use utensils I'm ok. When they get older and they go out on their own it's up to them. If they get kicked out they'll learn a lesson. If my son says something rude that can be overheard by someone who cares he might get punched. He'll learn a lesson.

People should always be considerate of others. To me that's manners enough.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Back to the OP's original question I find that many of my twenty and thirty something year old friends wear those hats because they are going bald and can't handle it.


As for manners well yes, they are for the most part a thing of the past. Most don't even realize it's rude to wear a hat indoors. Most manners, not all, are culturally positive things like saying thank you, hello, or holding a door. They also enrich the life of the person practicing them. The people who don't know manners or don't practice manners are the ones who are losing out and the people who are offended by them are only hurting themselves.

Good Day.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Ah My Lady, Thoreau would be proud.

 

[woodmort]

Uncovering one's head is a sign of respect for other people--unless you're Jewish--just like holding a door open and waiting one's turn. While I fail to see were wearing a cap in an upscale restaurant is going to mean the end of civilization as we know it, the eroding of common curtsies has gradually moved us toward a society where there is a lack of respect for other people and their feelings. Each tiny step takes us one bit further along a road where we will no longer get along as a society. Frankly, I see it here in some of the "I don't care what other people think." type of posts. I'm not being a fuddy-duddy in this, it is just an observation.

 

[maizey]

Quote:
Ah, but I am not advocating doing "whatever you want." I'm advocating thinking about WHY we are doing what we do. I advocate making a conscious decision about our actions based on reason and facts. Traditions can be fine -- even when there is no real reason for following them. However, expecting all of society to follow a tradition just because some within that society want that tradition to continue is unreasonable.

As for laws, well, I firmly believe that civil disobedience is justifiable in many instances. However, a person needs to have a good, well thought out reason for this, and be ready to accept the consequences. Where would civil rights be today without people who stood up against the status quo?

Sure, wearing hats inside is not remotely comparable to civil rights issues (though one might argue that having different "rules" in this area for men and women could make it an off-shoot of such issues). It still illustrates the same concepts. Careful consideration of what has "always" been done, and rejection of that which no longer fits or is no longer appropriate is something that should be lauded. Change always brings discomfort to some within society. This is nothing new. In fact, it's almost tradition.

I am not advocating telling kids / youth / young adults or any other age group to just do whatever they want on a whim. I'm advocating teaching people of any age to use thought, reason, and evidence to make their decisions, not blind faith in how things have "always" been done or blind faith in what "the man" or "the church" says. That's hardly dumbing down our youth.



Disclaimer: "The man" is not intended to refer to gender, but to those in authority or control, whether that be political or social in nature. I shouldn't have to make this statement, but without it, someone will probably misunderstand the usage. Disclaimer #2: By saying "the church" I am not referencing any particular religious denomination or organization, including the Roman Catholic church, which has historically been referenced with the phrase "the Church." Instead, I am referring to religion in general. There. Perhaps I have played the CYA card here...

Why would you assume that blind faith in anything renders one devoid of thought, reason or evidence? And quite frankly, "faith" is something that is more highly regarded by some than thought, reason or evidence. Why should thought, reason and evidence be the gold standard by which someone is judged? Why shouldnt people use character or faith to make a decision? Self indulgent belief in the power of your (genearlity) intellect is as much of a god to you as my belief in the power of my God is to me. Don’t think you aren’t advocating a religion when you advocate that the highest power out there is the mind power or the intellect of an individual. Thank God there is something bigger than that.

disclaimer: The use of "you" and "your" are used as generalities..not to "point the finger" at any one individual or group.

 

[Rozzie]

Quote:
I'm not going to be baited into turning this into a religious debate. This will only cause the thread to be closed before the hour (or afternoon) is over. There are other more appropriate venues online for a religious debate.

Substitute the word "trust" or "confidence" or "obedience" for "faith" in my post if you like. It relays my meaning just as well.

 

[PurpleChicken]

La la la

 

[Katy]

Around here it's not that unusual for the guys to leave their caps on.....call us hicks or whatever, but it's never bothered me.

 

[sourland]

Hats, hats, and manners-this is not about faith. WM I am an old fuddy duddy, and I don't think you are being one. In our grand new age of technology we have become accustomed to anonymously dealing with others. I think a lot of this "anonymous" behavior with it's inherent lack of manners has carried over into our every day interactions. The end result frequently causes a loss to all involved.

 

[PineappleMama]

Hmm... think maybe part of it is that many (most?) no longer do the family dinner at the table every night... thus how to behave properly (including hats and your fork being on the left) have gone by the wayside?

Also, could part of it be that nowadays even "fancy" isn't a rare treat anymore, but totally commonplace (for some/many) so it doesn't seem like any sort of special occasion and thus the casual rules (ala what to wear while eating pizza on your couch) apply??

There are a lot of things I like about the 50's... heck even the 20's... but there are also a lot of things I don't... hard to get rid of the bad stuff without also risking the good. The bummer of progress...