"Dressing down a culture"

[Scout]

I wish people could appreciate how ethnocentric this whole hats off in doors or at the table thing is. I understand the longing for days gone by with formality and manners, but many people wear the hat at the table as a sign of politeness and respect.

We aren't in a Christian only society and things aren't always as they appear. Just because someone has headdress on in doors, doesn't necessarily mean they are a boor without manners.

They might be Jewish or muslim...

With religious customs as the exception, I have to agree wholeheartedly with thescot about men wearing hats indoors. I was taught as a boy to remove my hat indoors and had that reinforced during my Army career where soldiers absolutely did NOT wear headgear indoors (except when under arms). While first impressions may not always be accurate, when I see a man wearing a hat indoors (especially seated in a restaurant) I assume that they are uncouth and ill-mannered and downright rude.