Ear Flicking, Hat Manhandling, Hat Tips, Boy George, and Hat Crushing

[DapperDuck]

While we were eating I hear a young boy's voice say "Whoa, a cool hat!" A boy of about 10 or so was walking in between our table and the empty table on the way to the restroom. I wasn't looking in that direction when he said that, but my brother-in-law was, and he said that the kid was just about to pick it up and walk off with it. The hat was indeed not in the same position that I left it, but I guess the kid quickly realized it must be mine and left it where it was. Good thing for him. When he came back from the bathroom I was definitely giving him a bit of the stinkeye and keeping my eye on him when he walked by, but he kept his hands to himself.

Sounds like the kid had good taste in hats. I probably would have let him try it out if I knew he didn't have lice and his hands weren't greasy. lol

If an old woman does it, if an elderly man - you'd best suck it up. They know it. They exist in a societally protected status - a shield that can't be breached. Not that I really mind. Hell, if there wasn't a forum dedicated to noteworthy hat stories like TFL, well, I probably wouldn't have told anyone.

I've seen the elderly try to get away with with many things. But I have found that elderly men still have good personal manners. For example not touching another man'sclothes. I guess that's ingrained early in life. I have had women come up and touch my hat and say, "could that be felt?"

 

[DesertDan]

Wow!
I find these type of experiences rather shocking. I think that it may have to do with having grown up in Texas where, at least in my time, laying hands on another man's hat would lead to a serious altercation.

 

[4spurs]

I get compliments on my hats; no goofy remarks. Then again, I'm old and mean looking.

 

[Midwest Boater]

If anyone knows about looking like Boy George... it's ME!!! :-D

Wow !! that's a great pic incredible ~!! I love it (hey is that a Styrofoam Boater ?)

 

[LolitaHaze]

lolly_loisides... hahaha Thanks. I was always a Boy George fan!

Midwest Boater... Ah yes, me in 1984 I had a costume party for my 5th birthday. Proud and happy to be Boy George. I think it is a Styrofoam boater... something my sister had. lol

 

[jamespowers]

Actually, I have gotten compliments about my hats in a bar---once.
The nice looking young thing actually said that it is too bad men don't wear hats often anymore.
Then there are the Columbo, Inspector Gadget and Gangster comments.

 

[bumphrey hogart]

Strangely down here in deepest, rural,south west England I don't get any comments at all,complimentary or otherwise,the only thing I can ever remember being said was by a very old friend I hadn't seen for years who I just happened to bump into in town,after the initial hellos,etc,he looked at my hat and asked 'who are you trying to be',I was completely non-plussed,it was almost as if we were at a fancy dress party,I don't know whether he couldn't remember I'd always worn hats or what,Still confused about it to this day!

 

[jamespowers]

Strangely down here in deepest, rural,south west England I don't get any comments at all,complimentary or otherwise,the only thing I can ever remember being said was by a very old friend I hadn't seen for years who I just happened to bump into in town,after the initial hellos,etc,he looked at my hat and asked 'who are you trying to be',I was completely non-plussed,it was almost as if we were at a fancy dress party,I don't know whether he couldn't remember I'd always worn hats or what,Still confused about it to this day!

"Who are you trying to be?"
I am (insert name here) perhaps you don't remember me.

 

[DCMark]

Two thoughts came to me as I was reading this thread:
1. I can't believe someone would flick somebody (especially a stranger) on the ear. That hurts! And to (wo)man-handle your hat?I don't care how old/young the man/woman who did that to me is, I'd be up in their face without delay. (And I'm middle-aged myself.) I applaud your self-control. And I thought young people had no manners. Which leads me to thought number two....
2. When did it become OK to wear a hat inside? I even see it in the Navy hospital where I work - guys wearing their caps (usually ball caps) inside the hospital, which is bad enough anywhere but is definitely against Navy traditions. I have quit saying anything to them, though, (I used to say "would you mind taking your hat off, please") since some guy got up in my face about it. It's just not worth it. I can remember the days when, if someone entered the club with his hat on, the bartender would ring a bell and that person bought a round for the house. I haven't been to a Navy club in more years than I care to remember but I wonder if they have stopped that since it seems that a lot of men today (and not just "youngsters") have had their baseball caps surgically attached to their heads.
Sorry if this sounds rude - especially since I'm new here and really like the hat - but had to get that off my chest. Thanks!

 

[bumphrey hogart]

I know there's certain bars/pubs where I wouldn't be comfortable taking my hat off because 1) there's nowhere to put it, and2)if you did find somewhere the risk of having it stolen is just too great.Unfortunately there are some places where the only safe place for your hat is on your head.

 

[DCMark]

I know there's certain bars/pubs where I wouldn't be comfortable taking my hat off because 1) there's nowhere to put it, and2)if you did find somewhere the risk of having it stolen is just too great.Unfortunately there are some places where the only safe place for your hat is on your head.

Point taken!
Having to worry about what to do with my hat once it is off my head is one of the reasons I rarely wear them (except for my tweed hat which I can roll-up and put in my coat pocket). That, and having worn them for 20 years in the Navy - and having to replace them more times than I can remember because someone took the wrong hat. But at least back then, especially when I was wearing a "Dixie Cup", it was not that expensive to replace one. Thanks!

 

[azhiker]

Well, it is a pretty darn good looking... hat Looking very handsome looking there Sir (and I am not old enough to be your grandma, just a young at heart 52yo that passes for being in my early 40s these days).

A YOUNG 40's as you already said!

 

[azhiker]

I'm actually an Inspector, so I also get alot of Inspector Gadget remarks..or 'G-Man' remarks. However, I get alot of positive coments also. Now, I am 6'1", 275 lbs, but I try to always have a smile on my face, and a gleam in my eye. Also, wearing the hat correctly, tipping it to ladys or older men seems to get you lots of respect. I have found, as a rule, you reap what you sow. When you go to bars, discos etc, that rule is sometimes thrown out the window.

And I have had little old ladys come and touch my hair, my head (when I shave it) my tie, etc. I actually like the attention, so it does not bother me. I shop with my wife for her clothes (I can't complain if I help pick them out) so the ladies where she shops alll know me, and joke around with me, sometimes about my hat. I go NO Where without a hat.

 

[Shawn F.]

This thread reminds me of the other weekend at the bar for me. The only reason I go to the bar is to have a few drinks and play pool, otherwise if I do not want a drink and only want to play pool I go to the fire department and play. Anyways, me and a group of friends and girlfriend were playing pool and having some drinks when two ladies or younger women asked me something about the baseball game between Yankee's and Rangers. I told them I do not really watch baseball but I'd like Yankee's to win because I collect baseball cards and recently got a bunch of newer Yankee's cards (hoping they go up in value if they win World Series or make it).
Anyways in the middle of this conversation one of her guy friends says something and gives me a pissed off look. I ignored it like I usually do at dumb drunks who look for a fight or act stupid (95% of them). A few minutes later he comes up and calls me a douche bag right in front of my friends, his two girl friends and my cousin. Of course my friends came over and asked what his problem was. I asked the guy why he says such things? He tells me it's because I dress like I am from the 50's greaser with slicked back hair.
Of course I ignore it and say "whatever man, go play your game and keep your comments to yourself". He walks off to his game and I tell his two girlfriends how their friend should learn to keep his mouth shut and take it easy or else when he walks to the parking lot there will be problems. She made him come over and say sorry. He says "sorry for what I said, I didn't mean it". I said "that's ok it doesn't bother me but I know you dont mean what you just said, you just said sorry because your friend told you to". He got pissed and left. haha

Sorry to ramble on, I figured while we are on the subject I'd share the story. I get the same crap with fedora's and such because around here are mostly dumb inbred bucktoothed hill billies who can't hold their liquor and have a good time without starting fights. I avoid fights if I can, it's not worth getting in trouble over. As for people grabbing at my hat, patting or petting my hair and such, I can't stand it! It's no different as when I drive my 68 Lincoln Continental and people walk over while I am pumping gas and rub their hand over my paint and just open the door and look in. Where has everyones manners gone to? Mostly kids my age in their mid 20's are the ones to do this and sometimes I just want to beat the living crap out of them to teach them a lesson.

 

[Shawn F.]

BTW, if you dress different, drive old or different cars and wear hats such as fedora's and do not like the attention that you will most likely get then you should NOT wear the clothes, wear the hat and drive the cars. You will always get people who are interested in them come over to you and ask you dumb, weird and rude questions or comments. I try to ignore the ignorant people and be nice and answer the stupid questions, especially for kids or people around my age in their 20's because I always hope that they will get interested in old cars, music or clothing and want to begin learning or get inspired to learn. I used to hate when I was young and would go to hot rod shows and get comments from older guys telling me that there are no rice burners here and I should probably leave. What was funny though is I was 18 years old and probably knew more about their own car and hot rods in general than they knew and probably owned more vehicles than they have.
Ok I'll shut up now!

 

[jamespowers]

I know there's certain bars/pubs where I wouldn't be comfortable taking my hat off because 1) there's nowhere to put it, and2)if you did find somewhere the risk of having it stolen is just too great.Unfortunately there are some places where the only safe place for your hat is on your head.

That is a good point and a pub is a public place much like when you eat at the counter in a restaurant. There is not place to put your hat so you leave it on your head.
In a hospital, the lobby and public areas should be fair game for hat wearing. Individual offices and rooms would be different. Going from public to private changes the rules.
Idiots wanting to take the hat off your head and try it on is always wrong no matter where you are.

 

[jamespowers]

BTW, if you dress different, drive old or different cars and wear hats such as fedora's and do not like the attention that you will most likely get then you should NOT wear the clothes, wear the hat and drive the cars.

You might get attention but your previous mention that they pat your head, open the door of your car without asking or take off with your hat is not something you expect in a polite society. That's not attention its rudeness and declasse. ;

 

[Mulceber]

BTW, if you dress different, drive old or different cars and wear hats such as fedora's and do not like the attention that you will most likely get then you should NOT wear the clothes, wear the hat and drive the cars.

Maybe where you live, but I've always found that people are very polite about my manner of dress. I get few if any stairs, and I can count the number of negative comments I've gotten on one hand. In contrast, I've gotten many, many positive remarks from people who like my hats and sometimes even ask me where I get them. -M

 

[Sam Craig]

Years ago I was in a bar/restaurant with some friends and the proprietor suggested they take my Stetson back of the bar.
Why? I asked.
Someone might try to take it from you and there might be a fight.
I replied ... if someone tries to take it from me, I can promise there would be a fight.
This was a pretty nice restaurant and I've been in lots of bars without someone messing with my hat. But these were in Western communities also, where you didn't touch a man's hat, gun or date without permission.
I've always been amazed that there is this prejudice behavior about hats. You'd never accept it if someone grabbed your leather jacket off the back of your chair and decided to try it on as a lark.
Back in the day ... I took my hat out to the car because I didn't trust the establishment to keep it from being stolen ... I also told them so and made it clear they wouldn't have my business again ... and they didn't.
They later closed ... though I doubt that my business affected them to that extent.

Sam

 

[bumphrey hogart]

Living in the uk I can honestly say that apart from the comment I mentioned earlier on in this thread I've had no comments, complimentary or otherwise about my hats,let alone someone try to touch one,but then I can't remember any mention of my attire, apart from a friend who might say 'is ''so & so'' new,where did you get it,it's nice'and I think my dress style could be considered somewhat eccentric.Maybe the formality the English are famous for still exists,though God knows what people might be saying behind my back,I think I prefer it this way,it's as hard to respond adequately to a compliment as an insult,easier to have nothing to respond to!