Wearing uniform hats indoors?

[The Latin Scot]

I understand that customs can change and norms are never normal long. However, I cannot cede to the subsequent belief that because they do change, that means they should, nor that I should be the one to change it. A Scout is courteous. He is polite and well-mannered, and even if he does not necessarily understand why he should remove his hat at the table, or open the door for a lady, or keep his elbows off the table, he still does so, because he knows that observing such customs will make life easier for the greatest number of people. Now, it is an accepted fact that these rules and ideals change, although never as dramatically or absolutely as some would have us believe. Maybe in a crowded room few will notice if if a Scout doffs his hat nowadays, but there may be somebody who does, and by tailoring his manners to please even that one person, the Scout serves everybody in the end by setting an example of courtesy and kindness that is appreciated and sets the tone for the Scouting movement as a whole. A Scout is always conscious of who may be watching his actions, and he always tries to set the best example he can. Good manners, the living of ideals and customs simply because they make the lives of others easier, should define a Scout's behavior. 

[Stosh]

@The Latin Scot,

 

  You have introduced a whole different topic than what this thread started out as.  There is a world of difference between good manners and showing respect.  A boy can begrugingly take off his hat, never say please, thank you, or excuse me, and when all is said and done, the hat whether he wears it or not doesn't really matter.  This boy imay be showing respect with a simple gesture, but his manner scream rudeness at 120 decibels. 

 

I think there's a blending of different definitions here that makes the discussion kinda hard to discuss..  If taking one's hat off demonstrates respect, it has nothing to do with a Scout is Courteous, that's manners, not respect.  Removing one's hat at the table is good manners.  Taking it off when the Flag goes by, then it's respect.

Edited July 29, 2017 by Stosh

[mgood777]

@@Col. Flagg The 1970's?!? Okay, then yes, that is a little odd. But they weren't required uniform items by then, so it must have been a local/unit aberrance you were dealing with, for which you have my sympathy.

 

Those were the standard (only, IIRC) BSA uniform socks through the seventies, up until the Oscar de la Renta uniforms came out in 1980 or 81. At that point we got the knee-high socks with the big red tops. And the red would eventually pull off.