General Question

JackAdams's avatar

Why do cowboys wear their hats indoors?

Asked by JackAdams (6574points) September 6th, 2008

The way I was reared, a gentleman always removes his hat indoors, but cowboys, particularly in Texas, never seem to do that (except in courtrooms, churches, or private residences) and everyone seems OK with that.

If you watch Westerns on TV, you’ll see men seated at tables in saloons, playing cards with their hats on. If a lady walks into the establishment, sometimes the men will stand up, should she approach their table, and they will touch the front brim of their hat, as if they were going to remove it, but just as a gesture of courtesy, without actually removing it.

I’ve always wondered why, excepting the places I mentioned, that it just seems “natural” for a cowboy to keep his hat on his head, indoors.

Any ideas regarding how this custom began, and survives to this day?

September 6, 2008, 10:54 AM EDT

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

25 Answers

willbrawn's avatar

because if you are going bald you were a hat all the time.

wildflower's avatar

Because they’re cowboys, not gentlemen (not saying they don’t have manners, just a different set of them), perhaps?
Also, imagine the space it would take up if they took them off – you’d need a pretty big poker table!

JackAdams's avatar

Many establishments (restaurants, drinking establishments) in Texas have hat racks or wooden wall pegs, on which a cowboy may hang his hat, if he wishes.

Upon reflection, I believe that the cowboy hat is removed when the cowboy is in a restaurant, dining.

It has been 27 years (1981) since I have lived in (or visited) Texas, with the sole exception of changing planes at IAD (Houston) in 1999.

September 6, 2008, 11:10 AM EDT

wildflower's avatar

If taking the hat off is optional in an establishment, I don’t blame them for not taking it off – hat hair is not flattering!

sarapnsc's avatar

To keep them looking sexy at all times :)

Lightlyseared's avatar

So people know they’re cowboys indoors too.

Harp's avatar

Hurts less when you get a beer bottle broken over your head, and keeps the glass out of your eyes. duh

JackAdams's avatar

Yours is the best answer, so far. It probably softens the blow, somewhat, when a chair comes crashing down upon your noggin.

September 6, 2008, 1:55 PM EDT

robmandu's avatar

Indoors not the dilemma.

The dude wearing his cowboy hat whilst driving a Yaris… now… that just perplexes me.

wildflower's avatar

They have Yaris in TX??

robmandu's avatar

Yah… and they build the Tundra in San Antone.

Heck, you even see smart cars on the road ‘round here. Still keeping an eye out for the Tesla.

wildflower's avatar

Guess they’re just hard to spot between all the pickups and what-have-you…..

loser's avatar

To make sure you know that they are cowboys?

JackAdams's avatar

No. You can always tell by the SKOALĀ® stains on their shirts.

September 6, 2008, 5:50 PM EDT

loser's avatar

Okay, I’m wrong.

JackAdams's avatar

Mistaken, not wrong.

September 6, 2008, 5:59 PM EDT

sarapnsc's avatar

No, you can’t always tell, some cowboys don’t use tobacco or skoal.

JackAdams's avatar

Then they ain’t COWBOYS, Skeezix.

September 6, 2008, 6:02 PM EDT

sarapnsc's avatar

Yes, they are, they are just smart cowboys with good teeth, and what the heck is a Skeezix.

JackAdams's avatar

Never mind. You’re too young to know about alleys and gasoline.

September 6, 2008, 6:08 PM EDT

sarapnsc's avatar

Well thank you for the compliment!

JackAdams's avatar

No charge.

BTW, “Skeezix” ain’t derrogatory at all, nor is it an insult.

September 6, 2008, 6:22 PM EDT

sarapnsc's avatar

@JackAdamsI never took it as an insult…I know a bit about your character…and I don’t feel you would ever insult me. The statement that you made “You’re too Young,” that was a compliment!

JackAdams's avatar

Thank you! Here is all you will ever need to know about the lovable Skeezix character.

September 6, 2008, 6:31 PM EDT

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