What odd things were presented in such a vile manner while you were growing up, that you either never wanted to try them, or they just didn't feel right? I can think of three examples from my youth.

Hats: Wearing any kind of a head covering was forbidden throughout most of my years of public school attendance. In high school, the faculty and administrators stated that this was out of a concern over gang activity. I have never gotten much into wearing hats. If I do have something on my head, such as a bicycle helmet, I remove it before entering any kind of building.

Chewing Gum: Gum was not allowed at school because it would often end up being stuck under desks and tables. If somebody offers me a stick of gum, I will likely accept, but I have never felt the need to buy a pack of gum or to carry gum around with me.

Tattoos: I remember my mom once stating that she thought tattoos were gross. Neither my parents nor any of their friends had them. This, coupled with my intense dislike for needles* has kept me from getting one.

* I have never tried acupuncture, and I don't intend to do so any time soon. I remember that the first time that I saw somebody getting an acupuncture treatment, on TV, I thought, "that's got to hurt!"

My best friend got had his penis pierced (no Joke) Never understood why anyone would stick a needle through their "Family jewels"!

My guess is the hat thing goes back to the era a century or so ago when most men wore hats outdoors. Why it was impolite to wear them indoors, I don't know. But some of this is still with us, although less so. Today most will not wear a hat in a fancy restaurant, and of course things like Church and during the National Anthem. Does anyone have an explanation for any of this?

I'm sure this goes back to religious ritual where it's was considered uncouth to be covered during prayer.

The more modern explanation that appeals to me is removing your hat is a sign that you are present and likely to stay, as opposed to "could leave" at any time".

Removing the hat is a sign then of comfort and acceptance. You are among true friends.


Agreed on the exotic piercings. Those were a taboo, and probably always will be.

This might be stretching what Alfredo had in mind for this thread but I'm going to push the envelope anyway.

Here's a classic taboo about Rock & Roll and dancing being of the devil. Hard to believe this is still with us.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090508/ap_on_re_us/us_school_dance_flap

Some time ago, I read that stovepipe--and later fedora--style hats became popular in urban areas because men wanted to keep soot and other industrial pollution out of their hair. Although it is pointless to try to completely understand the rationale behind the rules of hat etiquette, I have seen some explanations that the rules tried to acknowledge the concepts of "inside" and "outside." When going outside (where it is dirty), one would put on one's hat. When going inside to a home, church, office, or a place where food is served, one would take the hat off (presumably to show appreciation that one was in a clean place). Common areas such as lobbies, corridors, and elevators fell under the "outside" category, for some reason. In a way, this is very similar to some cultures, where shoes are removed when going into a home, and either wearing shoes inside or walking barefoot outdoors would be considered improper.

In the days of the fedora hat, there was also another set of rules that is totally alien to me, regarding the proper way to use a hat to gesture in a variety of situations. I'm not sure that I have all of the following completely right:

* Hats must be removed when the National Anthem is played or when a flag passes by in a ceremony or a parade.
* A hat is tipped when greeting a lady but not when greeting another man.
* When shaking hands, one's hat must be removed, and if one is smoking, the pipe, cigar, or cigarette must be removed from one's mouth.
* A hat is tipped when saying "pardon me" or "excuse me."

That all makes sense. The story about hats being worn to avoid industrial pollution seems to be true. What a different world it must have been just 100 years ago. What I find interesting is how some of these traditions still exist today. While our technology is changing so rapidly, old traditions seem to hang on in certain situations. I don't think that is a bad thing at all.

Here is one hat etiquette guide: http://www.bcvc.net/hats/ The rules are a bit confusing, but I'm sure that when hats were commonly worn, part of growing up was learning them.

Well, it's not my intent to upset any apple cart, but in Judaism the concept of wearing a hat or head covering is converse to the prevailing notion in the thread.

A head covering is worn as a sign of respect to the Creator. It's a constant reminder to us and to those who see us, that G-d is always above watching. The most religious of Jews still observe this, especially when leaving the home. Almost all Jews observe this at temple, no matter whether orthodox, conservative or reform.

yes, but notice the Jewish people have removed the little propeller from their hats.....

(I heard that joke 30 some years ago) I believe the actual joke was something along the lines of
you can tell the difference between orthodox and non orthodox jews, because the orthodox don't have propellers on their yarmulkes.......

Was a jewish commedian ( and now the insensitive PIC comment) Aren't they all?

Thank you, Andy. I was hoping somebody would bring up the special case of yarmulke. But--Roger?!?

Actually, that reminds of one afternoon in high school, when a classmate was showing off a yarmulke that he said he "swiped from synagogue." Of course, I had to ask, "What happened to the propellor?"

Here's another enigma. Now I'm not a strict believer in religious text at all, but it's always made me wonder why if, as per the Old Testament, The Lord created our perceived universe in six days and rested on the seventh, why do most Christian faiths observe Sunday, the first day of the week, as the day of rest and prayer and not on Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as their Sabbath like in Judaism?

To further complicate this matter, not all Christian-influenced societies define the start of the week as Sunday. When I came to the US, this concept of the week beginning on Sunday was new to me. Chilean calendars started the week on Monday. Thus, Saturday and Sunday were truly the weekend.

Funny, I never noticed this.

Despite the calendars starting with Sunday, I've never mentally began a week with anything other than Monday.

Sat and Sun are the weekend, if you say they are!

Funny, I never noticed that until last night... I was playing with Puppeee Linux on my Asus eee and was asked if I want the calender week to start with Mon. or Sun., Without thinking, I typed in Mon. (of course the week starts with Mon.). It looked REALLY strange, but I left it that way, because it seemed more logical with the weekend at the weeks end.

Cool! I didn't know that option was available.

I have seen various appointment books and blotter calendars (the big calendars you sometimes see covering desktops) that follow this convention too.....


Chris_taylor sez:
"Here's a classic taboo about Rock & Roll and dancing being of the devil. Hard to believe this is still with us. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090508/ap_on_re_us/us_school_dance_flap"

Ever seen "Footloose"?

Girls wearing trousers, pants Jeans etc .

During most of the 60s and before that it was real frowned upon or entriely forbidden in public schools that I attended for Girls to wear NOTHING but a skirt outfit or a dress. No jeans or slacks.

Our middle school in Vancouver did that( 1963 to 66' Shumway Jr. Hi ), and only made exceptions if it was a winter day with a forecasted high temp of under about 35 degrees and or if there was snow or ice ! Believe it or not. Or if it was a " play day' say at the end of the school year, or a field trip depending upon circumstances .

We had this ' Dean of Girls' at Shumway that would go to the Dances and have a 1 foot ruler. If anyone danced slow and she thought they wre to cheeky, she would come up right on the dance floor and stick the ruler between the couple. The rule was 11 inches between noses, no closer. Each of the 3 years I attended that school we got the rule dictaed to us by this smiley blue haired old lady , the Girls Dean. Mildred Wyman, she had been a teacher or administrator in that school since the 1930s and personally knew Charles F. Shumway and gave us some death bed account of this guy and the "Shumway Ring", some piece of jewelry tradition thing I never could figure out ?? . It was laughable ! Even some teachers would smirk a little when she went into all this up on the stage in front of the whole student body and faculty.

Shumway is now the " Arts and Drama High School " in Vancouver, Wa.

All us guys liked the snowy days or cold days because it was a real rush to see all the girls in pants ! Later on in High School , things changed , more and more girls wore slacks or jeans when ever they felt like it and the High School administration loosened up on the rules in Vancouver by the late 60s'.