I've come to hate cowboy hats

[Cyrano]

Yeah, I know a lot of you love them and I'll take much shit for this post.

As much as I've always loved Hollywood westerns, I've come to view people who wear cowboy hats as the equivalent of someone walking around wearing a tee shirt with a Confederate flag on it. I know that's unfair and does not reflect everyone who chooses to wear one. However, that's the way I feel.

Seeing those guys with big cowboy hats, outside of the school in Uvalde, Texas really pissed me off. Those hats didn't make me think of Alan Ladd in "Shane," or Gary Cooper in "High Noon." They just made me feel like I was looking at some "hero" wannabees with blood on their hands.

Sorry if this post offends you. And your hat.

[Model35mech]

1. I've come to hate baseball caps... that aren't of Cubbie Blue with a big red "C".

But, I'm old. Old enough that I no longer care about living in Wisconsin and being a Bears and a Cubs follower. I can't say I'm a fan of either. But I follow their records, and try to know the names of the starters.

In the way way back, I wore a big brimmed xxx beaver felt to high school. I got mocked OFTEN. But then I had fulfilled a dream I had had since 3rd grade. I owned a horse. Actually, before HS was over I owned 4 horses.

And it's the damnedest thing. Before horses, girls told me they were coming down with the measles when I asked if they wanted to go to a movie. After horses, my saturdays with girls was so busy, I got saddle sore.

It was one of the great revelations in my life, and it had nothing to do with being a confederate or a wannabe movie star. That hat made it VERY easy for me to be spotted by strangers, female strangers.

[Sneederbunk]

13. Me, any baseball cap worn backwards.

[ret5hd]

19. So sideways is ok?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

30. The baseball cap worn backwards simply lookds stupid.

Same with sideways.

When I become Dictator of North America there will be SERIOUS punishments for those.

[dixiechiken1]

37. LOL 😁 Yeah, them's my pet peeves riiiiiiight there...

[brooklynite]

2. I don't wear cowboy hats...and they don't bother me.

Hitler wore fedoras. Trump wore golf caps. Hats are hats.

[Cyrano]

4. Yeah, sometimes they're just hats. Other times, they're a statement.

[brooklynite]

5. A statement implies intent. I don't see any.

[Chainfire]

7. And sometimes they are tools.

I worked outside in sunny and hot Florida. I don't have skin cancer on my face because I always wore a ball cap. (bill to the front). Now that I am old and thin skinned I continue to wear the cap outside. It is not a redneck thing, it is a safety device.

[brer cat]

26. I am 75 and female, and recently started wearing a ball cap outside.

I was diagnosed with macular degeneration, and I need to protect my eyes from sunlight. It is a safety device.

[True Blue American]

61. You have a bonifide reason to wear a hat.

Sorry,, I just watched,” Oh Brother again. George is no hick either, but he does admit to growing up in Kentucky!

[walkingman]

3. I am not a Texas native but was transferred here in '74 so almost 50 years. I own a place

(40 acres) in the Texas Hill Country, have Longhorns for my Ag exempt (taxes), and am surrounded by what these days would be called "cowboys". They and their family have mostly been here for generations. I always tell my friends that live in the city (Austin, Houston) that before I moved here I liked cowboys. But after getting to know a few over the last 40+ years that is no longer the case. They are some of the most undereducated, obnoxious, assholes on the planet. All, repeat all, of my neighbors are "Trumpers" - hate Democrats, and are what I would call religious nuts.

[jaxexpat]

43. In my youth I worked as a cross country surveyor for Western Geophysical.

Across southern Texas, from Loredo to Rosenburg, I encountered many real, live cowboys. From legitimately good and bad guys to "bohunks" who spoke no English. They were, like humanity, varied in sophistication and general demeanor. It was 45 years ago but they, like all Texas LEO's then and now, wore cowboy hats exclusively. I actually met a guy who said "howdy pardner" with a Czech accent. The remainder of our conversation required his daughter as interpreter. They'd been in Schulenburg since the 1860's. There were many younger guys who'd never even stood in a field with cattle but wouldn't be seen at Gilley's without their $75.00 Stetson and their $300.00 Tony Lamas.

[LeftInTX]

47. I was gonna guess Schulenburg or Luling

I met someone who was from north of I-10 - Giddings..maybe?? Anyway, her first language was German..

[sop]

6. Some of these cowboys are all hat and no cattle.

[2Gingersnaps]

28. LOL, nailed it! I just watched the TV series "Justified" with Tim Olyphant,

Oh yeah, he was a dick. Very well acted, but that was Eastern KY with the whole Gary Cooper thing going on. I get the posters train of thought though, definitely all hat, no cattle.

I just don't know how those Uvalde cops dig out of this, live with themselves, justify their behavior, but a great place to start would be to stop digging.

And for God's sake Texas demand more of your governance than bullshit culture wars.

[True Blue American]

8. Seeing them with their White cowboy hats on while the

Safety Director said they made the wrong decision to save children made it worse. They did not have the decency to remove them in respect for those who died.

[2Gingersnaps]

35. Yeah, that was just poor etiquette not taking the hat off to show respect.

How many people are that up on good manners nowadays? It used to amuse me that the carnies that travelled with the county fairs in Ohio, who most people think of as lowlifes would always tip their hats, and say Ma'am to a lady. I'd smile and say "Southerner," and they'd smile back and say how'd you guess, LOL, "manners." Really sucks when nowadays you show your self worth by how shitty you can act.

And it is a totally different situation from migrant workers or others who wear them for skin protection.

[True Blue American]

48. I remember one of those set up right in front of

Our house. We lived across the street from the high school and the track.

There were 2 men in that group with no hats on. Manners may have gone by the wayside, but we still honor Funeral processions . It was such poor taste along with Abbott showing up to try and deter from the Bidens. He and the Mayor left the greeting. I wondered why both rushed off before the President and First Lady. So glad he was greeted with boos and middle fingers.

[Irish_Dem]

9. I now associate cowboy hats with depraved cowards.

[TheProle]

17. You should find yourself a field of migrant workers wearing them

and let them know what you think of them.

[Irish_Dem]

21. Sorry it will not change my mind one iota.

Texas lawmen are cowards.

[True Blue American]

49. So do I

Especially those white ones that never showed a speck of dirt. It was like they bought them for the show.

Migrants working in the fields deserve them.

[Croney]

10. I agree, and it's a shame, because Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise

wore his hat so well.

[kacekwl]

11. If you work outdoors I certainly can understand the cowboy hat.

I also think when you go indoors cowboy or not you should remove your hat, it's just good manners. Unless of course you are at Gilley's riding the bull.

[Cyrano]

18. LOL. Gilley's in Houston closed in 1989.

And if John Travolta hadn't filmed "Urban Cowboy" there, very few outside of Texas may never have heard of Gilley's, or perhaps even mechanical bulls.

Willie Nelson's songs, "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys," and "Mama's Don't Let Your Children Grow Up To Be Cowboys," are classics which are loved by many, myself included. And the American western legend is treasured by many. Well, except for the native Americans who were massacred, had their homeland's stolen from them, and live in horrendous poverty today.

For some reason, seeing those guys wearing those big white cowboy hats in Uvalde, Texas, destroyed my "old west" fantasy bullshit. Maybe it's time we just left those antiques in the "legends" from whence they came. I don't know. After all, we're just talking about fucking hats.

[Patton French]

12. They wear them well in Yellowstone. N/T

[hlthe2b]

23. Yes, they do. My rule of thumb, if you can't ride and ride WELL then don't wear the hat

(or the boots for that matter). And, yeah, even in classic westerns there were GOOD riders and some embarrassingly bad ones. (John Wayne comes to mind on that latter score, but sorry, he looked like he was riding a Barcalounger (like a LazyBoy recliner for the youngsters)... So that will be my inciting comment of the day.

[BrightKnight]

68. I have family photos with hats going back to the 1800's.

Many of them had some cattle. It is just part of the local culture here. It is a lot deeper than fashion inspired by a John Wayne movie.

I have had a hat since I was 6. It is part of the authentic culture here and I am not giving that up. It is not Party specific.

[hlthe2b]

70. Can you ride?

[BrightKnight]

71. Yes, but I don't keep a horse in my Dallas condo.

I do have a cat.

[RaDaR63]

14. I don't look for things to hate

or to be offended by. "Don't sweat the small stuff" is a good motto to live by.

[WarGamer]

22. Exactly!!

[Paladin]

34. Very well said.

[Raine]

52. Totally agree nt

[Biophilic]

15. A couple of days ago I wrote a post about mourning cowboy hats as I grew up in the 50s and 60s.

I was thinking about that today and realized that I'm pissed off at those wearing cowboy hats today. They not only took away the things I believed in, but they've made the cowboy hat a symbol of cowardice and non-responsibility. And that has me pissed off. This wasn't a single incident decision and change, but the guys in cowboy hats in Uvalde really pushed the issue right off the cliff.

[BlackSkimmer]

16. I don't really care about the hats. Kind of like fast, loud cars. P-substitutes.

But I've really learned how bad Texas cops are.

Not a lot about it on DU, but a wonderful cyclist was murdered by another woman with a gun (over a man of all things) the same week as the Uvalde killings. They had her in custody, but they let her go.

And now she's in the wind. GO Texas LEOs! Those hats sure aren't hiding any brains.

[Torchlight]

20. As a Texas guy, I pretty much agree. I think they look silly.

Ball caps too. I think I'm possessed by my grandad's spirit, 'cause I really want fedoras to be as popular as they were in Sinatra's day.

[Ferrets are Cool]

24. I'm pretty much with you on this

[doc03]

25. Every country music entertainer has to have his

own signature cowboy hat. I suspect most of them never
saw a cow other than seeing one in field beside the hyway. On a recent trip to Rural King every country tune that played sounded like the same damn singer. They can be from NY city and all have that same exaggerated southern accent y'all.

[Cyrano]

53. Johnny Cash didn't wear one. And Willie Nelson wore sweat bands

[doc03]

55. They were true country music entertainers, didn't need to play dress up.

Perfect country western song, he wears a hat too.

[OverBurn]

27. I hear ya. If they are not riding a horse at the time, I think to myself, look at this asshole.

Could be a nice person wearing the hat. I guess I'm just cowboy hat prejudice.

[BigmanPigman]

29. As far as fashion goes, I can't stand them.

Terrible fashion statement!

[BannonsLiver]

31. The only people who should wear them are actual cowboys

By that I mean people who work on ranches, with cattle, horses, etc. Not accountants.

[2naSalit]

32. In that particular case...

That's exactly what you were seeing.

[imavoter]

33. Some of Texas police uniforms allow cowboy hats as part

of the uniform.

I'm tired of the anti Texas hate here.
Also the cowboy hat has its history
with the caballero, so educate yourself.

[BannonsLiver]

36. Don't expect everyone to be in awe of redneck culture.

[imavoter]

39. Wearing a hat makes one a redneck?

Since when?

[True Blue American]

50. You could probably

Include me in the red neck culture, but there is Redneck culture and Rudeneck culture.

I belong to the former where politeness never goes out of style. I think the latter are so crude and oblivious to a time and place for everything.

My mind goes back to Trump holding his brothers funeral in the WhiteHouse. Turning and making a show of walking up the steps, leaving his brothers widow sobbing and leaning on a man.

Meanwhile Baron was looking around as if, This is it? That boy at 15 was smarter than both his parents.no Funeral Procession for those 2. Their show was over.

So if people object to our criticism of Ill manners,so be it.

[Iggo]

38. Welcome to my 1980.

[imavoter]

40. How is making fun of people wearing cowboy hats ok?

What happened to tolerant DU?
I've been here since 2007, but had to get a new ID
because of a divorce in 2010.

So if we were making fun of some other groups
that would be ok??? I don't see how this is valid
on a progressive forum.

[True Blue American]

51. No one is making fun

Of cowboy hats. We are criticizing the wearing of them at improper times.

[Paladin]

56. Funny, I don't see very much of the discernment you're talking about in this thread.

Wish I did.

[imavoter]

63. Most Texas police departments, DPS, and Rangers

may wear cowboy hats
as a part of their uniform.

This thread is flame to me.
Cowboy hats have nothing to do
with people's behavior.

I've been to state Democratic functions
and there's plenty of cowboy hats there.

We should be pissed off at bad behavior,
not freaking hats.

[TomSlick]

41. I really like hats/caps and have since my teens.

I like fedoras, panamas, western-style (cowboy if you must), Irish flat caps, Greek fisherman caps, and even baseball-style caps. I've even been known to appear in public in a Scottish balmoral (please don't call it a tam). When going to the county fair, I wear my western-style hat and boots. (The boots are too uncomfortable to wear anywhere else.)

Hats and caps are not always a cultural statement, many of us just like hats.

[UTUSN]

46. Perfect, thanks for the inventory of my hats.

I guess the OP is talking about the showboating State uniforms.

[Celerity]

42. ...

[Cyrano]

58. All hat. No brain.

[harumph]

44. I've come to hate pants with leg stripes - they were wearing those too!

This is dumb.

[UTUSN]

45. I've luvd ya 4ever but hats are for sun. I hate "cowboy" movies tho.

Mine is an LBJ "Open Road" Stetson. With fishing shorts (I don't fish) and flip-flops (don't tell somebody here).

[brooklynite]

54. Meanwhile...

Beto O'Rourke


Ann Richards


LBJ

[Cyrano]

57. They're politicians. And those hats are props for getting votes

Never underestimate how much sh.., umm, ... crow, any politician will eat to get elected. Dems, Rethugs, or "other." They'll all dig right in and eat a bowl of whatever's put in front of them to win an election.

[Dukkha]

59. I only take issue with the police wearing them

It demeans the uniform and the responsibility that goes with it. It gives the impression that they don't take the job seriously enough.

[imavoter]

66. Cowboy hats in Texas usually may be worn

as part of the uniform with officers.
They are not sending signals.
We need to focus on behavior, not hats.

[Dukkha]

73. then change the uniform code

To reflect adulthood.

[Cyrano]

60. I'm wondering if I should have put up this OP

Pro-Choice, gun-humping, and banning/burning books are the issues we must stay focused on. Not cowboy hats.

I was pissed at those wearing them in Uvalde. But, for the most part, they're just a minor irritation compared to what's happening to us. The bad guys, the MAGAs, the Neo-Nazis, and every other fool who is missing the "humanity gene," is a threat to our country and all of our freedoms. And they are part and parcel of the Republican/Fascist Party.

Even if you're wearing a cowboy hat, please get out there and vote for every Democrat on the ticket in November. Please. America and democracy are on the line.

[imavoter]

64. Thank you for clarification

See my post #63.

Have a good one.

[Pyryck]

62. It's part of the uniform and a badge of "honor"

Ya know...like the stars and bars were, are, will forever be in their minds.

[edhopper]

65. It's all

macho cosplay to me.

[BrightKnight]

67. My family has been in Texas for generations and it is part of the culture.

It is not Party specific. I have had boots and a cowboy hats since I was 6. I have also castrated calves on my great grandparents west Texas ranch.

I have lived in Chicago and Southern California. I am not going to give up my culture. If you don’t like the hat then you should not wear one.

[kiranon]

69. Agree

My husband wears a cowboy hat and he is a liberal through and through. It's hot in Texas and the hat helps. He is not a rancher nor does he work outside. He is a lawyer. The hat is part of the culture. And, he looks good in it. No objections here to any kind of hat. I wear a sun hat myself. Dr. Seuss had a wonderful children's book about funny hats.

[panader0]

72. I worked in SE Az as a bricklayer for forty years.

I began to wear a straw Bailey (cowboy hat) because it kept the sun off of my face and neck.
The straw hat helped keep my head cooler. They have a purpose beyond riding horses. After a
while I went to baseball caps and now at 71 I have many small melanomas on my temples and
my always bare forearms. I wish I had worn the straw hat longer. In the intense sun, it is a tool.

[Scrivener7]

76. You might want to read up on your history, son. Ya dumbass. Bye!