# Mundane, Pointless Hats **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 11, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854 "2015-07-11T13:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/1 "2015-07-11T13:42:48Z")
So, I understand that some hats are symbols that identify a person as a member of a group and/or culture. For example, the fund-raising Shriner fezzes (fezi?) But, cultural ID aside, why are fezi popular in countries of hot and cold extremes? It seems a billed cap would be much more practical. What’s the point of the Napoleon-y hat when it’s worn broadside? It certainly fulfills a symbolic role, but didn’t seem to provide meaningful environmental protection? Is this a “just 'cuz” thing? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/2 "2015-07-11T14:08:20Z")
Have you seen the hats Tibetan Buddhist Monks wear? They are especially awesome! And they live their lives possessing next to nothing, robe and bowl style! But they got some great hats! I suspect those hats may have special powers of some sort.😃 Maybe all hats!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/3 "2015-07-11T21:23:28Z")
Almost all hats have the power to transform their wearer into either a badass or a doofus. Sadly many folks misunderstand which hat does which for them. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/4 "2015-07-11T22:09:45Z")
The worst are the ones which say “I do too have a personality; look, I’m wearing a trilby!” ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/5 "2015-07-11T22:40:22Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > The worst are the ones which say “I do too have a personality; look, I’m wearing a trilby!” Ain’t that the truth! But it’s not just the style of hat, it’s how it’s worn. I remember James Garner in (I think) “Murphy’s Romance” saying to the effect of “If a man’s wearing his hat back on his head [think of Garner as Maverick], he’s being friendly and looking for a good time. If his hat’s square on his head, he’s neither glad nor mad. If his hat’s down over his eyes, get out of his way.” Of course, that’s for _hats_, not _caps_, a distinction most people don’t get nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/6 "2015-07-11T22:47:23Z")
[Fezzes are cool.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obnblNruPiU) That’s why. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/7 "2015-07-12T00:12:57Z")
[Of course the Ottomans wore them](http://travelingclassroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ottoman-troops.jpg) [So did the Nazis](http://www.steampunk.dk/wp-content/uploads/060308.jpeg) [And American](http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_03_2008/post-130-1206199177.jpg) [And the International Sneaky Service](http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/hanna-barbera/images/2/2c/Moroccomole.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130511184743) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/8 "2015-07-12T03:17:25Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > [Of course the Ottomans wore them](http://travelingclassroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Ottoman-troops.jpg) > > [So did the Nazis](http://www.steampunk.dk/wp-content/uploads/060308.jpeg) > > [And American](http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_03_2008/post-130-1206199177.jpg) > > [And the International Sneaky Service](http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/hanna-barbera/images/2/2c/Moroccomole.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130511184743) [Majors also wore them.](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7084/1919/1600/MajorHoople3.gif) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/9 "2015-07-12T15:29:04Z")
River Song had the right take on the issue. > [@Jennshark](#): > > What’s the point of the Napoleon-y hat when it’s worn broadside? It certainly fulfills a symbolic role, but didn’t seem to provide meaningful environmental protection? In the late 1700s/early 1800s wearing the bicorne broad side forward enabled better recognition [of the cockade](http://www.sharecg.com/images/medium/84916.jpg%3C/a%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class=) identifying unit and rank. In more modern times the bicorne became more commonly worn with the [long axis front-and-back](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicorne#/media/File:Sir_Edward_H._Seymour_2.jpg), more aerodynamically efficient when riding into battle, I suppose, and where at least part of it provided a visor effect over the eyes and back of the neck. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-pointless-hats/724854/10 "2015-07-12T16:05:28Z")
Since when did fashion have anything to do with practicality?