Why does anyone still wear a cowboy hat?

[Cyrano]

As Willy Nelson wrote, "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys." As a kid, one of my dreams in life was to be a cowboy. After all, being a doctor or lawyer was boring, and even back then, being a Wall-Street-type zombie didn't seem like something a "real man" would want to become. I grew up in a time when becoming super rich was not the goal of life.

A few weeks back, I watched Dick Cheney give a speech while wearing a yellowish green cowboy hat. And there's a current ad on TV with some lawyer wearing a cowboy hat with the Empire State Building in the background. (Go figure.) And I still see some people driving around in their pickup trucks wearing cowboy hats. Is there some kind of pseudo-macho crap here that I'm missing?

I have a feeling that this will bring a lot of crap flying my way, but I've finally come to agree with the old joke that goes: "Cowboy hats and hemorrhoids. -- Sooner or later, every asshole gets em."

Can anyone explain to me why anyone would wear a cowboy hat in this day and age?

[Xipe Totec]

1. If it's appropriate for the weather, why not?

[Oregone]

2. They work long hours in the field and are trying to protect their skin

Well, I don't know, at least Bush liked clearing brush, right?

[Cyrano]

5. Do you suppose all the brush that Bush cleared will be put in his "museum?"

[sailor65]

3. Because the sun is hot......

and Sombreros just look dumb

[Oregone]

19. Indoors at night?

[sailor65]

191. Well the OP seemed like a joke,

so I was trying to respond in kind.......

[NeedleCast]

4. Why not?

Your question is fairly ridiculous. Why do people choose any number of styles of hat or clothing or jewelry?

[XemaSab]

6. Most of the people I see wearing them are Hispanic

:shrug:

[Arkansas Granny]

20. They are very popular around here and all sorts of people wear them.

On one of our jobs, the architect showed up wearing one of these cowboy hardhats.

[Warpy]

7. Straw ones are popular out here in cowboy country

although you do still see the beat up brown felt variety from time to time, usually on the rodeo circuit.

They're popular out here because they keep both sun and rain out of the rancher's face.

However, show me a pristine grey felt jobbie and I'll show you a walking hemorrhoid underneath it.

[blogslut]

10. LOL

so true :rofl:

[redqueen]

98. I hope you consider people who wear baseball caps, yet don't play baseball

to be walking hemorrhoids as well.

[blogslut]

170. The operative word is "pristine"

I know the type very well. There's one old man around here I've known since I was a child. He's long past the age where he actually does any ranch work. Now, he just runs around town with his big-ass gray felt hat and his crisp western suit, blustering like a prick.

Where I live, you can tell a person's personality by the type of cowboy hat they wear. In fact, the authentic ranch hands and farmers often keep their hats in their trucks when they come into my "big city" of 10,000. However, the spurs stay on.

:)

[old mark]

8. I have an old, beat up one that I sometimes wear in the summer

because my hair is gone, baby, gone....
:shrug:

mark

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

At least it isn't (yet) considered to be chic to wear them sideways like baseball caps.

[Arkansas Granny]

17. If I ever see one worn that way, I will think of you.

No, really, I will.

[rucky]

37. ...

[Crabby Appleton]

94. I always assumed guys wore the hat sideways or backward

so they could give their boyfriend a BJ without having to remove their hat.

[csziggy]

146. When I am taking photos, I turn my cap backwards or it interferes with the autoflash

And the top of the camera. Probably a lot of people turn them around for similar reasons - the bill sticks out and interferes with getting their faces close up to something.

[old mark]

177. Now THERE'S a thought.......nt

[Luminous Animal]

9. Some reasons

(Keep in mind - I don't wear them)
1) They look a million times better on a grown man than a baseball hat.
2) They keep your head warm and and dry
3) Or they keep your head cool (straw ones)
4) The keep the sun off your face.

[ohheckyeah]

48. LOL

I love your comment about the baseball hat. My husband, when wearing a cowboy hat, was asked by a friend if he thought he was a cowboy. My husband's answer was "do you think you are a baseball player?"

snap

[Luminous Animal]

162. Great retort!

Thanks for that!

[ohheckyeah]

210. You're welcome.

My husband comes up with some good ones.

[GoCubsGo]

215. 4a)...

...and your neck/upper back. A baseball cap does not do that.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. In Cheney's case it took the place of toilet paper.

Cowboy hats are really cool, although I don't own one.

[Codeine]

12. They protect ears, back of the neck, and face all at once,

while presenting a traditional rural style that appeals to many people.

And many people feel baseball caps look much douchebaggier on adult males than a cowboy hat ever could.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Same reason people dress up for Star Trek conventions and Renaissance fairs.

[Raskolnik]

31. You know, Cheney notwithstanding, some people *do* actually spend a lot of time working

in the hot sun.

[WolverineDG]

14. Because they do what they're supposed to nt

[jobycom]

15. If Leslie wears one, they're still stylish.

[Sal Minella]

56. Isn't that the guy who was partying with future President Pierce Bush????

[jobycom]

114. Don't know that story, but a lot of people in Austin have partied, or claimed to, with Leslie.

[subcomhd]

107. OMG IT'S LESLIE !!!!!!!!!

[jobycom]

115. What do you mean, "it's?" ???

:rofl:

[JuniperLea]

16. Hats are subjective...

My grandad wore a Stetson like this:



Except for when he wore the straw Sedona:






I will always have a special place in my heart for cowboy hats...

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cyrano]

23. Are you talking about the hats or those who wear them?

[Stevenmarc]

28. I take it you are a reputable hat breeder.

[Raskolnik]

32. Its sad when a cowboy hat has weak hips from years of inbreeding. n/t

[rvablue]

36. Uh-huh. Sign up and immediately start posting BS flamebait! Precious! n/t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

21. I don't know. I'm from the caribbean you don't see me wearing a pirate hat or

a conquistador helmet. So who knows? :evilgrin:

[onenote]

53. what sort of hats do you wear?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

77. Only viking helmets for me. nt

[Bucky]

22. Well, I'm not inbred, but I got one and wear it to nice outdoor events

[Blue_In_AK]

24. I don't know if I've ever seen Ken Salazar without his cowboy hat.

I think it's an affectation.

on edit: Of course, they're useful in certain circumstances, but when it becomes part of one's "costume," I think it might have gone beyond being useful.

[MuseRider]

25. To keep my neck from turning red. n/t

[jmowreader]

26. Because they like them?

And that, Cyrano, is the only reason that matters.

[WillowTree]

118. What jmowreader said.

[Cyrano]

129. And if jmowreader said that there's nothing wrong with men who like to

wear women's underwear, would you have a problem with that?

I wouldn't. To each his/her own preferences.

My OP on cowboy hats was somewhat tongue in cheek. My guess is what people want to put on their heads won't affect me one bit. Lighten up.

[man4allcats]

27. Some who wear them are just too cool.

[Cyrano]

30. Edna Ferber's "Giant."

James Dean was playing a character circa 1930. Looked great in the right time and place.

[man4allcats]

39. Exactly.

Dean as Jett Rink to be exact along with the young and very beautiful Elizabeth Taylor

[Raskolnik]

33. I humbly submit that these two have James Dean beat by a factor of ten:

[lunatica]

40. And this guy beats them all by oodles!

[Raskolnik]

45. Obama's cool, but I'll bet he can't ride a horse or a motorcycle like Steve McQueen could. n/t

[AnneD]

61. Sorry...

while being very cool-that style of cowboy hat makes Obama look like a tourist.

[lunatica]

70. A tourist where?

[AnneD]

124. A tourist as in it is totally the wrong shape and fit....

for his features. It just doesn't look right (maybe brim should be flatter, maybe shorter to minimize the ears). Maybe a classic Stetson cattleman crease on the crown instead of that deep cutter crease. A classic Stetson 'Open Road' with an LBJ crease would be best. LBJ was tall and had bigger ears than Barack ever thought of having and he carried it off. That is a serious hat for a smart and serious cowboy

[man4allcats]

49. They're both tough to beat, I must admit.

I always liked this guy, too:

[Raskolnik]

50. Of course, let's not forget this gentleman, either.

[man4allcats]

58. Gotta admit,

it's hard to look better in a cowboy hat than Hank.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[AnneD]

66. Centennial the mini series....

Nate Johnson-the black trail hand-sharpest way to wear a hat I've ever seen. I don't know how to do pictures-but he puts hank to shame.

[man4allcats]

103. Haven't seen that one, but

for posting pictures there are several ways. I usually use PhotoBucket, but actually one of the simplest ways for pictures that you see on the web is simply to post the URL that is associated with the picture. For example, here is a Paul Newman photo that I placed in this post simply by entering the URL where I wanted the picture to appear.



Anyway, you can try it sometime. It's pretty easy once you've done it a time or two. B-)

[AnneD]

125. Thanks....

I don't know, but he wore it at a slightly cocked angle. Oh, Clevon Little in Blazzing Saddles looked good too.

[KansDem]

179. This guy's got them all beat!

10-gallon, all the way!

[PlanetBev]

80. I'm a big fan of Hank Williams Sr.

Too bad his son is such a talentless butthole, sucking off his dad's name.

[Raskolnik]

83. It skips a generation. Go see Hank III and you'll swear you're seeing Hank's ghost

up on stage. (I also recommend leaving before the death-metal part of his shows--never have I seen so many large people ingesting that much cocaine)

[saltpoint]

145. The man in the picture authenticates the hat. Long live the bittersweet

loneliness of Hank Williams.

[Raskolnik]

29. Because they are functional as hell and because they look awesome.

Of course, when someone like Cheney wears one, it makes me want to slap him so hard his daugter turns straight, but that has no bearing on whether cowboy hats themselves are inherently objectionable.

[myrna minx]

34. Why do people wear baseball caps or sunglasses?

Cowboy hats are functional for people who work outside to help block out the sun and protect the head, face and neck. For others it's an old tradition or it can also be a fashion statement.

[Cyrano]

38. Would wearing a Humphrey Bogart style 1940s hat be a fashion statement?

Or would people just laugh at you?

[Raskolnik]

41. You don't live in Chicago, do you?

If you can find something nattier than a 65 year old man wearing an old-school fedora, I'd like to see it.

[myrna minx]

44. Fedoras and pork pies are popular among my friends.

:hi:

[myrna minx]

42. I have friends who do wear Fedoras and pork pie hats.

I enjoy wearing vintage dresses. It's our sense of style and we couldn't care less if it caused you belly laughs.

[Cyrano]

47. I wouldn't laugh. I thought some of those styles looked great.

[kskiska]

79. Prez

[myrna minx]

127. My ex is a Prez devotee...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IyuG_2jXsE

[kskiska]

205. I'm on a Buddy Rich kick right now

Those YouTubes are fantastic.

[Captain Hilts]

35. Because they're great at keeping the sun out of your eyes. Churchill wore one while in US. nt

[tularetom]

43. I've had several skin cancers removed from my neck

and I have no hair on the top of my head. I spend a lot of time outside and the wide brim keeps the sun off the back of my neck. A ball cap just won't do that.

Plus the straw hat allows the air to flow around my head.

[Cleita]

46. Lot's of people do who live in ranching country. n/t

[Dogtown]

51. Fashion. And that's enough.

Not my taste, but as a form of expression, they're fine for others. I don't think they serve any practical function not better performed by other gear, but fashion and self-expression are reason enough.

[Raskolnik]

55. "I don't think they serve any practical function not better performed by other gear"

Ah, contraire--North Face and Nike haven't come close to making something more practical than a straw cowboy hat.

[Dogtown]

59. I surrender the point

I look ridiculous in hats. Any hat. Big Native American face, I look like those old tintypes with a hat on.

I don't wear them, so I'm not a competent judge.

Still, I think most people that wear them do so for fashion, and that's a perfectly valid reason.

[onenote]

52. why do some people wear cowboy boots? why do non-athletes wear baseball hats

or athletic shoes?

Why do some people wear basketball jerseys when they aren't playing basketball?

Why do people with cell phones wear watches?

and so on and so on and so on.

[Cyrano]

62. Living in South Florida, I tend to dress very much like Tom Hanks in "Castaway."

My biggest problem is where to put my cellphone.

[onenote]

68. If you went full "castaway" mode you could probably just stick it in your beard

[Cyrano]

69. Good one. Lol.

[madamesilverspurs]

54. I loves me my c'boy hats!

Including the bright red one with purple hatband. There's style, and there's style. Y'know?

The doc made me give up my favorite dancing shoes, the boots that go with the hat, but the hat goes where I go.

[AnneD]

57. Most that wear a cowboy hat haven't truly earned it.....

The Cowboy Code......

The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.

He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.

He must always tell the truth.

He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.

He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.

He must help people in distress.

He must be a good worker.

He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.

He must respect women, parents, and his nations laws.

The Cowboy is a patriot.

[Cyrano]

73. Hmmmm. Sounds like all of "cowboy" George W's traits. I guess the

only thing missing is "clearing brush."

[AnneD]

122. I hope you forgot the sarcasm icon....

The Bushes are the most unTexan and unCowboy folks there ever have been-maybe because they really don't come from Texas. They have given hard working REAL Cowboys a bad name.

[Cyrano]

132. Yep, I should have put the "sarcasm" icon there.

[trusty elf]

161. .....

[Mimosa]

137. That is so COOL, AnneD

I read that years ago when I was a little kid.


Love Giant, and who could look better than James Dean as Jett Rink?

[AnneD]

193. The Cowboy Code....

per Gene Autry. Thank God as Willie once sang, All of My Heroes Were Cow Boys.

[TorchTheWitch]

165. you have to "earn" a hat?

I guess all those guys that like to wear baseball caps should be chastised for not "earning" them by not being baseball players.

It's a fucking hat not a chest medal or a framed certificate.

[AnneD]

192. Let me rephrase that....

If you wear the hat you have to honour the Code. It's like Clayton Moore and the mask of the Lone Ranger and a jerk by the name of Klinton Spilsbury.

Many of us that grew up on westerns know and love Clayton Moore aka the Lone Ranger. I might not recognize him with out a mask except for the piercing blue eyes and distinctive voice. Well Clayton was an upstanding man and earned his hat many times over. Had some quaint notion that he should always be a role model for the young kids. So into the role was he that he was very careful not to be photographer with out the mask so as not to let down the kids. One day Hollywood decided to remake the movie. Unfortunately Clayton still had a 'lifetime gig' portraying the Lone Ranger. They took him to court and stripped him of the right to wear the mask. But being the clever and resourceful crime fighter he was-he took to wearing sunglasses which only served to make him a cooler Cow Boy . The studio went ahead and made the movie. Klinton Spilsbury had never read the Cowboy Code, let alone understood the significance of the role. He had the temperament of a government mule and had the manners of a prospector's jack ass. The word quickly got around Hollywood circles and before the film went to editing, young Spilsbury's acting career was over before it really began-sinking into oblivion. Every so often, the studios try to make another remake of the Lone Ranger only to see it bomb at the box office. And Clayton, ever the law man, counter sued and regained the right to wear his mask and continued to make appearances. He passed on in December 1999. For many of his fans young and old, it marked an end of an era. Sure, one day some one will come along and pick up the mask and the challenge. Until then, we'll wait and watch for the real deal.

Edited to add-that much like Spilsbury, Dubya sullied the good name of cowboys every where. It will take a while to get it back. But there are many of us that still know a real cowboy from a faux (Rexall Cowboy in the old parlance).

[Regret My New Name]

60. 'cause they look cool on some people?

I happen to look stupid in one, but it's always fun to wear for a laugh.

[Kansas Wyatt]

63. Because I come from the country....

And I wear mine, along with the frock coat, vest, cravat tie, pocket watch, and ropers just to piss off suburbanites.

'every asshole gets em' - Or other assholes have a problem with how some people dress.

[Recursion]

64. To keep their head cool, dry, and less dust-covered

The same reason people wore them 100 years ago. Oddly enough it serves the same purpose as a keffiyah.

[udbcrzy2]

65. You wear them at the horse show just for the class

If you show a horse in a western class you must wear a western hat.
This includes the speed events. If the hat falls off, that's okay,
then you can leave it off. I hate wearing hats especially western hats.
The brims are wide and you can hurt yourself running into things while wearing
them. They are hot too!

[csziggy]

148. Yes, that is when I wore a cowboy hat, for my show costume

But most of the time, I wear a cap to keep the sun off my nose.

[Liquorice]

67. Because some people like to dress up like cowboys, just like

some people like to dress up like Hell's Angels (even though they don't own a motorcycle). I think it's just a fashion thing for a lot of people. I once saw a man wearing a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, Wrangler jeans and a largish belt buckle, all while grocery shopping. Hilarious! I did kind of feel bad for him too though, and thought he might have had a personality disorder.

[masuki bance]

71. Same reason people wear Birkenstocks

Tribal statement and usefulness.

[damntexdem]

72. If you get an outfit, you can be a cowboy, too.

Even if it is old hat.

[dorkulon]

74. Because they're bald.

Seriously. Find any middle-aged man with a hat on, and he's bald.

[RebelOne]

75. The Mexicans like to wear cowboy hats.

At least the ones here in North Georgia do. Oh, and also the cowboy boots. I bet none of them has ever ridden a horse or even been near one.

[Maru Kitteh]

152. Please tell me for fucks sake that you're not serious?

And if you're not serious - I don't get the joke.

In short - WTF are you talking about?

[Raskolnik]

167. Lots of Mexican men wear cowboy hats. n/t

[Xicano]

163. The Cowboy and Cowboy hat originate from Mexicans.

Contrary to what many believe. The cowboy profession and the iconic cowboy hat along with leather chaps over pants and other cowboy symbolism are Mexican in origin such as lariats of braided leather for lassoing, the traditional cowboy style of leather work for saddles and bridles, the traditional cowboy style silversmith work found on saddles and bridles for decoration -- all cowboy lore and all Mexican in origin, and, make up a far greater part of Mexican culture than it does here in the US.

The rodeo which has Spanish origins, but, the type/style which many believe is homegrown here in the US is not. It originates from the Mexican state of Jalisco. Many other things which are associated with the cowboy and believed by many to originate from here in the US are Mexican in origin. Buckeroo, slang for cowboy is derived from the Mexican word vaquero which means cow handler. Music rhythms and themes of traditional cowboy songs are from Mexican norteno music style.

Sorry, not trying to sound offending or anything, but your bet about ridding a horse. I'd bet the odds are against your assumption on that.


:hi:

[AnneD]

196. Thank you ....

the contributions of blacks and hispanic are overlooked. The terms lariat,lasso,corral,and rodeo in addition the use of spurs and chaps are just proof of some of the hispanic contribution, and the art of bull dogging was first done by an african american. I am glad the later westerns such as Centennial, the Cowboys, and Lonesome Dove were more inclusive and accurate.

[alarimer]

76. Most of the people who wear cowboy hats are fakers.

They are not real cowboys. Dick Cheney and George W. Bush are not real cowboys.

I think the rule should be only real cowboys get to wear cowboy hats. Everybody else just looks stupid.

[Codeine]

156. Most of the people who wear baseball caps are fakers too.

;)

[Autumn]

78. This old lady wears a cowboy hat. The

sun gets hot and it shields my eyes and ears whenever I am riding , working my horses , cleaning out the paddock or fixing fences. Plus it keeps the sweat out of my eyes. Now sometimes I am an asshole but most of the time I'm not and NEVER when I'm wearing my cowboy hat and boots. My horses would not appreciate it. Edited to add I'm not bald LOL

[Born_A_Truman]

81. Because sometimes you want to be like papa

My husband and grandson going down to feed the horses

[Born_A_Truman]

82. And I think he's handsome in his hat

[proteus_lives]

84. I have a friend who wears them.

He likes western wear. My mom wears them sometimes because of the great sun protection.


I have a question, why the broad brush?

[masuki bance]

85. Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar-Interior Secretary

[masuki bance]

86. ...

[masuki bance]

87. ...

[hedgehog]

88. The difference is, he makes that look goooooood!

[Arugula Latte]

92. He's one of the few who can carry it off!

Bill Clinton looks doofusy in a cowboy hat. :hide:

[masuki bance]

89. ...

[Fuzz]

90. To play rodeo? Hop on your partner, call them another person's name, and time how long you

can stay on.

[Arugula Latte]

91. I hate, hate, hate the business suit-bolo tie-cowboy hat-cowboy boots combo

Douchebaggy Texas oil men and J.R. Ewing go for that look.

[XOKCowboy]

93. Why does anyone wear a tie? Now that's one STUPID piece of apparel!

I can think of a half dozen reasons for wearing a cowboy hat it you actually live and work outside and with cattle and horses. What I can't figure out is what purpose a necktie serves. Millions of people put one on every day. Why? Much more relevant than your disdain for a few people who actually work for a living and wear clothes that are appropriate for what they do.

[omega minimo]

96. To draw attention to the genitalia.

:wow:

[XOKCowboy]

104. Hmmm It is like a pointer! Never thought of that!

:rofl:

[omega minimo]

116. Hidden in plain sight

:bounce: :bounce:

Craig Ferguson plays around with his tie, the short bit behind.

"D'ya know what this is called?.... the Englishman."

Strokes the long bit in front.

"This is called the Scotsman." :evilgrin:

[XOKCowboy]

130. LOL

I just soiled my keyboard. Love Craig.

[masuki bance]

95. ...

[redqueen]

97. Oh goooood... another "why does anyone watch sports" kind of thread.

:banghead:


Oh, and p.s. It's Willie, not Willy.

[Wind Dancer]

105. LOL!!!

It IS amazing!!!!!

[WolverineDG]

120. Psst, redqueen, this person also doesn't understand the difference between

"work boots" & "dress boots."

dg

[omega minimo]

154. some people call it

a penis. :shrug:

[masuki bance]

99. Frederica Wilson

[panzerfaust]

100. Because I live in Texas, it is hot, sunny, sometimes rains, and my family has a ranch.

Oddly, a few months ago when we changed planes in DFW I commented to my wife on how few people were wearing Stetsons (or even ranch-hats (straw cowboy hats)) - might as well be in an airport back East.

Really, it was remarkable - given that a couple of decades ago most men in Big-D were wearing Stetsons and western suits. You could always tell when you were back in Texas.

Never did have one of those western suits myself though.

When I lived in the Pacific Northwest usually wore a watch-cap - as it generally was cool, windy, and hardly ever really rained.

[XOKCowboy]

109. Same here...

I grew up on a ranch. My brothers still wear hats. I don't because I live in Denver now. No need. My head wear is determined by what I'm doing and not as much by fashion. If it's cold I'll wear a watch cap, I wear a ballcap to keep the sun out of my eyes and if I ever move back to OK I'll buy another cowboy hat.

I have a feeling that this poster just wants to show his "superiority". I also doubt that the OP ever spent any time on a working ranch anywhere.

[DeschutesRiver]

206. We are out west on a small ranch; I grew up rural too

Most of my dad's people in OK had cowboy hats, and those in the panhandle areas as well - they had ranches, and the point was to have a head covering against the nasty weather when you work outside in it year round (could have been any type, but the traditional one among those folks was a cowboy hat, so no need to find some other style). There is hot sun in the summer; cold wind in the winter. Everyone around this ranching community I live in now wears a hat - style and function is the point. I just realized, though, in typing this that your last sentence is entirely correct - if a person is out of touch with another's lifestyle, they ask questions in this way, because living other lifestyle than they do makes no sense to them. A person doesn't even have to ask the question to come up with a few sensible reasons why.

I have a few cowboy hats - I wear them when I am out riding and moving our small herd, or chasing other people's errant cattle that have busted through my fencing, and need to get their asses back home. Could wear a baseball cap, I guess, for the sun; but there is a totally functional aspect to the hat, and I like the bigger brim when it is hot. I'd bet the american style cowboy hat was an adaptation of a larger mexican hot weather hat, but I haven't googled that.

I've seen many people wearing various head coverings strictly as a part of their tradition, and not for any other real function. I find it easy to understand that concept.

[cherokeeprogressive]

101. I remember this punk in elementary school. He picked on every single person smaller than he was.

If there were no boys around who were smaller than him, he turned his attention to the girls. They didn't get physical abuse, they got ridicule. The kind of ridicule that really messes with a young person's head for a very long time. His ridicule knew no bounds. Too short, too tall, too fat, too skinny, too dumb, "mosquito bites" for boobs, glasses, freckles, ugly hand-me-down clothes, braces, good grades (teacher's pets), you name it.

He did it because of a lack of self-esteem. His self-esteem was sooo bad that he spent all of his time, and I mean all of his time in school, trying to prove that he was better than someone, ANYONE. Constantly on the lookout for someone to intimidate or ridicule.

You remind me of that guy. There were lots of guys he wouldn't have dreamed of picking on. A couple of girls too. My bet is that there is quite a large group of people you'd not ask that question of. Sitting behind your monitor though, it's easy to ridicule "cowboys". That's what you and lots of other posters are doing on this thread; you're ridiculing "cowboys" because you think it's cool and makes you look good, scores points with all the other haters, and just generally gives your self-esteem a boost.

Tell me why, why in the fucking world, would you feel the need to ridicule a hat? You can't, because you're not ridiculing a hat. You're ridiculing the person underneath it in order to make yourself look better by comparison. And to gain points with your friends who hate all things from the south, and Texas.

You must feel really big, sitting there behind your keyboard ridiculing people who'd probably make you cry "UNCLE!" in about three hearbeats.

[Cyrano]

110. Whew. Thanks for the analyisis. I'll never need to spend a cent on a shrink.

[cherokeeprogressive]

112. Acceptance is the first step on the road to Recovery. Good Luck. n/t

[MicaelS]

181. Excellent....

Because cherokeeprogressive said it much more eloquently that I could have.

[Cyrano]

197. Just out of curiosity, how many cowboy hats do you own?

And how big is your ranch?

[MicaelS]

208. Zero to both questions

I just tired of the Texas bashing I see so much of here on DU.

[masuki bance]

102. Ok, last one.

[BoneDaddy]

106. Because they like it

what the fuck has this forum been reduced to? Because cowboy hats have an obvious affiliation with states who have perhaps more of a right wing flavor to them does not me we should seek to outlaw their expression.

Mark my words, if the far insane part of the left wing gains power absoultely you will see shit like this go down. Along with the thought police, free expression and anything else deemed "offensible".

[BoneDaddy]

108. Why do people

ask incredibly ignorant questions?

[tabasco]

111. 90% wear one because they think it makes them looked rugged

but it really makes them look like a douche.

10% wear one for practicality.

[yawnmaster]

121. link to that data? eom

[rpannier]

113. I have no problems with Cowboy hats (though I don't wear one)

Green Yankee caps, Blue Cincinnati Reds caps, etc I do

[cherokeeprogressive]

117. My Ms. came back from the bathroom at Dodger Stadium wearing a pink Dodger hat

She had a lime green one in her hand and said "Here, try this on." I asked why, since I already had a ten year old Dodger hat that loved my head as much as my head loved it, and that it was the ONLY hat I'd wear to Dodger Stadium. She took it back, but they wouldn't take the return. Luckily for her, someone in line bought it (for a discount of course LOL)

[Raine]

119. Some people like that style

why do some people wear rapper gear or goth(?) it's just a style, so what. My cousin wears cowboy hats and boots and he's not a RW freak!

[anigbrowl]

123. Oh really, you have to ask?

[Paladin]

126. Got Anything Else You'd LIke To Spew Some Brain-Dead Prejudice About?

What your post boils down to is "I don't like it, therefore no one else is entitled to like it, either."

Know what I think? I think that the first 10 people that I encounter wearing cowboy hats could come up with something more intelligent......

[XOKCowboy]

131. You just made my buddy list...

No big honor but I like the way you think.

[Paladin]

176. It Is In Fact A Big Honor, And I Thank You For It. (n/t)

[Patsy Stone]

128. Because they're in a Norteño band?

[saltpoint]

133. The cowboy is the distinctive and most compelling myth of the American frontier.

And like a lot of great myths, the cowboy comes with tragic limitations and powerful appeal.

Much of our history is embodied in the cowboy. Expansive of range. Reticent of speech. Disposed toward the natural landscape. Geared toward elemental survival. Throw in some sex appeal to sell some tickets while we're at it.

[jobycom]

135. The American knight. nt

[saltpoint]

139. Yep. It is a powerful, powerful figure. There are so many references to

consider about the cowboy. I think of Huck Finn, at the end of that novel, "lighting out to the territory west of here." Granted, Huck didn't wear a cowboy hat, but he sure had the zip code down right.

And of Jon Voight's character Joe Buck in MIDNIGHT COWBOY.

And Andy Warhol's short film LONESOME COWBOYS.

Whoopee tee-ey-O.

[jobycom]

142. Most cultures have one. Samarai, knights, cowboys, secret agents.

The lone wandering hero, a law unto himself, often flawed and often bound by outdated codes of morality and loyalty even in the context of the story, and yet because of those flaws and limited complexity, able to cut through societal constraints to do the right thing.

Our own culture has produced the Cowboy, but also the Private Investigator or Detective, and the Superhero. In "Die Hard" the three combined, which is why that has been such a successful film franchise. It touches the timeless myths. As does James Bond, Sherlock Holmes...

Small wonder so many politicians want the label.

[saltpoint]

143. Great post, Jobycom. Absolutely right-on.

From Joan Didion, speaking of John Wayne's westerns, and echoing your comment:

- - -
"...in a world we understood early to be characterzied by venality and doubt and paralyzing ambiguities, he suggested another world, one which may or may not have existed ever but in any case existed no more: a place where a man could move free, could make his own code and live by it..."
- - -

[Xicano]

164. The cowboy lore is all Mexican in origin

Right down to the slang word buckeroo which is derived from the Mexican word vaquero which means cow handler.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5869404#5873139


;)

[saltpoint]

169. Yes. I posted 'American' meaning the whole hemisphere.

It's very difficult, maybe impossible, to go through the literature of this hemisphere without encountering the figure of the horseman.

[cherokeeprogressive]

155. If you don't mind my asking...

What part of the cowboy legend is myth?

[saltpoint]

159. 'Myth' to me means more than one thing. It's almost never something

that is not so. In common U.S. vernacular, it is a perjorative. I never felt it was.

A god has abandoned the cowboy, making the mythology of the free agent more tragic, in Larry McMurtyr's phrase. McMurtry says that the god who abandoned the West generally and Texas particularly was a horseman. It's a god that haunts the West still. He appears like an apparition in the personalities of the men and women who people McMurty's novels of modern Texas.

[saltpoint]

134. "There is a young cowboy / He lives on the range...

His horse and his cattle are his only companions

He works in the saddle and sleeps in the canyons

Waiting for summer his pastures to change..."

--James Taylor, "Sweet Baby James"


The first review of that second album in ROLLING STONE mentioned of the above-referenced song, "Well, you can't fault the lyrics."

[saltpoint]

136. k. d. lang wears one when she damn well feels like it and I stand with

k. d. lang.

In fact, if there's any of y'all that don't stand with k. d. lang, then you ain't shit.

[dysfunctional press]

138. to keep the sun out of their eyes...and cover the bald spot.

:shrug:

[Poiuyt]

140. I wear a fedora or a Panama hat to protect me from skin cancer.

My doctor yelled at me

[zagging]

141. For the same reason brides wear veils.

The answer is, "Mind your business, I'll mind mine."

[Ilsa]

144. Yes, especially people working outside in the sun. Alot of farmers

wear light-colored hats made of straw that are vented. They are "cowboy hats".

And yes, for some people it is an affectation. Especially if they are rude about not removing the hat under some circumstances, like at a restaurant or at the movies. Also, there are some public places that are memorial buildings, and hats should be removed in those buildings.

[alfredo]

147. Dashboard Cowboys wear them to hide the fact that they aren't circumcised

[Joe Fields]

149. What's wrong with cowboy hats?

I say if you like to wear them, then so be it. Same with people who like to wear bolo ties, instead of a regular necktie. No skin off of my nose.

[Kitty Herder]

150. They're great for keeping the sun and rain off your face.

That's why real cowboys wear them.

[Maru Kitteh]

151. 1. Melissa Etheridge 2. Bono

It's what shows up UNDER the hat, silly.

[devilgrrl]

153. Frankly. I'd like to see more people wearing Somberos!

Just to get Lou Dobbs & O'Really going! :evilgrin:

BTW, cowboy hats keep the sun out of your eyes!

[Marr]

157. I assume they wear them because they like them.

Why do you wear the things you wear? Is this really the sort of thing we're discussing around here now?

[bridgit]

158. Ken Salazar wears one...how do you feel about bolo ties?

[leftofthedial]

160. A cowboy hat is perfect

for those kicking hippie's asses occasions

[MicaelS]

182. You forgot...

"And raisin' hell" part. :toast:

[bridgit]

186. Got that right!

[leftofthedial]

190. well, of course, there's the raisin' hell part...

:toast:

[Z_I_Peevey]

214. But if one is a member of the particular subcategory

known as the Cosmic Cowboy, does one kick one's own ass once the cowboy hat is donned?

[leftofthedial]

217. If you're a cosmic cowboy,

consider your own ass already self-kicked!

[Orsino]

166. A waste of five gallons.

[donco6]

168. Real people *do* wear cowboy hats.

My "father-in-law"* wears one whenever he steps outside. His son, my BIL, does also. They live in rural Colorado, so I suppose that makes a difference. Should they only be allowed in the country?



*quotations used because I'm not allowed to be married

[blueamy66]

171. Cause Arizona chicks dig cowboys

Nothing like a man in a Stetson and some Wranglers. Yeppers.

[LWolf]

172. A hat can be worn for many reasons.

Some practical, some fashionable, some making other kinds of statements.

A cowboy hat can still keep rain and sun off the face and neck outside.

It's a standard part of gear for any kind of western horse competition.

It's a fashion statement for some. Is it part of people's identity? Probably for some.

A cowboy hat is a pretty mild piece of clothing, when you consider what passes for "fashion" these days.

Can you tell me, truly, why ANYBODY wears pants like this?

[Vidar]

173. My personal theory is that it's to piss me off. I may be a bit paranoid.

[cherokeeprogressive]

174. If a person's choice in hats pisses you off, paranoia is likely the least of your problems. n/t

[Vidar]

185. Not much on humor, are you?

[Echo In Light]

187. It's like when you encounter a vehicle w/tons of flags on it

Does it really seem to sending a message of all-inclusiveness? ...or does it have the feel of seeming pissed off, high strung and exclusionary?

There's almost always a dead-give-away bumper sticker on such vehicles, anyway, not leaving much uncertainty to the matter. I tend to 'read' cowboy hats in the same regard ... but certainly not always.

[trackfan]

175. I don't often wear a hat, but when I do, it's a cowboy hat.

That's the only hat I've got, except for an old fedora, but that is much more "out of style" than a cowboy hat.

[Vickers]

178. To piss off douchebags.

Very effective!

:P

[Uncle Joe]

180. Why do people wear baseball caps? n/t

[havocmom]

183. Buckle Bunnies?

Not every one of them goes home with the rodeo champ ;)

[SteppingRazor]

184. I've got a straw one that I wear sometimes when I'll be out in the sun all day.

What's the big deal?
:shrug:

[madeline_con]

188. The same reason people wear ball caps, assuming they know how,

and don't turn it sideways or backwards, to keep the sun off their head.

Google "cowboy myth" for some intersting reading.

spel edit

[ashling]

189. Because

you are an idiot...that is, Your premise is idiotic. I've got three cowboy hats. I don't wear them all the time, but then I don't wear the same clothes every day either.

But then your post reminds me that opinions are like assholes - everybody's got one.

[fascisthunter]

194. same reason some wear Laden Hosen in Bavaria

culture, pride and identity.... at least Bavarians have hundreds of years to back up their reasons.

[donco6]

209. lederhosen

sorry, my inner spelling demon made me write that.

[fascisthunter]

212. d'oh....

my mother would have slapped me across the face for fucking that word up.

[donco6]

216. me too! LOL

[Lydia Leftcoast]

195. It actually makes sense if you really work on a ranch

The cowboy hat is a functional design--for cowboys. Otherwise, it's just macho posturing.

I once looked at the Yahoo online personals for Minneapolis, and the dumbest-looking pictures were the suburban guys who were dressed up like Garth Brooks.

[AnneD]

199. Actually, the award for macho posturing....

goes to the folks wearing those big ass belt buckles. Unless you have personally won the buckle-it types you as a wannabe. You are either stick jockey or a pudknocker. Most wearing the buckles are pudknockers.

[Romulox]

198. It's like being able to get away with wearing your Spiderman Underoos in public.

Dress up fantasy.

[AnneD]

200. How large do they make underoos?

I though they just came in kid's sizes.

[Romulox]

201. I should hope they only come in kids' sizes! nt

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

202. To channel the spirit of John Wayne????

[suninvited]

203. They wear them here all the time

and we still have good old fashioned cowboys here. They wear their old hats for working and their new hats when they go out at night. I think they look good in them, too.

One funny thing I saw once when I first moved to Texas: we had wildfires tearing up the countryside here, and a group of firefighters came into the store where I was working for some refreshments when the fires were finally under control. They were all wearing fire gear and covered in soot and grime, and they were all wearing cowboy hats. I wish I had had a camera that night.

[Bozita]

204. People wear 'em hoping folks would mistake them for Sec. of the Interior Ken Salazar

[aikoaiko]

207. I think they look alright. Especially the way they wear the straw hats in Florida

[saltpoint]

211. Bob Dylan looks pretty good in a cowboy hat. And he looks pretty good

without one.

Wait a minute. Is this the zen thread?

[Hugabear]

213. Bring back the age of the hat

I'm not sure what happened to make hats go out of style, but I wouldn't mind seeing them make a comeback.

[Artie Bucco]

218. I myself pulled off

wearing a flat cap and cowboy boots. Might do the same for the Jenny Lewis show next week.

[condoleeza]

219. Aside from the obvious sun protection

they work great for removing tarantulas. Personal experience here.