Hats and Privacy Vs Public Security

[scotrace]

They Have Always Given Privacy

I may be different from the rest of the folk on the street, but I still think a hat offers privacy. I didn't think of this until this thread appeared. My hat gives me shade, protection from rain, snow, wind. And I can tip my head down on the street and pretty much vanish.

Privacy:

(thanks jamespowers)

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

Speaking of privacy, a colleague recently showed me this.

Is this a spoof?

I suppose the phone would have to be prepared at least software beforehand. Otherwise it would imply the mobile producers are all in a conspiracy, and nobody from among their employees would have told.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

Enter the ale house, walk over to the camera, take off your hat (you can put it to your chest and sadly look down in reverence to the deceased Liberty), smile into the lens, put it back where it belongs, sit down at the bar and basta.

 

[Bebop]

What could I possibly say that the FBI would want to hear? I have no problem with that. What I would like some outrage about is why I don't get every penny that I make. Why does the government take nearly half of my paycheck :rage: and once a year I have to spend a whole month with a tax expert to see if I need to give them more and we feel violated about the FBI listening in on our conversations with aunt Edna? Maybe we should wear wide brimmed hats when around our cell phone and when doing our taxes. That will keep us anonymous. lol

 

[Alan Eardley]

I may be different from the rest of the folk on the street, but I still think a hat offers privacy. I didn't think of this until this thread appeared. My hat gives me shade, protection from rain, snow, wind. And I can tip my head down on the street and pretty much vanish.

Which, in towns where I live, would be a good reason for the CCTV control room to call a police foot patrol or car to check you out. Trust me, it has happened to me.

Alan

 

[Alan Eardley]

Enter the ale house, walk over to the camera, take off your hat (you can put it to your chest and sadly look down in reverence to the deceased Liberty), smile into the lens, put it back where it belongs, sit down at the bar and basta.

Removing a hat indoors should present no burden to a man, as he would do that anyway to be polite. Its is, IMO, an imposition on ladies (particularly on those of a certain age) who expect to wear a hat indoors.

Alan

 

[carter]

Originally posted by Alan Eardley
Which, in towns where I live, would be a good reason for the CCTV control room to call a police foot patrol or car to check you out. Trust me, it has happened to me.

Alan, Would this happen to be because you are wearing a hat and carrying a blackthorn cudgel?

 

[Lancealot]

On the other hand being that "guy who always wears a hat" makes me realize how how easy it is to identify me.

Anytime I go to pick up my kids somewhere, they always find me bacause they always look for a hat.

My kids, friends and family all do the same. I'm alway easy to find.

 

[scotrace]

It's sort of a mark of individuality and protest for me. Maybe that will cause brimmed hat wearing to catch on more than anything. Sheer rebellion at the Orwellian requirements of Them.

 

[WideBrimm]

It's sort of a mark of individuality and protest for me. Maybe that will cause brimmed hat wearing to catch on more than anything. Sheer rebellion at the Orwellian requirements of Them.

Bravo! My sentiments exactly.:eusa_clap I also sport a beard. And Them that don't like it can go to heck

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Does that mean there are no hats in Heck?

 

[fatwoul]

Same thing JT said - I am an introverted person, which is why I prefer the world to be shrunk by putting a brim over the top of it. It's a security thing.

When I was at university, I wore a ballcap most of the time, and felt very exposed when they were in the wash.

Between then and now, I never really felt the need for the security the brim offers - I was much more outgoing and outspoken. Once I got my Federation that all came back to me, and now I'm my good old inwardly-turned self.

 

[WideBrimm]

Does that mean there are no hats in Heck?

Aw what the Heck!
Who knows? One can only hope that Them would be up to their necks in hats in Heck.
It would serve Them right.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

Removing a hat indoors should present no burden to a man, as he would do that anyway to be polite.

For this reason I wrote "sit down at the bar".

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

I was idly looking at some stuff in a display case at a jewellers' in a mall when the saleslady asked if she could help me. I didn't notice her for a while, I was wearing a fedora and my head was down, so she was basically talking to my hat.

Talk to the hat, pal. lol

Notice also that the leading men in a lot of movies, both Golden Era and modern period pieces wear their fedoras way back on their heads, so that the audience can see their faces.

 

[The Wingnut]

I wear hats mostly when I travel or I'm dressed up to go out on the town. I spend a lot of time indoors since I have a tech job(I have a habit of removing my hat as soon as I step through a doorway), and in my other job's work environment, headwear is forbidden since it's got the potential to do millions of dollars worth of damage to equipment. I'll wear a hat if I'm going to spend long stretches of time outdoors or if the weather is extreme(cold, rain, wind, heat, etc.), but otherwise, I'm one of those tragically casual schlubs we dislike here. I'd spend more on nicer clothes and wear them more often, but I'm hard on my clothes and would wear stuff out far too quickly...I'd hate to do that to custom items and vintage. As it is, the good stuff is for occasions or when it's practical. I've got other financial priorities right now(photos in the display case soon of where my money's getting sunk).

When I've got a hat on, I can pull my hat down low, keep an eye on the 20 yards of ground in front of me, and nobody will remember my face. Sure, they'll remember the hat, probably even the suit, but they'll miss the face. Once I'm seated, if I need a quick doze, I can pull it down over the bridge of my nose, tilt the back up, stretch out, and nobody dares disturb me. The brim of a hat is very useful in ensuring one's privacy, and I value my privacy highly. In a world where even eye contact with another person can spark a confrontation, it's nice to have a little portable psychological barrier which doubles as a touch of style.

...as far as cameras, public monitoring, and security goes, I'm of the opinion that what I do, public or private, is my business and nobody else's(especially the government's) unless I harm others. I am not a public menace and do not need to be treated as one. there is no need to monitor me unless I have previously proven myself to be a threat to those around me. Cameras have not caught on here except for traffic in urban centers, and they'll hopefully remain that way. We are not cattle, we do not need to be tagged, herded, and corralled. Yes, I do have things to hide, as is my prerogative. That does not make me a threat to those around me, nor does it make me a criminal.

 

[surely]

Wingnut

Talk like that is dangerous to the status quo. The collective eye (or is it I)is watching you you.....

 

[Alan Eardley]

Alan, Would this happen to be because you are wearing a hat and carrying a blackthorn cudgel?

No knobstick with me at the time. It happened in broad daylight in Birmingham as I was returning from a meeting. I was wearing a fedora and trenchcoat (probably the only person in that city who was). It was in the aftermath of the al-Qaida inspired London tube bombings. My wife was waiting for me in an outdoor cafe and I was nearly up to her when two police officers (one male, one female) hurried out of a mall, looked around as if looking for someone, saw me and stood in my path to stop me.

They asked me my business and searched me. I asked them why. The police woman came out with a prepared statement about 'an enhanced state of vigilance following recent terrorist events'. Fair enough. I asked why they had stopped and searched me. The younger male officer said, 'Well, you must admit, you look suspicious, dressed like that'. Suspicious? All of the bombers were Asian, young, wore sports clothing and carried rucksacks. I'm white, old, was wearing a trench coat and was carrying nothing. They had been directed to me by the CCTV controller. My wife was stunned.

When they said I looked suspicous, I think they meant...different.

Alan

 

[deanglen]

.

When they said I looked suspicous, I think they meant...different.

Alan

Yup. Different equals dangerous in some contexts. The UK is a neverending fascination to me, and I mean that positively. Somewhat Anglophilic, I have to admit, and in spite of the fact that I would be viewed as a throwback to the Reformation to many there. It's still the mother country.

dean

 

[carter]

Considering their relative age, they'd probably no reference to The Third Man. So...that couldn't have been the reason....or could it?