Being asked to take off my hat.

I can relate to that only my problem is just noise levels (background music in shops) hot spotlights, too much clutter or too many people. And then there's shop staff who treat you badly because you look different. You end up avoiding lots of places.

I'm wondering if the hats rule is a recent trend or an excuse, because hats - I used to see that a lot more. Some people dont like lasers or strong spotlights so a hat with a skip seems eminently sensible.

I think you might have a good case for discrimination - simply on the visual overload issue - they shouldn't be able to enforce a rule that makes people vulnerable.

With pubs etc ask you local councillor to raise it with licensing. With shops it is probably harder, as the usual advice is, if they want to scare off customers in the current economic climate, it is their look out.

Some restaurants used to ban trainers or shorts. But once lots of people were wearing them they either gave in or went under.

There's a lot to be said for making a stand and insisting on wearing a hat. It may change the fashion, especially if the hat is designed well, cool (if that still means anything) to wear.

A problem I have in some pubs, mostly big chains, is sitting at the bar. Certain pub groups wont allow bar stools at the bar. I'm very tall. Most people hang around the bar so if there's people you want to try to be with, that's where you need to be. Trouble is I'm then stooping, and they are talking to my chest.

 Option, I get a bar stool over and sit. Oh no you can't do that in here. If you want to sit you go over there (where there's nobody else and it looks as if you're contagious)

'At the end of the day' if they think they can get away with it because they're over supplied with custom, they're probably too busy for me to go into them.

I can relate to that only my problem is just noise levels (background music in shops) hot spotlights, too much clutter or too many people. And then there's shop staff who treat you badly because you look different. You end up avoiding lots of places.

I'm wondering if the hats rule is a recent trend or an excuse, because hats - I used to see that a lot more. Some people dont like lasers or strong spotlights so a hat with a skip seems eminently sensible.

I think you might have a good case for discrimination - simply on the visual overload issue - they shouldn't be able to enforce a rule that makes people vulnerable.

With pubs etc ask you local councillor to raise it with licensing. With shops it is probably harder, as the usual advice is, if they want to scare off customers in the current economic climate, it is their look out.

Some restaurants used to ban trainers or shorts. But once lots of people were wearing them they either gave in or went under.

There's a lot to be said for making a stand and insisting on wearing a hat. It may change the fashion, especially if the hat is designed well, cool (if that still means anything) to wear.

A problem I have in some pubs, mostly big chains, is sitting at the bar. Certain pub groups wont allow bar stools at the bar. I'm very tall. Most people hang around the bar so if there's people you want to try to be with, that's where you need to be. Trouble is I'm then stooping, and they are talking to my chest.

 Option, I get a bar stool over and sit. Oh no you can't do that in here. If you want to sit you go over there (where there's nobody else and it looks as if you're contagious)

'At the end of the day' if they think they can get away with it because they're over supplied with custom, they're probably too busy for me to go into them.