June 6, 2010

h/t = hat tip


globalnerdy.com/.../ 2007/12/etiquette.jpg

In the blogosphere, h/t = hat tip

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Meaning

➤ A hat tip, or doff (British English) is a cultural expression of recognition, respect, gratitude, greeting, or simple salutation and acknowledgment or simple  salutation and acknowledgement between two persons.

➤ h/t  or hat tip in the blogosphere is an acknowledgement to someone (or a website) for bringing something to the blogger’s attention.
• Hat tip is also, sometimes, abbreviated as h/t or HT.  —blogossary.com

In the 2000s, the term "hat tip" (often abbreviated to "HT") rose to prominence in the blogosphere to acknowledge someone who has made a significant contribution toward an effort, or someone who drew attention to something new or interesting. The on-line versions of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times regularly give hat tips to users who bring ideas for articles to their attention. —en.wikipedia.org

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H/t in use
Today (h/t Ben Smith) the Clinton Presidential Library started posting memos Elena Kagan wrote while serving in that Administration as a senior policy aide. —Institute for Public Affairs, May 12, 2010 "Another Kagan Tea Leaf re: Religion
 The ACLU's recent litigation against alleged unlawful detention in Colorado (h/t immigration law prof) suggests that policies that encourage the criminalization of immigrants will invite not only political antipathy, but also endless lawsuits. —Michelle Chen, Blogger, In These Times and Racewire.org Posted April 24, 2010, 10:37 AM Huffington Post.com
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Comments

The h/t symbol is the equivalent of a footnote's number or asterisk. As with the footnote, the h/t can provide as much secondary information for the reader as the writer chooses to impart. The first example sentence above gives the h/t  tag to someone named Dave, with no information about his identity, expertise, or whereabouts. 

In the second example sentence,  "(h/t immigration law prof)"  accommodates the curious reader's needs with a hot-text link to the "Law Prof Blog," a site offering commentary on pertinent legal precedents.  

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Hats, during the 20th and 21st centuries


Indiana Jones in fedora
codingpad.maryspad.com

The public wearing of hats — notably the fedora — among American men during the 20th century was fairly common until 1960, when John F. Kennedy chose to take the oath of office for President of the United States hatless in an outdoor environment. Although he had brought a hat with him, he stowed it prior to taking the oath.  The rostrum moment was telegenically electric — the mature young man with an attractive head of hair "braving" a chilly wind at the onset of his tenure as President, with live television networks sending across the world a surprising, bold new fashion statement. 

In her essay "History of Fedora Hats," eHow Contributing Writer Laura Dixon explains briefly  the "don again"-"doff again" attitudes American men and women have taken toward the fedora:
The fluctuating popularity of the fedora throughout the years has been greatly influenced by popular entertainment. In the 1940s and 1950s, famous entertainers like Humphrey Bogart and Frank Sinatra made the fedora part of their film and stage repertoire, causing production of the fedora to soar. Three decades later, the fedora played a token role in the Indiana Jones movie trilogy, acquainting a whole new generation with the classic. Meanwhile, Michael Jackson and rappers such as Run DMC showed that the fedora hat could be cool again.  
Most recently, popular entertainers including Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears have worn them during concerts, while young celebrities continue to fuel the fedora comeback by being photographed sporting the chic hat. 
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Social Customs for Donning, Doffing, and Tipping Hats

As Nora Dixon notes (above), the brimmed hat — in particular the fedora —is making a comeback — notably among women. There are no rules specifically designated for ladies about hat etiquette, but there are are time-honored customs for gentlemen, customs that the punctilious among us might want to observe, either to add a bit of subdued panache to one's public self-presentation or simply to honor the continuity of custom.  

Below (with a h/t to wikihow.com) is "How to Practice Male Hat Etiquette" by Harold R. Flickety, et al., a thorough-going description of how to handle a hat in public with social propriety, as well as style.  

Steps

Understand the terms. 
• You don your hat. This means to put it on.
• You doff your hat. This means to take it off.
• You tip your hat. This means to grab the rim of the hat and lift up slightly or to grab the rim of the hat and gently tug forward with your index finger and thumb.
• Grab the crown of your hat. This is the top of the hat that is bowl-like.

2
Understand the methods by which you don and doff your hat.
• To don your hat, grab the crown and place the hat on top of your head.
• To doff your hat, grab the crown and lift up and bring forward.
• Keep the interior of the hat facing towards you, so as not to expose it outwards.

3
Understand the situations when you don your hat or leave it on after you have donned it.
• Don your hat when going outside.
• Leave your hat on while in the lobby or elevator of a building.
• Don your hat after conversation with a lady or group of ladies.
• Leave your hat on while in a large, public arena.

4
Understand the situations when you tip your hat.
• Tip your hat to an acquaintance of any gender when in public.
• No need to doff your hat unless you start a conversation.
• Tip your hat when meeting a male friend or acquaintance or a group of males. 
• Tip your hat when leaving the same friend or group.

5
Understand the situations when you doff your hat or leave it off after you have doffed it.
• Doff your hat when you come inside.
• Doff your hat when you enter into a conversation with a lady, a group of ladies, or an individual escorting a lady or group of ladies.
• Leave your hat off when in a private or intimate setting such as a party or box seats.
• Doff your hat when coming into the presence of a dignitary or important individual of any gender. This can be someone like the mayor, or someone like the President of the United States. It indicates deference, respect, and a humble approach.

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