I have not worn ties for Yeeeeeeaaaarrrss, but do think that they "finish" a "neat" combination of clothing, making it "neat formal".
Using a tie to add colour or design, is also very handy. There is always a thin line between decent and respectable and the "just don't care"way of dressing.
When people who have respect for others, know each other, and dress neatly of their own accoord, are given freedom to wear or not to wear a tie, that is no issue, as all "know"of the others that they all are respectful, neat, but when new people come in, not dressed in the "known image with tie" then you do not know what is behind his "easy manner of dressing".
That can lead to a steady decline in discipline, and recognisability, which in turn asks for the return of discipline, in the form of a well known way of dressing, wearing the tie. Not all can carry the responsibility of dressing and behaving well when it is not enforced. There is always more to the picture than first meets the eye. Just as wearing a skirt at work is no big deal, but for the "known image"is a disturbing factor which may lead to the top requiring everybody to dress the same, ie in trousers. Only with a good explanation and understanding of how these things work can there be a change in how we are dressed at work with no negative consequences.
I had a school uniform in AUS, in the 1970's, in Technical school, and remember that we had something new, once in a....... month we were allowed to wear our own non school clothes. That was exciting. And was not a real problem, because we had a "free "day, and went back to basics.
But with school uniforms, everybody was equal, orderly, and others could see that you were a student, something to be proud of, ( I was) .
With school children ( under 18) in their own clothing, they are no longer recognisable as such, loose some proudness for who they are, what they do, being not recognisable, the differences in welfare, parents income, become more easily seen, "gang" clothing comes, and so you see that it is not always freedom in "freedom". There is somethimes more personal freedom in an unchallenging "uniform" than the so called "free choice" do what you like situation. And so the "uniform" with tie for the neater jobs is not nessecarily a bad thing. BUT I do think that there be a free choice to wear or not, as long as the same level of respect, decent way of dress is maintained. As long as you show the same level of "respectful neatness" without a tie, that should be no problem for any boss.
Privately is no issue, as you choose how you want to look. At the moment women are using shawls again, as they did in the 50's, to dress up their necks, as thet see fit. I think men could do the same, with ties, with this note, that the shirt being worn, should be of the correct neck size, so that when the tie is done up right against the buttoned up collar, it has enough room left over to be comfortable. That is possibly where tie wearing goes wrong, the collar being either too wide, or too tight.
Amazing how much I can think to say about tie wearing.
I also think wearing a tie makes you more aware that you are dressed neatly, and not "casually", having a effect of not so easily being "casual" at least at work.
ie, being casually dressed, influences you, wearing (old trousers ) a less dressed skirt, and a t shirt lets you go about doing odd jobs around the house easier than when dressed in a three piece suit.
There is some psychology behind the way we dress.
And as I have said, people who have morales, are trustworthy, well mannered, and so on, will not act any differently when dressed otherwise than the old rules stated, but those rules may be needed for the others who without those rules imposed would not out of themselves function as desired.
Peter v