Is it rude?

[iLander]

Didn't read all the posts, but I did want to say something about germs and dirt.

Shoes could be the least of your problems

The dirtiest, germiest place on your body is the inside of your mouth. There are more germs there than there are in a dog's mouth.

http://news.stanford.edu/news/1999/december8/mouth-128.html

Your kitchen is probably filthy, germ-wise, similar to the story of this woman that had her home kitchen inspected by a health inspector:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/dining/29inspector.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

There a hundreds of bacteria and viruses in a single drop of seawater. There are millions of mites in your bed sheets. There are absolute tons of chemicals in your air, even if it looks clean: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/nata2002/tables.html#google

The POINT is that the human body, and it's immune system, is designed to protect you from all of these assaults. There is actually a theory that a little dirt and schmutz can help to strengthen your immune system, like a vaccination. Here is an excellent article about this: http://www.slate.com/id/2248524/

My point is that you can make yourself upset by thinking about all of these issues, or you can choose to live your life.

Compared to what you're drinking (water quality/contaminents), eating (chemicals, genetically engineered foods) and breathing (toxic airborn emissions), a little dirt on the bottom of your shoe is a pretty minor point, isn't it?

 

[iheartscience]

At the risk of getting in more trouble, ditto iLander! Also, that NY Times article was hilarious!

 

[iugurl]

You quoted me when you mentioned mental illness and mocked my use of the word fair, which implies that you were either responding to me or were offended by my posts or both. And I'm not sure how me poking fun at part of your response (mentally ill) is any different than you poking fun at mine (fair).

I do think it's funny that everyone is so mad about shoes in the house, though! Is that mean, too?

I wasn't mad until comments about how crazy people are who don't want shoes in the house. How such people think that those who do like shoes, are trying to kill people with shoe germs. lol How absurd.

You can make fun of my posts, I guess. The reason I quoted you, was because Missy said it was wrong to assume dislike of dirty shoes equals literal paranoia. You then said "to be fair..." and quoted her and whoever initially wrote the mental illness comment. It seemed as though you were defending that comment. Then you proceeded to say it yourself later. I was mad you said that I may have a mental illness (joke or not). You may like joking about it IRL. I guess I don't find it particularly funny.

It really doesn't seem as though this is going anywhere. You can think that joking about mental illness is funny. I guess we will agree to disagree. No need to fight.

 

[iheartscience]

Thanks for the permission to continue to to poke fun at ridiculousness and not take offense to everything! I definitely think joking about mental illness is super hilarious and will continue to do so as often as possible both in real life and on the interwebz! (And yes, I plan to do it with my shoes on indoors!)

 

[iugurl]

That's your prerogative

 

[movie zombie]

i can't believe this thread has gone on for 5 pages!!!!

MoZo

 

[galeteia]

I think the whole thing is hilarious, including how defensive people are getting about not being allowed to wear shoes in the house.

I am a little bemused that people aren't applying the same perspective on this that they would on other cultural 'quirks'; I included the examples of purses on the floor and eating with the left hand, which are also taboos that take on the irrational edge of a cultural thing-- note I am saying the EDGE is irrational, not the taboo itself. It's absolutely true that some floors are dirty and bugs could get in your purse, it's absolutely true that people in desert climates may have to 'go' when there is no water around for thorough hand washing, and it's also true that gross things get tracked in on people's feet onto the carpet where I sit, spread out my crafting projects, and walk with bare feet.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's funny! And look-a shoes-off and shoes-on can agree on that! As for the purse on the floor, my Filipina friend told me that if you keep your purse on the floor you'll lose your money. So it might not just be about bugs!

Yep, this thread is a hoot; since we are on the topic of carpet greeblies, you could even say they are ... getting their dander up! *ba-dum BING!*

Hmmm, the taboo here is definitely about bugs, and usually specifically about roaches. Now I guess I add "money stealing" to their list of misdeeds along with the aids-carrying and people-zombifying traits!

 

[iheartscience]

Gala-it was actually more of a superstition. Like if you keep your purse on the floor you won't earn/save much money, if that makes sense! But I suppose the roaches could carry it away, too!

 

[soberguy]

I have never been asked to remove my shoes at a party.

 

[LadyBlue]

I wear shoes at home. I'm actually almost never barefoot. Where I come from, not wear shoes is sign of poor education. So I wear water shoes (Havaianas) to shower and then I change to the shoes I'm wearing to go out or slippers if I’m staying at home. I'm actually have great and very healthy feet because my feet are always protected.

I do not sit on the floor to eat, or do anything, that’s why chairs are for. And I do not put my shoes over chairs or couches, If I lay down I took my shoes of and then put them back on when I stand up.

I'm actually I little germ phobic, the first thing I do when I get home is wash my hands, I wash my hands before eating anything, I wash my hands if I’m going to brush my teeth, put cream on my face, and after putting on my shoes.

We wear shoes wherever we go, so I don't see the necessity to take them off at home because I'm not eating, or revolting myself on the floor. Any floor.

 

[Haven]

Gala-it was actually more of a superstition. Like if you keep your purse on the floor you won't earn/save much money, if that makes sense! But I suppose the roaches could carry it away, too!

We have a similar superstition in my family--don't count money on the bed because then it will go to sleep.

I freaked out when I came home to find DH counting bills on our spare bed once. I made him go to the bank and change them out. Can't have sleeping money, those bills need to be awake and do their job for us!

 

[kama_s]

Now, the most important question here is, would you want these feet to be barefoot in your house???

P.S.: Before anyone flames me, I am in the no-shoes-at-home camp (which is not a hard and fast rule, if someone isn't comfortable with taking shoes off for a medical reason, they're more than welcome to keep them on. Just don't trek in snow and ice on my hardwood floors!)

 

[ForteKitty]

I wear shoes at home. I'm actually almost never barefoot. Where I come from, not wear shoes is sign of poor education. So I wear water shoes (Havaianas) to shower and then I change to the shoes I'm wearing to go out or slippers if I’m staying at home. I'm actually have great and very healthy feet because my feet are always protected.
.

I have a question! when you say water shoes, you mean flip flops, right? not the closed-toed reef shoes that protect you from coral and stuff at the beach? because i'm wondering if you have to take them off to wash your feet, and if so, what's the point of wearing them into the shower? (totally honest question, as i've never heard of anyone doing this unless they're in a public shower or even a hotel shower!)

 

[violet3]

To be fair, a lot of the shoes-off crew are acting like the shoes-on people are filthy, disease-tracking bums intent on poisoning their pets and children.

I agree with Emily Post and I've heard that advice before in regards to this issue. And I'd absolutely take my shoes off if asked. I'd actually take them off without being asked if I saw a pile of shoes at the front door and saw that the host/hostess was shoeless.

No one thinks the shoes-on people are intent on poisoning their pets and children. I know you're just being cheeky, but I'm just curious - for those who know now what are on your shoes, would you consider a shoe-free house?

This thread is so interesting to me -- I have a slight case of OCD when it comes to germs. I also work in a restaurant part-time serving food, which kicks my anxiety about it up a notch - suffice it to say, I wash my hands waaaaay too many times in a day. Having said that, I have NEVER EVER been asked to remove my shoes when i've gone to someone else's house. I've also (that i can recall) never seen other guests shoeless at a get together

For these reasons, I find it so interesting that there are SO many shoe-free home posters here. I'm kind of baffled by it -- I've literally never gone to another person's house and seen shoeless people...ever. I have hardwood floors, so i use a steam mop on them all the time - and it keeps them pretty clean. Having read this thread, i don't think i'll ever go shoe free entirely at my home. I take off my own shoes, but only for comfort, not for cleanliness. And in dealing with the irrationalities i have with germs, I am soooo surprised i won't instantly be going shoe free. Give me a week to stew about it, and maybe i'll change my mind

 

[iheartscience]

Now, the most important question here is, would you want these feet to be barefoot in your house???

P.S.: Before anyone flames me, I am in the no-shoes-at-home camp (which is not a hard and fast rule, if someone isn't comfortable with taking shoes off for a medical reason, they're more than welcome to keep them on. Just don't trek in snow and ice on my hardwood floors!)

SNORT. EWWWWWWW!

 

[iota15]

Eww, Kama.

Violet - The practice definitely seems to vary by area. In my area, it would be consider rude to walk more than a few meters from the front door WITH your shoes on. Guests start taking them off almost immediately after you greet each other - without prompting.

In fact, the few times I've been asked to keep them on when I travel, I felt very weird, very uncomfortable, and rude (although obviously I wasn't offending anyone). haha. Keeping them on didn't feel right at all, and I kept looking at the ground and making sure I wasn't damaging the carpet, or stepping on something nice. I also didn't know if there was something on my shoe, or if I was leaving tracks. I also just didn't feel like I could be comfortable and able to relax around my friends, like it was too formal or something. Overall, it was just odd - hehe - so I do get what the shoes-on people must feel like when asked to take them off. Am I making any sense?

 

[iota15]

Someone asked for a government study. It looks like one was conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/tip_22_leave_dirt_at_the_door_remove_your_shoes/

In a recent warning about lead exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) specifically recommends that shoes remain outside the house. According to a report called the Door Mat Study, lead-contaminated soil from the outside causes almost all the lead dust inside homes, and it notes that wiping shoes on a mat and removing them at the door cuts lead dust by 60 percent. The study explains that limiting the amount of dust and track-in may also help reduce exposure to lawn and garden pesticides, wood smoke and industrial toxins, mutagens, dust mites, and allergens.

 

[LadyBlue]

I wear shoes at home. I'm actually almost never barefoot. Where I come from, not wear shoes is sign of poor education. So I wear water shoes (Havaianas) to shower and then I change to the shoes I'm wearing to go out or slippers if I’m staying at home. I'm actually have great and very healthy feet because my feet are always protected.
.

I have a question! when you say water shoes, you mean flip flops, right? not the closed-toed reef shoes that protect you from coral and stuff at the beach? because i'm wondering if you have to take them off to wash your feet, and if so, what's the point of wearing them into the shower? (totally honest question, as i've never heard of anyone doing this unless they're in a public shower or even a hotel shower!)

Yes flip flops, and I take them off to wash my feet. I just don't like my feet to touch the floor anywhere. And that helps to keep my feet smooth for summer.

 

[natascha]

Flipping this issue around.
Some of you are saying that one should not ask people to take of their shoes since that could make them uncomfortable. Weeeellll if you have guests from cultures were the norm is to take of your shoes do you realize that you are probably making them uncomfortable by not removing outer shoes ?

Having lived for 9 years in countries were you do not take of your shoes I have learnt to accept it when the weather is good. I would be extremely embarrassed if there is snow outside or I have mud on my shoes if people do not remove their shoes. I guess that for me it is extremely rude to knowingly make a mess inside someones home, I would equate it with on purpose spilling drink or food on the floor. At the same time I would not be comfortable taking of my shoes when my hosts don't. So a bit of a catch 22.

A question for those from areas were you don't take of your shoes. Do you wear shoes that you have worn outside inside a gym?

 

[mayerling]

Flipping this issue around.


A question for those from areas were you don't take of your shoes. Do you wear shoes that you have worn outside inside a gym?

I don't go to a gym, but if I did I would.

 

[chemgirl]

Flipping this issue around.


A question for those from areas were you don't take of your shoes. Do you wear shoes that you have worn outside inside a gym?

I don't go to a gym, but if I did I would.

During school there was a rule where we couldn't wear outside shoes during gym class so that makes me feel weird about wearing outside shoes in the gym now. The gym in my building has signs saying no outside shoes. I have a membership for a public gym and I do wear outside running shoes because they are my comfy pair. I wash them before going to the gym and I change in to them at the gym.

I feel like people are judging me and thinking I'm totally rude for wearing my stained shoes that have clearly been outside at the gym.

ETA: sorry, I misread your question. I'm in a "no shoes in the house" area.