Weird habits of the house/houseguest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When people come over and ask about removing their shoes, I say it's preferred but not required and they can do whatever is most comfortable.

When I go to other's houses, I assume it's no shoes and plan accordingly. What I dislike is when the floors are dirty and/or cold and/or slippery (wood floors often meet all three of those, especially for people with kids and pets). Under those circumstances, please allow people to keep their shoes on or provide socks/slippers.

Overall, I dislike wearing shoes and will kick my shoes off any chance I get, so if I'm balking at taking my shoes off, there must be a good reason ( really dirty floors being #1; I have a high tolerance for schmutz.)

THIS! I have a friend whose home I frequent a lot. She says they have a no shoe house except they have cats who leave bails of hair everywhere (some are cat throw up hair balls). They do not sweep or vacuum and do not have a cleaning service. In addition to the cat stuff I have stepped on scotch tape, food crumbs, leaves,etc. Also other family members wear their shoes in the house. Needless to say I disregard the no shoes rule in that house. I'm not bringing special shoes or slippers to your house because you are a slob who pretends not to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's 2019, and you live near DC. Assume that if you are going to a household where at least one adult is of Asian descent, you will have to remove your shoes. Get over it. I prepare for all kinds of cultural differences when I go to white people's homes...

I agree with you.

NP and genuinely curious: how do you prepare for cultural differences in white people's homes? (Just curious for the perspective that I might not be aware of.)

NP. Food with no seasoning. No washcloths.

[Anonymous]

A group of friends stayed a family cabin in Colorado a few years ago. We are not a rowdy bunch, but the friend's parents decided to be there while we were there. Again, were all trustworthy adults, just enjoying the cabin's proximity to great hiking trails and restaurants.

Every morning, the mother would wake up early to make her own pot of coffee. Then she would make a big show of transferring it to a pot on the stove to keep it warm so we could make our coffee. We always invited her to enjoy our coffee because it was clear that we were inconveniencing her with our very presence. We were all using the same bag of coffee, so it had nothing to do with brand preferences.

We cooked a few group meals, and always invited her to join. She never joined, but would heat up a sad microwave meal or can of soup WHILE we were in the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so offensive and insulting when I go to the home of a friend of another culture and they have a nice spread of their food for dinner and then some random 'white people food' also tossed on the table. I'm not a picky eater at all and will try everything once. I also have no issues with spice. Even good friends will do this, like people I've known for years. I was at a dinner party about a month or so ago with a fantastic spread of Indian foods. Some of the best I've had, honestly, and then a smaller table with hot dogs, potato chips, and dip. Like really? Of course no one ate the hot dogs and then the hosts were a bit put off by the waste of that food. They made To Go bags of hot dogs for all us white people to take home.

Those are usually for kids who are happier with familiar foods.

Also, perhaps you are not a picky eater and are okay with spicy food but rest assured that many folks have a hard time with them. We are from a different part of India and don’t usually serve the typical North Indian food which local restaurants do. I cannot expect everyone to even begin to understand how to eat what we serve.

It would be good if you could graciously take it as them being accommodating and not insulting. It’s not something negative, only you are turning it into that.

NP. Wow. You think it's not an insult to provide HOT DOGS for white people? Like that's what true American cuisine that most people eat on a regular basis? OK. It would be one thing to set out your North Indian spread and also include a fairly simple roast chicken and some decent sides. But hot dogs and chips, really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who keep a 'no shoes' house, do you have teen boys?

I used to have this rule until my son became and teen and the stinky feet set in. He'd bring home a bunch of friends and the foyer would smell like a locker room! I now allow them to keep their shoes on and purchased a carpet cleaner that I use twice/month on the high-traffic areas. Best purchase ever!

Shoe covers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is people's hygiene so bad that they dread taking off their shoes in front of others? Gross. Wear clean socks. Take a bath, use a pumice stone, file and shape your nails, treat your fungus.

+1

That's just gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is people's hygiene so bad that they dread taking off their shoes in front of others? Gross. Wear clean socks. Take a bath, use a pumice stone, file and shape your nails, treat your fungus.

+1

That's just gross.

NP who also wrecked her feet as a dancer. I have the worst cracked heels ever. Within days of getting a pedicure, the skin is all dry and cracked, with deep cracks the bleed. It looks terrible, but I would need a pedicure every day to even remotely deal with it, many times there’s still rough cracked skin even after a pedicure. I’ve tried every cream, doing a pumice stone daily in the shower, nothing helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it so offensive and insulting when I go to the home of a friend of another culture and they have a nice spread of their food for dinner and then some random 'white people food' also tossed on the table. I'm not a picky eater at all and will try everything once. I also have no issues with spice. Even good friends will do this, like people I've known for years. I was at a dinner party about a month or so ago with a fantastic spread of Indian foods. Some of the best I've had, honestly, and then a smaller table with hot dogs, potato chips, and dip. Like really? Of course no one ate the hot dogs and then the hosts were a bit put off by the waste of that food. They made To Go bags of hot dogs for all us white people to take home.

Those are usually for kids who are happier with familiar foods.

Also, perhaps you are not a picky eater and are okay with spicy food but rest assured that many folks have a hard time with them. We are from a different part of India and don’t usually serve the typical North Indian food which local restaurants do. I cannot expect everyone to even begin to understand how to eat what we serve.

It would be good if you could graciously take it as them being accommodating and not insulting. It’s not something negative, only you are turning it into that.

NP. Wow. You think it's not an insult to provide HOT DOGS for white people? Like that's what true American cuisine that most people eat on a regular basis? OK. It would be one thing to set out your North Indian spread and also include a fairly simple roast chicken and some decent sides. But hot dogs and chips, really?

How is it an insult? I love hot dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is people's hygiene so bad that they dread taking off their shoes in front of others? Gross. Wear clean socks. Take a bath, use a pumice stone, file and shape your nails, treat your fungus.

+1

That's just gross.

NP who also wrecked her feet as a dancer. I have the worst cracked heels ever. Within days of getting a pedicure, the skin is all dry and cracked, with deep cracks the bleed. It looks terrible, but I would need a pedicure every day to even remotely deal with it, many times there’s still rough cracked skin even after a pedicure. I’ve tried every cream, doing a pumice stone daily in the shower, nothing helps.

I have the same problem. Another former dancer here. I am always sure to wear clean socks, or at least have clean feet, and I don't walk around with warts (I would treat them if I had them).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is people's hygiene so bad that they dread taking off their shoes in front of others? Gross. Wear clean socks. Take a bath, use a pumice stone, file and shape your nails, treat your fungus.

+1

That's just gross.

NP who also wrecked her feet as a dancer. I have the worst cracked heels ever. Within days of getting a pedicure, the skin is all dry and cracked, with deep cracks the bleed. It looks terrible, but I would need a pedicure every day to even remotely deal with it, many times there’s still rough cracked skin even after a pedicure. I’ve tried every cream, doing a pumice stone daily in the shower, nothing helps.

No opinion on the shoe thing - but you have fungus. You need to treat the disease - not the symptoms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is people's hygiene so bad that they dread taking off their shoes in front of others? Gross. Wear clean socks. Take a bath, use a pumice stone, file and shape your nails, treat your fungus.

+1

That's just gross.

NP who also wrecked her feet as a dancer. I have the worst cracked heels ever. Within days of getting a pedicure, the skin is all dry and cracked, with deep cracks the bleed. It looks terrible, but I would need a pedicure every day to even remotely deal with it, many times there’s still rough cracked skin even after a pedicure. I’ve tried every cream, doing a pumice stone daily in the shower, nothing helps.

No opinion on the shoe thing - but you have fungus. You need to treat the disease - not the symptoms.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People with no-shoes-in-the-house policies are rude if they don’t provide medical booties to slip OVER the shoe for guests who need arch support, have feet problems, etc.

this is a total no brainer because hospitality is 100% and not one iota less about making your guests feel welcome and comfortable. If the first thing you do is hit me with a shoes off request without forewarning, you’ve already made me feel awkward.

While I agree with you 100%, sadly the entitled people around here are more concerned with keeping their floors spotless. Who cares about the stinkin’ guests when the maid won’t be here til next week?!?

You see rather ignorant, selfish and probably lazy for not taking off your shoes if you know it is a shoes off house. It is a universal practice, to do what the host is doing. You need to get out more. I always assume there is good reason for not having shoes - not just a pissing contest, like you want to make it. Some people have severe allergies, and cannot have shoes in their house. I respect that their health comes first. That is not up to you to decide. Take it down a couple notches.

Yep, when my child’s lead levels came back high the first thing Pediatrician recommended was to take our shoes off in the home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is people's hygiene so bad that they dread taking off their shoes in front of others? Gross. Wear clean socks. Take a bath, use a pumice stone, file and shape your nails, treat your fungus.

+1

That's just gross.

NP who also wrecked her feet as a dancer. I have the worst cracked heels ever. Within days of getting a pedicure, the skin is all dry and cracked, with deep cracks the bleed. It looks terrible, but I would need a pedicure every day to even remotely deal with it, many times there’s still rough cracked skin even after a pedicure. I’ve tried every cream, doing a pumice stone daily in the shower, nothing helps.

STOP with the excuses!! Take care of your feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is people's hygiene so bad that they dread taking off their shoes in front of others? Gross. Wear clean socks. Take a bath, use a pumice stone, file and shape your nails, treat your fungus.

+1

That's just gross.

NP who also wrecked her feet as a dancer. I have the worst cracked heels ever. Within days of getting a pedicure, the skin is all dry and cracked, with deep cracks the bleed. It looks terrible, but I would need a pedicure every day to even remotely deal with it, many times there’s still rough cracked skin even after a pedicure. I’ve tried every cream, doing a pumice stone daily in the shower, nothing helps.

I'm not a dancer but I walk a lot - and similarly, my feet are terrible. It's one of the reasons why I get pedicures so infrequently - it almost doesn't seem worth the time or $, since my feet get bad again so quickly. If I knew I were going to a no shoes house, I would try to get a pedicure just before going there - or else be sure I wear socks. (I live in a hot climate, so mostly am wearing sandals - no socks.)

Anyway - if you prefer not warning us before we come over that you'll expect to see my feet, then you'll just be stuck seeing my feet, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents - whom I love to the depth of my soul - have funny rules regarding garbage.

They have a big garbage can in the kitchen but you're not allowed to put anything in it. They have a small bag in the sink and you have to put most of your garbage into that, but sometimes the garbage goes into another bag they keep on the floor next to the big can.

They also have several recycling receptacles and you must be sure that you put the right thing into the right receptacle.

I'm 45 years old and still haven't cracked their system.

Ok-- my parents too. WHAT IS THIS????? there is always a little grocery store plastic bag in the sink that gets all the trash for the day and then gets thrown out. What goes in the ACTUAL trash can? I don't know? i don't get the system at all.