Weird habits of the house/houseguest

[Anonymous]

We are a no shoes house and I just want to say, to all those who are worried about the state of their feet - I don't look at anyone's feet or socks or anything. I want shoes off because I think it's unhygienic, and almost everyone who comes to our house just takes their shoes off automatically as they see the shoes by the door. If you have a good reason to wear shoes then that's fine, but I really don't care if someone hasn't had a pedicure or has a hole in their sock.

[Anonymous]

I cannot read all the responses, but to the no shoe households...do you own a dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot read all the responses, but to the no shoe households...do you own a dog?

My no shoe house friends who own dogs wipe their paws when they come in the house and I respect their wishes if they specify no shoes when I ask. Their house, their rules! Besides, you can't smell dog houses like you can when a cat or two or ten is in the house. I have neither, but I can smell cats immediately, even if they are nowhere in sight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot read all the responses, but to the no shoe households...do you own a dog?

I don't, and hygiene is one of the reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot read all the responses, but to the no shoe households...do you own a dog?

I don't, and hygiene is one of the reasons.

I loved your character on Northern Exposure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot read all the responses, but to the no shoe households...do you own a dog?

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a no shoes house and I just want to say, to all those who are worried about the state of their feet - I don't look at anyone's feet or socks or anything. I want shoes off because I think it's unhygienic, and almost everyone who comes to our house just takes their shoes off automatically as they see the shoes by the door. If you have a good reason to wear shoes then that's fine, but I really don't care if someone hasn't had a pedicure or has a hole in their sock.

Exactly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not particularly weird, but I’m not a fan of situations where the host asks you to remove shoes and there’s no advance warning that it’s a shoe-free house and no provision of slippers. From cold feet, to holey socks, to athlete’s foot, there are a lot of reasons why some of us are more comfortable with shoes on and need some sort of heads-up if we must remove them.

This is such a common expectation now its weird to be put off by it. And as there’s so much supporting evidence of all the literal crap shoes bring in-I find shoe wearing homes gross.

This. I would never expressly ask someone to remove their shoes but I'd hope they'd be polite enough to notice our shoe shelf by our front door with everyone's everyday shoes on it, the fact that we have all removed our shoes, etc.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not particularly weird, but I’m not a fan of situations where the host asks you to remove shoes and there’s no advance warning that it’s a shoe-free house and no provision of slippers. From cold feet, to holey socks, to athlete’s foot, there are a lot of reasons why some of us are more comfortable with shoes on and need some sort of heads-up if we must remove them.

This is such a common expectation now its weird to be put off by it. And as there’s so much supporting evidence of all the literal crap shoes bring in-I find shoe wearing homes gross.

This. I would never expressly ask someone to remove their shoes but I'd hope they'd be polite enough to notice our shoe shelf by our front door with everyone's everyday shoes on it, the fact that we have all removed our shoes, etc.....

They're politely assuming that you wouldn't impose your footwear choices on your guests, or that if you're really obsessive about it, you'd politely let them know beforehand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a no shoes house and I just want to say, to all those who are worried about the state of their feet - I don't look at anyone's feet or socks or anything. I want shoes off because I think it's unhygienic, and almost everyone who comes to our house just takes their shoes off automatically as they see the shoes by the door. If you have a good reason to wear shoes then that's fine, but I really don't care if someone hasn't had a pedicure or has a hole in their sock.

How do you handle people who usually walk around barefooted outside, and slip sandals or shoes on only to drive somewhere?

[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.

+1 White person married to an Indian. I lived in India for a while and was constantly asked if I could handle spices.

[Anonymous]

I get the not wanting shoes in your house, but my feet sweat like crazy, so I hope you don't mind me sweating all over your nice clean carpet and leaving damp footprints on your floors when I take off my shoes. This happens with or without socks, btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a no shoes house and I just want to say, to all those who are worried about the state of their feet - I don't look at anyone's feet or socks or anything. I want shoes off because I think it's unhygienic, and almost everyone who comes to our house just takes their shoes off automatically as they see the shoes by the door. If you have a good reason to wear shoes then that's fine, but I really don't care if someone hasn't had a pedicure or has a hole in their sock.

How do you handle people who usually walk around barefooted outside, and slip sandals or shoes on only to drive somewhere?

I don't think I know anyone like this. I would assume they frequently wash their feet, though.

[Anonymous]

My ILs make people sit on towels on all furniture

Is this after the gym, or a run? Or you're sweating?

[Anonymous]

I once stayed at a friend's house on an island in Maine where there was no electricity other than a generator. They had indoor plumbing and an outhouse, but you were expected to use the outhouse during daylight hours. With the inside toilet, you flushed only for #2. Showers were limited and if you took one, you had to turn the water on only while getting wet or rinsing off. It was different...but made me realize how wasteful our creature comforts can be sometimes.