Are shoes off people a bit weird?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's weird you had a conversation with a coworker about how many people were at his party and what their feet were doing. This is not a normal topic of conversation.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how do the shoes off people accommodate older guests who have to wear shoes?

I have to wear inserts and shoes all the time or I am in pain.

If you live in a shoes off culture I think you would bring inside shoes along. In the US, I think you'd have to tell the host. In the US I kind of think it's on the host to make shoes off clear before the party if it's a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having sweaty guys’ bare feet on your rug is gross but having everyone’s shoes that walk around outside in excrement daily is grosser.

Perhaps just don’t walk in $hit. It’s easily avoidable if you have functioning eyes

You can't see fecal matter, urine, vomit, and other bodily fluids that have residuals all over streets and sidewalks. Imagine walking all over the streets of a city like San Fran where it smells like urine everywhere, and people are constantly defecating in the streets. Sure, you might not step in a mound, but the residue is everywhere. You really want to walk in the streets of San Fran that's teeming with hepatitis C and then all over your house to track it on the floors and carpets? So nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do the shoes off people accommodate older guests who have to wear shoes?

I have to wear inserts and shoes all the time or I am in pain.

I have a shoes-off house and am from a shoes-off family. My parents (who need inserts) travel with their own "indoor shoes." Other guests who aren't comfortable without shoes I would tell to keep their shoes on but it does make me cringe a bit. Almost everyone I know is shoes off in their own home, although the flexibility for guests varies. To be honest I not as grossed out the always shoes on houses (if everyone wears shoes all the time it just means your household floors are basically the sidewalk) so much as baffled -- why do you all want to wear your shoes all the time? Do you also wear your bra right up until you go to bed at night?

Different post but I also have orthotics and I wear shoes all the time. I hate being barefoot anywhere but the beach/pool/water activity.

And I also wear my bra up until I go to bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm south Asian, my husband is eastern European, both of us are from "shoes off" cultures. Wearing dirty shoes, with mud and animal poop on them, makes your floors dirtier. It's just obvious.

I will say all of our immigrant parents wear house shoes/slides that never leave the house. Our relatives in India/Poland do this, too. Their houses are all immaculately clean.

When my husband went to school, in eastern Europe, the kids would all take off their outside shoes and put on slippers. so maybe that is something that would ease OPs aversion to "sweaty feet." This might be a cultural norm in "no shoe" cultures that for some reason didn't make it to America.

It is. The slipper thing was specifically explained as part of an expat orientation once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get everyday shoes-off people. I don't get asking guests to take their shoes off.

It's one night. Clean your floors tomorrow.

Same. When we have parties people can keep their shoes on &- we just wash the floors the next day.

[Anonymous]

It is a phobia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having sweaty guys’ bare feet on your rug is gross but having everyone’s shoes that walk around outside in excrement daily is grosser.

Where do you live where poop is everywhere and you step in it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having sweaty guys’ bare feet on your rug is gross but having everyone’s shoes that walk around outside in excrement daily is grosser.

Perhaps just don’t walk in $hit. It’s easily avoidable if you have functioning eyes

You can't see fecal matter, urine, vomit, and other bodily fluids that have residuals all over streets and sidewalks. Imagine walking all over the streets of a city like San Fran where it smells like urine everywhere, and people are constantly defecating in the streets. Sure, you might not step in a mound, but the residue is everywhere. You really want to walk in the streets of San Fran that's teeming with hepatitis C and then all over your house to track it on the floors and carpets? So nasty.

I don't think that is how hep c is transmitted.

According to google:

Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood from an infected person. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.

[Anonymous]

Okay, but how big is this house that they can host 40-60 people indoors? Where did they put all of those shoes? Was there a shoe and coat check? I feel like gatherings that large are typically split inside and outside. Plus, with that number of people there are bound to be spills. Outdoor shoes may be gross, but it spares your guest soiling their socks on a spilled drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having sweaty guys’ bare feet on your rug is gross but having everyone’s shoes that walk around outside in excrement daily is grosser.

Perhaps just don’t walk in $hit. It’s easily avoidable if you have functioning eyes

You can't see fecal matter, urine, vomit, and other bodily fluids that have residuals all over streets and sidewalks. Imagine walking all over the streets of a city like San Fran where it smells like urine everywhere, and people are constantly defecating in the streets. Sure, you might not step in a mound, but the residue is everywhere. You really want to walk in the streets of San Fran that's teeming with hepatitis C and then all over your house to track it on the floors and carpets? So nasty.

I don't think that is how hep c is transmitted.

According to google:

Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood from an infected person. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs.

No one is saying you're going to get hep C from walking inside with your shoes on, but you're still walking all over streets and sidewalks with nasty residues of human and animal bodily fluids and waste, plus dirty, grime, grease, and other revolting stuff. Why bring it in the house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having sweaty guys’ bare feet on your rug is gross but having everyone’s shoes that walk around outside in excrement daily is grosser.

Where do you live where poop is everywhere and you step in it?

NYC, Philly, San Fran, Chicago, DC.....heck, most major cities.

[Anonymous]

Ours is a “shoes off” home, and when we had dogs we would wipe their paws when they came in from outside. In addition to all the disgusting germs that can be tracked in, you can also drag in heavy metals like lead that are toxic to young children. We are not strict on this rule for parties because we host so rarely and can clean rugs and floors after, but we insist on it for visitors and overnight guests. Elderly relatives are advised to bring indoor shoes if they don’t have a pair here already.

[Anonymous]

OP--do you have any, any Asian or Asian American friends? Do you label any culture that is not yours as "weird"?

FWIW, our pediatrician recommends that families with crawling babies keep their shoes off at home. Not only because of the literal animal poop that your shoes can bring into your home, but because of lead that your shoes track in from outdoor dust and dirt in urban areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get everyday shoes-off people. I don't get asking guests to take their shoes off.

It's one night. Clean your floors tomorrow.

But what if you have to walk through the house after the party is over but before the cleaners have had a chance to arrive?