Post: #26

(12-30-2012 06:50 PM)houston Wrote:  

(12-30-2012 01:25 PM)Albertron Wrote:  Hate to sound so ignorant, but watching certain American TV show's, I'll see some of the characters keep their shoes on while sitting on their bed. Like Giovanny said, some cultures take their shoes off to keep their floors clean, while others keep them on to keep their feet clean. But, to those who keep their shoes on... also on the bed? Yuck.

Yep, most of us rub the shoes on beds and couches.

Post: #27

(12-30-2012 05:02 AM)Vicious Wrote:  I don't think this is a strictly asian thing. Most of Europe has the same thing going. What diws it loke like in latin America?

You would be laughed off and called a pussy if you did that here.

Post: #28

(12-29-2012 07:00 PM)Giovonny Wrote:  I think Beyond Borders said it...

In Asia, they take their shoes off to keep the floor clean. In America, they keep their shoes on to keep their feet clean.


I love that. Keep the fucking floor clean!

Nope - wadn't me...

That said, I fully concur with the no shoes in the house. Always made sense to me, even long before I ever traveled abroad. Just far easier to keep the place clean.

I think it catches people off guard in America due to the fact that, since it's not a cultural standard, many people don't prepare by making sure their feet are clean, don't stink, etc. lol

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #29

There was always a no shoes policy in my household. I've always taken my shoes off when in someone's home, even if they haven't asked me to take them off.

If you're going to have a no shoes policy at your own place, I suggest having a few pairs of slippers or house shoes for guests. My friend told me this story about some chick refusing to take her shoes off in his place because he didn't have anything for her to wear.

Post: #30

I would find it pretty gross if somebody made me put on slippers. Am I the only one who would be wondering who else had worn them, sweated in them, etc.?

I like the 'no shoes' rule when having chicks over, per Tuthmosis' recipe, because it adds a nice layer of completely innocuous inconvenience to her getting cold feet (no pun intended) and bailing. When her shoes are off, she's more comfortable and less able to simply walk out. When I'm by myself though, I don't strictly take my shoes off. Usually, though, they do end up coming off within 15 minutes to an hour, when I take my tie off if I'm wearing one. Obviously, if my shoes are notably dirty this is different, but not living in a huge city, the sidewalks are more likely to have leaves on them than litter, vomit, etc. I have carpet in my apartment, and vacuuming once a week is plenty to keep it looking great and my feet/socks clean when going barefoot, even if I or my guests leave their shoes on for hours regularly. When I had wooden floors in my last apartment, I had to keep my shoes on -I could sweep and vacuum daily and my feet would still get filthy.

I think in the old days in the West it was more common to keep shoes on, for warmth, and also because if you're living in a dirt-floor cottage, there's not much point in trying to exclude more dirt. That's if you had shoes at all, and if you didn't, you'd obviously be barefoot inside and out, and probably kept the habit when you got shoes of not being overly concerned. Only in the 20th century in the West has daily life been consistently clean enough for the habit of taking shoes off to emerge. Nowadays, building techniques allow for the outside to be almost hermetically sealed out, and the typical person doesn't have the contact with nature that their grandparents did. A kitchen in 1900 was a rough workroom by comparison with today, often where produce was canned, firewood was lugged in, and animals may even have been slaughtered or dealt with after, not a perfectly spotless room to act as the centerpiece of a house and show off the granite countertops.

Post: #31

(12-31-2012 04:16 PM)_GQ_ Wrote:  If you're going to have a no shoes policy at your own place, I suggest having a few pairs of slippers or house shoes for guests.

A couple pairs of Debo slippers from the dollar store, perhaps?

Post: #32

I think it is unnecessary to remove your shoes when you enter. Why worry so much about germs? If your shoes are muddy, then yes by all means remove them, but otherwise it seems too anal. For the purpose of comfort, I like to wear slippers or flip flops in the house, but guests are under no such rules.

Post: #33

(12-31-2012 06:23 PM)durangotang Wrote:  I think it is unnecessary to remove your shoes when you enter. Why worry so much about germs? If your shoes are muddy, then yes by all means remove them, but otherwise it seems too anal. For the purpose of comfort, I like to wear slippers or flip flops in the house, but guests are under no such rules.

I really don't think it takes that much effort to take your shoes off, it's not that laborious of a chore, especially if you're going to be posting up and chilling in the house for a while. Sometimes if I'm just running in to grab something real quick, I'll leave them on, but think about all the nasty shit you could be stepping into every day.

Living in a smaller town vs. big city also makes a big difference, but for example the town I mostly kick it in has a problem with homeless transient traveler types. Most of these people have dogs, and the dogs shit all over the streets and sidewalks. Unless you are super diligent and always looking at the ground when you walk, there is a good chance that eventually you're going to step in shit.

A few weeks ago I left my car at the mechanic and hoofed it around town on foot for an entire morning and afternoon, and walking around town I swear I counted 4 different spots on the sidewalk that had piles of dog shit. I guess I am a bit anal comparative to most people, but I swear people who don't take their shoes off in that town are going to eventually step into dog shit, and track that shit all over the floors of their house, which to me isn't cool.

Post: #34

mind=blown

Thought that wearing shoes inside/on the bed was just a movie thing. That is fucking disgusting.