A few weeks ago I was in Houston for a fun trip to the Johnson Space Center and the Astros/Rangers game. As I was having breakfast with the kids in the lobby restaurant of the hotel, I noticed that no less than 10 (at least half that were over the age of 30) people were having breakfast and had the same thing on their feet.
Sandals… nope! Socks nope! Sneakers nope! Nothing… YUP!
None of them were wearing anything in the lobby of a hotel which is public. I love to walk around with bare feet – I really do. At the pool at my house, in my backyard, lots of places –none of which are public!
Of course the next morning my kids asked if they could go with bare feet and I said absolutely no. But dad everyone else is. Why can’t we…?
What am I missing?
A public place… I say no to bare feet.
Do you really need to post signs or isn’t that stating the obvious?
- What do you think?
- Does it bother you or am I alone in that boat?
I look forward to reading your comments.
John Castellano says:
First shame on the hotel for not enforcing a no shoes/no shirts, no service policy. If they get a nail in their foot my HC costs need to rise b/c they have to go to the hospital to have it removed? Its dangerous, its unsanitary. The human body is beautiful (toes and feet included) but from a health concern its a really bad idea. I just walked out to my garage this morning barefoot to toss some recycling my feet are not pretty dirty and I can’t wait to wash them and my garage is not grimy.
Jami Pulley says:
No, you are not alone. There is a time and place for everything, and a public venue is not that for bare feet. Yuck.
Fee Sepahi says:
That totally bothers me, too. Sorry I this will be vulgar.
Think about it, in a public place people spit, throw their cigarette stubs, they let their animals defecate. Let alone the fact that in some climates, the pavement is way too hot or cold.
Now I’m not saying that the gross factor exists in every public area, but also most people don’t have nice enough feet for me to want to be exposed to.
Even with the best looking feet, all that wear and tear would surely make them a sight to make the eyes soar.
Fee
Sven Goonsen says:
yes, I knew I was getting old when I was walking barefoot on the beach and someone complimented me on my alligator shoes, roflmaooooooooooooooo
Ed Sugar says:
This discussion reminds me of the old line about business meetings in Los Angeles – “The dress code is formal, you have to wear socks”.
As we discussed on this blog last week, we now live in a time where most of the codes that cover social behavior, discourse, courtesy, manners and etiquette have been deemed to be rules that should be broken.
Take your year old baby to an upscale restaurant on a Saturday night and have it scream and cry all evening disrupting the other patrons – no problem
Attend a social event or party, but fail to RSVP – no problem
Take your chihuahua into a Japanese restaurant and insist on sitting at the sushi bar – no problem
Based on those three alone (and believe me I have a boat load of them), walking barefoot in a public place, where prepared food is close at hand – no problem
kenyon says:
No people shouldn’t be walking around lobbies barefoot. Never. Not sanitary. People might have a foot fungus. Not hard to put on sandals or even flip flops, but what you described makes me go “yeuchhh!”
Kelly Heatly says:
Ewww! I would have lost my appetite. Totally unacceptable. No shirt, no shoes, NO SERVICE! Our society has gotten more casual, but that is taking it way too far.
Rodney says:
Every one of you is wrong. There are no health codes or laws that prohibit bare feet in establishments that handle food. And just what is so terrible about bare feet in public in the first place???
-John, anyone choosing to be barefoot in an unconventional setting assumes the risks associated with being barefoot. To that end, a bare footer is presumably much more cognizant of where he/she is stepping than someone wearing shoes.
-Jami, you say yuck.. That’s your opinion – and you’re entitled to it – but that doesn’t make it correct.
-Fee, maybe the ground is too hot or cold or dirty for you but you can’t make that determination for someone else. And attractiveness is completely subjective. If you don’t like the way someone’s feet look, no one’s forcing you to look.
-Ed, as I stated in opening, there are no health codes of laws concerning bare feet and food.
-Kenyon, the bacteria that cause foot fungus and odor are thrive in warm, dark, moist places – namely shoes. Habitually bare feet simply cannot harbor those bacteria. This is a scientific fact.
-Kelly, it may not be common place but there is nothing wrong with being barefoot in unconventional settings.
Merrill ET AL, you all need to do some research before you go spouting off about what you THINK you know. Don’t attack something just because it’s different. Do your homework then present an educated argument.
Merrill Dubrow says:
Rodney,
I appreciate your comments and different point of view. You have responded to 6 other people and I will let them respond should they have a desire.
I will try and address the points you brought up specifically to me that I need to do some research before I spout off about what I think I know. My response is simply this you have your opinion and I have mine. Your opinion clearly is it isn’t a big deal, and people should be allowed to walk around in public places barefoot. My opinion is I don’t like it, I would never do it nor will my kids. Again my opinion – why would I ever have to do research to know what I like or don’t like? The answer is I don’t. That’s almost like saying even though I might not like candy bars 85% of the people do so I should change my opinion. I believe that thinking is flawed. Your other point specifically to me is that I attacked this because it is different. That isn’t true, I didn’t attack anything and has nothing to do with being different. If you knew anything about me you would know that I happen to like different. The beauty of this great country is that we all have an opinion and even though I dint agree with what you are saying and wouldn’t do it – I do respect your position and hopefully you feel the same way.
Thanks.
Merrill
Rodney says:
Merrill, I owe you an apology. I should not have lumped you into my rant to the majority. You are absolutely right in that yours is an opinion – nothing more, nothing less. You didn’t attack the unknown and you didn’t base any of what you said on misconceptions or misinformation, as did most of the other respondents. Please accept my humble apology.
As for the others, although bare feet in unconventional places may not be the norm, there is nothing unsanitary, unhealthy, or illegal associated with that.
Every argument against bare feet in public can be, and has been, scientifically refuted except personal opinion. Unfortunately personal opinion is an almost impossible nut to crack.
Preferences will differ. Always have, always will. As a barefoot runner, transitioning to a barefoot lifestyle, this topic especially resonates with me. If you don’t like it, I’d rather you just say that than cite the non-existent “health code” or preach about how dangerous it is. I can accept disdain for unshod feet at the local grocer, it’s when myth and misinformation are perpetuated that my shorts get in such a bunch.
Merrill Dubrow says:
Rodney,
Thanks for the email and apology. I really appreciate that. I also would love to learn more about being a barefoot runner. I work out 5 times and week and do wear sneakers however I would love to learn more about what you are doing. Who knows perhaps another blog post. Let me know if you have any interest in speaking and I would be happy to call you next week.
Enjoy the weekend.
Merrill
Mark says:
I agree with Rodney. What is wrong with being barefoot. I do not eat with my feet. There is more dirt and germs on shoes than on my barefeet. I wash my feet daily, who often to I wash my shoes?