The first time I saw anyone wearing shoes (and putting them up on coffee tables and such) inside their own house was in America.
That’s not an option in the tiny European country I grew up in or anywhere in Asia I’ve been.
I think it’s barbaric behavior. You literally step on vomit, needles, dog shit and what not outside and then you drag that inside your own bedroom? What the fuck.
As far as what to wear when you take your shoes off in someone’s house - there’s always slippers for guests, many pairs. Or you just walk around in your socks.
I'm rather amused by the offense some seem to be taking to the suggestion that wearing shoes in the house is filthy, especially given the article that this discussion is about.
Yes, it is disgusting. Why is this a question. Better: why are we pretending this is a question?
Much if not most of the world takes their shoes off when entering a house. It's not just the Japanese. It is the practice in Northern/Central/Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Ethiopia, India, etc. Besides, taking your shoes off allows your feet to relax instead of being cooped up inside a small, confined space for all your waking hours.
I was visiting a friend once who happily wore the same shoes inside and outside his house, but was uncomfortable with me being barefoot inside and outside his house. Apparently my bare feet would track dirt into his house, but his shoes wouldn't? Eh, people are strange.
I have friends who thinks it is absolutely discussing to walk with shoes off inside anyone's home... they only walk around their home with shoes on. They have a dog, so a clean floor isn't even possible. So I guess it makes sense. They even sleep with their shoes or slippers next to the bed and quite literally never touch the floor with their skin.
I like wearing shoes inside your house for the same reason I like wearing shoes outside: I don't know what might be on the floor and I don't want certain things that might be on the floor on my socks or skin. But of course, as a house guest I will respect the host's norms.
Agreed. This is so obvious that I don’t know why it even makes sense to discuss, unless the person entering has some health issue. Even in that case, they have to ask the house owner or renter whether they can keep their shoes on inside.
Since it is their house, they, and only they, get to decide the rules about shoes allowed inside or not.
>Every now and again (say I enter a house which has a no-shoe rule), someone will spot them and find the concept strange,
I find it more strange that people wear outside shoes inside. The same shoes that go on dirt, mud, who knows what else are used to walk on your floors and carpets.
Taking your shoes off at the door prevents a lot of dirt/who-knows-what from entering the house.
This is a mostly unrelated comment, but the concept of "Indoor shoes" is just so foreign to my part of the world (unless you are referring to something like a slipper). It still absolutely flabbergasts me that large parts of American society wears shoes inside the house. *Canadian Speaking
Our home is mostly-shoeless not because we thought about it or some cultural thing. We don't really care or even think about it. It's just because we live in nature, not a parking lot, and so our boots are naturally covered in at minimum mud, dust, etc. We kick them off at the door and slide around in our cozy comfortable sock-feet indoors. By the way, wouldn't your socks keep your feet safe from all them scary germs? Or for that matter that wonderful organ called your skin? But I digress...
I once answered the door in my sock-feet (because of course, I didn't boot-up just to open the door...). The group of visitors all immediately without a word de-shoed themselves right on the front porch before I could even say hello, which was to me odd. I didn't even figure out completely why until I read this - they must have inferred this was the polite cultural thing to do. Now THAT is the right way to behave when a guest in someone else's house. Awesome.
I hope someday I meet an entitled germaphobic idiot like this in real life and they have a really good reason to need to be in my house (clearly it wouldn't be social). And then I'd declare that fine, if the shoes stay on, then either the shirt or pants must come off. HA!
You keep your socks on so that's not really an issue. I personally don't let anyone wear shoes in our house, I don't know what they've stepped on so I don't want them dragging anything over the floors and carpets.
The article feels a bit flamebaity. I would think in real life adults could easily navigate shoe wearing preference when visiting each other, and it doesn't require an extreme stance, nor feigned anger about the idea someone might come to your house and leave their shoes on against your wishes.
Personally, I have indoor sandals so my feet stay warm and are supported, and I don't track dirt into the house. If I remember, I bring them when visiting others
I wear shoes inside and sometimes while I'm laying in bed. Be mortified.
I like the respect angle though. Far too many people throw their trash on the ground. If not wearing shoes outside makes them rethink their actions I'm all for it.
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