Wearing Shoes Inside - The Fuck?

[Monster_user]

The shoe on/off thing is quite complicated in the UK. Every house does things differently and normally whether you're meant to take your shoes off needs to be established when you visit someones house.

Sounds like it is pretty much the same here in the United States. The rules of etiquette are something like the following. Keep in mind that these rules are not universal, and can vary.



1. Guests are not required to remove their shoes, unless they are filthy. Guests are expected to keep their shoes clean within reason, if they are going to be visiting others.

2. Members of the household may be required to remove their shoes, especially children who are most likely to get their shoes filthy. This is up to the discretion of the head of household, and the member responsible for most of the cleaning.

3. Shoe removal is often only allowed in very casual situations, and can be considered the same as a boy removing his shirt. It is generally not done when company is around.



In America shoes are not usually uncomfortable, as long as the right sizes are chosen. For whatever reason, many American's seem to be more prone to foot odor, perhaps it is our shoes? Shoes contain the odor, and provide support for the feet.

My only complaint about wearing shoes at home, is the noise they make. My home is often quiet, so even quieter noises are easily heard. Footsteps from my own feet sound deafening.

Wow, I thought it was a common courtesy to take off your footwear before entering a house beyond the foyer, which usually has a placemat or closet for shoes and boots.

Few houses in America have a foyer, anymore, outside of the upper classes. The formal entrance usually opens directly into the "living room", often the main entrance opens directly into the kitchen or dining area.

Still, what do you do about any pets? We had a dog for a number of years. Couldn't exactly tell him not to track in dirt.

Wipe off their feet if the weather's muddy/snowy. At least that's what I do for my dog.

In America, pets often have a "doggy door", and are allowed to come and go as they please. Especially if the door opens into a fenced in yard. As long as the owner remembers to latch the doggy door during muddy or snowy weather, then they can wipe the dog's feet. This is often forgotten if the weather is not routine.

 

[Vigormortis]

In multiple instances of US media, I've seen characters wear shoes inside a private home.It always struck me as odd; Why would one wear it? For comfort? Isn't it more comfortable without the shoes..Or with slippers?
And hey, don't you realize that it is DIRTY? What especially baffles me is that Sheldon and the others in Big Bang Theory wear shoes inside the apartment, even with Sheldon's extreme germ phobia. Isn't this exactly the sort of thing he would crack down on?

So, my question is; Is this really common-place in the US, and why? How do you feel about it?

I think part of the issue here is you're basing your perception of the US on what you see in shows like The Big Bang Theory.

No one should base their perception of anything from what they see in The Big Bang Theory. In fact, people shouldn't even see TBBT.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Truth be told, the US is just like any other region on Earth. Every person, every house-hold, has different rituals and ideals.

Some people will ask you to remove your shoes when entering their home. Others will not.

Personally? I almost always take my shoes off when I go inside my home. But then, I've always been more comfortable in bare or "socked" feet. I would often run around out in the grass bare-foot as a kid. So, take that as you will.

 

[miketehmage]

I'm pretty sure it's commonplace in most Western nations. We're not Japanese, and we don't have a ritualistic point of view on wearing shoes indoors.

Not in Scotland. Shoes are incredibly uncomfortable opposed to the freedom of bare feet.

And we're big on freedom here. Just ask Mel Gibson.

 

[scorptatious]

I'm American and I don't wear my shoes indoors. My parents kinda crack down on that sort of thing.

Besides, I find it comfier not to wear shoes when I'm at home.

 

[Pebkio]

I hardly wear shoes outside...

Yes, it's common-place. We have vacuums and carpet cleaning chemicals and they're pretty cheap. I guess in America, we rely a lot less on rituals. It's kind-of ritualistic to take your shoes off at the door. We tend to only take shoes off and put them on when we have to.

Speaking of which, I bet it would shock you to learn that there is a noticeable amount of people in America who SLEEP with their shoes on and only take them off to change clothes... then they put them right back on again.

 

[woolfie]

I'm wearing my shoes inside right now. If they're on they're staying on till I have a reason to take them off. If they're off they're off till I have a reason to put them on.

This^^ a thousand times this

 

[GeneralBob]

In media they're probably just wearing shoes because the rest of the studio has a concrete floor and that's what they have on when they walk on set. Also if you break it down very few shots include feet.

I only wear shoes inside when I forget to take them off.

 

[Zenn3k]

In multiple instances of US media, I've seen characters wear shoes inside a private home.It always struck me as odd; Why would one wear it? For comfort? Isn't it more comfortable without the shoes..Or with slippers?
And hey, don't you realize that it is DIRTY? What especially baffles me is that Sheldon and the others in Big Bang Theory wear shoes inside the apartment, even with Sheldon's extreme germ phobia. Isn't this exactly the sort of thing he would crack down on?

So, my question is; Is this really common-place in the US, and why? How do you feel about it?

Yes, its very common to wear shoes indoors in America, unless a particular person decides to impose their own "take off your shoes at the door" rule, which always fades over time. Usually that kinda rule lasts for like a year, after getting a new carpet installed or something, but eventually, something gets spilled or something happens and people eventually stop caring about it.

Unless you stepped in something particularly gross, there isn't much reason to bother IMO. Dirt never killed anyone.

 

[WaysideMaze]

If you properly shower and exchange socks every day/other day, you won't have smelly feet.
Well, most people won't. There are always exceptions.

I'm definitely an exception. I shower daily, change socks daily, use odour eaters on my shoes, and my feet still stink. Usually just when I wear slippers though, it's weird, and very annoying.

I've considered contacting an odour eater type company, seeing if they're interested in paying me as a test subject. If they can cure my feet, they can cure anybodies.

 

[Quala]

We aren't neanderthals here in Canada, either. You take your damn shoes off in my house... And everyone else's house, too.

Slippers are fine, as long as they don't go outside.

Really? I thought that it was just Newfoundland thing and all you mainlanders went around your house tracking dirt everywhere. Huh, shows what I know I guess.

OT: Yeah, this has always baffled me entirely. You wear shoes outside because outside isn't fit for bare feet/socks, so wouldn't you want to keep inside separated from outside?

 

[frizzlebyte]

It's pretty much a cultural thing. As a general rule, we don't consider it disrespectful to wear your shoes inside someone's house. However, plenty of people don't like it, so it isn't that unheard of to take them off.

That seems to be a ritual more in Eastern cultures than Western, but there are plenty of exceptions.

Putting them on the furniture, now that's a different story. Lots of people in the US don't like you to put your shoes on the furniture.

As for me, if your shoes aren't overtly filthy, you're fine to come in my house, just wipe them on the outside mat first. But don't put them on the furniture, please.

 

[MiriaJiyuu]

For the most part? No; people generally remove their shoes when inside someones home, unless it's really unclean or there's a reason to keep them on. But if we are anywhere else, including stores, school etc, we're probably wearing our shoes. At least... that's how it is where I live.

Remember it's on TV, meaning it's a SET, not an actual home, actors often walk off stage to areas where they need to be wearing shoes, not to mention that the floors are not entirely clean from the crew and everyone else who are also standing in on the set at any given time. Quite frankly it's easier, cleaner and safer for everyone to be wearing shoes at the same.

 

[Brandon Logan]

I find it depends on the individual person/the quality of their house.

I'm a slipper guy myself....However I can walk outside with the slippers on and then walk back inside.

Kind of a comfort thing with me.

 

[LightspeedJack]

Wearing shoes indoors? Madness! Some comfy socks is all I need, unless the floor is wet or cold then I slip on my slippers, simples!

 

[Diluted Dante]

Because wearing shoes really isn't something that affects your comfort greatly. And if it is, what shoes are you wearing exactly?

The kind of shoes that take 10 seconds to put on, and less than that to take off. The kind that weigh about a pound. The kind I wouldn't want on my couch, my carpets, my bed, or in my bathroom. It's not like I run in and out every fifteen minutes, so why would I not take them off? Because it does affect my comfort greatly. I wear shoes at school, at work, while running errands, and just running. They're the first thing to come off as soon as I get home.

[small]I even found a picture just for you! Don't let the sleek form fool you, these babies can take the elements. I've worn the same pair for 3 years now![/small]

If I feel cold when at home, I get a blanket or turn up the heat. I'm not going to wear a coat indoors. The same goes for shoes. Also, why would you choose to clean up after yourself or others, when you could just not make a mess? Either way, I don't know what the weather is like where you're from, but around here a vacuum cleaner is only going to save you on a dry midsummer day.

I can see how someone would find it awkward when a visitor they don't know takes their shoes off, but how often are you visited by people you're not familiar with? And how often do these people come in beyond the foyer?

Who say's a mess is being made? I hoover the house once a week. That is all that is needed to keep it clean. I live in the north west of England. It rains a lot. Fortunately though we replaced our mud tracks with pavements.

Please note, I'm not saying that EVERYONE MUST WEAR SHOES. I'm saying that I don't get why people think it's weird to wear them inside. I think we can agree though that anyone wearing their shoes to bed is a bit odd.

 

[MetalMagpie]

I grew up in a house where we were told to remove our shoes indoors, so I've kept the habit now that I'm in my own place. But I don't insist on visitors doing it (unless their shoes are muddy) and when visiting other people's houses I take my cue from them.

 

[Aggy213]

Canadian here, I would kill someone if the tracked dirt and stuff through my clean apartment. I will allow moccasins if they are clean. but other than that shoes are a no-go. plus its way more comfortble to relax and take your shoes off IMO.

As for the odor problem, if you have a good plug in or battery operated air freshner you dont notice odors at all. or if its in the evening light some good smelling candles.

 

[fenrizz]

Shoes inside the house?
What kind of uncivilized people would do that?

The thought of people not removing their shoes before going inside (or rather, further inside) is so alien to me I can hardly imagine that it is real.

Growing up I always thought the phenomenon was only in movies/tv shows because they were working on a set.

 

[mattaui]

I was never required to take off my shoes growing up, unless they were really dirty, but in the years since I've grown more and more accustomed to taking off my shoes in my own house. I mean, come on, the city streets, public transit, public restrooms, you're tracking all that around on the bottom of your shoes, and then right on to your carpet.

Also, houses with carpeted kitchens or bathrooms are disgusting. I don't care how you think it feels on your bare feet, it's beyond gross because unless you're steam cleaning that carpet frequently, it's horrifically filthy. Goes double for anyone with indoor animals, those houses are usually the worst.

I usually have a pair of sandals or loafers I wear only around the house. When it's just me in the house, I tend towards going barefoot, but if I'm staying with someone else or have company, I'll go with the house shoes.

The familiarity angle does make some sense, and certainly I don't remove my shoes in anyone else's house unless I see them do the same.

 

[Vicarious Reality]

In winter i would get pummeled to dust if i did not take my shoes off before coming in
Also, how the hell would i get off my outside pants then

Is it not uncomfortable to wear even thin summer shoes all the time indoors?