People who don't take off their shoes...

[Azprint]

Does it bug anyone else lol? But when I enter somebody's house first thing I gotta do is take off my shoes. I guess it is just the way I was brought up, but I am surprised at how often I'd get a weird look or a question "Why are you taking off your shoes?". It is just so unnatural to walk around the house in the same footwear that I use outside. And irritates me when people try to keep theirs on when I am hosting them at my place, even though I have no problem to tell them to take it off. Do your feet stink or something? Also keeping the hats on inside...but that's different topic.

Please show some manners and leave your footwear at the door, you're not living on a farm anymore

 

[blackrock13]

It's much more your upbringing. Not such a big 'Canadian' thing. Maybe the house owner doesn't want your stinky feet smelling up the floor or transferring your fungus foot to his family. Not 'you' personally.

If the front door has a number of shoes on a mat, fine, do it, but if not, it's not necessary.

 

[poorboy]

I don't understand people who don't take off their shoes. I don't want whatever you've been walking in brought into my house and I don't walk around other people's houses with shoes on unless they say it's OK.

 

[Toronto`s Finest]

I was brought up ( esp. in boarding school ) to wear shoes all the time. In boarding school one could not even go the bathroom in the mid of the nite without wering shoes.
This is a safety 7 hygenic thing esp. in communal living ( boarding school ).

 

[fuji]

I do whatever is expected in the home I'm entering. I would never walk into someone's home with my shoes on if they expect them off. However, I'm also not going to be the only guy in socks if everybody else has their shoes on!!!

And I don't even think this is so much a cultural as a personal choice, though obviously it's more common in asian culture to take shoes off. Shoes off at the front door in my home, but in my brother's home they stay on. Go figure.

I have to say I really can't stand the communal slippers thing that you get entering some asian homes. God knows who else has had on those slippers, or whether they have EVER been cleaned--prefer to walk around in my socks thank you very much.

 

[mrsCALoki]

I don't understand people who don't take off their shoes. I don't want whatever you've been walking in brought into my house and I don't walk around other people's houses with shoes on unless they say it's OK.

LOL this funny. Why would people take of their shoes and step in other peoples toe jam and other droppings? You wear shoes and slippers in a house! Take them off when you go to bed.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

 

[Azprint]

It's much more your upbringing. Not such a big 'Canadian' thing. Maybe the house owner doesn't want your stinky feet smelling up the floor or transferring your fungus foot to his family. Not 'you' personally.

If the front door has a number of shoes on a mat, fine, do it, but if not, it's not necessary.

I guess it beats the dirt, and whatever else you stepped in. At first I thought it was a "Canadian" thing, but I come across many Canadian households, with multigenerational roots here who have same shoe etiquette as me. And on the other hand, I frequented Colombian immigrant family recently, that never bothered to take it off.

Also I do keep all the footwear in a closet by the entrance, along with all the jackets and winter wear. So it might be sending the wrong message to my guests.

 

[afterhours]

Does it bug anyone else lol? But when I enter somebody's house first thing I gotta do is take off my shoes. I guess it is just the way I was brought up, but I am surprised at how often I'd get a weird look or a question "Why are you taking off your shoes?". It is just so unnatural to walk around the house in the same footwear that I use outside. And irritates me when people try to keep theirs on when I am hosting them at my place, even though I have no problem to tell them to take it off. Do your feet stink or something? Also keeping the hats on inside...but that's different topic.

Please show some manners and leave your footwear at the door, you're not living on a farm anymore

dude, you are way off trying to preach this old fashioned Soviet idea to people who lived all their life in a country where roads are not covered with dirt and where people pick up crap after their pets.

Just get your maid to vacuum more often.

 

[Azprint]

I do whatever is expected in the home I'm entering. I would never walk into someone's home with my shoes on if they expect them off. However, I'm also not going to be the only guy in socks if everybody else has their shoes on!!!

And I don't even think this is so much a cultural as a personal choice, though obviously it's more common in asian culture to take shoes off. Shoes off at the front door in my home, but in my brother's home they stay on. Go figure.

I have to say I really can't stand the communal slippers thing that you get entering some asian homes. God knows who else has had on those slippers, or whether they have EVER been cleaned--prefer to walk around in my socks thank you very much.

I am of Eastern European descent and I hate guest slippers too. Feet get hot and sweaty in most of them, the aroma after wearing them is too much, and yeah, getting fungus on your feet after so many guests wore them... No thank you, socks all the way.

 

[NHFL]

I have had Significant Others who are like you, even worse and more fascistic about it.

I, on the other hand, was brought-up in a "shoes in" household, meaning that as long as I wiped my feet well enough on the door mat and indoor mat, I was free to do whatever I wanted. Personally, I find it rude to always have to take-off shoes at the front door. Basically, it's like saying "Welcome to my house, please enter. But if you come in with your shoes on, you may as well walk out the way you came." Also, at big parties, everyone is trying balance and jostle for positioning getting their shoes on and off and I am often off-put by that ritual.

I guess it could go either way, as I have been forced into seeing the other side - I guess you could say that the shoe has been on the other foot for me.

 

[mas0]

It is a cultural thing. Before I came to Canada I had never heard of such a thing as removing your shoes in someone's house. I wear shoes, flip flops or my toes shoes at my place. It was the most embarrassing thing for me when I first came to Canada and I was supposed to stay a few days at a friend's. I had just spent over 40 hours without a shower, with an 8 hour overlay, the broke student I was, decided to spend at the airport, the 2 long flights and the waiting for luggage at the airport. Now, my feet stunk like a dead animal and when my friend requested I remove my shoes, I felt so embarrassed that if my skin tone was less dark everyone would have seen me turn into a beat.

These days I always forget that shoes sometimes come off at some of my friends places and I suppose I have to be reminded from time to time... I really don't think it's such a big deal for them to ask me to take them off.

 

[Azprint]

dude, you are way off trying to preach this old fashioned Soviet idea to people who lived all their life in a country where roads are not covered with dirt and where people pick up crap after their pets.

Just get your maid to vacuum more often.

I know it is pointless, what's that saying? Can't teach an old pig new tricks, or something like that. But hey, it is Lounge isn't it?

 

[mrsCALoki]

I know it is pointless, what's that saying? Can't teach an old pig new tricks, or something like that. But hey, it is Lounge isn't it?

But who is the pig . Taking your shoes off would be considered incredibly rude in many parts of the world. Pretty much just a local thing to just wear socks at home.

 

[Azprint]

But who is the pig . Taking your shoes off would be considered incredibly rude in many parts of the world. Pretty much just a local thing to just wear socks at home.

I want to learn about those part of the world. As Whenever I do take my shoes off in a house where it is not customary, I might look like a weirdo, but I yet to offend anyone. And no, the smell is never an issue for me.

 

[heatherstouch]

I'm with Fuji, I do what's expected. At my house its not, some people come in and take off their shoes right away even after I tell them it's not necessary. I believe it is in the upbringing. I sort of wait for the cues or will politely ask if I should remove my shoes. It doesn't bother me either way.
I did go to a quite fancy house part over the holidays, everyone was dressed up. The women all in beautiful dresses and high heels. We were all asked to remove our shoes! Now that was not cool! Most of the woman were put off,as shoes when we are dressed up in a fancy dress it a big part of the outfit. At least we were all in our stocking feet!

 

[Aardvark154]

I am of Eastern European descent. . .socks all the way.

Interesting that you write this, in Russia it is customary to take off your shoes in the front hallway - family members have indoor shoes or slippers, guests go about in their stocking feet. This custom is also common in the Niagara Frontier area of New York and I'd assumed that it came with Slavic immigrants to Buffalo and them maybe jumped the river. Since it is otherwise not particularly common in the U.S. or Canada (at least in my experience).

 

[Azprint]

Interesting that you write this, in Russia it is customary to take off your shoes in the front hallway - family members have indoor shoes or slippers, guests go about in their stocking feet. This custom is also common in the Niagara Frontier area of New York and I'd assumed that it came with Slavic immigrants to Buffalo and them maybe jumped the river. Since it is otherwise not particularly common in the U.S. or Canada (at least in my experience).

I am Russian and I don't really make a secret out of it. And that is how it pretty much is, you take off your shoes and then proceed. Not normally offered slippers, as it is unsanitary. But I am first generation immigrant, so I dismissed it as a 'Canadian thing' at first, but the more I integrate the more I notice the inconsistency. You can't really pin it on certain cultures, as I love to interact with different cultures. Not trying to change people's minds, but I just can't help as perceive keeping your shoes on as saying that your house floor is no better than the pavement I just walked on, just as dirty.

 

[simon482]

LOL this funny. Why would people take of their shoes and step in other peoples toe jam and other droppings? You wear shoes and slippers in a house! Take them off when you go to bed.

so you would disrespect someones house by tracking dirt, mud and whatever else you happen to step in when you go over for a visit ? you would be wearing socks when you take your shoes off, not trodding around barefoot. have a little decency when you visit people.

 

[mrsCALoki]

so you would disrespect someones house by tracking dirt, mud and whatever else you happen to step in when you go over for a visit ? you would be wearing socks when you take your shoes off, not trodding around barefoot. have a little decency when you visit people.

You really do not get it do you?

 

[simon482]

You really do not get it do you?

wow dude, why start off with an insulting tone. you walking around someones house with shoes on is you telling them subtly that you think they are a shitty house keeper and that the outside with all it's dirt is no cleaner than their house. it is a respect thing. i do get it very much so, it's seems like you just fighting and arguing for no point other than to satisfy yourself. so go ahead and disrespect all your friends by telling them they are horrible house keepers and that their house is gross. i will not be engaging you further as i still do not wish to feed into your instability and you cannot have a conversation without anger, when you figure out how to do that look me up. good day sir.