Please can you take your shoes off

fluffnutter

Aytoun27 wrote: »

How times change! I can remember when it would have been considered the height of bad manners to take your shoes off, walk around barefoot or in socks, or bring slippers if you were a guest in someone's home. I have to say that I wouldn't be happy with anyone who kicked their shoes off the moment they came into my house, especially if they didn't bother to ask if it was okay first.

You're missing the point. Kicking your shoes off without asking first is indeed rude.

This isn't about whether it's right or wrong to have shoes on inside; it's about respecting someone else's home. If you're asked to do something which is no hardship to you (be that taking your shoes off or keeping them on!) then you should do so with grace. It's your friend's home and it's up to them.

Torry_Quine

I was sure I wrote a reply but it's gone. :mad:

When did this taking off your shoes come in and also is it more prevalent in certain parts otf the country?

I can only remember ever being asked once to remove my shoes and felt very awkward and uncomfortable not least because I ended up sitting on the floor to take them off. It would never have occurred to me to ask someone to take off their shoes, if the carpet gets dirty then it will clean.

I do wear slippers at home but wait until I'm properly in before changing as I'm not about to sit in the hallway.

TITEASCRAMP

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I was sure I wrote a reply but it's gone. :mad:

When did this taking off your shoes come in and also is it more prevalent in certain parts otf the country?

I can only remember ever being asked once to remove my shoes and felt very awkward and uncomfortable not least because I ended up sitting on the floor to take them off. It would never have occurred to me to ask someone to take off their shoes, if the carpet gets dirty then it will clean.

I do wear slippers at home but wait until I'm properly in before changing as I'm not about to sit in the hallway.

I'm not sure what you mean by when did this come in. I was born in the seventies, but I would feel the same if I was 20or 60. I live in the north west on England, but again would feel the same where ever I lived.
In post 69 I tried to explain the reasoning behind why I take them off.

Emmarillo

splishsplash wrote: »

ETA: oooh, and please never offer me a pair of slippers belonging to a random stranger _pale_

Nor me. I always take my shoes off anyway but would rather stand in a bowl of bleach and then have my feet wrapped in clingfilm than borrow slippers!

BlondeHeadOn

I'm disabled, and have to keep my shoes on because I wear a splint which is held in place by my shoe. I can't walk at all without it, so wear shoes all the time. Cant walk at all barefoot or in socks, I fall over!

What I hate is when people make me feel uncomfortable because of this - it's not my fault, I really do have to keep my shoes on.

Sometimes "shoes off" really isn't an option....

splishsplash

fluffnutter wrote: »

Why are you visiting people you don't know? Is it your job to go to stranger's houses?

On that point, I wouldn't ask someone 'doing a job', e.g. the meter reader, to remove shoes. And ambulance staff (for example) aren't actually allowed to remove theirs.

But friends? Sure, why not? I don't think it's odd. In fact my friends don't even ask. They just bark 'Shoes off!' at me as soon as I step in the door.

Personally you can do what you want in my hovel. TBH, the street's probably cleaner than my floors anyway

Yes, part of my job includes visiting people at home. Like I said, no-one's ever asked me, and I'm not even sure what my response should be from a health and safety stance.
I don't have any friends who have a shoes-off requirement. I find it bizarre tbh. Maybe it's a cultural thing.

Torry_Quine

TITEASCRAMP wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean by when did this come in. I was born in the seventies, but I would feel the same if I was 20or 60. I live in the north west on England, but again would feel the same where ever I lived.
In post 69 I tried to explain the reasoning behind why I take them off.

By when did this come in I mean until very recently I'd never heard of this, far less come across it and just wondered what the reason was, also wondered if some areas are more shoes on or shoes off.

TITEASCRAMP

splishsplash wrote: »

Yes, part of my job includes visiting people at home. Like I said, no-one's ever asked me, and I'm not even sure what my response should be from a health and safety stance.
I don't have any friends who have a shoes-off requirement. I find it bizarre tbh. Maybe it's a cultural thing.

For me its not a culture thing at all. I just dont like dirt. In post 69 I tried to explain why I felt as I do.
Thankyou for taking the time to reply. Like I said it good to get others views

TITEASCRAMP

BlondeHeadOn wrote: »

I'm disabled, and have to keep my shoes on because I wear a splint which is held in place by my shoe. I can't walk at all without it, so wear shoes all the time. Cant walk at all barefoot or in socks, I fall over!

What I hate is when people make me feel uncomfortable because of this - it's not my fault, I really do have to keep my shoes on.

Sometimes "shoes off" really isn't an option....

Totally understand and in this case it would be different. But I have never had any visit my home who had a problem pysically taking them off or walking without them on.

lostinrates

BlondeHeadOn wrote: »

I'm disabled, and have to keep my shoes on because I wear a splint which is held in place by my shoe. I can't walk at all without it, so wear shoes all the time. Cant walk at all barefoot or in socks, I fall over!

What I hate is when people make me feel uncomfortable because of this - it's not my fault, I really do have to keep my shoes on.

Sometimes "shoes off" really isn't an option....

Most of the time it is an option for me, but there really are days it would cause be pain. I'm surprised no one has addressed this yet in how they would feel if they found a guest was appearing grumpy but actually turned out to be in pain . No one would know looking at me, I hope, and I would feel very embarrassed saying "it hurts" and then receiving sympathy or expecting to talk about my condition, which I choose not to share with, for example, most of my neighbours who I sometimes have coffee with or who drop in to see me.