Most times I see someone ignore social etiquette, I let it slide. Things like letting doors swing in people’s faces, showing up with 30 items in the express checkout line, scratching/readjusting yourself in public. Rude, rude, and gross, sure, but forgivable I suppose. However, today I was witness to one of the social etiquette no-nos that absolutely horrifies me — taking off your shoes in public. And I don’t mean flip flops or strappy sandals, where at least your feet can breathe. No, I mean shoes of the closed-toed, sweat-gathering, stanky-ass variety.
I’m sitting in an auditorium, minding my own business, when suddenly I see it out of the corner of my eye — this girl in my row, just across the aisle, has removed her gym shoes and is brazenly airing out her feet for all 300 of us to enjoy. I took an experimental sniff — so far so good — but immediately switched to breathing noisily through my mouth, much to the enjoyment of the guy next to me. I debated trying to switch seats, but seeing as though I was sitting on the left side and Shoeless Joe was in the middle section, I couldn’t get away without crawling over dozens of people and making a spectacle of myself in the process. So I sat and suffered.
Why the hell do people think this is proper social behavior? Or is it that they just don’t care if their feet smell like wet dog? It’s almost admirable to have that much self confidence and/or arrogance. This reminds me of a story I heard a few months ago aboutt an acquaintance. Not only does she take off her shoes on airplanes (which is the WORST because you’re not going anywhere when someone does that), but she also takes off her socks! This brings whole other issues into the picture. Adding to stank we have toe jam, blisters, boils, ingrown toenails, fungus, you name it. And it’s not like that public floor space is clean either.
But it gets better. Now both shoeless and sockless, this acquaintance got up and used the airplane bathroom. Barefoot. Why not just lick the toilet while you’re in there?! When she came out, a flight attendant was waiting for her — to politely request that she not use the bathroom barefoot anymore because of “sanitation” concerns.
You’d think at this point this acquaintance would realize her behavior was socially inappropriate and be embarrassed or at least apologetic. And that brings us to the kicker of this little tale — not only was she not contrite, she was ANGRY and OFFENDED that they dare ask her to wear shoes in a public bathroom! So angry and offended, that this acquaintance told people the whole story herself, expecting listeners to be on her side — and instead has become a local legend. I’m just glad I heard it through a third party, because I know I wouldn’t have been able to keep the look of horror off my face if she had told me directly.
So the point of this entry is: feet are gross. Keep your shoes on.
awkward!
I agree with some parts of what you said, but definitely disagree with your attitude regarding this matter.
There is NOTHING wrong with taking off your shoes in public (even sneakers), provided that the situation is informal and your feet don’t smell or your socks don’t look all black/dirty/gross.
If you look around, you’ll see that taking off your shoes in public is very common among girls, and guys as well (but more girls). For instance, at the library, at my university, you see people studying, with their sneakers off, cross legged on their seats, or couch or whatever. Girls wearing flats almost always take them off upon sitting down, but I’m going to use sneakers as my main example because they are “closed-toe” and more likely to smell as you said.
Library – ppl sitting on couches/at the tables slip off their shoes and either sit cross legged, or in some position that is comfy.
Karaoke – here’s a perfect example. When I’m out with my friends at karaoke, occasionally someone will take off their shoes and sit cross legged on the couch, I’ve done it myself a few times, one other guy friend has done it once. As for the girls…when it’s flats/sandals they come off automatically. Sneakers, occasionally. One time, 2 girls took off their sneakers, and left them in the center, while we sang. We were sitting in a U-shape due to the shape of the seating, and the shoes were in the center (it was close quarters, the shoes were very close to us, and it was cramped. 9 people in the room. If you were sitting near the bottom of the U, you have to step over the shoes everytime you wanted to get out to go to the bathroom). I don’t know if this grosses you out, but this was not a problem for anyone. It DID NOT SMELL, my friends practice good hygiene, and I know all of us wouldnt take off our shoes to be comfortable if we are aware that they might smell (if we’ve been walking/running a lot during the day etc). Anyway, they were sitting cross legged in their socks on the couch and it was fine. It’s all about comfort.
school/classroom – once in a while, I’ll see a girl with her sneakers off and cross legged on her seat. Again, comfortability.
Obviously if it’s in a professional environment, you wouldn’t do that. Depends on the situation.
Another reason for taking off your shoes is…(this applies to libraries and KARAOKE especially), if you want to sit cross legged, it’s more comfortable to do that without shoes on. Try it yourself. PLUS, you’ll dirty the couch and leave shoe marks if you step with your shoes ON the couch! One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing people who are pussies and too scared to take off their shoes that they literally sit cross legged or actually have their feet on the couch but with their shoes on..now THAT is gross.
I think you are overreacting. DId that girl’s feet smell that bad? Maybe she’s an exception, but NOT ONCE have I had a situation where someone had their shoes off near me and it stinks. NEVER. People where I live take showers, wear clean socks, etc. My girlfriend takes off her shoes in the car and puts her socked feet on the dash sometimes on hot summer days. Doesnt stink. Don’t be so paranoid. If someone’s feet stinks badly, then they are an exception and you can be pissed. But just because you see someone with their shoes off doesnt mean it will stink. Almost always, you will not smell anything.
Also,
The last time I went on a plane trip, it was with my family and we were heading to Europe to visit relatives. We took off our shoes on the plane (my mom sandles, my dad and I sneakers).
Seriously, it is NOT a problem. How the hell can you stand trapping your feet in shoes for 9-10 hours??? THATS what causes foot odour, by not letting your feet breathe. When walking around or going to the washroom I wear my shoes for sanitary reasons, and in doing thsi I also noticed a lot of people having their shoes off while sitting at their seats.
I guess what I’m saying is that, it’s normal to take off your shoes on a plane. Trapping your feet in shoes for 9 hours is not fun and very uncomfortable. It’s moronic in my opinion to be so scared or embarrassed that you can’t even let your feet breathe. If someone has major foot odour, then YES KEEP THE SHOES ON, but then these are EXCEPTIONAL CASES. A majority of the people who have their shoes off, don’t stink! And even if it might a little, you cant smell it unless you stick your nose 3-4 inches from their feet/shoes and THAT would be considered bizarre behaviour!
With that said, I agree that the woman you mentioned was really strange in that she reacted so strongly to the FA and ended up telling this story to so many people. I would’ve just agreed with the FA and not walk around shoeless to the lavatory (I don’t normally do this).
People who never take off their shoes on planes, their feet stink
It’s rude to take your shoes off in public like this. Period. However, I have noticed that young people (the under 25 crowd) do it a lot nowadays. This is the same generation that doesn’t realize it is rude to wear flip flops everywhere. I guess because there are so many of their generation, and they are as self centered as their boomer parents, they just shrug it off and don’t care if they bother anyone.
No matter what you say Joe, shoes off make people uncomfortable and it is definitely bad manners and rude even if an entire generation is now doing it in university.
“It’s rude to take your shoes off in public like this. Period”
Like what? Which situations are you referring to?
I’ve explained already and if you’ve read my examples from my experiences, you can’t possibly say it’s “it’s rude. Period.”
If I’m chilling with friends at a table in the library at my university for instance. Is it wrong to take off your shoes and sit cross legged or whatever to be more comfortable? You’re with FRIENDS FFS! Girls tend to do this more often than guys. Like if it’s sitting on a couch in a school lounge, girls tend to take off their shoes so they can sit cross legged or w/e because A: it’s more comfortable, B: shoes will dirty the couch/chair!
“shoes off make people uncomfortable”
Yeah depends on the situation………..
in most cases if it’s truly random and public (and the person is “exposing” it for all to see), then that’s crossing the line but I’m sure most of you wil just not look in their direction.
Most of the time, the situation is NOT like that! See the examples I mentioned: karaoke with friends –> girls have their shoes off to sit on the couch more comfortably (try it urself its more comfy + u wont dirty the couch with ur shoes–leaving disgusting shoeprints/dust/dirt).
Library–> seriously what’s wrong?
airplane–> again what’s wrong? Ive said it before, u cant smell ppl’s feet unless they have extreme foot odour and that’s an EXCEPTION.
Also, in an office setting, a lot of girls will walk around barefoot instead of their heels simply because it’s more comfortable.
If you are truly bothered by situations like that then you need to see a doctor because it’s not a friggin big deal. I’m glad we’re not friends because we certainly won’t get along if little things like these will set you off.
My girlfriend and I were at the mall recently, and there was an area with couches, sort of like a rest area, and we both sat down. She slipped her feet out of her heels and sat cross legged.
Clearly, she’s just being comfortable, and the fact that she’s wearing high heels means she’s slipping them off because her feet are tired.
If you were in the area would you throw a hissy fit? You’ll see that most girls will slip off heels in situations like this. How would this make ppl “uncomfortable”???
People simply mind their own businesses. Seriously no one cares. Except people like you and the original blogger.
***as i mentioned also, if it stinks and the smell bothers ppl that’s a different story. But most of the time it doesnt stink (and also people aren’t like putting their noses 1-2 inches from someone’s feet) so yeah. Hell, give people the benefit of the doubt. If someone has been really active and knows their feet has sweated a lot for instance, they most likely wont take off their shoes if people are nearby………….
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