Is it rude to ask people to remove their.....

[Planogirl]

I asked that earlier GEM and I'm still wondering about this.

I also wondered if bare feet were OK.

 

[FreshTressa]

I think it just depends on the occassion also. I do think a more formal party with people you don't know well, it would be innappropriate to ask people to take their shoes off.

I think about 95% of my guests just take them off because we have our shoes in the entryway. If they choose not to, IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL! There may be a reason (like ankle braces) I usually take my cues from the hostess.

If she is wearing shoes, I keep mine on, if she is shoeless, I take them off.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by KathyTX
Am I the only one who would find this odd and rude?

When I get dressed, I expect to stay dressed. If you want me to take off my shoes when I come to your house, I think you need to call and inform me of this dress code so I'll be prepared...

I might not want to walk around in stocking feet and ruin my good socks. I might be wearing hosiery that would be ruined this way. I might not feel comfortable showing strangers my naked feet.

I would be pretty taken aback to be asked to remove my shoes in your home unexpectedly.

Floors are meant to be walked on!

I'm not sure it's rude, but it sure seems odd to me. It would never occur to me to ask someone to take off their shoes before entering my home. We all take off our muddy/snowy boots in the garage, but that's it.

I've really never heard of people not wanting their floors walked on with shoes.

 

[C.Ann]

Just out of curiosity, for those of you who think it's rude to wear shoes in someones home - or not remove them when entering your own home - does that apply to everyone - or only certain individuals?

If a life insurance agent comes to your home (at your request), would you ask him to take off his shoes at the door? How about your minister or priest? Your son or daughters teacher? The mayor of your town? Your husbands boss? What if the President came by?

From the reasons stated here for expecting this type of behavior from guests who come to your home, I would assume it would be "across the board" (because technically they have all "walked" outside somewhere) - but would you really enforce it for everyone or only those of "lesser" importance?

 

[WDWAurora]

GEM, I wondered about the sanitation. I worked in a hospital for a long time, so I'm generally pretty grossed out by the no shoes idea. But in general, if you've got people who need shoes for protection (like diabetics whose feet lose circulation) and small bumps on couch legs can cause major wounds...I just worry about things like that. Shoes are made to protect feet, and that protection includes inside the home. Not that I never go barefoot, but in general, shoes are important.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
would it be rude, if after taking shoes off you ask them to put them back on because there feet stink

LOL!!

 

[Lanshark]

Thank goodness you're not a nudest

 

[UncleKyle]

Must be a regional thing. I find it very rude for someone to ask me UNLESS it's pooring down raining outside or there is snow. I would never ask anyone no matter what but thats just me. If someone asked me I would respect there wishes but I probably wouldn't come back to their house again.

I grew up with all wood floors in my house and I have all wood floors in my apartment right now, my feet get cold so I always wear shoes or house slippers. To walk around with my stinky feet would be hilarious since everyone knows to keep a safe distance from them.

 

[Saffron]

Marcie! ROTFLOL!

I have no opinion, ask, don't ask, your house, your rules. I wouldn't think to take my shoes off upon entering someone's home though because I never heard of people doing that before. I wouldn't think you were rude to ask me, I might think it a little odd though. But I would be glad to do it and go back to your home again.

That being said, I would never under any circumstance ask someone who has mobility problems to take their shoes off. Their shoes may be a vital part of their mobility.

 

[disykat]

I was invited to a neighbors house for "tea". I knew she had invited a few others - she had sent out invitations. I was the first to arrive and she was in stocking feet. I honestly thought I had come on the wrong day.

 

[DisneyJules]

Originally posted by C.Ann
Just out of curiosity, for those of you who think it's rude to wear shoes in someones home - or not remove them when entering your own home - does that apply to everyone - or only certain individuals?

If a life insurance agent comes to your home (at your request), would you ask him to take off his shoes at the door? How about your minister or priest? Your son or daughters teacher? The mayor of your town? Your husbands boss? What if the President came by?

From the reasons stated here for expecting this type of behavior from guests who come to your home, I would assume it would be "across the board" (because technically they have all "walked" outside somewhere) - but would you really enforce it for everyone or only those of "lesser" importance?

Honestly, I think it would be rude of the person coming into my home not to think to take of their shoes. Who knows, maybe it's just something we do in Canada but I can't think of a home I've ever been in where myself as well as the other guests didn't take their shoes off. Must be a cultural thing, I'd find it really weird if anyone for that matter left their shoes on in the house. If it's a fancier function in a home, I bring nice shoes with me. Let me make it clear that I expect them to take them off if they're coming into the house. If a salesperson is at the door standing on the mat, I don't have a problem with it.
If someone has ankle braces, that's a whole other story, then I can understand someone keeping their shoes on.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I haven't read the whole thread, so if somebody already mentioned this, forgive me!

Quite a few people need to wear orthopedics for a variety of foot problems. My mom has this cast thingie that she has to wear on her foot, but has to have a shoe on in order to wear it. Other people have orthodpedic inserts they have to wear. I have to wear Birkenstocks for my heel spur and my doctor recommends that I wear them even while hanging out at home because it's not good for me to walk barefoot...which I do anyway because I like to walk around barefoot! lol! But there are a lot of people with far worse problem than I have. I wouldn't ask people to take off thier footware (unless it was seriously muddy) just because you never really know who needs to wear their shoes out of medical necessity or comfort.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Actually, I'd be thrilled if somebody asked me to remove my shoes upon entering their home. Ever since i broke my ankle several years backits very hard for me to wear a pair of shoes for hours at a time. Too much hardware holding my ankle together, it likes to be free.

I've never had this happen, but I keep hearing about it more and more, so I wouldn't be surprised if i get asked someday. I would prefer something like slipper socks be provided though.

 

[ripleysmom]

"Am I the only one who would find this odd and rude?"

Nope. I also don't like taking off my shoes in other people's homes. It's just weird.

 

[poohandwendy]

I think it is very rude. I think it suggests that peoples 'things' have more importance than the comfort of the guests. I always check to see what the host is wearing and ask if I should remove mine, but I prefer to wear mine.

Once, while visiting an acquaintance who always asked people to remove their shoes, I left my shoes by the door (with the rest of the shoes) only to find later that her dog urinated on one of my shoes!!! Not only did she NOT offer to clean/replace the shoe (she gave me a few paper towels and showed me to the laundry room wash tub!!!), she actually had the audacity to say "Oh my, how embarrassing!! Brownie is just showing her disapproval over the attention I pay to my guests!!!"....UMM...tell it to someone who cares WHY Brownie did it...maybe the pet psychic will want to hear it...

I think that if your carpet/flooring means more to you than your guests being comfortable, at least offer them slippers or socks....and be very sure to place the shoes where they are safe from being damaged...

I don't understand why people don't just provide a good throwrug/mat for visitors to wipe their feet before entering?

In our home, we always have a bunch of shoes by the door (I really need to find something to stow them in). I am constantly reminding people that it is totally unnecessary to remove their shoes unless they are more comfortable in socks or bare feet. I think the 'shoe pile' gives the impression that we have a no-shoe rule...which we don't. As long as they don't pee on my shoes, they can wear whatever they want on their feet....

 

[Mskanga]

Having been raised in Spain where all the floors are ceramic tile over concrete, I was always taught to always wear slippers because the floors are cold, socks or slipper socks don't do the job. Now I live in an area where snow and mud are the order of the day in the winter time but I never ask my guests to take their shoes off. If they want to take them off , that's fine but if they don't want to , that's fine too. We all walk around the house with slippers for the most part. We have shoes by the door too because the first thing we do when we get in is take the shoes off and put our slippers on, but I don't expect guests to do that.

 

[Minnesota!]

WOW! I cannot believe the regional differences on this subject.

For the record, I think it is EXTREMELY rude to wear your shoes in someone's house. I have NEVER been somewhere that people wear them indoors. How can you?? They are so uncomfortable. And, the dirt that is tracked in, I would FREAK if someone kept thier shoes on in my house...and I have hardwood floors.

For those that have asked, even for formal, etc., I take my shoes off and go in my panty hose. Summer time, I take off my sandles and go barefoot in people's houses. I just make sure my toes are pedicured

Also, people that visit - our life insurance man, our priest (when he came over after my dad died) they have ALL taken off their shoes at the door.

Wow. I can't imagine being upset about someone taking their shoes off.

 

[Mskanga]

Originally posted by Minnesota!

Wow. I can't imagine being upset about someone taking their shoes off.

I will be upset, I have had surgery on my feet due to deformations and I need the support on my feet. I make sure that I don't make a mess when I go to someone's home, but if you ask me to remove my shoes, you will see me walking out real quick and never going back.
I wonder how many of those people who make or would like their guests take the shoes off , have pets and wipe their paws everytime they go out ?

 

[ByTheSea]

WOW! I cannot believe the regional differences on this subject.

I agree completely!

Growing up in the midwest it was not at all uncommon to be asked to leave your shoes by the door in some homes. Not all, but it certainly wasn't an unusual request.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Minnesota!

. Summer time, I take off my sandles and go barefoot in people's houses. I just make sure my toes are pedicured

Wow, I would totally freak if someone came into my house and walked around barefoot LOL....the foot disesase you can spread by walking around barefoot...blech! I don't even go barefoot at a water park or in a pool....No stores or restuarants would allow you to go in barefoot and I certainly wouldn't want people in my home walking around with no shoes on....