"Take Your Shoes Off" sign at a party today?

[Pembo]

We went to a Christmas party at the home of my ds's preschool friend. It was a pretty wacky affair. There were games and face painting in the dining room, Santa in the living room, food in the basement, video games upstairs, and cookie decorating in the kitchen. It was VERY organized, with coat check at the door.

However, DH & I thought it was rude to have people CHECK their shoes!!!! (like you do your coat). Given this is Ohio and there is snow on the ground, I think they should have had BIG rugs/mats for people to wipe their feet on but they had a sign on the door PLEASE REMOVE YOUR SHOES and then once you got in the door there were people there taking your coat and shoes. (You got a coat check ticket for both). It was chilly in their house, especially the basement. My feet were freezing, I wanted my shoes on.

So what do all of you think? Would you ask/tell people to remove their shoes and CHECK THEM???????????????

 

[lilboo]

I guess if I lived in an environment where people weren't accustomed to having to take off their shoes I'd note on the invite that it will be requested that shoes be removed at the door...????

Or maybe they could've provided little slippies???

Did someone have a hole in the sock Pem????

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Last I heard, the salt and perspiration from feet is actually harder on the carpet than a little mud. I think it's a little forward of them to ask you to remove your shoes. I've never asked this.

 

[Pembo]

lilboo--No holes in my socks. I actually wore my festive Xmas socks but I'm glad I didn't wear my boots. They are such a pain to take off!!!!!

 

[Serena]

I know of several people that ask you to take off your shoes when you come into their homes. It's no big deal.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

With preschoolers, face painting, and food being served, cleanliness doesn't seem to be the reason. And yes, the oils from bare feet (or even coming through socks) are harder on carpeting than shoes.

I've never heard of a kids party where there was a check ticket for coats and shoes. Were there a LOT of people there? Maybe they just wanted to make sure someone didn't accidently walk out with someone else's coat and shoes.

 

[lulugirl]

I think it's rude. The comfort of your guests should be more important than maintaining the condition of your carpet. If you don't want to risk a stain on your carpet, don't have a party.
JMHO.....

 

[sammi]

Where I'm from everyone automatically takes their shoes off inside the front door and I would expect to have them do the same in my home too. It's very expensive to have carpets cleaned and I think it shows respect for the host family to remove your shoes.

If your feet tend to get chilly then do as I sometimes do and take your slippers to slip on when you arrive.

 

[Tony-NJ]

if I wasn't expecting it LOL They would have been sorry!!!

 

[TimeforMe]

If I am a guest in someone's home and they ask I remove my shoes, I have NO problem obliging them. After all, it is their home.

 

[SPAGo 98]

at my house and many of my friends' houses, shoes come off at the door. i don't see anything strange about it, but that's how i grew up.

 

[sammi]

ROTFLMBO Tony!!!!!

 

[Tinkbell]

I'd rather
have shoes on my carpet than strange, smelly feet. I will only remove my shoes in someone's house if it is raining or snowing outside. When I invite people over to my house, I want them to be comfortable. If they want to take off their shoes, that's fine. I would not request it. If I ever become worried about the condition or cost of cleaning my carpet, I will stop inviting people over. I was invited to a baby shower at a distant relative's home. The invitation stated that we needed to bring our slippers or booties because shoes are not permitted on the carpets. I'm glad she put that on the invitation. I knew not to attend.

If I were to visit a home of a person whose CULTURE views removing shoes as a sign of respect, then I would have no problem with it. JMO.

 

[dandave]

When I was a teenager, I delivered pizza as an afterschool job. It was a military community. Many people had signs hung on their entryway which read, "This is an American home run Japanese style. Please leave your shoes at the door."
Needless to say, they met me at the door for the pizza. Had I been a guest in their homes, however, I would have had no problems with removing my shoes.
My family and friends know that I will allow no one to smoke inside my home or vehicles, even though I smoke. I only smoke outside, and I expect them to respect my wishes. Period.

 

[Kermit]

I don't really mind taking off my shoes at the homes of very familiar friends and family, but it would bug me at a party. When you go somewhere like that, you get dressed up to some extent, and shoes are part of the outfit. Besides, I have short legs, and I have to wear shoes with some of my pants or I trip on them. I also have a medical condition that causes me to lose circulation to my fingers and toes when they're cold. I'd be very upset if the house wasn't warm enough for me in just my socks.

 

[Pembo]

I thought it was weird to have a "shoe check" at the party! Then again I'd never ask someone to take their shoes off at my house. I always have rugs at my door for people to wipe their feet on.

I guess I would have felt better if I would have known ahead of time. We did attend a Sikh wedding a few years ago where shoes were removed but that was in the invitation.

Any more opinions?????

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I suppose I would oblige to their wishes.

Me I don't make people take off their shoes.

 

[damo]

People around here always take their shoes off at the door. It's a sign of courtesy.

 

[d.kurz]

It IS kind of weird, isn't it? Plus I am VERY uncomfortable WITHOUT my shoes....heel spurs, I NEED those orthotics. I put on my shoes immediately in the morning, and take them off when I put my PJ's on. But I think I would have complied with the host's request, although like I said....weird.

 

[stevets]

This sounds very strange to me. Anytime an adult requires a child to remove an article of clothing I get suspicious. Could the head of this household have a fetish for childrens' feet? You never know.

Play it safe, do NOT let your child socialize with this family.