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Personally, I can't imagine not going barefoot whenever possible even while riding, working, and doing things not that friendly toward barefeet. I'm a little wacko about it I guess. But I notice that when I go into some businesses, like Walmart, the post office, and most places besides restaurants I get quite a few dirty looks. Why is there such a stigma or prejudice against bare feet? It's not like my feet are all grungy or gross or mis-shapen. I try to keep them clean, clipped, and presentable enough that people shouldn't mind but they do anyway. I've heard that in China feet are held in low regard because of some tradition and in many 3rd world countries people consider barefeet as a sign of poverty and lack of class. But why here? It doesn't really seem reasonable. What do you think?
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Re: foot haters
Mon, June 18, 2007 - 6:55 PM
believe this is an issue that's really not personal. naked feet i think are still looked at as a part of the body meant to be covered up in public (even tho' sandles have been around for, like, forever)... it's a throwback from earlier times of the past couple hundred years when diseases could easily be spread by the feet... fungus and scale and warts and such. remember when it was a big concern in public showers of the spread of athlete's foot?... anyone who's ever suffered from catching that can tell you... darn irritating! so try not to take the restrictions personally... it's just a matter of the ideas of public health. be happy we're allowed to tred around barefoot elsewhere! yea! be in joy...
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Unsu...
Re: foot haters
Mon, June 18, 2007 - 8:19 PMI know that my mother really hates it when I go barefoot (which is basically all the time).
She thinks that being without shoes symbolises a lack of money and class.
But, she also hates woollen hats because she thinks they make me look like a hobo. My father calls them "loser hats".
Basically, no matter what you do, or where you go, you will find people who look down on you for something you do. That's their problem. Do what makes you happy :)
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Unsu...
Re: foot haters
Mon, June 18, 2007 - 8:50 PMThanks for the insight grasshopper. That all makes sense to me. I never take it personally when I get the looks just mostly try to ignore them. I've never been kicked out of places yet but then I'm not in their face about it either. But grasshopper when you tell to "be happy we're allowed to tred around barefoot elsewhere" I have to say to you bro, if doing something that for me is as natural as taking a breath of air is a question of what's "allowed" then I could never be happy about it. -
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Re: foot haters
Mon, June 18, 2007 - 9:17 PM
yeah, i get ya'.... "allowed" probably wasn't the best choice of word there... just like to acknowledge the freedoms we do have... we've come a long way from when i was a kid running around town in bare feet and all the scowls and gasps of the older folks. that was in the 1950s... and especially being a girl doing such things! ahhhhh.... my mom was horrified! haha
be in happy barefoot joy! -
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Unsu...
Re: foot haters
Tue, June 19, 2007 - 9:07 AMWow. You're a girl. lol Sorry I called you "bro". Somehow I got the idea you were a guy but now I know. I'm not so sure that we have come a long way, since I get my share of those scowls and gasps even now when I go to town. In places like so cali along the beach, portland, seattle, boulder, etc. barefeet are pretty common. Unfortunately, places like Alamosa, Monte Vista and South Fork, in Colorado are all farm towns where people practically sleep in their cowboy or work boots, and bare feet are the exception. Oh well, I say fuck em. I'll do what I want. -
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Re: foot haters
Thu, June 21, 2007 - 10:40 PMon the ferry boat they wouldn't let me purchase my soup or even be near the cafeteria with my bare feet. health code thing. i was choked cause nothin beats gazing out at an ocean, eating soup with naked feet. and i mean nothing.
and elite city streets do not greet pretty feet.
although, if you carry a surf board with you, no one even looks twice, no matter where you are.
i typed this with my bare toes by the way. -
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Unsu...
Re: foot haters
Fri, June 22, 2007 - 2:55 PM"typed this with my bare toes btw" sure you did. Uh huh. Right. Sucks about the ferry but, oh well. You were gonna eat your soup with naked feet? Cool. I'd have to use my hands.
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Re: foot haters
Sun, June 24, 2007 - 4:44 PMI'm new in this room, but definitely not new to barefootin. Spent all 4 years at university barefoot from April through Thanksgiving break. Never any troble with profs or admin. Ran track barefoot, swin team (barefoot, of course), and soccer team barefoot. They almost made me wear shoes for soccer until they saw how I could control the ball barefoot. Haven't had trouble at Post Office, Wall Mart or fast food restaurants even those who post the dreaded NSNSNS signs. I chalenged WalMart when they tried to pull the "health code" ruse on me, but when the manager couldn't produce the health code (cuz there isn't any such rulling in Pennsylvania) and my bf/husband (a lawyer) said we'd sue (he was shod), they backed down and I've been there many times since with no trouble. Some local cop said I couldn't drive barefoot, but the PA driver's code does not say so, so when I asked him (in court) to produce the code, the District Judge said it was not against the code and the cop was totally embarassed. The judge apologized and even dropped the (valid) speeding charge against me. NE way, I've been out of work not since January 22 and have been barefoot ever since them except for two job interviews when I wore my "lawyer suit", polished shoes, etc. I'm negotiating terms for one of those jobs at present. Its teaching math in a private school -- and they have a casual dress policy. After we reach salary terms and I'm offered the position (very likely) I'll ask the barefoot question. The "headmaster" goes to my church and knows I go to church barefoot, so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise to him. Today (Sunday) he told me that I would probably be offered the position and its just a matter of Salary.
Hugz,
Bobby -
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Unsu...
Re: foot haters
Sun, June 24, 2007 - 4:58 PMHey Bobby. Too cool. Hope you get that teaching job and they let you go barefoot in class. My grandfather was a full-on hippie back in the day and he told me he went to classes at UCSB in Santa Barbara barefoot and everywhere else. He also mentioned that back then he could take his dog right into the classroom with him and smoke in class too. Not that way now at UCSB although around the town of Isla Vista almost everyone's barefoot, being right on the beach practically. I was at an alternative school in LA when I was 15 and my counselor and main teacher would get barefoot in class along with me, of course, and about half the others. The head dude didnt like it but we we're just being "alternative" after all so he let us. You're an example for all of us bud. Billy -
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Re: foot haters
Thu, July 26, 2007 - 9:03 AMThanks Billy....
Today's mail contained the foraml written job offer. Pay is a bit less than I had asked for, but at least its more than unemployment <GRIN> and along with what Ronnie earns, we will do very well. (Not rich, but good enouigh.) The male teachers I saw when I was interviewed were casually dressed (jeans and polo shirts) and one was in sandals, so maybe barefoot will work OK. I'll try it and see what (if anything is said).
I had a bad experience this week at Wendy's -- went in for a salad barefoot (I've been there barefoor many times before over last several years) and the "manager" made a very unpleasant scene. He said it was against the health code and Pennsylvania law. (It is neither.) My husband, Ronnie, a lawyer said I should sue for embarasement. I'm thinking about it.
Hugz
Boibby -
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Unsu...
Re: foot haters
Thu, July 26, 2007 - 6:19 PMFuck dude. You should. Wish I had the money to make a statement like that. You think Bill O wud notice?
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