People who wear shoes indoors are the most disgusting savages in the world imo

Would you rather I take my shoes off...to reveal flippers??

Needs an “it depends“ answer. I don’t wear shoes in my own house, and will typically take them off if I am a guest at somebody else’s house and there is an indication that I should. But there are exceptions. Like parties, where people are wandering indoors and outdoors. And really, if I just show up at somebody’s house and they are wearing shoes in their own home, which some people do, it would seem weird to take off mine.

i have this friend, his codename’s “big guard”. he likes to wear his shoes inside. moved in with his girlfriend and found himself accused of disgusting savagery. now he has a separate pair of indoor shoes.

i like to walk around barefoot in the grass, on stone passageways and carpets
ceramic tile is certainly a treat

a separate pair of indoor shoes.

they are not slippers, they might be sambas, they might be vans

the Guardian just tackled this weighty topic

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/commentisfree/2025/apr/30/shoes-on-at-home-or-shoes-off-if-you-care-about-your-health-its-a-no-brainer

My dogs are already filthying up the place, how much more harm can shoes do?

Needs an “it depends“ answer. I don’t wear shoes in my own house, and will typically take them off if I am a guest at somebody else’s house and there is an indication that I should. But there are exceptions. Like parties, where people are wandering indoors and outdoors. And really, if I just show up at somebody’s house and they are wearing shoes in their own home, which some people do, it would seem weird to take off mine.

― paper plans (tipsy mothra)

Pretty much this (slapstick scrambling after a suicidal toddler has eroded my "no shoes inside" bonafides). That said, I live in a country where people tend to go barefoot to the supermarket/dairy etc.

My wife once brought her own pair of slippers to a party, and I thought, huh, how smart! But then she never did it again.

In my apartment I wear sandals or walk barefoot.

In other people's places I will remove my shoes if asked.

I used to walk around barefoot. My wife converted me to a sandal-wearer. I'm not coming to your house, so anything else is a non-issue.

It’s a suburbia vs city thing isn’t it? I’ve lived half my life in suburbia and half in a big city, and I’d say in suburbia you can leave your shoes on but in a big city you have to take ‘em off - if you think otherwise you’re lying to yourself. Related: it’s repulsive to me when I see characters in movies jump into bed with their shoes on.

I have a terror of foot injury so I switch from shoes outdoors to comfy houseshoes in the house, year-round.

It’s a suburbia vs city thing isn’t it? I’ve lived half my life in suburbia and half in a big city, and I’d say in suburbia you can leave your shoes on but in a big city you have to take ‘em off - if you think otherwise you’re lying to yourself. Related: it’s repulsive to me when I see characters in movies jump into bed with their shoes on.

― Josefa

This fascinates me because when I visit friends in Chicago or NYC it's shoes on unless you're a familiar.

I used to walk around barefoot

since beginning to work @ home as the start of covid, I've been barefoot at home nearly every day, unless it gets hella cold and then I'll wear slippers. I think my foot has gained a full size since then, which makes me thing I'm, err, 'settling'

I only have hardwood floors so there's no carpet to protect, so I don't really give a shit about people wearing their shoes... my Canadian ladyfriend (you haven't met her, um, she's up in Canada) insists on taking her shoes off, at her place and at mine as well

Also: I'm from a place where we can wear sockless shoes. So.

I live in a city, and only one of my friends asks me to take my shoes off when I come in. When I go outside I first put my shoes on and walk around the house, and the same in reverse when I come back. I only put slippers on if I'm staying in.

How do you guys deal with workmen or other people you have to have come in your space? The contractors who come to my house all tromp around wearing boots. The plumbers and some others put paper booties on. My cleaning person wears sneakers, which is important to me because I don't want her hurting herself.

My stairs are hardwood and are too slippery to navigate with just socks.

I hate walking barefoot anywhere except on sand at the beach.

first world problems ^^^^^

(JK - I wish I had a cleaning person, even once a year)

haha was this prompted by the New Yorker living room article

what if you have really gross feet/smelly, filthy socks

I knew a punk roadie who didn't take off his Dr Martens for three years

love wearing shoes in peoples homes including my own

I will always adhere to the requests of the person who lives there but it’s a pretty sure sign of general fussiness if one insists imo

I mop the floor after any workmen have been in my house. It's a pain, but it's necessary. I also have hardwood floors, so only go barefooted inside. I will provide non-slippery slippers to visitors if needed.

When I go outside I first put my shoes on and walk around the house, and the same in reverse when I come back. I only put slippers on if I'm staying in.

^ I can't parse this.

meaning, I wear slippers most of the time because I'm a homebody and only have to wear shoes when I'm planning to go out

But I have no problem walking around in shoes and I don't even think about it when people come into my house wearing shoes

- i take off my shoes
- i don’t tell guests what to do
- if they ask i say it’s totally up to them and i don’t mind either way (i don’t, at all)

i will say that if you are a friend de-shoer insister you should have some spare slippers on hand… just sayin…

when I visit friends in Chicago or NYC it's shoes on unless you're a familiar

This is hard to understand as well. There is so much more potential grossness on the bottom of shoes than on bare feet.

this is all reminding me that I haven't really cleaned my hardwood floors in like two years, I just sweep... I even have the Murphy's soap or whatever it is, just pure sloth

There are only two kinds of people in the world: those who agree with me and those who don't. It never occurred to me to poll this because it seems like a bad and pointless idea. Vote here:

• I agree
• I don't agree

xxp

I can understand if the shoes are muddy or covered in dogshit, but otherwise no. I'm not too worried about fomites, including from shoes or produce at the grocery store that other people have touched or kitchen sponges that haven't been microwaved.

I'm happy picking up dropped food from the floor and eating it. We used to dare each other to do it on hospital floors when I was an intern

5 second rule applies tho

lol, I don't think we had that rule. hospitals are really dirty places and clinics are not much better, but I never got sick or caught anything from picking up food from the floor. We were kind of disgusting savages, so this thread title fits

Related: it’s repulsive to me when I see characters in movies jump into bed with their shoes on.

Also, shoes on chairs/sofas. There are episodes of Seinfeld where Kramer or George do this on Jerry's couch and it grosses me out.

I mop the floor after any workmen have been in my house. It's a pain, but it's necessary.

Yep. Especially if (as is often the case) it's been snowing.

There is so much more potential grossness on the bottom of shoes than on bare feet.

When I worked in NYC I used to gasp in horror when I would see people walking around in flip-flops.

i can’t imagine being invited into somebody’s place and not asking, “do you want me to take my shoes off?”

when it comes to my place, it depends on the interaction. however, it’s hard for me to imagine wanting to be friends with somebody who throws a fit if i ask for shoes off

We have 9 indoor cats. Take your shoes off at your own risk.

I really don't like walking around with "seasoning" all over my feet, so I have indoor shoes (slip-on Keens) and outdoor shoes (lace-up boots)

I wear shoes in our house but will happily take them off if I’m a guest and the host requests it. Easy either way. My wife has foot problems so she has to wear shoes as much as possible.

I wear shoes in our house but will happily take them off if I’m a guest and the host requests it. Easy either way. My wife has foot problems so she has to wear shoes as much as possible.

Sorry for double post. I only voted once …

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

just as i was leaving today i remembered i forgot something and i WENT UPSTAIRS WITH MY SHOES ON

Disgusting

I’m with Roddy Ricch on this one

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

we must not allow polarisation to tear the board apart

thanks for the win fellow dirt bags

I've personally kind of revolted by wall to wall carpet, except in hotels

based on photographic evidence the pope wears shoes indoors

yeah, but he floats an inch off the ground, contactless drifting

It’s funny that it’s not specified but we all know if assume the question is about residences. Personally I take my shoes off at all indoor locations - grocery store, office, library, coffee shop. Just exploring the world at large in my mismatched socks.

I have conflicting but equally strong impulses that are probably quite NYC-centric in both directions. I get why in a big city, streets and shoes are grosser. In the suburbs or country you walk from your own house to your car to indoor places that get cleaned like stores, to a much greater degree. Even sidewalks, which are disgusting, get "washed" by rain and exposed to daily UV doses--forget about subway platforms which get neither.

But my shoes are part of my outfit that I put on to go outside and be seen by people. Being barefoot or socked feels informal and I might not want to be informal at an event esp w people I don't know. It feels un- or under-dressed. Fine for movie night at ian's house but less so for meeting 40 strangers at a party. I went to a fundraiser house party last winter and it was shoes off at the door and I hated it (also I had not worn socks bc I wasn't expecting that!).

Have also noted a division between generations/groups of people who are more accustomed to socializing in public like bars and clubs vs people who are used to socializing by hanging out at home/house parties?

Obviously for movie night at ian's house I will arrive in socks only, making sure to wipe them on extra wet mystery patches on the sidewalk on my way there.

Dan S’s position is basically mine (well, except that I’m not eating off the floor, but that’s exactly why I’m not that bothered by the idea of outside germs getting on the floor)

Seems like a good time to switch up my dn…

I went to a fundraiser house party last winter and it was shoes off at the door

i bet someone is into feet

i'm picturing a cream-everything interior

At a friend's birthday party in Brooklyn in 2023 he asked us to leave our shoes outside and I counted 17 pairs of shoes in the stairwell.

Shocked at these vile results

I have a funny pic from that party of like 40 pairs of black boots in a foyer that I would post here if I knew how.

In my neighbourhood you take off shoes if you’re invited over to your Muslim neighbour’s place, but I am only taking off shoes at home if they are wet or muddy, or I am not going out again that day. The amount of stuff-gathering and stuff-forgetting I do between putting my shoes on and actually going out is not conducive to spotless floors and neither are Widget’s paws.

My best friend wanted to do shoeless indoor living when she bought her family home but that resolution fell by the wayside PDQ. Three kids and a dog probably made that impossible.

I don’t even care about the outside germs argument. I prefer not wearing shoes because it’s more comfortable.

One thing a lot of travel in Japan has taught me is- UP YOUR SOCK GAME

Stayed with friends in Canada last year and it was 100% shoes off and this is what all Canadians do and my god you're clearly weird and savage if you don't agree. I took my shoes off as directed and it was all fine and well. I was at my Buddhist centre tonight and shoes off is the custom so I do as directed and enjoy the reverent aspect.

My own house? I couldn't honestly care either way. It's nice to have you here. Make yourself at home.

This was really tough for me because I am at heart a disgusting savage, but it is obviously shoes off

I’m a shoes on savage at home bc it’s more comfortable for me to have my feet supported in shoes.

Haven’t been to many people’s houses lately but I’ll do whatever is customary for that house.

We have people over every week and it's shoes on as long as it's not wet or snowy outside.

People who walk their dog off-leash are much worse than people who ride their bikes on the sidewalk or wear shoes inside btw.

What about people who go for walks with their pet iguana on their head? One of them was on my street this week.

maybe they just don't want their iguana to track in disgusting filth from the street when they get home

As a kid I was terrified of dogs after being chased by many, and yeah fuck those guys letting their massive furious dogs off the lead in the park I had to walk through on my way to school

There are loads of parks and open spaces where it’s fine to run dogs off-lead, where they will not bother or frighten other people (or dogs). Most areas have byelaws that dogs must be on leads on any kind of pavement. The UK doesn’t have dog parks as such so people with dogs might rent an enclosure and throw a puppy play date (happens in more rural areas) or (like I do) take their 40 mph croissant thief to woodlands.

yeah dog parks should be in gross liminal spaces like under the freeway overpass.. don't use prime real estate for those foul dirt farms

I don’t have £40/day to send Widget to dog daycare (big field with indoor enrichment/nap space, for people with West London/City money). The walks are good for me, too.

Would you rather I take my shoes off...to reveal flippers??

― a ZX spectrum is haunting Europe (Daniel_Rf)

i have some friends who would...

i bet someone is into feet

― five six seven, eight nine ten, begin (map)

flippers. kids today are into flippers. they demand a sacrifice... of your shoes.

i try not to wear shoes indoors but i also have ADHD and forget to take my shoes off a lot of the time. i mean possibly i'm a disgusting savage, i've kinda gotten that a lot historically. not so much these days.

Converse have very recently released some slip-ons that I could get behind but I almost never go to house parties that demand shoes off so I’m not sure if they would be worth it

If I were from a different part of the world I’d be all over them though

Are big off leash dog parks/areas not a thing in UK/American cities? Dogs are spoiled for choice in Sydney, so many off leash areas with friendly vibes.

There's a bunch in California, IDK about everywhere else.. even small towns have them

There's a big one in Prospect Park, Brooklyn which was the inspiration for a recent New Yorker magazine cover

iguanas are wipe-clean aiui

30 of you have never lived in the kind of climate where it snows more than half the year. If you live in such a place it's practically a reflex to remove your shoes upon entering someone's home

wouldn’t you wear snow overshoes for such situations?

i don’t wear shoes at home but it’s not like i take them off at the door - i live in a townhouse there’s no lobby or mud room. i’ll take em off when i sit. but id never ask anyone else to- like Jaq said when you have cats, foot sprinkles is A Thing ugh it’s unavoidable. i’ve never asked if i should remove shoes at others homes either? never been asked, afaik. mine is not an area of snow/sludge/dust, so.

Snow... Overshoes...?

Stayed with friends in Canada last year and it was 100% shoes off and this is what all Canadians do and my god you're clearly weird and savage if you don't agree.

Can confirm

This is objectively stupid. 1) Where do you even put 80 shoes 2) You’re going to have to clean your house anyway genius

Leave them in a pile by the door or line them up on the side of a staircase or toss them all in the entryway closet, duh

It's true that even the upper Midwest and mid-Northeast (I guess) aren't snowy *more* than half the year. Winter rules are different.

Besides which, as a Midwesterner, you’re removing all foot coverings because you inevitably got a soaker.

my feet and ankles are all fucked up and while I am a barefoot guy in my heart it is much less painful for me just to walk down the hall if I'm wearing shoes. have you stopped to consider that people wearing shoes inside are all suffering exactly as I am and that you have insulted us all with this cruel poll, and that we can't even break into a sprint to catch you, having removed our shoes in shame after seeing the poll

I kept mine on. No shame!!