What kind of world would we end up with if there was an international law that forced everyone to wear...?

Question

...the exact same kind and size of shoe?

In fifty years, what kind of world would we end up with if nearly everyone complied? Too not comply would mean a death penalty to be enforced at once, so there is no getting around it.
Only one shoe size is decided on by a world governing body who can expect nearly 100% compliance. Only a small fraction of the population lucks out at any given time with a pair of correct fitting shoes, and those are known as "the free runners", who are the priveleged class who are treated as celebrities.

Would we have less overall mobility and ground wars as a result of reduced mobility?

Would we have quite a few in wheelchairs because of foot conditions caused by feet being bound by too-small shoes?

Would little kids with gigantic shoes on their feet and the rest of the population forced to wear odd fitting shoes and limping around be less mobile, and thus more heavier as a result, making them even more sendentary?

Answer 1

folks would go barefoot or make their own.
kinda sounds like communism.:)

Answer 2

Are you bored or something? I think there was such a society that required women to all have the same sized feet - it was called China, and the practice was called "foot binding". Follow that history line for an answer about conformity. You might also try reading Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale - a very interesting book where women who could give birth were forced to do so, and were identified by having to wear a certain type of clothes. Its very feminist, but its really on point, and a little creepy.

Answer 3

Sounds awesome, if I can be a free runner! This is a funny question, because obviously this could never ever happen. We can't even get everyone to agree to the death penalty for serial killers, so people sneaking comfortable footwear? Hmmmm. But yes, unless they were allowed to go barefoot, many children would probably never learn to walk. Lots of people would be in wheelchairs, and things would generally suck. I have to wear the same shoes with my prom dress as I do to go hiking??? What about athletes, or ballet dancers? What about firefighters, or rescue divers? Can anybody have special footwear, ever??? This would be awful.

Answer 4

There would be an underground rebellion and an uprising against the authorities who would ultimately be overthrown

The free runners would be stripped of their celebrity status and the people whose feet had been mutilated as a result of ill fitting shoes would implement a public kicking to death of the free runners as punishment for not championing the cause of those who have suffered.

The kicking would be done in bare feet as a symbol of freedom from badly fitting shoes.

Answer 5

The shoemakers would rise up in arms and mankind shall see another revolution that will topple the established world order.

anyway, the law doesn't state anything about sandals, slippers, boots etc. so that international law has serious loophole and people would be exploiting that loophole;)

Answer 6

As long as it was my shoe size, sounds like a plan ;)

But this is definitely the best question I've seen ha ha. So what size would be chosen?

Answer 7

The many with cracked feet would hobble after the fortunate few, kill them, and either abolish the shoe standard or impose a new one.

Answer 8

Where in the world did you come up with this idea? Not only are you out of the box....I don't think you can see the box where you stand from! Interesting concept.

Answer 9

How did you find the time to come up with this question?

I guess the world would be a horrible place.

Answer 10

The population would run riot and they would destitute the enforcers of such law. So more war.

Answer 11

Let's go one step further...

Let's make everyone have to wear skuba flippers...

And the collective laughter coming from Planet Earth can be heard light-years away...