have you seen any ADULTS shopping BAREFOOT this summer?

Question

I was at walmart and a guy and his gf were both walking around the store barefooted. am i the only one who has seen this, or is it common sight some places?

Answer 1

While I rarely if ever see someone else barefoot, kids or adults, I am one of those barefoot adults. I have been barefoot for over ten years and don't intend to wear footwear ever again. In spite of persistent myths, there is nothing wrong with going barefoot in public. It's NOT gross, dangerous or unhealthy.

Even in the US, contrary to popular belief, there are NO health laws against bare feet, insurance companies don't require or even recommend footwear for customers, and there are NO laws against driving barefoot. Individual stores may have a dress code but there are many stores even in the US that don't care; in other countries it's rarely an issue at all. Here in the Netherlands I've never even seen a 'no shoes, no shirts, no service' sign, nor on my trips to Belgium & Scotland, it's just a non-issue with store and restaurant management.

Feet get very tough very quickly so injury is unlikely; I never divert my step no matter how much glass I see and I get a tiny splinter maybe once a year, never had a cut, never had even the slightest splinter indoors. Just in the rare case it does happen, tetanus has had a vaccine available since the 1920's, which everyone should keep up to date since there are other ways of catching it apart from stepping on a rusty nail barefoot.

Disease is unlikely since our skin is made to keep pathogens out; unless you put your feet up on the table or lick your toes, the more visible dirt on our feet is far less risky than the less visible but no less germy stuff we pick up with our hands from door knobs, railings, handle bars, etc. Even if we wash our hands after using the restroom and before dinner, there's still more chance to transfer those germs to our food and/or face where they can enter our body; on our feet, the dirt just sits there until we wash it off.

Athlete's foot is a fungus, you can pick up the spores from going barefoot in a place where many others go barefoot, but they can only grow if you put your feet in closed shoes afterwards -especially if you then start playing sports so you sweat more and get hot. A fungus loves a warm, dark and slightly damp place to thrive; on the outside of the bare skin, it just dries up. Even the place where you pick it up should be a little damp and warm, like a locker room floor or even a shower or pool; on a sidewalk or the floor of a store or mall, the spores won't live long so the chance of picking it up from another barefooter is very small there. Athlete's foot is ringworm of the foot; ringworm isn't a true worm.

The *hookworm* is the one non-tropical worm that can enter through the skin but it's pretty much gone from the South since modern plumbing replaced the outhouses, never was a problem in cooler climates.

Ethically speaking, too many people confuse anything outside the social norm with a lack of respect. That's unfortunate; differences in appearance and dress make life more interesting. Imagine we'd all be wearing the same thing, that'd be terribly boring! And bare feet in particular can also be a sign of *respect*; it's a gentle, quiet, natural way of walking, doesn't make noise like clicking heels, slapping flipflops or stomping boots, does less harm to plants when walking outdoors... As shown above the concerns of injury, disease, etc are based on myths and exaggerated fears rather than fact, and I find the gentle barefoot step far more respectful than the careless, unfeeling step of a thick-soled boot.

Answer 2

O.K. I guess I'm like Sheriam. A barefoot adult. I have been barefooting for a tear now and my feet have never been healthier or stronger. I cant believe how many believe all these myths about going barefoot.

FACTS:
It is very healthy to go barefoot.
Going barefoot strengthens the muscles in the feet and legs.
Some footwear can be harmful to overall foot health.
There are no health codes or other regulations that prohibit barefoot customers from being in business establishments, including restaurants.
It is legal to drive barefoot and safer than some footwear.

Keep 'em bare !!!

Answer 3

Just did that two days ago!

I went to several grocery stores shopping for different groceries. I parked at the far end of the parking lots so I could also test my soles on the hot asphalt. Despite being supposedly 95 degrees during the hottest hours (during a heat wave in March), I could stand for several seconds at a time before my soles started noticeably tingling, then I only need to take a couple of steps from standing is all I needed before standing on the hot asphalt again. Once the progressive burning had been enough from mostly standing, I started slowly walking across the parking lot to walk on a maximum heat as possible. Then I entered the store, went shopping, crossed the hot parking lot again, put the groceries in the car, did some more standing heat training, and then left to go to another store.

The soles only had a very red outline from where they burned the most, even when the soles were cleaned. No blisters. Any discomfort from the soles being slightly more tender went away by the early afternoon. The redness went away by the late afternoon.

Answer 4

I'll admit to running in a gas station or dollar store barefooted, but I've never gone to Walmart without shoes...always figured I'd get thrown out!

Answer 5

The only place I have seen a barefoot shopper was in a thrift store.

Answer 6

I've seen that at Walmart too. One chick I saw cut her foot on some broken glass and started up some stuff.

When I passed back that way she was on the floor messing with her foot and going off on the manager. People were kind of walking around and standing and smirking and laughing which made her go off on the manager more.

Not everything messed up in Walmart had to be shipped in from elsewhere.

Answer 7

Yes. I work in a bookstore and I see many people coming in there barefoot. I think that is one of the most disgusting things a person can do.

Answer 8

I always thought it was "No shirt, no shoes, no service"... hmmmmmm

I have seen it quite often but I live in California.... also known as hippie land. Apparently it's okay, but as far as I'm concerned, shoes, or footies, or socks, or rollerskates or something is ALWAYS in order.

Answer 9

only in santa cruz california.

Hate to say this but sometimes I really hate people in Santa Cruz

Answer 10

well i haven't seen any but considering that this was a hell of a hot summer... i'm not surprised