Why do many people think it is illegal, disrespectful, or unhealthy to go everywhere barefoot when it's not?

Question

SnakeEve wants me to re-phrase. Here again is what she said:
It can be disrespectful to religious groups, because the feet are the dirtiest things about you to some religions and it's unhealthy because you can get parasites through open wounds in your foot. As far as illegal, I doubt there are laws, but there are stringent restrictions (and rightly so ) for dress in all sorts of occasions.
Your question is snotty and ignorant. try rephrasing it so you don't sound like you are an ***.

O.K., at the risk of sounding snottier and even more like an A$$ (in her opinion I guess):
Most religions have a history of REMOVING footwear in holy places or houses of worship. Even Moses had to remove his shoes when standing on Holy ground. See www.barefooters.org.
Parasites don't enter that way in the U.S. anymore, and have'nt for over half a century. See www.barefooters.org
You may think me a snotty A$$, but I'm still right!
Again, in reality bare feet are not disrespectful or unhealthy!

Answer 1

Barefooters have discussed this many times and we've never really pinpointed it, but the myth that going barefoot is against Health Department regulations possibly started in the '60's when more people started to go barefoot and store owners wanted an excuse to keep the hippies out... saying 'it's the law' just sounds stronger than saying 'I don't like it', and they probably figured most people wouldn't research it anyhow... another possibility is that someone high-up at a national chain believed it was illegal, printed up a lot of signs, spread them all across the country, and other people -including owners and managers of other stores- picked it up from there, not bothering to double-check but assuming a large business would know what they were talking about.

Disrespectful... well, a lot of people think anything that goes against the social norm is disrespectful. Wearing a hat/not wearing a hat, piercings, tattoos, almost any alternative dress can be called disrespectful. I think this is very unfortunate; alternative appearance makes life more interesting and colorful. Imagine we were all the same! Bare feet have the additional downside that many people associate them with pool, beach, such informal situations, as well as with foot odor. But personally, I think bare feet are far *more* respectful than the most expensive dress shoe can ever be. Barefoot, you touch Mother Earth gently, you're aware of where you tread, you are more conscious of your surroundings. Even though there's really no need to constantly be on the lookout for dangers, I'm always aware of what's underfoot, rather than stomping around careless and unfeeling in a boot or closed shoe.

Unhealthy... a lot of people think the foot is easily injured, or are afraid of germs or parasites entering through the skin. However, feet get very tough very quickly. I've been barefoot everywhere for over ten years, often at a run, and I've NEVER cut my feet. Even a tiny splinter happens only about once a year (which has NEVER happened indoors at all, and is a fraction of the splinters I get in my hands gardening and such). About germs, our skin is made to keep pathogens out, and unless you put your feet on the dinner table or lick your toes, you're at very little risk, far less than the risk of picking something up from the less visible but no less germy things we touch with our hands... doorknobs, shopping carts, railings... Parasites, the hookworm hasn't been a problem in the South since modern plumbing has replaced the outhouses and never was a serious problem in cooler climates. If you're in tropical third-world countries parasites may still be a serious threat, but if you're in North America or Europe, see source.

Answer 2

It can be disrespectful to religious groups, because the feet are the dirtiest things about you to some religions and it's unhealthy because you can get parasites through open wounds in your foot. As far as illegal, I doubt there are laws, but there are stringent restrictions (and rightly so ) for dress in all sorts of occasions.
Your question is snotty and ignorant. try rephrasing it so you don't sound like you are an ***.

Answer 3

Some places have rules....."no shirt, no shoes, no service." A lot is regional and/or cultural. I'm in a place where it's hot most of the year, so a lot of people go barefoot or wear sandals. It can hurt you if there are sharp stones, broken glass, etc on the ground. Or if the ground is very hot.........By the way, why stop at the feet? In some places nudity is acceptable.

Answer 4

Well...I don't see anything wrong with going barefoot on the beach, or maybe in a very nice park.

Now I wouldn't personally go barefoot EVERYWHERE. But that's my personal choice. I see nothing wrong with someone going barefoot. It's not Illegal...this is a free country after-all. As for disrespectful...I don't see how it could be in any shape or form so that is is just ridiculous.
As for unhealthy I guess It could be, because you could get something in your foot....But either way like It said it's that persons choice...No one should judge.

Answer 5

For businesses, its probably more for insurance reasons. You know, like escalators and falling things that could hit your feet. In restaraunts, maybe the sight of foot fungus or atheletes foot may tend to ruin appetites. But I think that most people would probably take good care of the appearance of their feet if they were allowed to more public access. The problem is that there are those who have already ruined it for you a long time ago. Probably the Flintstones.

Answer 6

Because i think that your feet is essential to your body and when you go barefoot everywhere then you can harbor a lot of microorganisms that might cause you diseases later and you can also spread these microorganisms wherever you may go. (I heard they say that some parasites can enter your body through your nailbeds. I hope it's not true). I can go barefoot inside my home and to the beach though.

Answer 7

I do go bare foot in the house, I have a lovely bruise on my toe from when I knocked it yesterday

Answer 8

not sure about it being illegal, but many restaraunts wont let you in in bare footed, disresectful, never heard of this, now unhealthy, yes it can be, if you go barefoot lets say on the beach, or in the park, you can get what is called hookworm, please see following link http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/hookworm/factsht_hookworm.htm

you can also contact the dog hookworm through your feet, and this can be really painful

Answer 9

its fine to have bare feet. i do that sometimes in summer. if i was going to a restaurant or something tho i would shoe up

Answer 10

If others perceive it as disrespectful, then it is disrespectful to them. It just doesn't look right. Now if you are in your house or in your yard, go for it. I'm barefoot now. But if you are going for dinner in a restaurant, please put something on your feet!