When you see someone barefooted,are youthinking they are poor,or more comfortable?

Answer 1

I would think that they are comfortable. Isn't everyone comfortable without shoes?

Answer 2

Any place in the Western world -US, Canada, Europe, I'd think they were more comfortable. Only in the third world countries odds are they're poor and not barefoot by choice.
I have never seen a poor person barefoot except by choice in the US or here in Europe.

Indeed, flipflops are very cheap and most poor people and even minorities who aren't so poor are the *last* people you'll see barefoot. I sometimes exchange a few words with the homeless when they ask me why I am barefoot (they hang out at the train station where I come through on my commute to work), and the common opinion is, they have so many social biases to deal with already, they won't even kick their shoes off when seated on a bench on a hot summer day. People belonging to minorities have said similar things even if they weren't homeless at all. The people I know who are barefoot like me all have a job, often live in the nicer neighborhoods and make at least average but often above average money.

Btw, going barefoot is NOT dangerous or gross, and as long as you keep the rest of your body warm it can be comfortable even in the snow. I've gone barefoot year-round for ten years (almost eleven now), and I have less cold feet and numb toes than when I still wore footwear, even in winter. I know how my body keeps itself warm and while I carry footwear in my bag when it's freezing, I haven't taken it out of my bag for several winters.

I can easily say my coldest toes were from wearing rubber riding boots -definitely not a situation where you'd consider the person 'poor' or uncomfortable (horse riding is a pretty expensive sport overhere, especially in the city, where I lived) but those rubber boots allowed for little movement and circulation and weren't too great on keeping the heat in even with thick socks. It's a miracle I didn't get frostbite ever, I remember so many times my toes felt like just ten little icy pebbles in the front of my boots & hurt like hell warming up!

As for how I dress from the ankle up, it varies a lot. When I go out I dress up nicely from the ankle up, gothic dresses, flowing skirts, that kind of thing. On my normal commute to and from work I usually wear regular jeans and shirt, nothing exceptionally nice but not exceptionally ratty either. But in spring before the theme park I work at opens for the season we have to do some cleaning, yard work, repair work etc and then I'm often in my oldest clothes and (on the way home) they may be quite dirty too. I keep my *very* old and torn work-coat at the park and change into a better one but I keep my dirty jeans on and I don't really care what people think.

Answer 3

As a 24/7 barefooter, I don't care what other people think about seeing me barefoot. Yes, I notice that they notice, but I pretend I do not. If people have a problem with me barefoot, that is their problem - not mine.

Right now, there is lots of snow here (and there will be for months) but I still go everywhere barefoot. I go to the post office almost daily to send out parcels. The other morning, as I was entering the post office, a man asked me --
"Did you lose a bet?" -- in reference to me with no shoes.

I smiled and stated that, "Nope, I just lost my shoes"
Then I continued on my way.

Perhaps the man is really thinking that I have lost my mind, but I don't care.

Yes, it is winter and there is much snow. Yes, I am still barefoot. No, the snow and ice doesn't bother me or hurt my feet and, yes, of course my feet are cold, but I like it and I am wearing a winter hat to keep warm. No, I am not a total fool -- when the air temperature goes too far down, I do put on shoes (or at least sandals) to keep my toes from getting frostbite.

The bane of barefooters in winter is not snow and ice as much as it is ice-melting salts. I try to avoid stepping in salt on walkways as much as possible. I will walk off the path in the snow instead when possible.

Barefooting is a way of life. It has nothing to do with being poor or ignorant or uneducated or mentally unbalanced, etc.

Answer 4

That's a good question as I think a lot of people can misunderstand seeing other who walk barefooted because they like it -for someone who can't afford shoes. In some parts of the world kids like to play football barefooted, they say because it better to run and hit the ball though. Then of course many people like to go around barefooted in the house if it is carpeted.

Answer 5

Barefooted is just one factor. I'll make a determination based on an overall impression.

Answer 6

It depends on the setting. If it is winter and they are outside on the sidewalk, then I would think they are poor. If it is summer and they are lounging in their front yard, then they are comfortable.

Answer 7

Like me, just being comfortable.

Answer 8

It depends.

If they're dressed neatly, I would think they're comfortable.
If they look like they've been working in the garden, I would think they're comfortable.
If their clothes are tattered, torn, or dirty in a way that doesn't suggest "recent dirt", I would suspect poor.

Answer 9

more comfortable

Answer 10

no