I was just wondering how many people take their shoes off when they go to the library. Do you leave them on, take them off when your sitting down, or do you kick them off and walk around without them?
2007-12-18 00:28:11 · 26 answers · asked by Kyle K 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
In Grad school I'd wear my pjs under sweats and do all nighters in the library in my socks-- nobody cared, it was easier to study than in my very loud overpopulated house--We had a great comfy huge library on campus.
2007-12-18 00:34:00 · answer #1 · answered by *ifthatswhatyoureinto* 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I never wear any footwear at all, and it's no problem to be barefoot here in the Netherlands, in the library or anywhere else. Contrary to what many people in the US believe, it not dangerous, unhealthy or gross to go barefoot. Feet get very tough very quickly, our skin is made to keep pathogens out, and feet are fully washable.
The one problem if you come in shod and take off your (closed) shoes is that there may be foot odor. Going barefoot all the time isn't a problem, 'foot odor' should really be called 'shoe odor' since it's caused by bacteria breaking down the sweat in anaerobe circumstances -with little or no oxygen- rather than by the sweat itself. On a bare foot any sweat just dries up, inside a shoe foot odor may develop, and thus taking shoes off should in public should be done with a bit more forethought than being barefoot since your last shower. If you have smelly feet either leave your shoes on, or (weather allowing) leave them off all day :-)
As for whether it's bad manners to be barefoot in public, it's very unfortunate that some people confuse any alternative look with bad manners and disrespect. There aren't any real health/safety/hygiene concerns with bare feet in most places, no more so than with bare hands, and while some people don't like the sight of bare feet it's silly that the tiny strap of a flipflop would suddenly make it okay to see. While the flipflop cuts off all sensation (which is my main reason for going barefoot, feeling the ground), on *top* it still leaves the entire foot bare, silly that makes so much of a difference to those who hate seeing feet. Others associate bare feet with sloppiness and lack of personal care. But please remember not all cultures are the same and try not to take offense when none is intended. Personally I think bare feet are the most gentle and *respectful* way to walk on Mother Earth, touching the earth softly, being aware of my surroundings, making no noise and leaving hardly a print behind. Please look at the whole person before taking offense, whether someone is well-groomed and well-dressed from the ankle up or is wearing stained clothes, didn't comb their hair and was just too lazy to get dressed more than half-way.
2007-12-18 23:20:46 · answer #2 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Mine says shoes and clothing "to be worn at all times", but I usually slip off my Docs low-cuts just to be able to sink back into the new comfy reading chairs they sprinkled all over the building. I figure, I ve already found stuff to read, I ve got my phone, went to the bathroom, I m sitting down, not walking around in socks, so no one bothers me. I m sitting cross-legged, so my feet aren t that visible to passers by.
2015-06-19 14:39:15 · answer #3 · answered by Four Left Tirez 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I leave my shoes on. I mean the library isn't my home so why would I be kicking my shoes off in public?
2007-12-18 00:38:11 · answer #4 · answered by Hoping he will bless me with #1 4 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Leave em on...never heard of taking your shoes off at the library.
2007-12-18 00:30:31 · answer #5 · answered by redstripedmama 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I notice all the young women do this at our library but I never see the guys do it....smelly feet I suppose LOL
2007-12-18 00:31:42 · answer #6 · answered by brian777999 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well I used to sit at a computer so I used to Sit there in my socks, and get work done. One day I randomly took off my socks as well. This guy sitting next to me for some reason copied me and took his socks off too.
He then printed something and put his socks back on to fetch it. And when he got back he took his socks off again.
I then printed something and I did not put my socks back on to get it. He asked me why I said "I didn't want to".
Obviously I put our shoes on to go toilet but they come off when I come back.
2016-06-29 12:11:53 · answer #7 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The library is a public place.
2007-12-18 09:33:15 · answer #8 · answered by drshorty 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
who takes their shoes off in the library??? that would be so weird! lol of course i don't take them off. do birds fly around your head whilst this happens to you or not??
2007-12-18 00:30:39 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No! The library is a public place -- stinky feet are definitely a no-no!
2007-12-18 00:33:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋