Comment on Man posts his incorrect opinion online
tweeks@feddit.nl 6 hours ago
In The Netherlands, within my social circles, it’s mostly seen as overly informal and quite intimate to take off your shoes.
You can do it at friends, but certainly not by default at acquaintances (unless they ask), as it might even be a little disrespectful considering taking off your shoes could smell a bit after some hours. Like you force your bodily odours or sweaty feet on to someone’s house.
I totally get the opposite and am noticing a slow shift (also in my own house) to dropping the shoes. But it’s interesting to see that both stances are based on some form of respect, and perhaps also some pragmatism on our side.
I would rather someone bring sweaty socks in to my house than dirt, microplastics, gum and literal shit on the bottom of their shoes.
We went from a shoes on / dont care to a shoes off / dont you fucking dare household when we had a kid and the difference is unfathomable.
It actually repulses me that I can walk around in houses people consider clean, with bare feet, and my soles turn black. Not to mention then dragging that in to bed with you.
ClamDrinker@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
Yeah we are definitely not a country that takes it black and white. Did you walk through mud, snow, ice? Take it off, please. Your sweat is less of an issue than turning the floor into a dirt rally. But it also depends on the rules of the house. Someone who has carpet is going to ask you to take them off, while someone with an easily cleaned hardwood or plastic floor might not bother. Some people have shoe-proof ground floors, while going upstairs is entering the more private part of the house where shoes aren’t welcome.
Just ask, and you will find out. And at home, you’re the boss!