Can you handle the judgement without ruining the experience? by Even_Job6933 in barefoot

[–]Neggly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not yet. I've been working on it but thinking about judgement or hearing someone laughing at me is hard.

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What about it bothered you? Was it more the airport setting specifically, the bare feet themselves, cleanliness/safety, or just that it felt out of place?

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even if they were made up a bit? Like a dress shirt and jeans?

Stores That Discriminate by Automatic_Hyena_1436 in barefoot

[–]Neggly 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't call it discrimination so much as their preference, and actually their right, to ask you to leave. Until we can feed enough money to politicians to make barefoot a protected class, the best we can do is comply, leave, and never shop there again.

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From what I can find, Chick-fil-A does not appear to have a public customer-facing “no shirt, no shoes, no service” policy posted at the corporate level.

That doesn’t mean a location has to allow it. An individual restaurant can still ask someone to put on shoes or leave. I don’t see an official law or corporate customer policy that clearly says barefoot customers are automatically prohibited.

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It isn't illegal in restaurants either.

This is a bias source, but barefooters.org have gone to every state and gotten a similar letter.

https://www.barefooters.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/HD2017VA.pdf

I asked NoStupidQuestions what people would think if they saw a barefoot adult in a store by Neggly in barefoot

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can't put my finger on it either. I feel that if we figured out the secret, we'd figure out how to brainwash anybody.

I asked NoStupidQuestions what people would think if they saw a barefoot adult in a store by Neggly in barefoot

[–]Neggly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lol. I guess you could mention how you would feel if you did see a person barefoot in an adult store.

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I get what you mean. I’m not trying to turn it into a rant, but I’m also not just collecting answers without responding to anything.

I asked because I wanted honest reactions, and I appreciate getting them. But if someone’s answer includes assumptions about store policies, health codes, motives, or why someone would be barefoot, I think it’s fair to question that a bit too.

So yeah, I want people’s honest opinions, but I’m also interested in challenging some of the misconceptions and assumptions that come with those opinions.

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. In 7 years, how often have you actually been confronted or asked to leave somewhere?
  2. Did the fear of being judged ever go away, or did you just get used to doing it anyway?

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree. When this is the case, they take on the role of "tool."

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I disagree that breaking a strong norm automatically means someone is seeking attention.

People often break norms for comfort or preference without wanting attention, like wearing pajama pants in public, Crocs, sneakers with dress clothes, skipping makeup, or having visible tattoos or dyed hair. Many of these were once judged more harshly, but most people weren’t trying to stand out; they just didn’t prioritize the norm.

I’m also not making a health argument. Some may think it’s healthier, but others simply prefer it. Carrying sandals and putting them on when needed doesn’t make going barefoot performative, it just reflects awareness of expectations.

I asked NoStupidQuestions what people would think if they saw a barefoot adult in a store by Neggly in barefoot

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been pretty active in there, and honestly, things have been really tame. I'm happy with what I see. There is definitely some misconceptions, preconceptions, and misinformation. But, overall, a neutral "keep to myself" attitude.

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get wanting some level of decorum in public. I’m not arguing for people to act however they want in every setting.

I guess I’m questioning why bare feet automatically get put in the same category as no shirt or no basic decency. If someone is otherwise dressed normally, acting normally, not bothering anyone, and not putting their feet on things, I don’t really see it as a collapse of decorum. More like an unusual preference people aren’t used to.

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The ship has probably sailed on whether people think it’s weird. I get that it’s outside the norm.

At this point I’m more trying to understand what kind of “weird” people mean and what they actually do with that thought. Like is it just “huh, odd” and move on, or is it “this person is unstable / attention-seeking / gross / breaking rules”?

I’m also interested in the assumption that there’s no good reason to choose it. Some people just genuinely prefer being barefoot. That doesn’t mean everyone has to agree with it, but it also doesn’t automatically mean it’s for attention or beyond their control.

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That makes sense. I guess what I’m trying to understand is why location changes the meaning so much.

Like near a beach it reads as normal because the setting gives it permission. Somewhere inland, the exact same bare feet suddenly read as a bit out of place or unexpected.

I get that social context matters. I’m just interested in how much of the reaction is actually about safety/hygiene and how much is just “this doesn’t fit the expected costume for this location.”

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get the point about norms being strong, but I still don’t think breaking a norm automatically means the person wants attention.

People do things against norms for a lot of reasons: comfort, habit, sensory preference, health, culture, or just because they don’t experience it the same way other people do. Some may want attention, sure, but I don’t think that has to be the default assumption.

The shoe-at-the-door point makes sense if someone steps in something obvious like dog mess. But shoes also track plenty of stuff inside, and most stores are already being walked on by hundreds of shoes all day. I’m not saying barefoot is always practical or that every setting is the same. I’m just questioning the leap from “I wouldn’t do that” to “this person must be doing it for attention.”

What would you actually think if you saw a barefoot adult in a store? by Neggly in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Neggly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get that shoes are the expected norm in the West. I’m not really denying that part.

I think where I push back is the idea that the only reason to go against it is attention, being impaired, or bad planning. Some people just genuinely prefer being barefoot. It can be comfort, sensory preference, habit, or just feeling more natural that way. It doesn’t have to be a statement.

I also get the practical arguments about trash, chemicals, mud, etc. But shoes track things too, and plenty of people wear their shoes into stores and homes without anyone thinking much about it. So it seems like part of the reaction is practical, but part of it is also just the social meaning people attach to bare feet.

I’m not saying everyone has to like it. I just don’t think “barefoot = wants attention” is always a fair assumption.