to expect you to take your shoes off in my home?

[BelleTheBeatnik]

That sounds so much more confrontational when I use direct address! [bublush]

I'm not criticizing those who don't remove shoes in their own home, but do the British automatically do it at other people's houses?

Asking this question is a life-long supporter of slippers, by the way. [bugrin]

It's one of those things that I don't give a shit about either way and was amazed to learn other people do (about shoes on or off when going in other people's homes)

get to the door, if they want you to take them off, take them off, if they don't - don't.

It's the world's smallest deal. yet you wouldn't BELIEVE some of the bunfights I've read on here about it!

Your house your rules. That's the sum of it.

We tend not to wear shoes but we're not anal about it.

I have never asked guests to remove theirs.

Some offer and some don't...I don't really care to be honest.

[bubiscuit]

I don't unless asked. I always wipe my feet if I can though. I never ask people to take their shoes off. Hardwood floors and tiles throughout the ground floor that get mopped daily so I see no need to ask people to remove shoes. Plus, the thought of somebody not wearing socks and me having to look at their feet over a cuppa - boak!

The only time I've ever had to remove shoes prior to going into a house was when visiting a middle aged prissy anally-retentive and incredibly snippy gay man. Make of that what you will. He had clean carpets but surprisingly few friends.

It wouldn't bother me at all to take my shoes off at someone elses house, but I can't think of anyone who asks visitors to do that.

The DC have a Pavlovian response to taking their shoes off when they get home though [bugrin]

I wouldn't come to visit you if you made me take my shoes off.

problem solved.

The weather is filthy outside this evening. If someone came into my house in this weather and didn't wipe their feet I would want them to remove their shoes. If it is dry outside and they wipe their feet then I don't mind.

In practice I don't ask people to remove their shoes because all my friends do anyway.

I don't automatically do it in other people's homes and I don't think that's the British custom. I only take mine off if I notice everyone else has. I don't mind taking my shoes off at all, but I suppose I do think it's odd that people request it (excepting those from different cultures where this is the norm). It seems a wee bit unwelcoming/ precious to me.

He had clean carpets but surprisingly few friends

Lentilly

Our floors are uncarpeted and freezing so I always tell people to leave them on.

If we had carpets, I would say no shoes but this is also a cultural issue and it's considered incredibly bad manners to waltz into someone's house in America with shoes on and Japan is similar.

Muddy shoes are obviously a different matter.

I hate having no shoes on in other peoples homes, you never know what your putting your feet in , however, I will always ask.

Unless its filthy outside, i don't care what people do when they come to visit, tbh I'd rather they left shoes on due to their feet being on my floor.

Yes I have a thing about feet.

Hope this doesn't start a bunfight, too tired for that.

I'm not really bothered unless it's particularly wet/muddy outside, I just do it naturally though. But recently had a few mums over with their DC; all removed shoes apart from one, and (after she had left) a few comments were exchanged, nothing serious but sort of implying she should have removed them.

Was quite interested in what MNers had to say on the subject, because my friends put their tuppence in - and it wasn't even their homes.

So gutted about my first ! Least it was an bunny one though.

YABU. They are my shoes and I won't be parted with them.

Hrmph.

an? a

Really, Emily? What about that SATC episode where Carrie kicks off about being made to take off her shoes?

I ask people to take their shoes off in my living room because the carpet is new and I have NEVER had a new carpet in this house (have put up with previous tenants carpets for TEN YEARS). The rest of the house, go crazy in your shoes.

You all bitched about her after she had gone? nice

My eldest DS (20yrs) has a paranoid thing about his feet.

When he takes his shoes off, he sits there with all his toes folded under his feet?

Weirdo.

I tend to take my shoes off in my own house and put my slippers on just for comfort and so I can put my feet up on the sofa etc. But personally I would never ask a guest to take their shoes off as I think it's rude. If someone asks me when I visit their house, if course I will respect their wishes, but I will secretly think they're a bit uptight tbh. But that's just me and I know lots of people disagree.

Come to think of it, all my mum friends remove shoes, and none of my real friends do. I must be moving in different shoe circles. I really don't think there is a cultural norm, is there?

I don't do it automatically, but will look to see if the host does.

I do think it is rude to insist, though, and TBH I don't really think it is very nice when people have come from work or been on their feet all day - everyone's feet smell then, yuck!

I also think if you will insist people remove shoes, your floors need to be clean and clear of splinters and so on. Both my parents and my ex-boyfriend's mother insist on shoes going off, and I got so sick of having black socks after a few minutes I used to bring slippers to wear.