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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to walk barefoot in the summer (including into shops)

312 replies

nomorequotes · 14/05/2014 17:13

I don't understand why in this country it is considered so bad to be barefoot, I have been told I am not allowed to walk into Tescos barefoot, or Waitrose, they claim it is a 'health and safety issue' because something might fall on my feet. Well if that is the case shouldn't they be banning flip-flops too? Flip-flops are pretty dangerous things really, accountable for many broken toes, ankles and feet in the summer. I have a friend who broke his ankle so badly it was like he had been in a car accident and all he had done is twisted wearing flip-flops.

So why the intolerance to bare feet? They have been outside the same as shoes so it can't be a hygiene thing and they are much safer than flip-flops.

I am sick of having to have shoes in the car just so I can walk into shops, it makes no sense to me, if I want to be barefoot I should be allowed to be!

OP posts:
NearTheWindymill · 14/05/2014 19:44

I haven't read all of it OP but I don't think you can assume everyone has feet as tough as yours. Mine are very sensitive; I feel every bit of grit even wearing shoes. Uneven surfaces hurt my feet even when shod; I find them excruciating when not shod. The tiniest bit of shell on a beach causes me huge pain. My feet are just very tender, always have been. I like them covered and don't especially like them being touched. I am very fussy about shoes.

I don't think it's a toughening up thing either. I made my DC go barefoot far more than I ever did in the hope of that. DS is sensitive and can't walk on shingle or pebbles like me, in spite of being the tough, sporty one; dd who is a delicate flower can so I don't think it's something that can be particularly influenced.

A flip flop of thong for me is exceptionally painful between the toes - can't stand it.

Nice soft leather shoes for me; sensible and well fitting.

Original poster
nomorequotes · 14/05/2014 19:45

thatbloody As I think it's been pointed out, foot disease is very rare if you are barefoot because the diseases cannot incubated and cause problems. Far more likely to get disease from sporadic barefeet, like in swimming pools and then incubating the disease in sweaty socks and shoes.

OP posts:
littlewaltham · 14/05/2014 19:47

I love barefoot. Was barefoot pretty much from childhood to early 20s. I walked in shops and on pavement barefoot. I never wear slippers or shoes at home. Would I go barefoot in a supermarket now - I will give it a go this weekend. Far too much nannying and bending to the majority tastes IMO.

MoreSkyThanWeNeed · 14/05/2014 19:48

I have the nastiest feet, so barefoot is not for me. The thing that I wonder about is what if you plunge your foot into a big wet dog poo and it gets all in your toes? At least with shoes, you can kind of scrape them.

Or - boak - what if you stand on a slug and it squishes?! Argh. No.

ThatBloodyWoman · 14/05/2014 19:52

Well that's what I figure nomore.

There's no more chance of passing disease on via bare feet on the pavement, than via bare bum on loo seat, but no one is suggesting we wee through our clothes......

VenusDeWillendorf · 14/05/2014 19:54

"No shirt, no shoes no service" is policy in a lot of countries not just UK.

Original poster
nomorequotes · 14/05/2014 20:00

I actually find I am a lot more aware of my environment when barefoot, I very rarely stand on anything I wouldn't want to. I have stood on glass before but it didn't go through my hobbit like feet skin.

I think feet were designed to be walked on and aired. Not to be shut away in shoes and socks all the time.

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 14/05/2014 20:02

in an ideal world nomorequotes - once i didnt wear shoes for 8 weeks as I was living on a campsite on a beach - god it was horrendous going back to the city and putting shoes on, so uncomfortable and me feet had spread out and got bigger!

littlewaltham · 14/05/2014 20:03

One small step from no shirts no shoes to what type of shoes and shirts are suitable for shopping. Think Harrods and cut off denim. Wear or don't wear what you like. Maybe there will be a break off supermarket chain that permits bare feet Sainsbury's sure need an angle ;)

littlewaltham · 14/05/2014 20:04

Sainsburys

Sicaq · 14/05/2014 20:07

I have a recurring dream that I'm in the supermarket and suddenly realise I'm barefoot.

TequilaMockingbirdy · 14/05/2014 20:07

There's no more chance of passing disease on via bare feet on the pavement, than via bare bum on loo seat, but no one is suggesting we wee through our clothes......

Bit of a difference don't you think? Plenty hover using public toilets. or do the loo roll cover method.

And I've never heard of a toilet seat contracted disease anyway.

Original poster
nomorequotes · 14/05/2014 20:09

Sicaq Join us! You clearly want to.

Nigella You're feet were just finding.. their feet!

flattening out to their true size. I think shoes shape our feet as much as our feet have shaped shoes. I know I get a lot less back problems when I am barefoot.

OP posts:
BuildYourOwnSnowman · 14/05/2014 20:13

I thought walking on concrete etc barefoot was bad for the knees and it was recommended to wear shoes with a bit of spring in a city environment

TequilaMockingbirdy · 14/05/2014 20:15

Since we don't live in a sodding desert and in fact live in an area in which plenty of us have the opportunity to incubate fungus, it's a ridiculous idea.

sarahquilt · 14/05/2014 20:17

Gross! I'd hate having dirty feet all the time. Wouldn't you worry about dog dirt?

Original poster
nomorequotes · 14/05/2014 20:18

Never had a problem with my knees.

OP posts:
BuildYourOwnSnowman · 14/05/2014 20:20

It's a long term effect not short term. In the same way women who only wear high heels are likely to have terrible knees when they hit ther 50's

LibraryMum8 · 14/05/2014 20:21

I see it all the time here and sorry but I don't like the look of it. Why anyone would want dirt ground into the soles of their feet is beyond me...and if they don't care frankly I don't want to look at it.

kinsorange · 14/05/2014 20:22

So glad that others think it is attention seeking too.
The person I know who does it, does a bunch of other attention seeking things too.
Once you spot it, you start seeing other things that they are doing.

SolomanDaisy · 14/05/2014 20:35

I had a brief period of doing this as a teenager. I was a bit of an attention seeking twat and my parents soon talked me out of it. But then I hadn't 'travelled extensively'.

BigChocFrenzy · 14/05/2014 20:44

I'm a naturist, but I put on clothes in social situations where this is expected. I expect you don't want my bare bits and pubic hair hanging over the fresh bread rolls.

I don't want someone's dirty sweaty feet near food I'm buying - shoes avoid offputting sweatstains on the floor. Similarly, a bare chest might drip sweat on food, whereas a shirt would soak it up.
Not everyone is clean in their habits.

Montegomongoose · 14/05/2014 20:44

I knew a girl at university who did it too. She also used to insist on sitting on the floor during tutorials instead of on the perfectly good chairs.

She had 'travelled extensively.' From Dorking to Sydney. For 9 months.

She was definitely attention seeking.

And a twat.

dementedma · 14/05/2014 20:50

Love being barefoot here. Other than a safety issue,don't have a problem with it.
As far as infection goes, more chance of catching something from someone sneezing or coughing all over you.

FindoGask · 14/05/2014 21:00

"Plenty hover using public toilets. or do the loo roll cover method"

I don't. Never got arse disease.

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