Is it OK to be barefoot in public even though its not an accepted social norm?

There are no health codes regarding customer attire.


It is not illegal to drive barefoot.


Being barefoot promotes healthy development of musculature in the feet and legs.


Walking barefoot is also a good way to avoid athlete’s foot.


Children raised in parts of the world where shoes are rarely worn had better flexibility, mobility, and strength, which resulted in fewer foot-related problems and injuries.


Even various shoe manufactures recognize the


benefits of nature’s original design. Some have even developed designs that attempt to simulate being barefoot to some extent.





So why not go barefoot and be comfortable???

Is it OK to be barefoot in public even though its not an accepted social norm?
YES, it should be FINE. Too many people confuse anything outside the social norm with a lack of respect. That's unfortunate; differences in appearance and dress make life more interesting. Imagine we'd all be wearing the same thing, that'd be terribly boring! And bare feet in particular can also be a sign of *respect*; it's a gentle, quiet, natural way of walking, doesn't make noise like clicking heels, slapping flipflops or stomping boots, does less harm to plants when walking outdoors... Indeed the concerns of injury, disease, smell etc are based on myths and exaggerated fears rather than fact, and I find the gentle barefoot step far *more* respectful than the careless, unfeeling step of a thick-soled boot.





It is NOT dangerous or gross to go barefoot. I've been barefoot for eleven years, always and everywhere, and frequently even run at train stations full of litter, yet I get a tiny splinter maybe once a year and I've NEVER cut my feet. Feet are a lot tougher than people who've always worn shoes would believe! In the rare case of an injury, Tetanus has had a vaccine since the 1920's and it's really a good idea to keep it up to date regardless of whether you ever put a bare foot on the floor outside the pool or beach; there are other ways of catching it apart from stepping on a rusty nail barefoot.





Disease is unlikely since our skin is made to keep pathogens out; unless you put your feet up on the table or lick your toes, the more visible dirt on our feet is far less risky than the less visible but no less germy stuff we pick up with our hands from door knobs, railings, handle bars, etc. Even if we wash our hands after using the restroom and before dinner, there's still more chance to transfer those germs to our food and/or face where they can enter our body; on our feet, the dirt just sits there until we wash it off.





Hookworm is very unlikely; it has been pretty much eradicated from the South since modern plumbing has replaced the outhouses and never was a problem in cooler climates.





Visually, the foot is 99% visible in a flipflop, making little difference for the observer, but I disagree it gives the barefoot feel; for me it's the interesting surfaces *under* the foot that makes all the difference, so even the thinnest sole makes a world of difference for me as the wearer. Walking with even the thinnest soles is like visiting an art show wearing dark glasses or a concert wearing ear plugs.





There's no foot odor unless you just took off closed shoes; 'foot odor' should really be called 'shoe odor' since it is caused not by the sweat itself but by bacteria breaking down the sweat in anaerobe circumstances (with lack of oxygen) as happens inside closed shoes. On the bare foot, no matter how much you sweat on a hot day, the sweat dries up without producing the odor.





And in spite of persistent myths in the US, there are NO health laws against bare feet, insurance companies don't require or even recommend footwear for customers, and there are NO laws against driving barefoot. Individual stores may have a dress code but there are many stores even in the US that don't care; in other countries it's rarely an issue at all. Here in the Netherlands I've never even seen a 'no shoes, no shirts, no service' sign, nor on my trips to Belgium %26amp; Scotland.





As for driving barefoot, I'm sorry one of the previous posters has been cited for going barefoot but I am absolutely convinced that cop was wrong, driving barefoot is legal in ALL US states. Some cops are convinced it's unsafe and even though they know it's not illegal may have written you up for unsafe or reckless driving, however please see the links in the source, for two sites (one from the Michigan PD, one from an Australian newspaper) making it clear that driving barefoot is no more unsafe than many types of footwear that are regularly worn and could even be considered safer than many kinds of shoes. With these links, a ticket given for unsafe driving should *not* stand in court!
Reply:What a joke--are you two the same person? Report It

Reply:Nope. Going barefoot is (very) rare but there's still more than one barefooter in the entire world. I'm 100% serious about my barefooting, as well as absolutely sure about the driving laws. Sorry your mom had a bad foot injury once but that doesn't happen that often. Report It

Reply:Oh, forgot to say, if you or anyone has any questions feel free to mail me, I don't check the comments on resolved questions that often (not at all after a week or two, have answered way too many)! I'll be happy to answer any serious, non-fetish question about going barefoot by email. Report It

Reply:I do a lot! Leaves my feet very dirty.
Reply:Not a good idea in the city - too much risk of picking up nasty infections from the "crap" on the sidewalks.
Reply:no, feet are gross
Reply:It actually is illegal to drive barefoot in Kansas--I was cited for it once! Besides that, it can be dangerous. My mom stepped on a rusty nail when she was a kid and it went clean through her foot!
Reply:If, hookworms are your thing go ahead.
Reply:after walking for 5 mins barefoot your feet would be black with dirt and look disgusting. spare everyone from having to look at your dirty, funky feet. wear some sandals at least.
Reply:I think so,because god gave us feet to handle the rigors of the natural surfaces,but it there is some hazards such as sharp objects or disease infected stuff,u need some protection then,but i have no problems with bare feet as long as it wouldnt hurt you
Reply:im a flip flop girl. feels like barefoot, but without the germs
Reply:It's OK sometimes like at casual occasions and when there is a minimal risk of injury. Me and my girlfriends do it a lot in the summer, but not everywhere.





It is more comfortable, but your soles do get black and dirty. Fine when you are at a small picnic, but not at a big cocktail party.
Reply:I'll put aside the fact that I don't want to see someone's nasty feet, and look at the other big factors.





Think about all the people that spit on the ground. All the chewed gum. You'd be picking up and spreading disease from one place to another. It's just not sanitary. I know shoes pick up stuff- but add the moisture and pores in feet and it just makes a much better breeding ground.





Also, there's glass and screws everywhere. It just wouldn't be safe.
Reply:Because so many people are litter bugs, and throw their glass containers and other debris out their windows, or falls off their trucks in the form of rusty nails and chunks of metals.





More than a 100 years ago, you could get away with that. You can get away with that in your own backyard, and maybe at the state parks, but I would not just go walking out about though the city or town on hard concrete or even in the grass for the sake of being barefoot.





I am still wondering why more women are not trying for top equality, than being foot free.
Reply:I LOVE going barefoot, But I wouldn't want to do it in public, yuck all those germs. Wear flip-flops, Close as you can get to being barefoot.



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