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Do you take your shoes off in your house?

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by anthonythegamer, May 17, 2014.

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Do you take your shoes off before you enter a house?

Poll closed Jun 16, 2014.
  1. Yes

    60.4%
  2. No

    15.6%
  3. Depends/don't care

    24.0%
  1. Obviously, coming from an East Asian background, I was taught to take my shoes off at the front entrance of my house. Even if I have to go inside the house for just five seconds, I've always had the instinct of taking my shoes off before I enter. Even if I bring people over and they're about to walk in with their shoes on, I'm always like, "NNNOOOOOO!!!!!! take your shoes off there btw..."

    I seriously need to ask because whenever I go to a non-Asian's house, they never take their shoes off and they look at me like I did something wrong when I take my shoes off at the door. But I want to know if you guys take your shoes off before you walk into a house?
     
  2. PatrickUK

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    We have dogs.. say no more :slight_smile:
     
  3. SemiCharmedLife

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    Living in the Midwest it's possible that there will be snow or rain or mud on your shoes when you walk in. So I have a tray next to my front door where my roommate and I put our shoes if they're at all wet or dirty to protect the floors and carpets. But if the shoes are clean and dry it doesn't matter.
     
  4. AlamoCity

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    I usually wear my Crocs in the house. That way, if I have to head out, I'm already wearing comfortable shoes :wink:.

    To be honest, when in Rome.... :lol:. Just look at the cues the homeowners give and you should be fine.
     
  5. Aussie792

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    No, I don't. It has never been a tradition in my family (nor in any of my family's cultures) to take shoes off before entering a house (unless they're muddy or dirty).

    It doesn't really feel necessary to me. If anything, I feel uncomfortable seeing people barefoot apart from at the beach or at a pool. And given that I have dogs, taking shoes off would end up with a lot of hair on socks if they were to come up to guests.
     
  6. Sarcastic Luck

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    The only time I'll take them off is if they're super muddy and I'm done going outside, or I stepped in something nasty.
     
  7. BMC77

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    It depends entirely on the house. It seems to be standard leaving shoes on when visiting most people in this culture. But one neighbor likes having shoes removed on the front porch so dirt doesn't get tracked in (even though there are dogs in residence who'll happily track in the dirt I don't!). When I'm at that neighbors, I always take my shoes off as requested.

    Honestly, I think there is real value in the Asian system, and maybe it's something we should consider emulating here. Taking shoes off means crap (metaphorical crap, that is, although I suppose it could sometimes include literal crap like dog crap) will be brought in via shoes.

    As far as where I live, I generally keep my shoes on unless there is a pressing reason to remove them at the door. But they always come off quite quickly--unless I'm running in and out, I prefer to have only socks on or be barefoot.
     
  8. the prince

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    I answered yes only when I enter my house :slight_smile: , for other houses I don't unless the owner of the house told me to take my shoes off :grin: .
     
  9. An Gentleman

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    I always take my shoes off before going into someone's house.
    Is it because I'm Chinese? Pretty much.
     
  10. ouji

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    I think it varies person to person. I always take my shoes off before entering the house. My dad on the other hand never takes off his shoes.
     
  11. Depends. It's usually a balance between how cold me feet are, how long I'm going to be in the house, and how dirty/wet my shoes are.

    So I guess what I'm saying is not necessarily.
     
  12. Jonathan

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    I don't take them off before going into their house; however, there always tends to be a little mat or area close to the door to put your shoes when you come inside. So I take them off and put them there.
     
  13. person57

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  14. Lawrence

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    Yeah. I take my shoes off as soon as I enter my house. They stay close to the door. I don't want to bring dirt into the living room. I even clean my shoes. At home, I put my indoor shoes on... they are not slippers... they're shoes I never wore outside.
     
  15. ChromeNerd

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    I always take them off for my house, but I don't take them off for other people's houses if no one else is taking their shoes off.
     
  16. juliegt6

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    No. Where I'm at that is just weird.
     
  17. Hexagon

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    Yes, I rarely wear shoes inside. Not always outside either.
     
  18. Radioactive Bi

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    Yes, I don't want mess from outside on my carpets.

    Happy days :slight_smile:
     
  19. gravechild

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    I typically don't wear shoes inside the house unless I'm just getting home or am about to go someplace, and even then, I'll avoid walking around too much, especially in the traditionally "clean" or important areas.

    When I'd live with my grandparents, they'd urge me to take my shoes off after a long day, not out of some respect for cleanliness, but because walking around all day in shoes makes it difficult to relax, and they wanted me to be comfortable.
     
  20. Van

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