Taking shoes off at peoples homes...

[Ron in Regina]

Americans DO take their shoes off when entering their friends' house. At least those in Ohio do. That is where I lived for six years. May be different in other parts of the United States.

That is not my experience, Yukon. I lived in USA for seven years, but I rarely saw anybody removing their shoes at the door. I don’t know why this difference between USA and Canada.

SirJoe, You lived in Utah, and that's where my Daughter-in-Law also
comes from. People removing their shoes in a private residence was
one of the many things she found "weird" when she first moved up to
Canada. That and the prices that we pay for food (Meat, Cheese,etc..),
and people on the street that she'd pass would say "Hello!!" just 'cuz
they where on the same sidewalk, and all the not-very-new cars that
are still on the roads on the Prairies.

Not removing ones shoes in a private residence might be a regional
thing in the USA, but my Daughter-in-Law confirms your experience
as far as Utah goes.

 

[YukonJack]

Re #121.

I lived in Ohio for six years. Ohioans' customs regarding shoes are no different from Canadians.
I also have friends in Indiana. Same thing. Looks like there is something wierd about those crazy conservative folks in fly-over country. Similar to Canadians???

 

[kiwi_NZ]

^----- = antisocial, curmudgeonly misanthrope.;-) Probably has the heat cranked up to 25 and won't let em take their coats off either.

antisocial, curmudgeonly misanthrope <<== now that's a mouthful!

 

[JLM]

antisocial, curmudgeonly misanthrope <<== now that's a mouthful!

it just means unhospitable

 

[SirJosephPorter]

SirJoe, You lived in Utah, and that's where my Daughter-in-Law also
comes from.

Ron, is she a Mormon? None of my business of course, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. But Utah is the land of Mormons (when I lived in Salt Lake City, it was 45% Mormon, rest of Utah 90%, I don’t know what the statistics are now), so I wonder.

I found Mormons to be quite pleasant people to associate with (they do have an evangelistic streak, but it is nowhere as strong as Southern Baptist or Jehovah’s Witnesses). But overall, quite pleasant people, easy to get along with.

 

[Cannuck]

Haven't read all the posts so I may be repeating here but not removing your shoes is the best practice (assuming your shoes are clean). Natural oils from your feet are hard on carpeting over time (at least harder than a bit of mud), plus there are issues with foot diseases like planters warts and such. As well, some people are just bad house keepers and I personally wouldn't want to walk through their house without shoes.

I don't care one way or the other.

 

[JLM]

Haven't read all the posts so I may be repeating here but not removing your shoes is the best practice (assuming your shoes are clean). Natural oils from your feet are hard on carpeting over time (at least harder than a bit of mud), plus there are issues with foot diseases like planters warts and such. As well, some people are just bad house keepers and I personally wouldn't want to walk through their house without shoes.

I don't care one way or the other.

I'm inclined to agree with you but sometimes the appearance of being considerate and polite is actually more important than being so.

 

[Nuggler]

(lol) A simple or much nicer reply would have been

"In our home Kiwi it would be expected that you take your shoes off" ... Wow! You're a fiery one, you can't be all Canadian cos I've not met one as rude as you.. Ssshheeessshhhhhh ... I reckon you'd poison my dinner anyways (lol)

Up yours Kiwi. You'd not eat at our house with your filthy shoes on, so I'd never have the chance.

Calling people "anal" is not the way to engender complimentary discourse.

:thefinger:

 

[Ron in Regina]

SirJoe, You lived in Utah, and that's where my Daughter-in-Law also
comes from.

Ron, is she a Mormon? None of my business of course, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. But Utah is the land of Mormons (when I lived in Salt Lake City, it was 45% Mormon, rest of Utah 90%, I don’t know what the statistics are now), so I wonder.

I found Mormons to be quite pleasant people to associate with (they do have an evangelistic streak, but it is nowhere as strong as Southern Baptist or Jehovah’s Witnesses). But overall, quite pleasant people, easy to get along with.

My Daughter-in-Law? Nope....but Her Grandparents (on Mother's side)
where, and left that faith when Son's Mother-in-Law was still quite young
as I understand it. The situation, and their motivation for doing so, I have
no idea what-so-ever....8O

 

[kiwi_NZ]

Up yours Kiwi. You'd not eat at our house with your filthy shoes on, so I'd never have the chance.

Calling people "anal" is not the way to engender complimentary discourse.

:thefinger:

LMAO! You're a hard case as well as ignorant and rude, you got the whole thing going on don't ya

I think you are being a little too hot headed to see the thread question for what it actually was/is :thefinger: Just in case you are retarded I shall repeat myself just for you ...

firstly it was said: assuming the wearer had CLEAN shoes on. I would never walk through someones home with filthy shoes on...
secondly: the word "anal" came from the Canadian home owner. It is not a word commonly used by Kiwi people as it is thought of as a pretty nasty word..
thirdly and lastly: My question was a simple question out of sheer courtesy and if you'd read the post and my other comments properly you would have absolutely no reason to jump the gun and attack me the way that you have

 

[kiwi_NZ]

Haven't read all the posts so I may be repeating here but not removing your shoes is the best practice (assuming your shoes are clean). Natural oils from your feet are hard on carpeting over time (at least harder than a bit of mud), plus there are issues with foot diseases like planters warts and such. As well, some people are just bad house keepers and I personally wouldn't want to walk through their house without shoes.

I don't care one way or the other.

Yes cannuck, exactly, assuming your shoes are clean. I agree with what you say and I'd not like smelly feet under my nose at dinner time and I think the idea of wearing slippers or inside shoes is excellent.

I wear platform shoes and they have flat bottoms, and they don't cause damage to flooring so I think when I come over and as I'm out to dinner at peoples homes I shall just take along either a pair of my own slippers or a pair of clean tidy house shoes... Unless someone can tell me where in Canada I can buy platform slippers.

I wouldn't in a lifetime wear filthy shoes in my own home let alone someone elses home. It is just one particular lady of the house that has nutted off about wearing shoes full stop so I will politely ask if I may provide my own inside shoes or slippers and all should be well

 

[wulfie68]

I'm with those that take the shoes off by default in someone's home: its how I was raised and as someone else mentioned I think the climate (seasons of mud and snow) have a lot to do with it. I think thats probably why shoes are more "popular" in western culture, and in particular northern ones: not very many people in equatorial nations/cultures are going to lose their toes to frostbite if they're not covered.

As for the US question, my sister lived in California and now in Texas and she says its the same as home: take 'em off at the door. So does my fiancee (born and raised in California and Hawaii, now living in Pennsylvania.

 

[lena]

what is the big deal on needing to wear shoes in the house? Why does one have to do that? I can understand if one has a foot or ankle problem but sheesh "when in Rome".

 

[kiwi_NZ]

what is the big deal on needing to wear shoes in the house? Why does one have to do that? I can understand if one has a foot or ankle problem but sheesh "when in Rome".

life is short chill <<== great quote Lena

What is the big deal? No big deal to me but I'd rather not take them off only beacuse I am more comfortable in my shoes

"When in Rome" is exactly correct and hence my question. A foreigner asking what is acceptable.

Different cultures have different expectations, I'm sure you'd find some weird things here that may be not a biggie to you but to us it might be. I guess we are a fairly relaxed culture in many ways.

I have no problem taking my shoes off if that is standard procedure and it's not just about "when in Rome" it's also about courtesy and knowing what is right or wrong before my first visit to Canada It's all good ...

 

[JLM]

life is short chill <<== great quote Lena

What is the big deal? No big deal to me but I'd rather not take them off only beacuse I am more comfortable in my shoes

"When in Rome" is exactly correct and hence my question. A foreigner asking what is acceptable.

Different cultures have different expectations, I'm sure you'd find some weird things here that may be not a biggie to you but to us it might be. I guess we are a fairly relaxed culture in many ways.

I have no problem taking my shoes off if that is standard procedure and it's not just about "when in Rome" it's also about courtesy and knowing what is right or wrong before my first visit to Canada It's all good ...

Generally nothing, but the odd time like when there are goats living in the house (grew up in a neighbourhood where it wasn't that uncommon) it's just a precaution.

 

[kiwi_NZ]

Generally nothing, but the odd time like when there are goats living in the house (grew up in a neighbourhood where it wasn't that uncommon) it's just a precaution.

Goats living in a house! Wow! Well if I had my way I'd have all animals, pets living inside with me. My husband wouldn't like it he's not fond of dogs inside but he knows how much my dogs mean to me

In my first marriage we had pet pigs and sheep and calves and rabbits and dogs and cats and though they did come inside from time to time like playing chasing, was usually through the house! All the animals grew up together and I'm sure the non dog animals thought they were dogs. I would so love that in life again, a whole bunch of em' a bit like my own Noahs ark (lol) would be cool

 

[lena]

LOL well kick em off and say screw em..........RELAX and let the dogs out

 

[kiwi_NZ]

LOL well kick em off and say screw em..........RELAX and let the dogs out

LMAO!

sounds good to me

 

[lena]

lol there ya go

 

[Ron in Regina]

I think (and I'm speculating quite a bit here) that most Canadians are
conditioned to taking their shoes off in their homes, and the homes of
others (even with dry, clean footware) due to Winter lasting in many
places a duration of 5-6 months, and the months that bracket Winter
are wet-shoe weather.....so for the few months that we might be able
to wear our shoes indoors, we've been conditioned not to by the rest
of the year.

Can you imagine someone strolling through your home wearing boots
like mine, even if they where clean? I would shred Hardwood floors,
and they're pretty noisy in a Walmart if I forget I'm wearing them and
go shopping. On ceramic tile, it sounds like you're being followed by
a pack of tap-dancers. 8O :lol::lol::lol: