Is it ok to ask guests to remove their socks when they enter the house?

[Mila_Savic]

Hi. I recently visited a friend of mine at her home. I took off my shoes at the door as I always do and wanted to walk in with only my socks on. My friend stopped me, though, and said that I have to take off my socks as well. She herself was barefoot, too. I felt awkward, as I don't normally walk around without socks, so I asked why. She said, it was a cultural thing (her family is from India, I think) and very important to her parents and it prevented people from slipping on their wooden floors.

Has anyone ever required you to do this? And do you think it is ok to have such a rule at home?

[Anonymous]

I have a lot of Asian friends and it has always been a requirement that when I enter into their home, the shoes have to come off, but typically there is a basket of slippers offered if one is barefoot, meaning, they want you to wear either socks or slippers. I was with you with it being strange that they would ask you to take off your socks until you mentioned the wood floors. My brother has exceptionally dangerous wood floors that are slick and have caused many accidents to those not wearing some sort of something with foot grips on them, like hospital socks or indoor slippers, and so you really do have to remove your shoes if you don't want to face plant. Basically just look at it like this...it would be weird if they only required you specifically to do that as opposed to everyone else, but since the whole family does it, just chalk it up to their house, their rules, now you know and add to that, it's for your safety.

[Mila_Savic]

So you think it's not unreasonable what they are asking and I just have to respect their rules, right?

[Opinion Owner]

Yes, but for two reasons. One, you're a guest in their home, so it's not unreasonable to ask you to take off your socks if everyone else has to and does it and two, they have explained it's for your safety...probably because it is generally speaking a strange request to have to fully take ones socks off. Like I said, now you know, so you just have to sort of get over that weirdness if you want to keep going over there.

[Mila_Savic]

Thank you. It's hard to argue with what you say, so probably you're right.
I just feel a little exposed when I have bare feet.
MEanwhile, I've asked my friend again why they require this and she repeated what I have said (culture and safety), but she also added that bare feet make people feel more comfortable. She wrote: "when you see someone's bare feet at home, it just feels so much more intimate and cozy, so we just like to be able the sight of our guests being barefoot, especially if they are close friends or relatives. I hope this explains it a little better".
What do you think about this additional argument she gave?

[Opinion Owner]

I agree with that and you should read into that...notice she said with close friends and family, so this means, she considered you one of them which you should take as a compliment. Just don't overthink this.

[Mila_Savic]

Yes, that's true of course, but it also kind of implies that they want me to have bare feet so they can look at them. I just feel kind of shy when people look at my bare feet.
But maybe you are right and I am overthinking this. It's just feet after all, right?

[Opinion Owner]

yup.

[I_smell_Ducky]

Yeah, that's weird and doesn't really serve a purpose. Taking your shoes off keeps the place clean. Taking socks if doesn't really do anything

[Mila_Savic]

Well, it might keep you from slipping on the floors, right? At least that's what she said.

[I_smell_Ducky]

Maybe, of they are all like hard wood floors or something. But still, it's not that hard to just not slip.

[Mila_Savic]

actually she was right that their wooden floors were quite slippery. I don't know of course if I would have slipped, since I wasn't allowed to try wearing socks haha
But would you say that as a precaution, it could be justified to ask this?

[I_smell_Ducky]

I guess it could just be a precaution. But my feet would get cold.

[Mila_Savic]

No, they wouldn't, they keep their floors warm all the time.

[ChetAtkins]

Kind of strange. I once worked delivering furniture. The Indian family wanted us to take our boots off. I told her she had two choices.
A. Boots stay on
B. Furniture goes outside on the lawn

She opted for plan A.

[Mila_Savic]

It's a different story when you work as a delivery person. But I was there as a friend, so I guess different rules apply. Would you disagree?

[ChetAtkins]

It's not about the rules, it's about if you want to follow them or not. Obviously, you have to abide by their rules if you want to stay, but that's up to you. I might stay, or I might leave. I'm not sure. It depends on the situation.

[mrbobz]

I think its the persons house so its up to them what rules they set, yeah socks is a bit further than i had to go, some people would consider it less clean... each to there own, life goes on :)

[Mila_Savic]

So I just have to accept that I have to have bare feet in her house?

[mrbobz]

Its your choice to enter the house. You can discuss it with her if its a big issue for you and come to an agreement. Its more out of respect really

[Mila_Savic]

I said I would come to visit her, so I felt I didn't really have a choice whether to enter or not. I tried to discuss it, but she said that her parents want it like this, so I have to comply.

[sassynopants]

I believe in India, you don't wear socks in temples but homes are ok. But as that is their home, you have to respect it. I hate going anywhere without socks lol

[Mila_Savic]

Hi. I also hate to be without socks. I just don't like other people seeing my bare feet. Is it the same for you?
So I guess, I don't have a choice but have to accept this that my feet have to be bare in her house, right?

[sassynopants]

Yup totally the same for me! I have cute feet but I just like them not showing lol. I would say yes just accept it, if it's something you really can't get over you could always just suggest alternate spots to hang out

[Mila_Savic]

The thing is, she's helping me with my homework, so I have to go to her place sometimes from now on.
So, do you sometimes get into situations where you need to have bare feet (except the beach of course)? Like for example in p. e. lessons or something like that? And how does it feel to be seen without shoes or socks?

[DamnSam]

As long as they dont pay my rent, yes, my house is my castle, and in my castle work my rules...

And its another experience to have direct contact to the ground... like connected with mother nature

[Yoda1]

What if the person is wearing panty hose it would be abuse to ask someone to remove their pantyhose especially if it's under their jeans next time u go to ur friends house tey wearing panty hose see what they say No one ask u to remove pants so wear pantyhose with jeans

[StevenBrown88]

I have yet to personally encounter someone who has this rule, but it is quite common. As you were a guest in her home, the polite and respectful thing to do is to follow the rules of the house. If I went to someone’s home and they asked me to remove my shoes and socks, I probably would question it but complied. If everyone else was barefoot and the floors were clean, I wouldn’t have an issue with it.

[Red_Arrow]

Often people carry some diseases on their feet. It is preferable to wear something, like socks, on your feet to prevent the spread of diseases.

[boggboss]

As long as it's in there house that's all that's important

[Mila_Savic]

You mean as long as I don't have to walk barefoot outside?

[dy8alexUk]

Mabee house owners have foot fetish and get off on feet there are lots about. no shoes should be enough to remove. i have heard masons role up one leg of man's trousers and women have to 'reveal left breast naked sounds good to me

[Luana1983]

I have many Indian friends, I've never heard or experienced this as anything cultural.

[Mila_Savic]

I don't know, but she said that in India it is normal to be barefoot in the house and they also remove their shoes and socks when going to a temple. She also said something about it being symbolic, because people are more humble when they have bare feet. Maybe it's different depending which region you come from?

[Maxie2695]

It’s weird for us sure, but it’s important to respect other people’s cultures

[PondyPand]

Yes. it's her house and her rules.

[Mila_Savic]

yes, that's right of course. So, have you experienced this in somebody's house before?

[PondyPand]

Yes, and that was simply how she preferred it

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

It could be cause they don't want anyone slipping on their floor.

[MarketData]

Not really, no. I would be like "Fuck you" and leave.

[ChetAtkins]

So would I.

[Anonymous]

I never wear socks so I've never been asked to remove them in addition to removing my shoes. Whatever, if they ask you to do that I think you shouldn't be awkward as it's appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Yes. I am Indian and it's a cultural thing.

[Mila_Savic]

Thank you! So you're saying it is normal that in Indian homes you have to remove your shoes and socks when entering? I didn't know that but it's very interesting.

[Opinion Owner]

Yea there are certain things like

You can't eat before bathing, not even breakfast.

And you should burn the lamp before God (idols of God) after bathing

Can't enter the house with footwears.

Socks?

You can't use the same socks inside the house that you used outside the house

But if you have a separate pair of socks that you use only inside the house (not inside the washroom/bathroom), especially, in the winter, then that's okay.

Don't disrespect books because it represents goddess Saraswati

Disrespect means, by touching them with feet

Touching anything with feet means disrespecting it

If you have disrespected your books, you must apologize

Don't disrespect the broom. I don't know what foreigners call it, but broom is used for cleaning the house, so it is closely associated to cleanliness.
That's why you must never disrespect a broom. If you have, then apologize

Don't close the doors at evening time. Goddess Laxmi enters the home at this time, so you must clean the house before 5:30 PM and let the door open

You must ignite/burn the lamp (diya) before the god at 6 PM
You also have to burn a lamp before *Tulsi (a plant, very very important to us) * and little children usually are expected to say Sanskrit prayers (Ujadni) like "Shubhankaroti Kalyanam" before Tulsi in the evening.

You have wash and clean the gods idols and images everyday. The people who don't have sufficient time to do this can do it three times in a week.

There are many similar things that you have to do.

I follow most of the things leaving the last one that I have mentioned.

[Opinion Owner]

Also forgot to mention, goddess Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and wisdom.

Books contain knowledge, so..

Also, in the same way, if your feet touches any human being, even by mistake, then apologize.

[Mila_Savic]

Hi! That's so interesting, thank you!
So you think I only had to be barefoot because I didn't have a separate pair of socks? So in India it is not common to have a bare feet only rule at home?

[Opinion Owner]

Nope.

It's is very common, almost in every house you will see people barefooted.

I never wear socks inside the house.

My mother uses a separate pair of socks for winter as the floor is cold. She wears it only inside the house.

Otherwise, all people are barefooted inside the house.

Even in my classroom, we have to enter barefooted.

In some shops, socks are allowed while in some other shops, all kinds of footwears are allowed. Generally, these are big shops. And rest of the shops, we have to walk barefooted.

[Opinion Owner]

If you're wearing the socks only inside the house for reasons like cold to prevent cracks in your feet, then it's okk

But we wear socks with boots when we go out , which brings dust and mud along with sweat from our body. So it's kind of dirty. So you have to keep it out of the house.

[Mila_Savic]

Oh I see. That's really interesting. So, it is a normal thing that I was required to remove my socks as well?
I wanted to wear socks, not because it was cold, but because I feel a little uncomfortable when people see my bare feet. But I guess, this excuse doesn't count in an Indian household, right? So I have no choice but to take off my socks?

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah it's normal and I can understand. If you lived in India, you wouldn't feel uncomfortable with exposing your bare feet.

Well there's no choice bcoz the socks are usually not clean.

Don't worry, Indians are usually habitual of seeing and touching bare feets.

We take blessing from our elders by touching their feets.

There are also many rituals where we have to clean people's feet.

Whenever any special guest comes over to our house from large distances, we offer them a bucket full of water for cleaning their feet and face before entering the house. They can also take a bath after entering the house according to their wish.

You see, it's important to clean our feets before entering a house or a temple.

So, we're habitual of seeing bare feet.

We have seen all different kinds of feet.

So, people will see your bare feet, but they will never think anything about it.

[Opinion Owner]

It is believed that Some people bring great fortune with them when they enter the house.

[Mila_Savic]

I realize that I know so little about Indian culture. The way we think about feet also differs so much. So thanks a lot. It’s a pity that you decided to write anonymously, because I would have loved to chat with you more about this :)

About my socks – they are pretty clean normally and I change them every day, most of the time (of course only when I’m alone in my room and nobody is watching me haha). But well, I guess that it is also a cultural thing what people see as sufficiently clean. So would you say, in India socks are generally viewed as unclean, just because you wore them outside?
In that case the only solution I can think of would be to bring an extra pair of socks and change them upon entering the house.
Or could it be that they don’t want me to wear socks at all? Maybe due to cultural reasons they think that wearing socks in the house is unnatural and associated with dirt. Maybe they want to be able to see my bare feet instead of socks.
In that case I probably really have no choice but to accept it and take off my socks every time I go to her place, right?

[Opinion Owner]

* So would you say, in
In that case the only solution I can think of would be to bring an extra pair of socks and change them upon entering the house. *

No. Don't buy a separate pair of socks just for your friend's house. I believe that it would be waste of money.
You can remove the socks and ask for some water to clean your feet before entering.

*Or could it be that they don’t want me to wear socks at all?*
Maybe. It depends on people.

*Maybe they want to be able to see my bare feet instead of socks. * No.

Just don't worry about them seeing your feet. You're the first person I have seen who is thinking so much about her feet getting exposed.

It's home. A place to get relaxed. So just remove your socks and try to be comfortable.

*Maybe due to cultural reasons they think that wearing socks in the house is unnatural and associated with dirt. In India socks are generally viewed as unclean, just because you wore them outside? *

Yes, at least, in Maharashtra

Generally we wash our hands feet and face before entering the house. Nowadays, the modern people don't follow these things but it's still a cultural thing.

Indian culture is an excellent example of unity in diversity. So these things vary from place to place.

I don't think they'll have any problem with a separate pair of socks for wearing inside the house

We usually wear socks inside the boots when we go out of the house , so your feet sweat more , so it stinks. lap because they're not exposed to air.

[Mila_Savic]

Hey. Thanks for your explanation.
I went to her place again yesterday. They put a sign at the entrance now that says “Only bare feet in the house. Please remove your shoes and socks”. I had brought an extra pair of socks with me (I didn’t buy them just for this, I just took them with me from home) and asked her if I could just wear them. She seemed a little uncertain, as she hadn’t expected this question. So she said, she would have to ask her mom about it. I was allowed to wear my clean change of socks until her mom came home about half an hour later. So we went to ask her. Well, she said that socks being dirty from outside were just one of the reasons why they have to be removed. It’s also that feet tend to sweat more, especially in the summer, so wearing socks at home is considered unhygienic. It’s also to prevent slipping on their hardwood floors. But she said the most important reason is that it is part of their culture. She said it is a sign of respect not to wear socks at her house, just as you don’t wear shoes or hats inside the house. She also said something about feet telling you much about someone’s personality, so they like to have a look at their guests bare feet. I’m not sure if I understood that last part though. Anyway, she said I do have to take off my extra pair of socks as well. So I had to spend the rest of the afternoon in my bare feet.
So that’s the thing. I guess I just have to respect their culture then and accept that they will see my bare feet every time I go there, right?

[Opinion Owner]

right

[lesleyl99]

Would never ask anyone to do this no

[Mila_Savic]

But do you think it is ok to ask this from someone who wants to enter your house?

[MisterAnon69]

No thats fucking weird as hell

[Sampan2017]

Yes please for hygiene purpose

[Mila_Savic]

But do you think that for hygiene purposes it is necessary to remove socks, too?

[Sampan2017]

Yes definitely
Sometimes people don't wash their shocks for long time and that smells pathetic

[Mila_Savic]

Ahh I see. That makes sense, of course. Although my socks are always clean, I rarely wear them for more than a day.
So at your house do you require everyone to remove their socks?

[Sampan2017]

Yes want them to remove

[Mila_Savic]

ok, I understand

[Sampan2017]

😍...

[BeHappy1985]

Dafuq... (O_o)