A question for all my friends who make it a purpose to go barefoot in public...

Dear Fellow Barefooters,

What is the most discreet gesture you have made to gain entrance into a barefoot unfriendly establishment while unshod? For me, it would have to be carrying a duffle bag close to the ground directly in front of me. Needless to say, I didn't get detected! How about you?

 

I've never tried to really hide my bare feet. When I'm with people who are uncomfortable when I get comments I will sometimes wear a long skirt and barefoot sandals, however I don't go beyond that... I don't try to stay behind others or wear anything that is so long it drags the ground. It's more of a 'No I didn't forget/lose my shoes and I'm not a bum either' kind of thing than hiding the fact I don't have shoes on.

 

I've worn a pair of "barebottoms" a version of the barefoot sandal with blue jeans that cover my ankles and leave the rest of my feet showing. So far, no one was ever questioned them, probably at a quick glace they look like regular sandals.

 

Jeans that are on the long side always work.

 

Is there another way than just walking in? *L*

With a Touch of Common Sense, chances are nothing will ever be said...

 

Long jeans, baggy jeans or jeans with flare (bellbottom) cuffs. Always works. There are just those places where fools won't let you in. That's the only way to thwart them effectively.

 

As a rule I never try to hide my bare feet or in any way give anyone the impression that I think I may be doing something wrong. However, I must admit that sometimes when passing by some sort of gatekeeper that I'm not sure about as to my barefoot admittance (such as boarding airplanes), I have done such things as standing close to the person in front of me, holding my carryon bag in such a way as to prevent view of my feet, and looking the person directly in the eye and making small talk as I passed through. So far, all that seems to have worked.

 

You actually just contradicted yourself there.

To avoid all the nonsence, I wear flip flops most places in public. I then slip them off at convenience. If asked to put them back on, I do. I respect people's/company's rules. Who am I to go into their place, and tell them what they should and shouldn't allow.

 

Actually I didn't. The expression "as a rule" implies that there are exceptions. I said what I strive to do and almost always do - that's the "rule." Then I gave you my exceptions. There's no contradiction there.

How is merely going barefoot into a place "telling them what they should and shouldn't allow"? Private businesses have a right to impose whatever dress code they want. But why would I, or anyone, assume in advance that they have such a dress code that bans bare feet? Most businesses actually have no such dress code, and quite often rejection of a barefooted person is a decision made on the spot by an individual manager or employee. He/she takes it upon himself/herself to make that policy on the spot based only on his/her own barefoot prejudices or misinformation.

 

Well since people's feet are the customer's property and not the store owner's property then the store owner really has no right telling the person what to put on their feet or not. It might be their store but its still the customer's foot. I think a business owner can tell people how to act in their store and what they can do with the merchandise but as far as being able to control what a customer wears I really dont think thats any of their business.

 

I never try and hide the fact that I am barefoot either.

Simply walking confidently as if there is nothing wrong (which, at the end of the day, there isn't !) means that people rarely notice. If they DO notice then an aura of confidence essentially projects the message that 'I know I'm not doing anything wrong so I have nothing to worry about'. This, I find, seems to make people very reluctant to challenge me.

If somebody DOES choose to challenge me (which is extremely rare) then I'll listen to what they have to say and I'll answer their questions politely. If they attempt to advance a reason why I should not be barefoot I'll dismantle their arguments with polite, logical, reasoned debate. This is usually pretty easy as there is rarely, if ever, any genuine reason why I should not be barefoot when I am. (I am neither a fool nor a masochist and if I ever DO go anywhere where going barefoot is genuinely hazardous then I WILL wear appropriate footwear).

On the one single occasion a few years ago when I was challenged and informed in a hotel restaraunt that "I'm sorry, but we require patrons to wear shoes. It is one of the rules of the house." (note: there was no attempt to hide behind non-existant laws or advance illogical ill-considered 'reasons' why I should not be barefoot). I accepted and fully respected the prerogitive of the owners of the establishment to operate their own policy as to what is acceptable in their place. I immediately then exercised MY prerogitive to go elsewhere and spent my money (and enjoyed an excellent meal in barefoot comfort) at a competitor's establishment.

Who lost out in this scenario ?

 

barefoot rick,

Yeah, I do the exact same thing as you - I find that getting defensive only makes them think more negatively about the situation, because they start to see you as hostile. I think that my experience of calmly asking questions, seeking clarifications and providing evidence of their misguided thinking (I carry a letter from my state's health department stating that customers are not prohibited from entry based on their choice, or lack, of footwear). And I always carry my flip flops with me as backup in case I run across the rare instance when even reason doesn't win.

So true, and sad to boot. It almost always falls to one person's interpretation of their own policies. I tend to find that if you politely ask them to show you their policy on customer dress codes, in writing or with a posted sign, more often than not they can't produce anything. Costco was the only store that has it spelled out in their membership agreement, and they were very polite to me about the situation. But that's definitely been the exception to the rule...

On a tangent - does anyone else here enjoy dreaming up "phony" excuses for why you're barefoot outside? Must be my creative side, but I like coming up with 'little white lies' to tell some of the more inflexible challengers we face. My favorite, and almost always works is:

I tell them I live way out east like about an hour's drive, far enough out that there aren't any major stores close by that I can patronize...and on my way out of another store I stepped in some dog poop. Like a really big, messy, steamy pile. And I have no way to clean my shoes...I had to ditch them because they smelled so badly and the crap got into every crevice. And I only have a couple of errands more to run - there's no way I want to drive ALL the way home, just to get another pair of shoes. Surely, I tell them, they've had similar experiences, and wouldn't they be OK if I just ran in really quickly and got what I needed, and left. I'd be SO grateful and tell all my friends and neighbors how their store really helped me out in a tight spot.

I've only used this one a few times, but it only failed to win me entry once. I guess I'm a bit of a closet actor. Or I'm schizophrenic. But I find it helps to keep my mind from getting dull to come up with little stories to tell people about why I'm out barefoot.

 

shoes are just to protect our feet- Me personally never go barefoot in public but take my shoes off right when I come home. I think it would suck to go barefoot in public and step on gum, glass, or dog shit.

 

-If a place bans going barefoot (arbitrarily or because they fear an insurance injury liability suit for a slip & fall or cut) I won't spend money, but I will go in with longer jeans and in-your-face them, because I have to feel like I've won.

-I hate wearing shoes, but do on occasion or in professional environments. I don't blindly walk down the street, though, just stepping in this and that to feel things. I don't think any reasonably minded person does that.

-I don't give a s*t what people think if I'm barefoot or not. I do know, though, I make it look good - I do it with style, good tan and a little jewelry.