Barefoot In Establishments

I realize this overlaps with several other threads but I'd love to start this thread in which people will just specifically list establishments in which they have or have not successfully gone barefoot.

I'm in San Diego. In terms of major business and chains, I have been repeatedly accepted barefoot in:

Von's supermarket (North Park)
Ralphs' supermarket (Hillcrest)
99 Ranch (Kearny Mesa)
Staples (Mission Valley)


Local businesses:
Holsem Coffee House (North Park)
New Break & Cafe (Ocean Beach)
All 3 main Japanese Markets in Kearny Mesa (Mitsuwa: Marukai; Nijiya)


North Park bars, beer bars, and micro-breweries:
Safe House
Mike Hess Brewing Company
Way Point Public House
Rip Current

I HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT AT:

WHOLE FOODS (they have an NS sign posted and enforced by security)
SOUTH BEACH BAR & GRILLE (Ocean Beach)

What are people's experience with Costco, aka Fenton Parkway location?

 

San Diego, the area of the free-sprited and the judgemental. The area where surf shops have no shoes/no shirt/no service signs. The area where outdoor mall security confronts barefooters. The area where businesses right off the beach complain about damp or wet money. Let me try to do this from memory, from the years I did go shopping in the San Diego area also with some locations outside the San Diego area.

• Albersons: I rarely shop there, but I had someone try to get my attention at one Escondido location as I was leaving but no problems with the one in San Marcos I've been to twice.
• Autozone: I've had comments, but they still helped me get the part without any problems.
• Bel-Air Swap Meet (Bloomington, near Fontana): a few years ago, weather so hot I could feel it on my face and one hour before peak heat hours... ouch HOT! HOT!! HOT!!! Walking across the parking lot was so hot I had to flick my foot back at the end of each step, standing to enter required both rolling on the soles and lifting up the soles while standing on the edges of them, walking the blacktop swap meet could not be done for more than 10 steps without having to start flicking the foot back, going to shade four different times still had shade hot enough to need rolling on the soles, blisters the size of about a US nickel coin just behind the balls of the feet on both soles by the end of the 2nd of about 12 rows, and I had to hot-foot is across the same hot parking lot with blistered soles. Excellent heat tolerance increase when those blisters healed, but one of those "that was stupid" overburning of the soles way too soon moments when I should have at least carried flip flops after the parking lot was just a warning of the minimum amount of heat that would keep burning my soles.
• Carlsbad 5000: Duly noted there was a barefooter there and I plan for barefoot next time, since I've walked the Mission Beach/Pacific Beach seawall barefoot, even during afternoons when the sand burns the soles after a shorter distance. No worries about race staff, just if my soles can handle it. A woman ahead of me the entire race one year did it barefoot while carrying flip flops—I did not make any effort to even try stare at her soles but at no time did she stop and check her soles nor slow down. Carlsbad 5000 route does have rougher gravel asphalt, so I would need some longer distance abrasive surface training. It will be interesting to see where I can put the timer chip if I still want to time my walking—it normally gets tied to a shoelace at the top of a walking or running shoe. Not sure an ankle bracelet would register properly.
• Costco: I don't shop there that often because it's a bulk quantity type of warehouse store, but when I do I also have a cart that might help at least at the entrance. Anyway, no problems at Carmel Mountain, Mission Valley, San Marcos, and Vista locations; however, at Temecula they firmly told me I needed shoes but let me finish getting the last couple of items and go to check out.
• CVS/Pharmacy: I got watched very carefully at an Escondido location, but I've not yet been confronted at any other San Marcos or Escondido location.
• Del Mar Fairgrounds, fair season: no problems at the fair, but some carnival shows want to see shoes worn when entering the ride area, even when loose shoes have to be removed to ride. Any problems with asphalt too hot in the main area can be taken care of by finding a bench, standing near shade of a vendor booth if available, and the exhibit halls are more than close enough.
• Del Mar Fairgrounds, racing season: twice no problems so far but I do tend to make sure I'm not walking very close to on-duty Sheriff. Sheriff never approached me. White uniform race staff never bothered me inside the betting areas nor outside on the general public asphalt area. For the outside general public asphalt area, heat can be an issue to consider if all the near the rail space is crowded out, benches are full, and a chair wasn't brought along—it's usually too crowded to sit on the asphalt, it can be 20 to 30 minutes for the next race post time, and leaving the spot to relieve some heat means losing that spot. It is possible to stand in one spot and roll on the soles until whatever amount of burning equalizes (also due to the small amount of shade from standing there), if there is noticeable burning; however, I also found that taking a couple of steps out of the equalized spot burned even more and took longer to equalize than that previous spot because that spot was still unshaded and did not cool off. Rememer that even on the coast, the asphalt keeps heating up between 1pm and 4pm, and then takes about a half hour to start cooling down. Probably a good idea to carry flip flops for some temporary heat relief rather than subject the soles hours of constant burning on the days when the first race post time is 2pm and the asphalt won't noticeably start cooling down until 4:30pm.
• Escondido Downtown Street Faire: for how much longer this one is, I still can't find anything I want to buy. Lots of arts and crafts items, for those who do find anything to buy. Surprisingly less food vendors for the length of the fair. Those with less heat tolerant feet for longer walks on the asphalt streets can walk on the sidewalks and the business overhangs even provide shade. No problems even with the police roaming the street faire.
• Escondido World Marketplace: allowed me entry without any problems once, another time would not let me in without shoes on the basis the asphalt got too hot. Asphalt in the swap meet does get hotter than the parking lot. Beware of bees—a couple of unoccupied vendor areas might have swarms of a hive flying nearby. Produce and food closest to the entrance and exit of the swap meet are the only items of interest to me—the produce is of reasonably good quality and much of the food and drink is made fresh. (The BBQ smoke can really be seen from a distance away from the swap meet on Fridays!)
• Food4Less: Escondido location on one occasion a year or so ago a store associate (but not managment) told me I couldn't be in there without shoes; however, twice this year I had no comments even with management roaming the floor and a security guard at the exit. No problems with a location in San Bernardino except for in weather hot enough I could feel it on my face, the parking lot was definitely HOT!
• Ikea: Stonecrest location, only a couple of looks, but no hassles from management, but I only went there barefoot once and I rarely shop at Ikea anyway.
• Kobey's Swap Meet (Valley View Sports Arena): after seeing another barefooter and they did not hassle her at all, it was clear I could go barefoot there too. Twice no actual problems, but the second time police officers were watching me very closely when I got to merchandise tables.
• Jamba Juice: I happened to go to a location in Huntington Beach, and no problems there (and being a beach area, they shouldn't have a problem).
• Knott's Soak City (Buena Park): no problems going in barefoot but I just don't have any reason to return to this park. I would take family or friends to Wild Rivers instead (much more intensity to the slides to justify a longer wait in line).
• Lowe's: No problems at the Escondido and Stonecrest locations, a customer reported me at the location near Carlsbad and was told by management within a close enough distance to me it was against their insurance policy—but never said it to me.
• MTS Bus: I usually carry my flip flops in hand since NCTD doesn't allow barefoot boarding at all, but MTS has never told me to put shoes on.
• MTS Trolley: no problems at the stations (other than brick tiles at locations such as Santa Fe Depot can get noticeably hot when standing), even with transit security there. Beware of toes during peak trolley times even when wearing flip flops instead of totally barefoot— those new trolley cars suck for standing up and passengers often walk without holding on since there are not enough rails to always hold onto the entire length of the car.
• NCTD Breeze bus: no boarding barefoot allowed unless the driver happens to miss it due to a long line of passengers and even then only if they are late leaving the transit station.
• NCTD Coaster: staff checking tickets also asked me about having shoes, and upon telling them I had them in my waistpack, told me to put them on. Very polite and even said thank you when I took out my flip flops and wore them. Depends on the staff because I've also seen passengers in business attire remove their dress shoes and just be in socks or barefoot (but they were still on the floor).
• Northgate Market: Escondido location, no problems, to me nothing really special vs. any other supermarket when not specifically buying food from the mexican food counter, but be careful that they do have a turnstile.
• Oceanside Street Fair (night by the beach): problems with crowds actually wearing flip flops and them getting stepped on the back too often, so went barefoot and no problems but two girls in sandals just commented "he's barefoot here". Not much I could find as far as unique items that weren't at other swap meets, and food is as expensive as other street fairs. Somewhat sharper gravel asphalt but still can be walked normally, and night time means it's not the least bit hot. I don't go to the beach during fall and winter, even just for walks on the beach.
• O'Reilly Auto Parts: only one location in San Marcos complained about "why are you in here without shoes?" but no other locations so far gave me problems.
• Qualcomm Stadium Swap Meet: no problem entering but some of the sharpest gravel asphalt I have walked on—ouch, ouch as each rock pokes into the sole and needs slower walking than normal with every step. The entry person collecting tickets only asked me if I was going to be okay because it might be hot, and no further comments.
• San Bernardino Swap Meet: nice try... about 25 steps in I got that foot tingling warning of the risk of blisters, 25 steps back to the car, had to do it with flip flops but removed them periodically. Vendors in booths and on blankets were fanning themselves from the heat, and one even said they were thankful there was only one hour left
• San Bernardino Orange Show: from the dirt lot to the grassy area with the fountain, increasingly hot and got sharper and sharper the more the soles burned. One of the few times I got blisters without the soles tingling first. Went back to the car. Had to wear shoes the rest of the time and walk with undrained blisters on the soles—thankfully the blisters didn't get bigger. Nice day otherwise, a few exhibit halls, a few rides on familiar carnival rides (but positive Gs also feel stronger pulling down on blisters than the rest of the foot!), and even watching some short track racing and a demolition derby. I haven't returned in years, but I'll make a note of this as barefootable but needing some heat relief when the burning gets sharper without the soles tingling first (so I'll probably carry flip flops in a carrying bag).
• Santa Fe Springs Sway Meet: tolerably hot, but then that was the same day after tending to the blisters I got at Bel-Air Swap Meet.
• Smart and Final: no problems at the Escondido location.
• Starbucks Coffee: no problems at one Escondido location and no problems at the Horton Plaza location even after mall security confronted me in the mall.
• Stater Bros.: one comment from a green vest associate "that's not allowed" in the San Marcos location; otherwise, no problems three other times with management at either the Escondido or San Marcos location as far as managment confronting me.
• Target: no problems at Escondido, Mission Valley, and San Marcos other than the Escondido location at the mall had security obviously watching me. I did get a positive comment from a teen girl who was with her friends when she said "barefoot, awesome", but I kept walking since I don't talk to minors unless it is important (and a barefoot comment isn't).
• Vons: no problems overall in San Marcos and Escondido (three locations I've tried), and Stonecrest (off Aero Drive), so just one Vons in Escondido I heard a comment "did he enter without shoes"? I have no information about Vons stores that became a Haggen.
• Walmart: *Very* inconsistent! No problems with the Escondido location twice (no greeter), but then another time someone was heard saying "call security on him". San Marcos, no problems the first couple of times, even once when a customer reported me an associate stocking clothes said "that's alright"... but then once a manager told me I needed to have shoes on and another time they tried to get my attention about wearing shoes just upon entry (but they clean the floor often enough I'll respect that location and just wear flip flops). Stonecrest location, no greeter/no problems. Vista location was no problems when they had no greeter but last visit when they had a greeter they insisted on no shoes/no shirt/no service even when it wasn't on the door (when they tried to show me it was on the door). Just for completeness: no problems with a Walmart in Buena Park but that also had no greeter. I would say for these stores to have shoes in a carrying bag in case of hassle, but not actually wear them unless there is a stubborn greeter.
• Westfield Malls: Escondido mall location for a short time to go to the food court, but the floor was slippery for my bare feet (calluses not sandpaper rough enough to have resistance to the shiny buffed floor); confronted by security at Horton Plaza and told me to leave and get shoes after getting my coffee from the Starbucks location.
• Wild Rivers: surprisingly one of the better water parks in Southern California. They do allow people in barefoot but—the parking lot is hot enough to make blisters, and if that doesn't do it then the entire park is tan pool deck. Those barefoot and with less heat tolerant soles are wincing while looking for the next shade spot and even dipping their feet into water if there isn't shade close enough. Some just wear aqua socks. Barefoot is best, but between the parking lot and four hours at the water park I did end up with blisters on the most blisterable part of my soles—in the middle just behind the balls of the foot on both soles. Great slides! Well worth the temporary damage to the soles and because the water was cool to cold, those blisters didn't get any bigger even when I couldn't drain them. (Stupidest event at the park was a kid who looked about 12 wanted to try to start a splash fight with me in the lazy river, just told him off politely, stopped my inner tube floating, and waited until he was much more of a distance away before continuing.) I would take family and friends to this park but give them fair warning about the hot surfaces.
• Winco Foods (Temecula location): no problems despite a large sign showing "shoes required by law".

None of the parking lots for the San Diego area grocery and warehouse stores are long enough to have any serious problems with urgently burning soles, even if parking more towards the end of the parking lot and even if the soles do start to feel like they are burning in weather close to 100 degrees F and the hottest afternoon hours. Sometimes only standing absorbs some urgently burning heat in seconds, but walking again even if just a few steps back and forth gives good enough heat relief to the soles. Only Kobey's and Qualcomm Stadium Swap Meets have parking that might be far enough away that the soles can be quite burned even before walking the swap meet. Only Kobey's and Qualcomm Stadium Swap Meets have areas with blankets and vendor tables without any shade, while the Escondido World Marketplace does have permanent covered vendor areas even if some remain empty.

To-do next summer, but it will require A LOT of training of the soles and I probably still can't do it ALL barefoot due to the obvious fact that miles of long distance walking already tires the soles, rougheness scuffs the soles and wears them down, and prolonged heat that keeps burning tenderizes the soles:

• Pomona Swap Meet. They say 15 miles of car show and swap meet, and some of the swap meet appears to use the smooth/slick/shiny drag strip asphalt, but with hours 5am to 2pm it's going to be over right as the hottest hours of the day have started. I'll just make sure to have flip flops with me because I do also have to factor in walking back to the car, or even prolonged standing waiting for a parking lot tram.
• Los Angeles County Fair. Even more of a challenge because of what happens to weather in September in Pomona. One year I went, the sun felt hot directly on the face and asphalt heat could be felt rising up to the toes just at noon—even when wearing flip flops—even before the start of the hottest afternoon hours. Despite bringing along flip flops to cool off near blistering burning that is guaranteed to occur along unshaded main area and the midway during peak heat, it's going to be very challenging to last several tens of steps once that asphalt starts getting to full heat, but I'll make sure the soles get at least that much heat before putting on the flip flops again. If I do end up with blisters by the end of the hottest afternoon hours, that will be acceptable from toughing it out in that much heat to force the soles to get more heat tolerance; however, getting them in the first 15 minutes or so ruins the rest of the day (even if I have the barefooter's first aid kit to treat them).

Barefoot is a choice when I can do it, and training the soles to be as tough as possible allows me to do all surfaces and wear shoes less and less, but it's not a cause. I don't put up a huge argument when confronted. I will point out when I didn't see a sign. Or, if I happened to ignore it I will ask them to show it to me. I will tell them if it's a store and short shopping trip that I am going in only for those few items. If it's an event or a theme park, I will be smart about it—enter with shoes, remove them later upon entry, and leave them off unless told to put them back on (and or to use a restroom since I don't use public restrooms barefoot even if others do). But, I don't go complain to management or ask to write corporate. Barefoot is not a state or federal goverment protected class. Businesses can ask difficult customers not to return, especially if they are repeat problems and they make multiple visits.

Now some of this is past years, some of this is present. I went through a time between late 2011 and mid 2014 when I ended up wearing shoes so frequently I almost lost all my calluses, so I am still rebuilding them to what they almost were prior to late 2011. It's actually easeir to get used to hotter by progressive burning on smoother and darker blacktop asphalt (although forcing past a heat limit in much hotter weather can cause blisters when the soles are burned too much in too short of a time) than it is to get use to much sharper rough surfaces that poke the soles or those sidewalks with tip of the thumb size embedded rocks that almost bruise the soles with each step. I do use some common sense—while it is desirable to have soles that no longer blister until a much longer than reasonable distance in weather as hot as something like 105 degrees F and during the hottest afternoon hours, I am not going to push so much that an entire section of my sole blisters and makes me unable to walk for days, or I even get third degree burns that require medical treatment.

I hope all of this is helpful.

 

I go everywhere barefoot u jealous?

 

Same Here, Coming Up To 9 Years Later This Month, Don't Even Own A Pair Of Shoes...... :sunny:



Cheers Glen.

 

Maybe its where we live, we are just more hip :daisy:


I always lol at people writing on her eabout getting kicked out of stores

 

Thanks for thorough report, hotasphaltblisteredsoles.

Good to know you've done okay at Costco's, I've read reports to the contrary elsewhere.

Any reason your preferred safety gear is flip flops instead of minimalist, i.e. Xero sandals? Very lightweight and flexible for stuffing in a pouch or deep cargo pants pockets.

 

Flip flops with fabric straps and a half inch to one inch thick rubber sole have proven to last for miles of walking when I do have to wear shoes for an extended time or distance, and the fabric strap doesn't cause soreness in between the toes. I just use a deliberately smaller step size so I am not overstriding, same as with bare feet, vs. if I did wear a walking shoe or running shoe that almost forced a larger step size.The cheapest shower shoe kind of flip flops just have too painful of a rubber strap in between the toes for miles of walking, even despite a thinner sole that would allow more feeling of the ground. The overall size of my foot still allows me to put flip flops in the larger pocket of a waistpack and zip it closed, or else strap them to the front of a smaller waistpack with bungee straps and they don't stick out too much from the sides.

I have no experience with Xero sandals for miles of walking but they seem way overpriced for what is essentially a thinnest strap/thinnest sole flip flop. It also seems more optimized as a running shoe, but I don't run barefoot except on beach sand, when I rarely do ever run. Some styles of Xero shoes even appear to strap around the ankles, but than that makes it a sandal. I don't like anything strapped around my ankles unless I absolutely need to wear high top steel toe shoes (or else if I have to put on ice skates since that can be done in bare soles on the ice).

I also have no interest in the Vibram Five Fingers type of shoe. For any occasion when I am not compelled to wear closed shoes—it's either a bare foot, or flip flops when the foot cannot be bare due to business policy, surface texture extremes, or heat extremes. (I don't do cold weather barefoot below 40 degrees F and I even prefer not to do it below 50 degrees F.)

 

Ok so I'm in the San Diego North County area. And so far aside from a very few places, I don't really have problems anywhere in this area ranging from Escondido, Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos. And other random places less frequent.

The only places I have had problems are :

Jimmy Os, bar in Del Mar.
Smitty's bar in Vista
Kaminskis BBQ in Poway.
Valley View Casino
Harras Casino.

All of those places are solid walls and won't budge.
A couple times I had minor problems at places such as Walmart, Walgreens etc, but they backed off me.

Anyway I see some other barefooters here in the San Diego area. We are doing a barefooters meet up Labor Day Weekend in San Diego!
If interested check out this Facebook link.

https://m.************/groups/3057185310?view=permalink&id=10155948804925311

Also check out barefootislegal.org!

 

In sydney, allowed to be barefoot threads when getting a pedicure

 

In the Okanagan region of BC I have been accepted at every restaurant or bar I tried, and most stores. In most of those restaurants people could clearly see my feet too! I can't get into one liquor store or walmarts. If the Walmart doesn't have a greeter at the door though, I have no problems.

In Ottawa I made it through a metro grocery store regularly with no issue, despite the no shoes no shirt no service sign at the door.

 

It seems like casinos are pretty much out. Anyone with experience to the contrary? Anybody ever tried BF in a Las Vegas casino?

Then again, just came across this:
http://barefooturbanliving.blogspot.com/2010/12/urban-barefooting-las-vegas-november.html

 

Valley View Casino has front door greeters and also valet since they built the hotel. Harrah's Rincon has security standing right between the elevators and the main cashout areas, and even the entrance from the stairs passes by the elevators. However, that doesn't stop the occasional slot player (usually a woman) from kicking off their shoes while playing the slot machine.

Interesting Facebook link but I don't do meetups at all from online group lists, let alone just for the purpose of barefooting. That's especially if any of them happen to be minors for any meetup, because I'm not going to deal with any risk of an arrest.

Barefoot is legal is an excessively slow loading site with unnecessary embedded high-res graphics. Anything slower than broadband or 4G/LTE for mobile is several minutes just to load each page.

 

The meetup is not for minors. It's for Barefootislegal.org
It's a new organization focused on activism towards right for those of us who go barefoot.
To try and break the walls and educate the places that do try to kick us out.

 

I believe these are actually more detrimental to the acceptance of the barefoot lifestyle!

See, even at Walmart where a greeter has turned me away, they have never said "by law" or "health department" and it's just been no shoes, no shirt, no service (even if not on the door). Yes, I'll question them, but I don't need to ask to see management, or write corporate, or even commit borderline medical fraud getting a doctor's note to go barefoot just to deceive businesses.

That's why I say that barefoot is not a cause. I do it politely and respect their businesses. If they block entry, I politely tell them the sign wasn't visible (even if it was ignored because that is a peaceful challenge) and politely tell them the reason for business (in case they still want to watch me). If they insist on shoes for entry, then by all means I get the shoes for entry, or I go somewhere else. Plenty of other businesses that won't care, by the list I've mentally noted and even shared—but even then a change in management can result in a change of business policy. I don't do restaurants, though I have done coffee shops and fast food locations, currently by choice. If I choose to do so, again I will respect their business if they deny entry without shoes after a polite request for an outdoor seating if they offer one, even if I have to walk through the restaurant to the outdoor seating, because I can obviously remove shoes in an outdoor seating setting even if they insist on shoes to walk through the restaurant. Same goes for mall department stores—not yet by choice because even I've been challenged by mall security at an outdoor mall, many department stores have their own decidated entrances.

Incremental is always best! First they see regular business, a customer that goes there with a definitive reason to go to that business. Then they see minimal shoes. Then go in with the minimal shoes and take off the shoes (but in the case of flip flops I do make sure to permanent mark them in some way in the rare occurrence they try to claim I shoplifted flip flops). Then go in with no shoes but carrying them just in case. Finally just go in without any shoes.

Contrary to barefooters who keep insisting dirty soles are no dirtier than shoe soles—shoe soles don't have pores to trap as much dirt. Therefore, enter businesses with feet as clean as possible, just as one would not enter with filthy hands or a filthy face. Have some manners, and they won't just see "a dirty hippie".

Also remember that as far as "by law"—cites can still make their own ordinances.

Anyway, good luck to both SBL and Barefoot Is Legal but don't be surprised if they actually start making laws when barefooters become too much of a nuisance to businesses.

 

Finally a barefooter with some sense.

I'm so sick of reading post about people crying because they got kicked out of a store for not wearing shoes. "oh im writing corporate" "i asked for a manager" "i threatened to boycott!" and just making a big scene in general and acting like its the end of the world.

 

So far this year i have had no problems at all wich seems like it will be a first but from my own expiernce the longer i have done it (i been a barefooter for almost 16 years now) the less hassle i get..Seemed like the first 2 years i duid it were the hardest and everyone under the sun either had a smart comment or just harrassed me but now it's not like that

 

Meanwhile, there are those on Facebook barefooter groups that get a simple decline of entry to one store, and want to go on a write-their-management-a-long-letter campaign.

If I drove, I keep flip flops in the car. If I walked or took transit, I keep them in a waistpack anyway. If I'm denied entry, I go get them to wear but only after politely pointing out it wasn't on a sign (if it isn't) or if "I didn't see it" (because I initially ignored it). Even if I've been confronted while shopping, it's usually been a few minutes before finishing up, so they don't kick me out but let me know I needed shoes next time. If I know for a fact it's the same manager, I don't want to become a repeat problem and have them ask me not to return, so yeah I'll wear shoes there.

 

The only time i have reported it was when i though the manager was a douchebag abut the way they handled it..Im not going to be yelled at or disrespected for it i dont care what there policy is.

Also you gota ask youreslef how impotant that task you need to do is and if it's worth wearing shoes or not...I do everyhting barefoot but if someone was to say something about and i abosoulutly had to take care of something, I will give in and put a pair of shes on for however long it took but luckly i dont need to that as of now.

 

So I just want to emphasize a couple of points:

1. If I have any doubts about whether a location is barefoot friendly, I will either try it myself or else observe that someone else is barefoot without being confronted about it. If in further doubt, I'll carry shoes in a waistpack until confronted about it, but then if no problems I can go completely barefoot next time. Relevant to going barefoot when I see someone else going barefoot, that doesn't mean I want to go barefoot with them, only that it's okay to not be hassled when I go barefoot.

2. When barefoot, it is for my own personal preference. I don't try to question managers about health and safety, insurance policy, etc. if confronted about it. At most, I'll pretend I didn't see the sign, or walk past them if they do try to get my attention. When confronted, they've allowed me continue shopping since I have a deliberate reason to shop there. Even if security at a location such as a mall has confronted me, they've at least let me politely leave instead of aggressively telling me to leave.

3. More important, if I am barefoot then I am not there at all to meet other barefooters. If it happens that another barefooter decides to talk to me, then that's a matter of coincidence, but I also don't want to talk exclusively about feet instead of other topics as well.

4. Most important, I am definitely not going specifically for a barefoot meetup, that even includes an unknown minor child. There is a Facebook photo on an SBL Facebook page where there was a meetup by a person specifically planning a barefoot meetup, and one of those attending brought their kid. That's a minor, even though it was specifically posted here that Barefoot is Legal is not for minors.

 

Your last 2 rules kind of just make it seem like you hate kids and people.

I have never in my life met someone due to a shared interest and then only ever talked about said interest with them. That just isn't how the normal flow of conversation goes. I would never be concerned that a fellow barefooter would only talk about that with me.

A child accompanied by their legal guardian is nothing to get upset about either. I'm also not sure why meeting someone under the age of 18 from the internet in a large group setting would ever be an issue unless you are a convicted child molester or something.