I generally wear them in instances where I know that it's going to be a strong chance that I will be hasseled about being barefoot. If I can't be barefoot, sandals are my second choice. www.pipersandals.com
i got hassled by a classmate for going barefoot. i did or said nothing to him and he started ranting about how it was bad and horrible. i go to a college and we have a bit of freedom there. he is probably 40 ans tries to act cool, but well...i did not judge him till then but he is a total snob and jerk. i told him i felt comfortable and i believed i had a right to do this. i said he had a right to dislike but not to force his convictions on me. then he went on ranting about how in his day people my age respected their elders. i do repsect my elders but i also respect my convictions. and also he got all upset because i went barefoot...go figure.
Some "elders" feel they are worthy of respect merely by being older than someone else, which of course is preposterous. We no longer live in an age where being elderly (not just 40-ish) is a sign of a tremendous accumulation of knowledge, wisdom and experience otherwise you would not have reached that age. It's relatively easy to live to old age nowadays, so being old is not proof you really have gotten your shit together. Like Barefoot-Boy, I generally wear sandals (note spelling) only when I am likely to get turned away from some establishment for being barefoot. (Yes, that stupid prejudice still exists in many places.) I rarely encounter conditions that necessitate the use of sandals as foot protection. But on 10/10 I was skydiving and had to use my reserve parachute because of a malfunction with my main. This meant that the main fluttered down to earth all on its own after I was already down with the reserve. My main parachute came down just outside the fence that surrounds the airport. I took a van ride across the airfield to one of the gates, and had to tromp through a little bit of woods to reach my parachute. There were sections with dry, bristly, nasty thorns and I would almost definitely have hurt my feet if I had attempted the traverse barefoot. I put on a pair of flip-flops and they were sufficient to help me handle the terrain. P.S. Yes, I do skydive barefoot, every time. -Jeffrey
I have a pair of Earth Shoe flip-flops that I prefer to being barefoot, and if I feel like going barefoot I can just slip them off and hook them around my belt or something.
I wear my reef smoothy flip flops, and there are definitely times I prefer to have them on, especially days like today where it's like Noah and the flood outside! It's easy to grow mold on one's feet up here! Laurel, that's so lame that someone feels the need to take your being barefoot so personally. But the sad truth is, there are a fair number of people to whom seeing one's feet is offensive. I know there are cultures where seeing one's feet or soles is considered disrespectful, which although I don't understand, I wouldn't bash them for feeling that way. But don't let it get you down. There's nothing to say that he has any right to tell you how to dress. You handled him as best you could...if he wouldn't budge, there's nothing you can do. It saddens me to see such close-minded folks.
I wear flip flops/sandals when I can't be barefoot and don't see it as a problem ... AS LONG AS SOCK's AREN'T WORN WITH THEM ... I really don't like seeing socks with sandals totally stupid looking. to the other matter. I'm 47 and I learned a long time ago that respect is a two way street, you have to give respect FIRST before you can receive respect. I am a Buddhist and also have taken TaeKwonDo, both teaches respect for all. I have slightly un-verved a few young guys (under 20) at the gym by saying yes/no sir in response to a question about if I am using a piece of equipment. One kid said "I'm 17, you don't have to say sir to me." I responded by saying "it is just a sign of respect, age doesn't have a thing to do with it". He looked a bit perplexed but smiled said thanks. He now always makes a point to stop and say "hi". (not my intent)
no socks with sandles? you're crazy! I live in Ottawa, what am I supposed to do in the winter? Not wear wool socks under my Birks? Now that's crazy talk! I go to a universtiy and constantly walk around campus in barefeet. When people question or look I tell them to try it. The cafetaria ladies don't like that to much.
Socks and birks aren't a crime! Well, at least not thick wool socks. I DO think that it's weird to see thin white athletic socks worn with any kind of sandals. Socks and flip flops (and yes I've even seen they now have socks specially designed to wear with flip flops), that's a whole other ball of wax. Jenny, you should share some of your barefooting experiences with us...illustrated with photos of course! ;-)
i just recently bought a pair of rainbow brand flip flops...my other 3 year old sandals finally crapped out on me.
OMG you have got to try it! It's amazing! It's probably the coolest thing you can do in your life! There is nothing in the world like flying your body through the sky! On Sunday, I did a freefall with a guy I had just met that afternoon. We exited the plane with me gripping his jumpsuit, and once we were in freefall we let go and did 360s and stuff together, docking, separating, and docking again until it was time to break-off and deploy our parachutes. It's one thing to skydive solo (it's great) and it's even better to meet up with someone in the middle of this immense empty sky with the beach, the ocean, the river, and the land all in view under you! PLEASE go try it. It may seem expensive, but it's not, for what you get out of it. It has the serious potential to change your life for the better. And to do it barefoot is the ultimate freedom! -Jeffrey
Recently, I was in Thailand on vacation and I did go barefoot quite often. But while I was in the ocean water, I stepped on some rocks and got blisters... so I had to wear my sandals more often.
I have to officially jump in here as I am new. I have made a few posts but have decided to call this place home as you are all so freaking cool! I actually prefer to wear sandals. I guess I have not worked up the courage to go barefoot everywhere as I do live in Florida. It just feels comfortable to me. I was in Tahiti a few months ago and EVERYONE there wears either sandals or goes totally barefoot and it is not even a problem. I saw people barefoot in grocery stores, shopping centers, clothing stores, everywhere and this was technically their Winter (June I think it was). The people are all beautiful, incredibly nice and mostly barefoot.
Hi Laurel Don't pay attention to that guy and just keep barefooting! I bet you look cool on bare paws BTW, how tough your soles are? Guess they can take almost anything! Regards DG
