Barefooting in stores

I've only been barefooting a few times, but its always a great time. The other night we were gonna go for a ride to taco bell at like, 11ish, and I didn't feel like putting on my jesus shoes, so I went bare. We decided to just walk to taco bell, and it only took 15 minutes to get there walking. The road was somewhat recently paved and was much better than the gravely side walks. When we got to taco bell though, I just waited outside. Now, I'm usually one to try not to cause trouble, just because its easier, but I dont mind pissing people off when I feel that my rights are being impeded on, but I was simply grossed out by the thought of walking in there barefoot. Any of you veteran barefooters avoid stores and the like because of the quality of the floor, or does it not bother you?

Also, on a somewhat related n00b note, anyone ever get/worry about tapeworms? Thats my only fear of walking through the woods barefoot.

 

Tapeworms spread by ingestion. There is NO way to get a tapeworm through your skin. There are some other worms that can penetrate the skin, however they are extremely rare in the western world because of our general hygiene, and even when they were widespread they were pretty much limited to more southern states than Mass.

Last but not least, worm infections are no fun but they aren't that dangerous either, if you have normal access to modern meds and you do get it (perhaps on a holiday to a third world country, or just through bad luck) it's no big deal to get rid of it. The horror stories/pictures of emanciated people with 'worm bellies' or worms crawling all over them are from third-world countries where people have no access to medicine or people who don't seek medical attention for other reasons (religion or whatever).
One thing to remember, especially if you're among those who do wear shoes on a doctor's visit; if you get any symptoms that could be parasite related, it may be a good idea to mention you go barefoot a lot, just like you'd mention if you'd been to Africa or Asia or whatever.

 

I think you're thinking about hookworm:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/hookworm/factsht_hookworm.htm

which can penetrate your bare foot if you walk through a contaminated area. However as Myranya said the likelihood of contracting it is pretty small, compared to other parts of the world. I wouldn't worry about it myself, so get out there and hit those woods for a little barefoot hiking, just do it properly. There's a great book called "The Barefoot Hiker" by Richard Frazine that is a book anyone here should have a copy of, because there are definitely do's and dont's to heading out to the woods barefoot that will help you on your excursions!

 

I've been in Taco Bell barefoot. Nobody seemed to mind. Some old guy started yelling at me in Wendy's for not having shoes on, though.

Most stores don't care. The library doesn't seem to like me being barefoot. Usually the stores that are supposed to be "superior" and snobby and high class are the ones that get pissy. Example: Borders doesn't care at all if I'm barefoot. I don't get three steps in the door of Barnes & Noble before I'm told that shoes are required to be a patron of the store.

 

Barnes and Noble sucks for the most part, go to Borders instead. Im glad they dont mind you coming in there barefoot, I guess they have appreciation for beautiful feet

 

Well, yeah, Barnes and Noble sucks like Paris Hilton on a saturday night. I just went in there for the fuck of it.

Borders has good coffee. And an even better music selection. They've got crazy obscure things like Finntroll, and Barnes & Noble doesn't even have any Death albums.

 

I never had any trouble with going into B&N (no Borders here) barefoot, nor have I the few times I've been to Taco Hell.

 

Yeah, I knew it wasn't a tapeworm per say, but a worms a worm and you all knew what I was talking about =P

I went barefoot in the woods yesterday and had a great time. Feet are a little bit soar, but nothing I wont recover from. Gotta love the feeling of nice cool smooth dirt trail or springy pine droppings =D

 

ironically...

i can walk around a congested city all day and not step on something..
the only time well 2 times i stepped on something that injured my foot was once at a gathering where i stepped on a thorn which left me hobbling for days and hiking through the woods where i stepped on a shard of glass from a broken beer bottle someone had left there. ironically....

 

One night I was at a friend's party barefoot, and everyone kept sending me to the local off license to get booze. The ladies working there kept joking about it every time I went in, and one of them asked me if I'd like a couple of plastic bags to keep my feet dry, as it was raining.

 

A great way to fool people into thinking your wearing something on ur feet is barefoot sandles.

 

The one time (so far) we were in England, I found out early on (Tunbridge Wells) what an off license is. Great times.

Anyway, rain water, fresh puddles, all, are the best! There's something about rain water, whether you're looking for a cleaning or not. Just delicious. No "drying" foot coverings for me, unless it's a lot colder.