Do you think that the recession, loss of jobs, etc....

will maybe in some way... directly or indirectly lead to bare feet being more common/acceptable? What if the recession turns into a depression?

 

I really don't think so. People will still wear flip-flops in the summer and some other cheap thing in the winter even if it gets really bad.

If the shit really hits the fan, I think we're going to have a hell of a lot more to worry about than footwear.

 

In terms of the potential for a change in people's attitude towards bare feet, essenceofweez is correct. Rather than purchasing cheap replacement footwear, however, many are now electing to repair what they have:

NPR
WKOW
KSL

It's possible that there could actually be a backlash against bare feet or any other non-conforming behaviors, as economic privation has historically been associated with reactionary moves towards more conservative social values.

In some contexts, however, conservative social values are not entirely without merit. A return to the recognition of the value of quality and the subsequent diminishing of disposable society (a paradigm which is both economically and environmentally unsustainable) is not a bad thing.

 

Perhaps innovative products aimed at barefooters might be a way out of the current economic crisis...

Here's something that city barefooters might yearn for, when wanting to escape the all too-dull and unnatural concrete surfaces:

The Grass Wheel.


wiggling economically unaffected toes,

~*Ganesha*~

 

Personally, I don't think the economic situation will make bare feet more acceptable or more common. What I do think is that business owners will think twice before asking someone to leave because they're not wearing shoes.

"Let's see, my business situation sucks. This person isn't wearing shoes. I could ask him/her to leave and ensure I don't get a sale. On the other hand, I could just tolerate/accept the bare feet and likely make a sale." Which way would you go?

 

I think most people will tend to repair their shoes rather than buy new ones. Shoe repairs can be expensive though. If things get worse people may buy cheaper shoes or just flip flops, which could drive the price up, so there may be a slight increase in people going barefoot.
Cheap shoes are often more uncomfortable which may see more people going barefoot or going to flip flops.
I agree with Straight toes, shopkeepers will be more tolerant and we will probably see more people in flip flops than barefeet

 

I agree with seohsreven that economic privation can cause a reactionary move toward conservative values. When there is abundance, people tend to be more relaxed, and feel more secure about trying new things. In the West, going barefoot is considered a luxury- it shows a person is free from the confines of hard work and social conformance. When the good times are over, people put their shoes back on.

 

Well, Germany has a fiat currency too...

I think the only countries that may come out on top are China and Russia. I could easily see the United States of America becoming the United Socialist States of America. Heck, we've already taken drastic steps towards that. It took us 60 years to spend our first $1 billion, and now we've appropriated $700 billion+ already just to put the government even further in bed with the banks.

We will probably move towards more social conservatism and economic liberalism.

Yuck.

We need Ron Paul.

 

So then straighttoes you do think it will become more tolerable to be barefoot. Where a lot of stores would kick you out in regular economic times...(and I guess I can't really say a lot because from my experience MOST places can care less when I shop barefoot)... more will be inclined to look for other things to pick at and realize that a barefoot shopper (or maybe two ) can only help that evermore fragile bottom line?

 

i think it will become more tolerable definately.

 

According to the American Heritage dictionary, tolerate means to 1. allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit. 2. To recognize and respect (the rights, opinions, or practices of others).

I don't expect bare feet to be respected or not opposed. "Tolerable" implies fundamental acceptance. What I'm saying is that in difficult economic times businesses will choose not to turn away business in the interest of getting the sale. The owners may still find bare feet distasteful, but if it's a question of making sales or going out of business, they'll ignore policies they would enforce in more affluent times.

In general, most stores could care less whether or not I'm wearing shoes. Colorado is pretty laid-back in that respect. However, I was stopped once this past year in a Target store. I politely left - no confrontation. However, I was looking to buy an inexpensive bookshelf and another item (I can't remember what). I ended up dropping about $150. That single transaction isn't going to make or break a store, but turning away multiple customers on a single day will add up. The particular Target location I initially visited lost the sale. The other location I went to got the sale,...

Similarly, I had an experience at Office Max. On my first visit I was denied service because I wasn't wearing shoes. I wrote the corporate office and got an apology and a $25 gift card (see posting #18 under "Share Your Positive Experiences"). Businesses need money right now. If they're going to be picky (barefeet, bringing food into the store, etc.) they're going to be turning away business. Barefoot patrons, etc. may not be a big source of their income, but when times are tight, turning away ANY business can be a factor. It's not so much tolerance as it is a realization that any customer is a good customer. When times get better, I suspect they'll revert to their old ways.

I'm waiting for the warm weather so I can go back to the Target where I had issues. No, I'm not going to be a jerk about it, but if they turn me away again, I'll just ask them if they are really doing so well well that they can afford the loss of business - then leave. I'm not combative, but I do have a dislike of pompous asses.

Think about it - what's the big deal. You're either wearing shoes or you're not. It's not like you're walking into the store waving your schlong in the faces of little children. Most people take off their shoes and relax at home. Going barefoot in public is just an extension of that. Nothing offensive. There are better things for folks to worry about.

 

I'm going to be berated for this, but I believe that even hard economic times the shoe police will still be out in force. I believe a store would rather turn away ONE barefoot customer and miss the sale than open up and allow barefooting to be the norm, people are just that accustomed to thinking barefooting is wrong and illegal.(which it isn't)

attitudes are hard to change, but then again the US did elect a black man to the white house (no pun intended) maybe there is hope afterall

 

You guys have given me a new excuse. I can start telling critics that I can't AFFORD shoes!

 

More than ever.

 

Interesting question. Though people can go to goodwill and get shoes for such a cheap price.

Places still will have policies to protect themselves from law suits. Just the way of the world.

 

Finally, someone with sense! :cheers2:

Fiscally conservative barefooters unite!

By the way, Ron Paul wears black tennis shoes instead of dress shoes. He also brings microwave soup to work instead of eating government-paid meals. How cool is that?

 

The labels of conservative/liberal seem to be increasingly outmoded as of late. For instance, are the following policies conservative, or liberal?

1. Support high taxation of the rich and using the money for socialized medicine, education and child care* * see #s2 & 4
2. Support major financial incentives for voluntary permanent sterilization
3. Support massive financial incentives for the establishment of individually owned small businesses (regardless of the race or gender of the proprietor)
4. Support 100% tax offset for voluntary contributions to certified and audited social welfare and educational institutions
5. Oppose of any kind of corporate welfare, especially the military

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dayzed Dreamer
More than ever.

Ah, Ron Paul. An impressive man and a lot of my friends supported him. I couldn't bring myself to stand for someone who outright denies evolution as "just a theory", and while he may have thought such questioning of a potential president was "inappropriate" I couldn't disagree more as it speaks volumes abouot a cadidate's ability to see the truth of the world around them. But I must say I admire the man's ability to concisely lay out his ideas, even the ones I disagree with. Hopefully he can contribute to the debate on issues that he is more qualified to discuss, and help to set us back on the right course! But I digress...

On the OT - I think that we will likely not see any further acceptance of bare feet in our society because of economic conditions. If anything, I think that it could spark a wave of people instead turning to cheaper shoes or "knock offs" before they ditched their footwear. Acceptance of bare feet in this context would almost be synonymous with acceptance of being in poverty...something I think few people relish the thought of right now.

 

I would love to see bare feet become more acceptable as a result of our current economy. Having joined the ranks of the unemployed in December, I have no problem saying no to the latest shoe style. But unfortunately the days of Walton's Mountain are all but a distant memory. Like someone else said in this thread, people would resort to a cheap pair of flip-flops before you'd catch them going barefoot.

 

I think it'll become less acceptable if anything. People who're comfortable and secure in their positions are more relaxed and accepting about anything 'different', while people who feel threatened and insecure are more likely to conform and demand conformity (which they see as a kind of 'security') from others. And as many of us know, it takes some self-confidence to go barefoot. People may ask 'don't you have any shoes' or 'can I help you buy some' and many barefooters consider that embarrassing. Even many who have a good job and aren't poor at all! Imagine how much worse it would be for those who really are poor... we've discussed it before how minorities are less likely to go barefoot; the more people are already looked down upon, the harder it is to keep their heads up, and the more people try to keep up appearances. As for more people going barefoot out of necessity, really I don't see that happening in the Western society (Europe/North America). Footwear can be extremely cheap, so it'll be a *long* way down before people can't even afford a pair of cheap canvas shoes or plastic flipflops. People will no doubt cut down on fashion/brand name footwear, but as long as flipflops are sold for $1 a pair, and even small towns have recycling stores where footwear is sold for about that price too, I honestly don't think even a single Dutch person will go barefoot because he/she can't afford footwear. Most people here have their shoes glued on, in the coming years it may be cheaper or second-hand footwear, but it'll remain firmly glued on, or more so.