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I'm surprised at people saying they would never invite someone back to their house if they wore shoes while there? That's horrible. This is a differing social standard, not worth disallowing people in your home. I mean, I understand if you asked them not too and they refused and were really rude, but otherwise I don't get that.
I just can't believe how insulting some of these comments are toward people who don't come from a culture or norm of taking shoes off at the door. I honestly can't think of one person's house I've been to where this was an issue or I was asked to remove my shoes. It doesn't mean I'm nasty or rude or have no manners - it's just a social/cultural difference among people.
JEEZ, I need to stop reading the comments here cause I guess I'm starting to take them personally, lol.
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@birdofafeather: funny is one word for it. I didn't know it could hit such a nerve.
Has someone already posted this?
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Dh and I don't wear shoes in the house. I love shoes but there is a freedom in no shoes. My mom wears her shoes all the time, but she really hates her carpet. She has said once the carpet is gone she will be ditching her shoes at the door too. My FIL's house is shoe free. I usually follow the home owners/ hosts cues. The only time I don't take them off is our family Christmas party, but that's because there are so many people!
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@runnerd: Not wearing shoes in the house is considered a big deal in Japan! It's not just shoes: there's a belief that outside of the home, the ground is dirty. So you would never put your coat on the ground at a cafe or restaurant either, for example. Or in America, people put their bags on the floor of the subway - this is very rare in Japan as well! School desks even have hooks on them so you can hang your book bag (so that the books don't touch the ground). There are more examples here!
http://greenhearttravel.org/high-school-abroad/in-japan-there-is-a-time-and-place-for-shoesAs for me, most people take their shoes off when they enter my apartment... since I always do, and there's a bunch of shoes in the front of the house. For the few that don't, I do mention that we don't wear shoes in the house and ask really nicely if they don't mind taking their shoes off! If they don't take their shoes off, I don't press it - but I also probably wouldn't invite them back. Is that bad? I always ask really nicely first, I promise!
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I guess I just don't get the reasoning behind keeping your shoes on at home? I'm always more comfortable with shoes off, and especially with a LO--I wouldn't let him rub his face on the bottom of my shoes, and that's basically what it is like if I walk around our house with my shoes on. i'm not a germaphobe at all and am fine with him walking and crawling around public places, but at home, where he spends the majority of his time, and eats and sleeps, I like to try to keep it as clean as possible, especially on the floor where he usually is!
As for other people's homes, their homes, their rules. I don't understand getting upset over being asked to take your shoes off. Would you be upset if you were asked to sit on cushions on the floor, as is common in some cultures? Or asked to keep a respectful silence while a prayer is said before a meal? It's the same sort of thing to me.
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@mrbee: haha, no no, I understand if you ask nicely
but that becomes a whole different issue if someone blatantly refuses to honor your request in their home - nothing to do with shoes I guess I was more talking about hating the idea that people are secretly fuming that my shoes were on and assuming I'm rude when I might not know that's what they prefer
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@runnerd: at the same time, people who request / require their guests to take their shoes off when entering their home have been called tacky and rude in this thread. It goes both ways!
We're a shoes-off house (Canadian and Asian), but generally I will follow the lead of the homeowner. I do feel weird walking through homes with my shoes on though...unless it's a really dirty home (not to say that those who keep their shoes on own dirty homes).
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Wow! I am just reading this thread now. I was born in the Midwest and grew up in Maryland, all in houses. We never took on shoes off inside. If we had snow boots on, those came off but if there was muck on the ground, we just stomped out feet and then went in the house.
Yeah being said, I know there are some people who have no shoe rules and I get that. My Canadian friends have this rule and we just deal with it. They always have a pile of shoes by the door so you know it's a no shoe house.
I am all about to each their own with this. Your house, your rules. When M was a baby I asked people to take their shoes off on the carpet (that she enjoyed licking) and they were okay with it. Though our dads always "forgot."
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To me, I always take off my shoes at home. We are not Asian. I don't feel comfortable walking around in shoes! I make DH take his off when we get home, too. I don't feel like I can relax or settle in if I still have shoes on.
When we have guests over i kick my shoes off at the door and if they do the same then great. I never ask them to. I don't expect them to but I find it courteous if they notice that DH and I don't wear shoes in the house and they take theirs off.
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Lol I can't believe this is still going! I should start a thread about bagged milk.
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Today I am thankful that all my friends are okay taking their shoes off when they come into my house!
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I love my shoes! I am much more comfortable in my shoes. Lo has an area with her quilt where she rolls and plays and I don't walk there. It is cold here and I wear indoor shoes (birkenstock slip on mary janes). I leave my nasty boots at the door right now because they are wet from slush. I prefer to wear my shoes indoors. I also have a big dog. She has hurt my feet before!
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I wear shoes. I have bad feet and need the orthotic support and so it really annoys me when I have to take them off.
I also let my baby crawl around outside so I'm not too worried about dirt.
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@Happygal: I remember that episode!
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@jedeve: me too! I have fragile feet.
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@mediagirl: I like that idea of just no shoes on the carpet.
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We prefer no outside shoes indoors but we make exceptions for parties and get togethers. We have wood floors so it's easier to clean than carpet.
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While it is cultural and I grew up in a no shoe household. Dh is the one who is a nazi about guests and no shoes! (And he's white, uls wear shoes inside). Mil is great about it. Fil 'forgets' usually when he's over. Most of our friends all take their shoes off
but that becomes a whole different issue if someone blatantly refuses to honor your request in their home - nothing to do with shoes 
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