Finally went into a store barefoot!

What a nutjob! Animals are certainly allowed in the store.
http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm
Yah, I think she was referring to pets, not service animals. She said something about a customer once asking to be permitted to hold her little pooch in her arms. I told her I didn't know anything about animal hygiene, nor did I want to discuss animals. I said that barefoot lifestyle acceptance was more akin to allowing blacks in. She said this has nothing to do with race. I said no, it doesn't, but I was trying to point out how past prejudices that seem "natural' can be overturned with new understandings. I swear I was saying all this in a polite tone, but she became increasingly hostile, and seemed to take each counterargument as a personal attack. I repeated that I wasn't looking for a confrontation, and would like her to simply have a look at the pamphlet and see if she would reconsider. She asked sarcastically if this was a book report. And so on. Just a disagreeable interaction with a bigot, and I wondered if it was worth it. I don't usually stand up for my barefoot rights, or pick fights, and our cars all have sandals in them for stores that have noSSS signs posted, but I thought a post-hippie co-op would be more open to persuasion. I was wrong. So even people with above-average education and a desire to make the world, or at least their health, a little better, can be closed off to a simple argument for foot health or healthfulness, and become pretty nasty about it.
 
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Yah, I think she was referring to pets, not service animals. She said something about a customer once asking to be permitted to hold her little pooch in her arms. I told her I didn't know anything about animal hygiene, nor did I want to discuss animals. I said that barefoot lifestyle acceptance was more akin to allowing blacks in. She said this has nothing to do with race. I said no, it doesn't, but I was trying to point out how past prejudices that seem "natural' can be overturned with new understandings. I swear I was saying all this in a polite tone, but she became increasingly hostile, and seemed to take each counterargument as a personal attack. I repeated that I wasn't looking for a confrontation, and would like her to simply have a look at the pamphlet and see if she would reconsider. She asked sarcastically if this was a book report. And so on. Just a disagreeable interaction with a bigot, and I wondered if it was worth it. I don't usually stand up for my barefoot rights, or pick fights, and our cars all have sandals in them for stores that have noSSS signs posted, but I thought a post-hippie co-op would be more open to persuasion. I was wrong. So even people with above-average education and a desire to make the world, or at least their health, a little better, can be closed off to a simple argument for foot health or healthfulness, and become pretty nasty about it.
Some people seem to be looking for excuses to release pent up rage, rage which is probably based on a selfish view of life anyway, so yeah, there is no chance for discussion with them. One can but hope that one day the facts presented will have a belated positive result and she will be embarrassed at her behavior.
 
Some people seem to be looking for excuses to release pent up rage, rage which is probably based on a selfish view of life anyway, so yeah, there is no chance for discussion with them. One can but hope that one day the facts presented will have a belated positive result and she will be embarrassed at her behavior.
Yah, that seemed to be the case yesterday. A person who resented their views being questioned in any shape or form. Probably not a happy individual. I concluded our exchange by noting how hostile she seemed.

One thing I was wondering about afterwards, is what the best analogy would be. Perhaps a good analogy could be more powerful than counterarguments against the usual health and safety myths associated with barefooting. I've found a lot of people impervious to counterarguments against the latter. They just don't care and they don't mind when they are caught citing non-existent health or safety rules or concerns. They still feel fine clinging to their cultural prejudices. Yesterday I tried making the analogy with racial discrimination, but this backfired, and just raised the woman's resistance even more. I think she may have even thought I was accusing her of racism. My wife suggested the taboo against public breastfeeding, which, from her African perspective, is a particularly absurd prejudice here. Any thoughts anyone? What are your tricks for getting someone with a closed-mind to at least consider the possibility that public barefooting might be OK?
 
It sounds like this person was not interested in rational discussion, so probably no information would be helpful. I've found that analogies often go off base, and that then they start arguing about comparisons.

I personally would probably say something to the effect of, "In a lot of places, it's acceptable to go barefoot. People go barefoot in New Zealand, in Hawaii. Walmart lets people go barefoot. It's not a problem. There are no health issues."
I even add, "Have you seen that Aloha Vet show? Certainly if we could catch diseases, that vet wouldn't go barefoot!"

If they can't take a rational example of going barefoot, it's probably best to smile, thank them for their time, and leave.

If I wanted to throw a final zinger, I might say, "Gosh! You seem really angry. Have you considered therapy?"
Or "Wow, those shoes look really uncomfortable! I know lots of people who got all sorts of corns, callouses, and crooked toes from shoewearing!"
 
That's unfortunate, Bare Lee. :(

Last week I went into my first restaurant barefoot, just in and out quick for an ice cream cone but a huge step for me since I'm not one to even tempt rocking the boat. It was a local mom and pops ice cream place with a small restaurant in the back. It was on a 50 mile bike ride I did last week. Near the end I decided to get some ice cream. I had my Unshoes with me but at that point was just exhausted and didn't want to mess with them. The counter is really high in there I don't even know if they could see your feet, and it was just a teenager in there behind the counter anyhow. So not a very big deal but technically my first time. :cool:

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It sounds like this person was not interested in rational discussion, so probably no information would be helpful. I've found that analogies often go off base, and that then they start arguing about comparisons.

I personally would probably say something to the effect of, "In a lot of places, it's acceptable to go barefoot. People go barefoot in New Zealand, in Hawaii. Walmart lets people go barefoot. It's not a problem. There are no health issues."
That's similar to debunking the health and safety concerns, but I agree, giving examples might help.
If I wanted to throw a final zinger, I might say, "Gosh! You seem really angry. Have you considered therapy?"
Or "Wow, those shoes look really uncomfortable! I know lots of people who got all sorts of corns, callouses, and crooked toes from shoewearing!"
Yeah, it's tempting. I did note her hostility for her as I turned to leave, but in general, I'm trying to be as non-confrontational as possible. Insisting on barefoot rights is so absurd to some people, that they often seem to assume ulterior motives, like a wish for confrontation for its own sake--being a "troublemaker"--or perhaps some mental instability. So it's best to present the best, most reasonable face possible. Unfortunately, as was the case at the co-op, not everyone is prepared to reply in kind. They almost force you to engage the topic on their terms, or with their tone. In those cases, it's probably best just to give up and hope they open their minds sometime in the future, especially since my family and I have to live in this neighborhood. In fact, in the corner of the back room where I went to pass along the SBL pamphlet, the mother of one of my daughter's classmates was making sandwiches or something with a bunch of other coop members. Perhaps they're more open to the idea of barefooting, so I don't want to come off like a belligerent prick, and I don't want my daughter to have to put up with crap from the other kids. At the moment, I think most parents think it's quaint or eccentric that I come to pick my daughter up barefooted. I don't want them to question my mental health or approachability.
 
Hi, I go barefoot everywhere; since my wife told me she found it quite disgusting getting into public toilets I started thinking about it. She might be right, like most of the times. What do you guys think about it?
I am a brand new member. Living in Lugano, Switzerland. Anyone nearby I could meet for a barefoot run?
Have a cool day

igor
 
Hi, I go barefoot everywhere; since my wife told me she found it quite disgusting getting into public toilets I started thinking about it. She might be right, like most of the times. What do you guys think about it?
I am a brand new member. Living in Lugano, Switzerland. Anyone nearby I could meet for a barefoot run?
Have a cool day

igor


Welcome igor.

I go into public restrooms barefoot, doesn't bother me. The looks of disgust on people's faces is worth every bit of urine I stand in. I also get funny looks when they notice how long I scrub my hands and then use a paper towel to open the door.

On a side note, I rarely get sick. Maybe one cold in 4 years of being barefoot.