I'll start out by saying I hate shoes but I hate socks even more. I will also point out that up until about age 16 I walked about barefoot much to the dismay of my grandmother who was a nurse at the hospital and warned me of all the germs and crap she encountered there. As a compromise I started wearing sandals as much as I could and 3 years ago went to flip flops which took some getting use to having the thong between my toes. I also should admit that I have a slight fetish (as explained to me by others) as I admire the female foot and all of its detail. I also get somewhat excited when my feet are unshod and noticed. (I prefer nice clean feet on women so I ensure that I keep my feet clean and neat as well.. I even get pedicures with my girlfriend love the attention and the positive comments I receive from the women in there.) After finding this site I decided to try going barefoot public for the first time. First thing I noticed is that my soles are very sensitive I went to the local video rental shop stepped out of car onto hot gravel, cement mix (which made me hustle inside) the entrance had a tile floor which was cool and made me feel so much better. The rest of the store is carpeted. After about 30 minutes of looking around I made my selection, paid and left rushing to my car as I didn't want to burn my soles. No one at store ever said a word. I then went to the library on campus barefoot and again the cement there was hot but the tile floors were cool and the rest of the library is carpeted. (side note my soles had not really got much dirt on them which I appreciated) I think the carpets absorb must of the dust from out doors. Though I was nervous because of all the people in there no one said anything to me. I spent about an hour there. My next stop was to try to see if all fast food establishment had a policy against it. I went for Fazoli's which is fast food Italian joint. I went inside ordered my food got the little pager thing and my cup for my drink. I went to the beverage counter and noticed a family of about 6 dining at first I don't think anyone noticed but after I sat down near then I noticed the 12 or 13 year old boy look at me surprised. He leaned over and whispered in his sister's ear and she took made a glance look. My pager went off and I got up to go to counter to get my food. The manager was very friendly and either ignored the fact I was barefoot or he just didn't notice. I decided to walk past the family from a different angle and though I know that they all saw me no one made fuss. Upon returning to my seat I ate my food and then noticed the two Kids were looking and talking quietly about barefeet the boy said it was gross but he couldn't help looking at me. His sister who had on flips flops removed her shoes briefly to go to the beverage center but when she returned her father spoke something in her ear and she put her shoes back on. I finished and left without incident. For me the whole experience was exciting and I have to admit I kinda got horny just from the idea. That evening the girlfriend and I had amazing sex and for some reason she kissed my feet and toes while I sucked on hers. (we had just got out of shower together. If you're wondering no I didn't share my thrill of going barefoot with the girlfriend she knows I have a slight fetish and she is kind enough to indulge me while not understanding it.
So what (if any) effect will this have on your store's tolerance of the occasional barefoot customer?
@barefootboy1030 Jeans normal length @nuspieds not sure I understand what you're asking. I posted my experience since finding this site as someone who feels free from the bondage of shoes and socks. I read posts here about folks encountering questions stares or other rude reactions.
Congratulations! I am glad this site helped recruit you. Quite brave for the first time as an adult. May you enjoy many more experiences like this!
Honestly I think the biggest foe was me. I thought that society would ridicule me but so far nothing. Might be different if I go in the urban areas as it seems most African Americans place high value on expensive shoes. They always talk crap about me in my flops. I just got over that. I think its all about confidence.
Sounds like you had a great day and a really good experience. Fear of what people think is the killer. You put that one to rest.
What does it matter? There will always be places or people who have a prejudice against barefooting in a store. Its just part of the deal. And as others have said, get hassled take your money and custom elsewhere.
I love being barefooted just as much as the next person but I prefer to keep my feet naked in nature only. I don't quite understand all the posters in this forum that go into wal mart or various restaurants with bare feet. I dont mind if my feet are absolutely filthy if I know that its not really filth, but untainted dirt that comes from the floor of a forest....but i cannot even imagine all the nastiness that lies on the floor of wal mart. It just doesn't seem like a very liberating experience to me. not knocking your experience or anything...if you can bear restaurant filth on your feet, more power to you. I just dont think that would be something I would enjoy.
Nobody is asking you to. Vanilla and chocolate, etc. You don't HAVE to enjoy it. Just make room for those who do.
yes Actually I am the policies are pretty straight forward. Lawsuits result from gray areas so they we tend to stay in the black & white realm. Report the store and talk to them about consistency. The customer usually rules and who knows if you show enough disgust with them it might net you a gift card. Again stick to the positive of the lifestyle and cite what facts you have.
i am making room sillyhead...I said more power to you if its what you enjoy. just stating my opinion that i dont understand why its so liberating
Meliai, I understand your point of view. Personally, I really don't like wandering in forests. It bores me. And I do have to run errands in stores which are not clustered under a tree canopy.
Stores and restaurants bore me give me the woods any day. I'm just not sure how you can get the full barefoot experience without sinking your feet into something earthy and natural!
This whole barefoot thing kind of blows my mind. I'm 62 and up til my early teens if I wasn't in school I was barefoot. The soles of my feet were literally near the consistency of cowhide. I went anywhere and everywhere with no shoes. My g'father didn't get shoes til he was in his teens. I feel like this is one of those New Guinea documentary's where the natives run around butt nekked and nobody thinks anything about it. Here, everybody freaks. It's a cultural thing and somehow culture tells us we must wear shoes. My first serious encounter with shoes all the time was in the mid 50's when fire ants were introduced into Mobile, AL and spread north. Maybe it's a regional thing - Are all you dudes who get a boner from going without shoes from the north - cause in the south we didn't wear shoes much. During the 60's shoes were unnatural in the hippie movement. Barefoot is "Nature's Way" to quote Spirit.
Been there and agree with all you're saying (never had the fire ant experience tho). And good band to quote. I liked fresh garbage tho. Mr Skin was way cool.
Interesting thought there Ddoright, perhaps the shoe movement has made barefoot rank up there with nudity. Both are frowned upon and I have to admit that after coming out of a very strict church where women wore long dresses and Conservative shoes with hosiery. My first sight of a woman without hosiery was also my first sexual encounter with a woman perhaps one has always been associated with the other. I don't know just a thought
Like I said, you're probably right. I live in suburbs and don't feel like looking for the garden (Joni). Also, round here the parks are covered by goose stuff. I've never been willing to ride my bike through that let alone shoes or barefeet. Happily, the county has permanently emptied the parks of these winged rats so all may improve.
