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Please don't ever visit any homes owned by Asians, or visit Asia. It is the norm to remove shoes as a sign of respect when you enter a home.
Shoes are not worn in buddhist temples and the foot is not shown to others or statues of the buddha.
Ahhh, I do make a distinction between cultural norms and egocentric persons. In my over 25 years in the moving and storage business, I have been in the residences of many Asian persons who understood that I had a job to do and respected my necessity to do my job efficiently and safely. In the 12 years that I was doing moving estimates, I rarely had a "shoes off" issue with Asian shippers who also realized I had a job to do and needed to be inside, outside and all around their residence and that if I was injured on their premises, I would sue for monetary damages and mess up their move. Those are the jobs I usually walked away from as "an accident waiting to happen".
Unfortunately, you haven't always been speaking of entering people's homes in "working mode." You talked about entering people's homes at any time and not respecting their wishes. I believe you also did some denigrating of people who prefer others not wear shoes in their homes.
Unfortunately, you haven't always been speaking of entering people's homes in "working mode." You talked about entering people's homes at any time and not respecting their wishes. I believe you also did some denigrating of people who prefer others not wear shoes in their homes.
Nooo, should you read my posts on this thread, you will see that I do make a distinction between work and social "modes". No, I don't denigrate people who prefer others not to wear shoes in their residences, I vote with my "shoes" and leave, noting the reason for my hasty departure, which I have elected to perform many times in the past and expect to do so in the future. At 61 years of age, yes I was at Woodstock in 1969, I don't do PC, make excuses and/or kiss peoples' collective asses for a lack of genuflecting to their egocentric personalities and phobias.
I respect people's rules and if I don't agree or can't bend to their peculiarities, I vote with my feet and leave, but I will always tell the person or persons why I'm leaving because, well, I'm just that kind of a "cards on the table" guy, like it or not. I'm 61 years old, I don't make excuses for my actions or lack there of, and I don't kiss ass because it's not PC and I might hurt someone's fragile ego.
Good post from you too, and one to which I can relate because we're only a couple of years apart in age! I used to be the Queen of Excuses/PC'ness (way before that term was even thought of) but somewhere around my late 40s I managed to break out of that mode. Not completely, but compared to the way I was, it's practically an epiphany! :-) Anyway, on topic: When I have left someone's house because of cigarette smoking, I just say that since I have a 'health issue with cigarette smoke' I have to leave but I always thank them for the invitation, let's get together soon for lunch or dinner out instead, etc etc. What I meant by 'polite and gracious' was, I don't take on a 'holier-than-thou' attitude just because they allow smoking in their house. :-)
Good post from you too, and one to which I can relate because we're only a couple of years apart in age! I used to be the Queen of Excuses/PC'ness (way before that term was even thought of) but somewhere around my late 40s I managed to break out of that mode. Not completely, but compared to the way I was, it's practically an epiphany! :-) Anyway, on topic: When I have left someone's house because of cigarette smoking, I just say that since I have a 'health issue with cigarette smoke' I have to leave but I always thank them for the invitation, let's get together soon for lunch or dinner out instead, etc etc. What I meant by 'polite and gracious' was, I don't take on a 'holier-than-thou' attitude just because they allow smoking in their house. :-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Hazzard I respect people's rules and if I don't agree or can't bend to their peculiarities, I vote with my feet and leave, but I will always tell the person or persons why I'm leaving because, well, I'm just that kind of a "cards on the table" guy, like it or not. I'm 61 years old, I don't make excuses for my actions or lack there of, and I don't kiss ass because it's not PC and I might hurt someone's fragile ego.
Thanks and a tip of the Hatlo Hat (old comic strip!). No. I don't do a "holier-than-thou" attitude, I believe in being "up front and personal" and not make silly PC excuses that makes me look like a goof and degrades my status as a man, notice I didn't say "person", that's PC. I'm mostly of Italian heritage and learned early in my formative years the you have to give respect to earn respect, otherwise my father would perform some "registrazione di atteggiamento" (attitude adjustment) to remind me of my duties and responsibilities as a man. I generally needed only one "attitude adjustment" to get the message and correct the errors of my ways.
Well, you did get one fact right, I do live in a 4th floor apartment. The rest of your post is sheer BS! My house (apartment) rules are that I have no rules, other than to please call or email me that you'll be visiting on a certain date/time to confirm I'll be at home to receive you, and this is a non-smoking building. Drop-ins are always welcomed and if I'm in the shower, bathroom or bed, they're smart enough to deal with the situation. My children have keys to my apartment building and apartment and I don't expect "call aheads" from them or family. People are very comfortable visiting my apartment and note that they wish I had a bigger apartment. I was wrong, with all due respect, you are an egalitarian elitist and I'll bet that you're a Republican, tow the right wingnut line, voted for Bush and will vote for McCain or not because McCain is not conservative enough for your superior attitudes.
You seem to be a little off-track. I am happy to hear that you allow your guests a wide range of liberties when they visit. I don't really see the connection between politics and requiring able guests to remove their footwear when they visit my home.
In any case, we seem to agree that, when making a social call, you are free to leave any residence where the house rules are unacceptable to you. I'm sorry that you do not agree with my requirements for my guests, I suppose I won't anticipate you visiting anytime soon. Guess I'll give away those size 12 house slippers I just ran out and bought.
We always take our shoes off at home, and ask that our guests do as well. I don't want dirt and crap from outside, including pesticides, tracked all over our floors. Plus, we have animals, and they are always on the ground, often eating treats off the floor, etc. I don't want them to get sick from crap that's tracked in, either. So we have a shoes off policy.
Why do I look forward to coming home after a long tough day? Is it the comfy cushions on the sofa? The affectionate houseplants who have obligingly stayed alive in our apartment against all odds? The icy beer in the fridge? Yes, the beer, thats it. But the SECOND thing I look forward to is KICKING off my shoes, leaving 'em where they land, and roaming around feet au naturel. Unless it's winter.
I have HUGE feet, and hate shoes, wish I could take them off every time I visit someone. If you're in our apartment, leave your shoes on, take 'em off...but if your feet stink, we'll tell you about it!
I also go without shoes at work, which is a bit of a no-no OHS wise.
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No, I don't denigrate people who prefer others not to wear shoes in their residences, I vote with my "shoes" and leave, noting the reason for my hasty departure, which I have elected to perform many times in the past and expect to do so in the future. At 61 years of age, yes I was at Woodstock in 1969, I don't do PC, make excuses and/or kiss peoples' collective asses for a lack of genuflecting to their egocentric personalities and phobias. 
No. I don't do a "holier-than-thou" attitude, I believe in being "up front and personal" and not make silly PC excuses that makes me look like a goof and degrades my status as a man, notice I didn't say "person", that's PC. 
