Saturday, January 30, 2010
Facebook: We don't wear shoes indoors group
Facebook: We don't wear shoes indoors group
There are a few facebook groups dedicated to this subject. You might want to have a look at this one.
There are a few facebook groups dedicated to this subject. You might want to have a look at this one.
Friday, January 29, 2010
New York Post: Airport Ordeal on Fifth Avenue
New York Post: Airport Ordeal on Fifth Avenue
An investment banker and his wife insist on shoes-off at their high society party.
An investment banker and his wife insist on shoes-off at their high society party.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Degrees of Firmness Part 2
re-post
I think for friends I would go for the very direct no.6 (Could you take your shoes off, please?) and for people I did not know, I would use the more restrained no.4 (Are you alright with taking your shoes off?).
It may be that you are just too shy to use the more direct requests. However, you might find that the softest approach no.1 works a lot of the time. If you are barefoot and there are a lot of shoes by the door, you may get the right reaction just by saying:
I think for friends I would go for the very direct no.6 (Could you take your shoes off, please?) and for people I did not know, I would use the more restrained no.4 (Are you alright with taking your shoes off?).
It may be that you are just too shy to use the more direct requests. However, you might find that the softest approach no.1 works a lot of the time. If you are barefoot and there are a lot of shoes by the door, you may get the right reaction just by saying:
You can take your shoes off here, if you like.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Having a Shoes-Off Policy Does Not Mean
Having a shoes-off policy does not mean that:
- You do not know the difference between asking and demanding.
- You ask your guests to remove their shoes in an unpleasent or rude manner.
- You "force" your guests to remove their shoes.
- You would not make an exception for elderly people or those with a medical issue.
- You would never make an exception if a guest felt really uncomfortable with removing her shoes (this is at your discretion).
- You would never make an exception for a party (but you don't have to; shoeless parties are great too!)
- You would not try to let guests know in advance that you prefer shoes-off.
- You make your guests wear horrible fluffy slippers that have been worn by hundreds of previous guests.
- You think your guests shoes are dirtier than your own.
- You treat your guests like children.
- You are obsessed with cleanliness.
- You are anally rententive.
- You are germaphobic.
- You keep your children in a sealed plastic bubble.
- You have plastic sheeting on your furniture.
- You have a foot fetish.
- You care more about your carpets than your guests.
- You are not an absolutely delightful host or hostess.
- You do not know the difference between asking and demanding.
- You ask your guests to remove their shoes in an unpleasent or rude manner.
- You "force" your guests to remove their shoes.
- You would not make an exception for elderly people or those with a medical issue.
- You would never make an exception if a guest felt really uncomfortable with removing her shoes (this is at your discretion).
- You would never make an exception for a party (but you don't have to; shoeless parties are great too!)
- You would not try to let guests know in advance that you prefer shoes-off.
- You make your guests wear horrible fluffy slippers that have been worn by hundreds of previous guests.
- You think your guests shoes are dirtier than your own.
- You treat your guests like children.
- You are obsessed with cleanliness.
- You are anally rententive.
- You are germaphobic.
- You keep your children in a sealed plastic bubble.
- You have plastic sheeting on your furniture.
- You have a foot fetish.
- You care more about your carpets than your guests.
- You are not an absolutely delightful host or hostess.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Greece and the Balkans
Many years ago, I read in a book that removing shoes in homes was common in Greece. That seemed unsurprising at the time, because I knew, being a Classics student, that the ancient Greeks removed their sandals when going indoors. However, if this book was not mistaken, it would seem that removing shoes must only be customary in parts of Greece (perhaps in the north?). All the evidence I have read indicates that Greeks generally do not care to remove their shoes in homes.
That Greeks keep their shoes on shows similarity to other southern European countries such as Italy and Spain. It does contrast very strongly with other countries in the Balkans, where shoes are always removed and often replaced with slippers or sandals. From Slovenia to Bulgaria and from Albania to Romania, shoes are removed at the door.
That Greece differs from other Balkan countries reflects the historic contrast in the Balkans between the Slavs and Hellenes. The Balkans has been divided (Illyrian Albanians excepted) between the earthly Slavs and their close connection to the land, and the more cosmopolitan Greeks, with their preference for commerce as a way of life. Where the difference in shoe etiquette came from, I do not know.
It is puzzling why Greece and Bulgaria, both Balkan, both Orthodox Christian, both at the southeast of Europe and both experiencing long years of Ottoman rule would differ over the customn of removing shoes. Is it a Slav/ Hellene difference (if so when did this difference come in)? Or is it because Bulgaria (and other Slavic countries) was under Communism and Greece was not?
That Greeks keep their shoes on shows similarity to other southern European countries such as Italy and Spain. It does contrast very strongly with other countries in the Balkans, where shoes are always removed and often replaced with slippers or sandals. From Slovenia to Bulgaria and from Albania to Romania, shoes are removed at the door.
That Greece differs from other Balkan countries reflects the historic contrast in the Balkans between the Slavs and Hellenes. The Balkans has been divided (Illyrian Albanians excepted) between the earthly Slavs and their close connection to the land, and the more cosmopolitan Greeks, with their preference for commerce as a way of life. Where the difference in shoe etiquette came from, I do not know.
It is puzzling why Greece and Bulgaria, both Balkan, both Orthodox Christian, both at the southeast of Europe and both experiencing long years of Ottoman rule would differ over the customn of removing shoes. Is it a Slav/ Hellene difference (if so when did this difference come in)? Or is it because Bulgaria (and other Slavic countries) was under Communism and Greece was not?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Degrees of Firmness
re-post
1. You can take your shoes off here if you like.
2. We take our shoes off here.
3. We do like visitors to take their shoes off.
4. Are you alright with taking your shoes off?
5. You don't mind taking your shoes off, do you?
6. Could you take your shoes off, please?
7. Take your shoes off, please.
8. Shoes off.
9. Shoes off now!
1. You can take your shoes off here if you like.
2. We take our shoes off here.
3. We do like visitors to take their shoes off.
4. Are you alright with taking your shoes off?
5. You don't mind taking your shoes off, do you?
6. Could you take your shoes off, please?
7. Take your shoes off, please.
8. Shoes off.
9. Shoes off now!
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