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> “In a country where people often go barefoot indoors – considering it a gesture of respect and a nod to hygiene...“ It’s not “often”, but “almost always”. It
by wtmt 8y ago
> “In a country where people often go barefoot indoors – considering it a gesture of respect and a nod to hygiene...“
It’s not “often”, but “almost always”. It’s highly uncommon to wear footwear indoors (except in cold places where people have a separate set of footwear for indoor use).
In India footwear that’s been outside the house is considered dirty and unhygienic. It’s also disrespectful to wear it inside another person’s home or at temples. People would even avoid, whenever possible, carrying their footwear in hand (like in this village) or wash their hands well once they put the footwear down.
Culturally, one way to insult someone deeply in public in India is to hit them with one’s footwear (usually slippers). It’s also common, at least in some movies, that a girl who’s been harassed by a guy usually beats him up with her slippers. There have even been political incidents where someone who’s against a politician has thrown shoes or slippers at them at public gatherings (sometimes this has happened in the legislative assemblies too, where people from rival parties have done it to each other). This kind of usage seems somewhat common even in other Asian countries.
Talking about this village, a place where temperatures could be around 35°C (about 95°F) or more for many months in the year during daytime, walking barefoot may be difficult unless one is used to it. Maybe there aren’t many paved roads there either, since those could get even hotter.
- turtlebits 8y agoI don't wear shoes inside the house, but what do you do in this case where your bare feet are the shoes? Wear slippers?
- wtmt 8y agoNo. Even these people in this village would wash their feet before entering the house since they've been walking barefoot and have had their feet carrying dirt and what not. Washing one's feet before entering your home (or a temple) is quite common in India.
- PopsiclePete 8y agoThe first time I saw anyone wearing shoes (and putting them up on coffee tables and such) inside their own house was in America. That’s not an option in the tiny European country I grew up in or anywhere in Asia I’ve been. I think it’s barbaric behavior. You literally step on vomit, needles, dog shit and what not outside and then you drag that inside your own bedroom? What the fuck. As far as what to wear when you take your shoes off in someone’s house - there’s always slippers for guests, many pairs. Or you just walk around in your socks.
- horsawlarway 8y agoAlso, GASP you eat plants that GREW in that shit for months. It turns out most of the stuff you step in just won't hurt you in modern society. And if you have pets (mainly dogs) they're going to bring some dirt in anyways. I can understand taking off shoes on particularly muddy days, but otherwise who cares? A little dirt and grime is part of life, and exposure has been shown to be good for allergies.
- PopsiclePete 8y agoI wash the plants that "GREW in the shit" before I eat them, though? And no, you can't put your shoes up on my coffee table after walking through the hospital, nope. Go spread that MRSA somewhere else, my immune system is fine.
- KorematsuFred 8y agoWell we all have shit in our body does not mean we should not wash our hands after taking a dump. India also turns out to be super dusty where people mostly walk instead of driving around in car. So the shoes are filthy too. I use to wash my sports shoes every month when I was in India. In USA I have not really washed them for years. There is simply no need.
- webmobdev 8y agoYeah - reminds me of the time when I was shocked when I first saw american TV shows where the character just gets on the bed or sofa with their shoes on ... and I thought, "Don't they realise how unhygienic that is?"
- wishinghand 8y ago> You literally step on vomit, needles, dog shit... Slow down there, hyperbole.