Shoes indoors

[davewitley]

Aberforth's Goat wrote:

> In Switzerland it's considered uncouth to walk about inside with
> one's shoes on. You either wear socks or slipper in your own
> home, and many families - particulary if they live in chilly
> apartments like mine - have several pairs of inexpensive slippers
> for their guests.
> 
I think it is in part a generational thing.  

Forty years ago, houses were less well heated, floors in particular 
were cold in winter from draughts through ill-fitting windows, and 
less likely to be carpeted, and people couldn't afford luxuries like 
slippers for guests.

Now we have central heating, double glazing, thick pile carpets, and 
bunny slippers.

My parents in law regard it as the norm to keep shoes on indoors - 
friends of our own generation are much more likely to leave shoes by 
the door, at home or visiting.  We picked it up ourselves from 
friends who had a fair amount of contact with the middle east, where 
I believe keeping shoes on in the home is much worse than uncouth.

I think there is also a change in attitude about hygiene.  Floors are 
gradually moving in status from being an extension of the dirty 
outside to being part of the clean house.  For people who have pets, 
there is only so far you can take this.  We have some way to go 
before it will be normal to be comfortable about eating a morsel of 
food that has fallen on the floor, but we may get there.

David