<p>I guess Reed and Antioch are too far North for hookworm to be a problem, but ewwww. I’ve done a 180 since my own barefoot days - it’s a health thing. When you come into a house with dirty shoes you take them off. You can’t exactly ask your host to let you wash your feet…</p>
<p>Some kids at my school in Pittsburgh did this. A bunch of us called them hobbits because it seemed the tops of all of their feet were ungodly hairy.</p>
<p>I never even noticed anyone going barefoot ( and as a mom- I didn’t think about it cause I am supposed to set a good example)</p>
<p>I also wouldn’t put my feet on tables either- I expect that was possibly posed but you never know.</p>
<p>It does get hot in Portland though- & I always go barefoot in the house- and wear sandals with bare legs as much as I can get away with in the summer.
( although working in the yard I wear boots- for support and cause if I didn’t I would have to take a sander to my feet)</p>
<p>Barefoot in the gym? I’ve never heard of a gym where that’s allowed… I certainly wouldn’t encourage it. Sounds like a great way to spread athlete’s foot, warts, and more serious diseases like hookworm or even MRSA.</p>
<p>I’m a leftish person myself at heart, but it always cracks me up when kids who supposedly walk to the beat of their own drummers, who balk at convention, and pride themselves on their individuality…do so with such conformity!</p>