Originally Posted by Bart
Another point, and I'm not a medical expert, but it seems to me that more germs reside inside of your own shoes than they do on the floor. In fact, many germs die off once transmitted onto an open surface such as a tile floor. But the idea of wearing a pair of boat shoes, for instance, without socks seems to me to be more of a health concern than walking barefoot on a floor.
"more germs reside inside of your own shoes"
You're probably right - and then you walk through the filth on the floor at the WTMD, pick up the germs and transfer them to the warmth and moisture of the inside of your shoes, where they fester and grow.