Thank you! This thread was getting rather one-sided :)

Yes, going to the lav without shoes is gross, but beyond that I don't have a problem. Being in close quarters with barefoot strangers is not any more objectionable to me than being in close quarters with shodden ones.

But then again I really hate wearing shoes. So I guess I don't have the most objective opinion on the subject :rolleyes:

Me too. My feet hate being cooped up. In California, at least, flip-flops are accepted pretty much everywhere. In beach towns, bare feet are common (but, since I don't like my feet getting dirty, I tend to wear flip-flops when outside the house).

Sure, plenty of my colleagues wear flip-flops to work and it doesn't bother me. And it seems that we're more or less in agreement that resting feet (shod or not) on armrests and bulkheads is rude. But why are people bothered by, say, witnessing a complete stranger walk into an airplane lav barefoot? My guess is it's a sympathetic reaction of sorts. Person A would feel incredibly skeeved out being barefoot in a lav (or perhaps even in an airplane aisle), person A sees person B walk into a lav barefoot, so person A feels personally disgusted even though it's someone else's feet coming in contact with unmentionable substances.

Anyway, think I've reached my armchair psychology quota for the day :)

I am with y'all. I am a beach guy, born and raised, I wear flops everywhere I go, including my own wedding, and occasionally in the snow.

This has taken on a very general cast and is not really applicable to AA or a specific airline in this direction - therefore it will be moved for greater congruity and participation. /Moderator

Having to look at un groomed feet, long toe nails etc is gross.

And it's not just on planes. Lounges and other seating at airports you see it all the time. Some people just don't care!

Are long toenails more gross than long fingernails? Or long hair? How about long, greasy-looking hair? Or facial hair? Is 2-day stubble gross? Many people go around with bare elbows, and a lot of people have nasty, scaly, dirty elbows. Is that more or less disgusting than clean bare feet?

It's quite clear that many people, for whatever reason, have a strange fixation/fascination with other people's feet. A fetish, I'd say.

How can it be deemed unsafe when women are specifically told on safety cards to discard their shoes (if they wear heels as many do) in emergency situations?

Well, my biggest concern is if the feet smell and the odor is coming towards me as opposed to being contained in socks and shoes. I have a very sensitive olfactory system. Even bare socks, if smelly, should be pointed away from me!

But you only care about stink if the source is feet and not, say, armpits? :confused:

So don't look? :confused:

I'm not a fan of folks going barefoot, but I can tolerate flip flops. I suppose there's not much of a cosmetic difference, but at least the soles of one's feet aren't touching the floor. And I don't care for anyone putting his/her feet on the bulkhead, regardless of footwear (or lack thereof).

Wait, you *have* to look at my feet? You can't just like, look elsewhere?

They're drawn to them, moths to a flame. It's that foot fascination thing.

It seems we go over this at least once every six months. Many people have a problem with feet. It's something in the American psyche that has what I would call an anti-fetish with feet. Other cultures have problems with blowing noses, or coughing, etc...Americans have problem with toes. Its the same thing as any other part of the body...they can be clean, they can be dirty. Clean feet should cause you no problem at all, unless they are ON you. And if they are on you, just ask nicely that they be moved...just like if someone had their hand on you.

Oh. I do care if they're armpits, or even just body. I hate stink!

But from my experience, feet tend to be the high probability offenders. :)