[geomark]

Yeah, shaming is counterproductive. But I have to disagree with one of your points: changing social norms.

Changing social norms can be have huge benefits. Very timely example is that social norms are likely a major reason so many Asian countries have much lower Covid-19 infection rates than western countries. If only Americans could get over themselves and stop shaking hands and wearing their shoes in the house. I say that as an American expat.

[_s6ue]

... Americans wear their shoes in the house? I'm a (non-white) American and this is news to me. Whenever someone comes to my house, or I go to someone else's house, people leave their shoes at the door. I thought this was something that pretty much everyone from every part of the world did.

[pests]

Most definitely not. It depends on the household or how clean inside is itself. Usually you tell by context or just knowing the person whose house you're entering.

Personally here in Michigan at my house right outside Detroit shoes are taken off if you are going inside to stay. If you're grilling or doing yardwork or moving from the front to the back (no path but thru house currently) they stay on. I'd never keep them on for longer than 10 minutes inside but it's common.

My cousin's is totally different. Shoes off before you hit the carpet. Maybe cause they keep it obsessively clean? Carry them to the backdoor if you have to. It's not something I even think about - they just come off, I don't need his wife upset or anything.

[orbme]

Calif. resident born and raised. Shoes off. However feet are covered with slipper or sandle indoors always. Many homes in ca are built on concrete slabs so walking indoors barefoot isn’t all that comfortable in feet, knees or ankles. Having a barrier between the bottom of your feet and the foundation absorbs and reduces some of this hardness. But outside shoes are for outside only. We have always thought of it like walking in your cleaned laundry. Would you do that... no so why would you consider wearing dirty shoes on clean flooring. Everything, including ourselves are often on our floors so keep them as clean as possible.

[geomark]

Is it a regional thing? Because I grew up in Southern California and lived there many years. Also lived in Arizona and northern California for a few years. Always shoes in the house everywhere I went and everyone I knew.

[tcoff91]

I definitely think it's regional. I think that it's more common in very dry climates like california/arizona. I mean honestly, my shoes are almost never visibly dirty when entering the house. It's not like there's mud everywhere in southern california. I wear shoes in the house all the time and my carpet looks fine. Until covid-19 I never thought twice about it.

[bryanrasmussen]

I think you're right about the regional thing, although when you think about it wearing the shoes in the house is a pretty weird thing to do. Probably also not good for foot/ankle development given all the support most shoes give you.

[carlmr]

A lot of Europeans, too. Usually when I have a lot of guests I'll tell them they can leave the shoes on. I'll just wash the carpets afterwards and clean the house anyway.

If it's only a few friends I usually ask them to take their shoes off.

But I know many people who always wear shoes inside. I think it's also due to the cold. In Northern Europe you don't want to walk around barefoot, so keeping on the shoes is comfortable.

[a_imho]

It is seen in American movies all the time, people jumping on the sofa/bed with their shoes on.