Letter to the Editor: Barefoot living is neither sane nor sanitary
In response to “Barefoot culture rises on campus” from the Nov. 18 issue of The Maroon
Published: Thursday, April 26, 2012
Updated: Thursday, April 26, 2012 15:04
Dear editor:
Being from San Francisco, I’m no stranger to modern hippie culture. From dreadlock hair to facial piercings, uncleanliness in the name of non- conformity is nothing I haven’t seen before. Yet, when I first ran across Loyola students going barefoot around campus in the fall semester of 2010, I couldn’t help but be surprised. I couldn’t comprehend why students at a private university would walk around like people in a third world country. Not even students from those countries run around without any shoes upon coming to the United States.
My opinion hasn’t changed since then. I can understand walking around sans-shoes to promote a worthy cause, such as Tom’s Shoes’ One Day Without Shoes, meant to “spread awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life by taking off our own.”
However, most barefoot aficionados do so for very curious reasons if for a reason at all. California Polytechnic State student Kara cites “sticking it to the man” as her primary reason for going shoeless. In an online comment to an article proposing a shoes required policy on Cal Poly’s campus she writes, “Walking around barefoot is a harmless form of liberation meant to free students from the overbearing voice of ‘the man’ and what society would define as social ‘norms.’” This is a humorous explanation at best. I highly doubt “the man” cares at all whether wanna-be hippies are wearing shoes or not. And despite what many say, people going barefoot on campus does affect the people around them. First of all, the sight and stench of many barefooters is repulsive to those forced to be around them. Second, it lowers the reputation of the university. Visitors expect to see students in pursuit of professionalism, not walking around like toddlers. Last, barefooters don’t limit their foot contact to just the ground. Many place their dirt-ridden feet on public benches and tables around campus that other students have to use as well. I can understand those who want to be “one with nature” by wearing bare feet in the wilderness. However, going barefoot in areas dominated by concrete, construction and indoor tile flooring makes no sense at all.
While barefoot running has proven benefits for runners with frequent foot problems, walking around barefoot brings health concerns not only for those who go shoeless, but also for everyone around them. Mohammed Diakite, marketing junior stated: “I think people going around barefoot on a campus is unhygienic and can lead to infections.” The whole purpose of shoes is to protect the feet from bacteria and dangerous objects that can be found on the floor.
Jeffrey Ramon, religious studies senior, proclaimed: “Solidarity is best shown through direct action. . . It’d be much more rewarding to donate a pair of shoes to someone who is in need.” With a great diversity of styles and sizes, it is perfectly easy to find a shoe that is comfortable and fits just right. There is no good reason to go barefoot on campus.
Sincerely, John Bickle, mass communication senior
23 comments
Anonymous
Shame,rhe writer is ignorant.I live in South Africa,and barefooting is the norm,kids go to school barefoot,to church barefoot,to the mall barefoot.
The so called stink....shoes make feet smelly,it offer a perfect ph eq uilibrium of 6 -7 to breed smeels,warmth,(socks and shoes)to breed bacreria causing smells,moisture with rhe sweat to cause festering a nd smelly athletes foot.Tight fitting shoe s causes miformet feet,and prevents the footbridge developing natural height through resistance.Walking barefoot causes natural foot bridge formation by strengthning the bone structure.As unprofesional...on the contrary,its ne at,third worldly...perhaps,but then again,many kids prefer being barefoot....New Zealand aint 3 rd world,and they like barefeet...get your facts right.
The so called stink....shoes make feet smelly,it offer a perfect ph eq uilibrium of 6 -7 to breed smeels,warmth,(socks and shoes)to breed bacreria causing smells,moisture with rhe sweat to cause festering a nd smelly athletes foot.Tight fitting shoe s causes miformet feet,and prevents the footbridge developing natural height through resistance.Walking barefoot causes natural foot bridge formation by strengthning the bone structure.As unprofesional...on the contrary,its ne at,third worldly...perhaps,but then again,many kids prefer being barefoot....New Zealand aint 3 rd world,and they like barefeet...get your facts right.
Anonymous
Another thing this letter gets wrong is the assertion that only poor people in Third World countries go barefoot. I live in New Zealand, a very highly developed first world nation with many similarities to the US. One big difference though is that it is normal for people here to go barefoot in public places (malls, supermarkets, around town). Kids go barefoot to school up to about age 12. Most schools have strict uniforms here, but specifically allow for bare feet. Even in high school we do all PE and many sports barefoot. Going barefoot in public is also acceptable in Australia, though less common than in NZ. In South Africa the wealthier whites actually tend to go barefoot more than blacks because it is a cultural tradition epecially for kids. So it isn't just the poor and hippies going shoeless.
Anonymous
I would welcome the opportunity to speak with Mr. Bickle personally about this subject.
I am a professional man, make good money, take care of my family and friends, and don't wear shoes.
I suspect he wouldn't even be willing to have a sane conversation with me. If he does, lets talk Mr. Bickle. We'll find out how smart you really are. I'm happy to provide you contact info if your interested.
I am a professional man, make good money, take care of my family and friends, and don't wear shoes.
I suspect he wouldn't even be willing to have a sane conversation with me. If he does, lets talk Mr. Bickle. We'll find out how smart you really are. I'm happy to provide you contact info if your interested.
Anonymous
Ignorance and bigotry is certainly bliss. One person is entitled to their opinion just as another person is entitled to make a personal choice. Hence, a "reason" is not required...
Anonymous
Just wait until this Bickle guy realized that shaking hands with someone is more dangerous to him than seeing someone else barefoot. Judging from his reaction to bare feet, he's going to be traumatized.
Anonymous
According to this logic, I, and everyone around me, would have died from foot infections long ago; and yet, here I am, healthy as ever!If you want to really see for yourself whether or not bare feet are a problem, do the research yourself. It won't take long to find out just how misinformed Mr. Bickle really is.
Martin
Aside from the numerous health benefits of being unshod, I enjoy every civil liberty I have, including excersizing my choice to walk sans shoes; the natural way.
Anonymous
you never awnsered my question on how is facial piercing dirty. getting her face pierced is one of my wifes hobbies and shes a very clean person . please awnser us as were very intrested.........if you have no awnser please refrain from writing this......it makes you sound ignorant .....alexandnigel the beserker hippies
Anonymous
Never mind the fact that people with shoes on will put their feet up on benches or tables regardless of what or where they have been walking, you have to define feet as 'dirt-ridden' but shoe wearers aren't?! At least feet will be washed and cleaned at some point, whereas most people very rarely take a scrubbing brush to the sole of their shoe!
Dave
Anonymous [Mon Jun 25 2012 08:02] said:"look at all these hippies, posting about how it's okay to not wear shoes. Why don't you guys take a shower and get a job, ya damn hippies."Most of us are white-collar professionals. I'm a licensed professional engineer."Also, what if I don't want to see your stinky feet? Should I be forced to see your dirt-ridden, grotesque feet if it's gonna make me lose my lunch?"If you don't want to see feet, then maybe you should stay at home. But what if I feel the same way about your hands or face? Why should feet be covered but it's okay for hands not to be covered? Should everybody just wear burqas to cater to your hypersensitive stomach? I mean, if feet make you vomit, what would happen if you saw somebody's knee?! Oh, the horror!"People have to wear clothes in public. It's only decent for society to expect that of you."Right, so enlighten me as to how having bare feet is the same as being nude. Shoot, just tell me the difference between being barefoot and not wearing gloves."I know you probably don't have any money, but there are probably places that would donate a pair for you."In case you didn't notice, we don't go barefoot for lack of money - we go barefoot because we don't like shoes. Financially, I'm fine. But you couldn't pay me to put shoes on.
Anonymous
look at all these hippies, posting about how it's okay to not wear shoes. Why don't you guys take a shower and get a job, ya damn hippies. Also, what if I don't want to see your stinky feet? Should I be forced to see your dirt-ridden, grotesque feet if it's gonna make me lose my lunch? People have to wear clothes in public. It's only decent for society to expect that of you. I know you probably don't have any money, but there are probably places that would donate a pair for you.
Anonymous
This article is filled with scientific innaccuracies and the author assumes every barefooter is doing so for a cause or to be a rebel just because 3 people he asked said words to this effect. Maybe some people just like being barefoot, period. Since it does NOT pose a health risk to anyone, live and let live. It certainly is not for everyone but for those who chose it......who cares?
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Anonymous
I must say, your lack of research, close minded attitude, and typical ignorant remarks are quite sad. Good luck getting a job with your mass communications degree if this is your idea of a well written article.You said, " First of all, the sight and stench of many barefooters is repulsive to those forced to be around them". Clearly you have never met an actual habitual barefooter. Our feet do not stink, feet only stink when the sweat. Guess where feet sweat the most? Inside shoes. Therefore, the shoes are responsible for the stench you smell. "Second, it lowers the reputation of the university. Visitors expect to see students in pursuit of professionalism, not walking around like toddlers". If people are close minded enough to dismiss a university simply because a few enlightened students choose not to destroy their feet by wearing shoes, than those people are, quite frankly, imbeciles, and their opinions should be taken with a grain of salt. And at my university, most people wear hoodies and sweat pants every day, not very professional." I couldn't comprehend why students at a private university would walk around like people in a third world country." Again, maybe you should do some research then. We now have studies coming out that prove shoes are the cause of the majority of foot problems in America. Habitually barefoot people in India, for example, have strong healthy feet and they can comfortably walk around in their environment. Shod people generally have deformed feet, along with a host of foot problems (corns, bunions, athletes foot, hammer toe, ingrown toenails to name a few). These problems are non-existent in barefoot populations.People like you foster hatred towards others, simply for being different. Your article is pathetic, you should be embarrassed.
Johan
I get somewhat offended when a highly ignorant man like Mr Bickle spews words like "modern hippie culture" in blanket statements. I cannot in any way be described as any sort of hippie just because I walk barefoot. Mr Bickle, get a life!
Eric L.
I did a barefoot lifestyle for 3 years and it was good. It was definitely not like what the author of this article described above. Biggest issues were the few people who tried to make a big deal out of it.
Anonymous
This is based on opinion, not facts. If you knew the facts, you would know that going barefoot is very healthy. Bare feet do not stink. When you wear shoes, feet sweat and stink and also get athlete's foot. Going barefoot is very sanitary. Do you wash your shoes everyday? Shoes carry bacteria and germs. Germs are spread with hands. Please learn the facts on going barefoot and learn about this subject before you write false statements.
Anonymous
gotta ask how are facial peircings unclean .
Kriss
Mr. Bickle's letter is so filled with inaccuracies and illogical personal prejudices that it would be almost laughable if it weren't so sad. For example, "The whole purpose of shoes is to protect the feet from bacteria and dangerous objects that can be found on the floor." Shoes were originally created to protect from severe weather conditions, then later became a status symbol for the rich and powerful. And that purpose basically has not changed if you really think about it. Shoes not only do not "protect the feet from bacteria," there is no need to "protect the feet from bacteria." People don't eat with their feet, nor do they touch their faces or other parts of their body - or other people's bodies - with their feet. Therefore how could bacteria on the feet be some kind of problem? On the other hand, bare hands touch *everything*. There is simply no logical perspective in saying that feet should be covered to "protect" from bacteria but to be unconcerned with bare hands that are all around us and touch everything.
Christopher Younkin
The above letter is sheer ignorance laced with bigotry. For a mass communication major, Mr. Bickle shows an astounding lack of research behind the argument he attempts to make in his mass communication of the letter to the editor. If I were one of his professors I would be embarrassed. The above comments hit on many of the letter's flaws, but I will add that Mr. Bickle's bigotry reflects a lasting legacy of American prejudice that seems to know no limits.
Anonymous
I walk barefoot and personally I have found that my feet are much less "stinky" then when I wore shoes. I have also found that my visits to the chiropractor have lessoned because my posture is much more natural, and I am not throwing my back out as often. I also do not consider myself a hippie or a wannabe hippie. I don't like lables that evoke a stereotypical idea of who someone is before you get to know them. I don't even call myself a barefooter. The only lables that I will use are facts, I am a 30 something stay at home mom of 3. We do enjoy the freedom of not having to live up to societal norms. Weather in wearing shoes or eating fruit snacks like all the other kids in the play group. Should I bow to the moms who say that my snack for my kids shoudn't be a frozen green smoothie? It is my decision to do what I feel is healthy and natural for my family.Although you are entited to your opinion, I must ask that you keep an eye out for those "shod" people who are putting their feet up on benches and tables. If I saw anyone putting their feet up on a table it would repulse me. Table tops are not meant for feet at all. Yet, I frequently see people (mostly shod) with their feet up on a bench. Does the shoe carry less germs? The research I have read says the opposite.The marketng junior stated that he thought it was unhygenic. This is also just an opinion. You should read the book by the professor of biology at Liberity Unniversity. It is called "The Barefoot Book" He has done the research in this area. He may answer these opinions with facts, for you.As for professionalism that is again a personal opinion. I have held some amazing jobs in my life. I was well paid and respected in each one. It had nothing to do with my feet. I do believe that shoes have a place. There are times that you just have to wear them. Walking around campus is not necessrily a time when it is required. If you think it is, than why not require suits and dress attire for everyone walking on the campus? Isn't that the professional thing to do?We are trying to teach the next generation that we are all equals. They don't have to look like Models to do amazing things. Lets start by living that in our own lives now, and stop judging others by their choice of foot "wear."
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