Yah, I think she was referring to pets, not service animals. She said something about a customer once asking to be permitted to hold her little pooch in her arms. I told her I didn't know anything about animal hygiene, nor did I want to discuss animals. I said that barefoot lifestyle acceptance was more akin to allowing blacks in. She said this has nothing to do with race. I said no, it doesn't, but I was trying to point out how past prejudices that seem "natural' can be overturned with new understandings. I swear I was saying all this in a polite tone, but she became increasingly hostile, and seemed to take each counterargument as a personal attack. I repeated that I wasn't looking for a confrontation, and would like her to simply have a look at the pamphlet and see if she would reconsider. She asked sarcastically if this was a book report. And so on. Just a disagreeable interaction with a bigot, and I wondered if it was worth it. I don't usually stand up for my barefoot rights, or pick fights, and our cars all have sandals in them for stores that have noSSS signs posted, but I thought a post-hippie co-op would be more open to persuasion. I was wrong. So even people with above-average education and a desire to make the world, or at least their health, a little better, can be closed off to a simple argument for foot health or healthfulness, and become pretty nasty about it.What a nutjob! Animals are certainly allowed in the store.
http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm
Some people seem to be looking for excuses to release pent up rage, rage which is probably based on a selfish view of life anyway, so yeah, there is no chance for discussion with them. One can but hope that one day the facts presented will have a belated positive result and she will be embarrassed at her behavior.Yah, I think she was referring to pets, not service animals. She said something about a customer once asking to be permitted to hold her little pooch in her arms. I told her I didn't know anything about animal hygiene, nor did I want to discuss animals. I said that barefoot lifestyle acceptance was more akin to allowing blacks in. She said this has nothing to do with race. I said no, it doesn't, but I was trying to point out how past prejudices that seem "natural' can be overturned with new understandings. I swear I was saying all this in a polite tone, but she became increasingly hostile, and seemed to take each counterargument as a personal attack. I repeated that I wasn't looking for a confrontation, and would like her to simply have a look at the pamphlet and see if she would reconsider. She asked sarcastically if this was a book report. And so on. Just a disagreeable interaction with a bigot, and I wondered if it was worth it. I don't usually stand up for my barefoot rights, or pick fights, and our cars all have sandals in them for stores that have noSSS signs posted, but I thought a post-hippie co-op would be more open to persuasion. I was wrong. So even people with above-average education and a desire to make the world, or at least their health, a little better, can be closed off to a simple argument for foot health or healthfulness, and become pretty nasty about it.
Yah, that seemed to be the case yesterday. A person who resented their views being questioned in any shape or form. Probably not a happy individual. I concluded our exchange by noting how hostile she seemed.Some people seem to be looking for excuses to release pent up rage, rage which is probably based on a selfish view of life anyway, so yeah, there is no chance for discussion with them. One can but hope that one day the facts presented will have a belated positive result and she will be embarrassed at her behavior.
That's similar to debunking the health and safety concerns, but I agree, giving examples might help.It sounds like this person was not interested in rational discussion, so probably no information would be helpful. I've found that analogies often go off base, and that then they start arguing about comparisons.
I personally would probably say something to the effect of, "In a lot of places, it's acceptable to go barefoot. People go barefoot in New Zealand, in Hawaii. Walmart lets people go barefoot. It's not a problem. There are no health issues."
Yeah, it's tempting. I did note her hostility for her as I turned to leave, but in general, I'm trying to be as non-confrontational as possible. Insisting on barefoot rights is so absurd to some people, that they often seem to assume ulterior motives, like a wish for confrontation for its own sake--being a "troublemaker"--or perhaps some mental instability. So it's best to present the best, most reasonable face possible. Unfortunately, as was the case at the co-op, not everyone is prepared to reply in kind. They almost force you to engage the topic on their terms, or with their tone. In those cases, it's probably best just to give up and hope they open their minds sometime in the future, especially since my family and I have to live in this neighborhood. In fact, in the corner of the back room where I went to pass along the SBL pamphlet, the mother of one of my daughter's classmates was making sandwiches or something with a bunch of other coop members. Perhaps they're more open to the idea of barefooting, so I don't want to come off like a belligerent prick, and I don't want my daughter to have to put up with crap from the other kids. At the moment, I think most parents think it's quaint or eccentric that I come to pick my daughter up barefooted. I don't want them to question my mental health or approachability.If I wanted to throw a final zinger, I might say, "Gosh! You seem really angry. Have you considered therapy?"
Or "Wow, those shoes look really uncomfortable! I know lots of people who got all sorts of corns, callouses, and crooked toes from shoewearing!"
Hi, I go barefoot everywhere; since my wife told me she found it quite disgusting getting into public toilets I started thinking about it. She might be right, like most of the times. What do you guys think about it?
I am a brand new member. Living in Lugano, Switzerland. Anyone nearby I could meet for a barefoot run?
Have a cool day
igor
How do tourists know Californians at the Beach? They're wearing wet suits in the water.how do Californians know a tourist at the beach? they're wearing shoes.