Comments on: A Case for Bare Feet

By: Gordon Mackay

Gordon Mackay — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:32:59 +0000

I, Gordon Mackay, enjoy the sensual freedom to experience cold floors, snow or ice, hot pavements, walking in wet grassy areas, either in sandals on my bare feet, or just plain going barefoot, every day, all day, all year long, as I have, more or less, for the last 32 years of my life, as I have done so for the first 11 years of my life.

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:22:22 +0000

Hi Sarah, good question!!! Please contact us directly through our contact page so that we can talk about how we might be able to help you. http://www.livingbarefoot.info/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comments-form

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:21:16 +0000

I am a student at CSU Channel Islands and I have been going into the cafe barefoot for the last year and half. I had told him that I’ve been going barefoot for the last two years and I didn’t have any shoes to put on. The manager has kicked me out every time on go in there barefoot. Now the manager has talked to the judicial officers of the school and I have a verbal warning, not to go into the cafe barefoot again. If I do I will get suspended. If there are no codes or laws against me going into a restaurant barefoot then why am I getting in so much trouble for this?

By: Anemone Cerridwen

Anemone Cerridwen — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:24:58 +0000

I went in to the local branch today, and sure enough, it’s a rule in writing. It’s considered inappropriate dress.

The librarian I spoke to said the chief librarian was extremely busy right now, so she gave me another name to try. But she seemed really surprised that I would think I could go barefoot in the library. She seemed to think all stores require shoes. That surprised me. I guess I expect librarians to be up on all the latest intel.

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:26:02 +0000

Super, let us know what happens

By: Anemone Cerridwen

Anemone Cerridwen — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:00:37 +0000

I emailed the chief librarian on the 10th and am still waiting to hear back.

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:33:05 +0000

Have you contacted management at the Library?

By: Anemone Cerridwen

Anemone Cerridwen — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:52:32 +0000

I’ve been barred from the Vancouver Public Library after two months without any problems, and was given the usual public health/safety-don’t-sue reasons. I’ve written higher up and am waiting to hear. I’m arguing that shoes hurt my feet (they are impossibly wide, and it will be some time for everything to finish widening out and straightening out) so requiring me to wear shoes is disabling.

Which, considering how many times walking shoes have made my feet bleed, is perfectly true.

By: {:-])))

{:-]))) — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:44:25 +0000

I completely see your point and argued from the same position many years ago. Dress codes are at the discretion of a proprietor if it’s a private establishment, apparently, maybe.

A public library might be challenged and if the challenge was successful it would then need to provide footwear for barefooters, and shirts for the shirtless, etc..

That would defeat the point of bare feet in a way.

Looks as if it is not permissible to prohibit long hair or strange clothes from being worn in any establishment open to the public.

So it’s a little dicey, maybe, and could be pursued. I was wondering if anybody did in the ten years or so since the article was written.

Apparently not. And if not, is this the time to do so. Or is it better to fly low and avoid the radar. Sometimes things get worse before getting better and are best left alone.

No big deal to me. I try and carry footwear in all our vehicles and if I can’t get into someplace for whatever reason, that’s okay too.

-mellowinging out

By: greg

greg — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:55:19 +0000

I myself am a big fan of going barefoot, but I wonder if there isn’t a slight flaw in 2.6/2.7, or at the very least an oversight that needs to be covered in your argument. While I agree there is no reason for most establishments to discriminate against people who are barefoot, it seems in many ways similar to the policy of many night clubs that disallow athletic shoes, jeans, shorts, etc, or require a coat, tie, or other article in order to gain entrance. Maybe that’s a different situation, or maybe it’s unwarranted discrimination as well. Either way I think the comparison merits inclusion in your argument.

By: {:-])))

{:-]))) — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:17:03 +0000

Hi Al,

Section 2.6 above, and which ties into 2.7, sounds reasonable to me. Many years ago in discussing a proactive stance with Paul and Richard, my impression was that it was preferred to keep a low profile rather than draw attention to ourselves. I am wondering if the Berkeley Library has been challenged in court or if this website is the extent of the anti-discrimination footprint. Thanks, Jay.