Time and again, we've already discussed the many things about footwear, and how we could possibly use varying kinds of these shoes over and over again. We talked about practicality, style, and availability of various styles of footwear. We even had some posts about a foundation asking for footwear donations.
But, hypothetically speaking, what will happen to this world if, all of a sudden, people suddenly walked barefoot? Quite obviously, by "barefoot," I mean to go to someplace without wearing any footwear. The practice is generally more popular in developing nations, especially in the East. A lot of people in these regions usually walk in public without any shoes or slippers all of the time. On the contrary, it is sometimes considered to be a social taboo and a health hazard to walk barefoot in industrialized countries.
There are many reasons why people walk barefoot, but the first one that comes to my mind is religion. It is considered to be rude and impure to wear any kind of footwear inside the worshipping areas of some religions, such as Islam. This is also true for the case of certain homes, such as in Japan. However, it is considered OK to wear socks inside Japanese homes because of the inclement weather.
But walking barefoot is not without its hazards. Because your skin is in direct contact with the ground, you risk getting cuts, abrasions, and punctures from foreign objects that can be found scattered on the ground. Furthermore, bacteria, viruses, and other infectious elements can also easily enter your body through the pores in your feet.
So, actually, I would really suggest not going barefoot outside, except perhaps in the beach or other similar places. In most other places, like sidewalks, I always recommend wearing something that will protect your feet. You just don't know what is waiting for you on the sidewalks.
Inside homes, of course it is already your choice, depending on your culture and social norms. Just make sure that your home is always cleaned.
