I intercept all visitors at my door fully armed with slippers. Growing up, I was always taught to ditch my shoes outside; family friends would offer slippers at the door.

Our house has beautiful hardwood floors and a few rugs here and there. Our rule...? Please, feel free to keep your shoes on! As a result, the floor is scuffed up and looks and feels actually lived in, and it's wonderful. And sometimes people track dirt in, and who cares. You clean it.

I've always found it ridiculous that women get asked to remove their shoes indoors. When they show up in heels, you want your guests walking around in bare feet?

You know what, a few little germs of that sort in your home is not a bad thing. it helps build up a little immunity.

many people were not brought up in families were shoes were not warn inside their homes. friendly reminder - shoes off when someone comes in - will save you a lot of trouble.

Your friends are barn animals.

I took them off last time and when I left your house my white socks were all dirty!

Wearing shoes indoors always strikes me as an American thing. However, I will attempt to keep mine on if the home is filthy. No sense getting my socks dirty.

When people arrive at my home, they are gently told, "Take your goddam shoes off."

That's what you do in polite society.

Whether or not this is the norm for someone depends on where and how they grew up. I'm from the US Midwest, and was told growing up that only hillbillies take off their shoes in other people's homes. It's too familiar, and making yourself too comfortable. I almost had a heart attack when I moved here and had to take my shoes off in someone else's house. You have to remind people because one person's norm isn't everyone else's norm.

This is our rule too but it deviates at parties, because the women have matched their shoes to their outfits and it would be rude to make them stalk about barefooted. But if we had carpeting I might not care about that.

The outdoors is a filthy place.

Only a cretin would keep their shoes on!

But keep in mind, it is considered highly inappropriate to ask guests to remove their shoes if you are having any sort of party or gathering where people are dressing up. Asking guests who have pulled together outfits which include nice shoes (a woman matching shoes to a cocktail dress or a mans shoes to his suit...) is considered a huge social faux-pas! In those circumstances you must accept that cleaning your floors afterwards is just part of the deal.

Ann Landers