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Re:A Case for Toe Socks by wkjagt on Thursday June 22, 2023 @07:37AM (#36430574)
> In USA and Canada, it seems to largely be an instinct to say "Don't take off your shoes, please!" out of politeness.

I'm in Canada and this is true, but I've found that this is usually said when I'm already far enough into taking my shoes off that it would be too weird to go "alright then" and put them back on. I also find it awkward to keep my shoes on in someone else's house. As if I'm some sort of special guest with special privileges that allow me to bring dirt into their house, while the owner of the house clearly isn't wearing outside shoes. I would actually much prefer someone saying "please take your shoes off", and avoid the whole awkward and illogical politeness ritual.

Re:A Case for Toe Socks by foo_foo_can_do on Thursday June 22, 2023 @08:13AM (#36430941)
Canadian culture is indeed structured around awkward and illogical politeness rituals which can make you crazy. And for the most part they are more like "politeness signalling", just a façade of niceties without any actual kindness or consideration behind them. In the end I had to leave because it amounts to a kind of omnipresent cultural gaslighting.