(no subject)

[darchildre]

I've been doing this thing lately where I try to consciously be hospitable to the people I interact with, everywhere but especially at work. I go through crabby patches where I end up mentally growling at library patrons even as I'm helping them, and that's not the way I want the library to be, even if it's only inside my own head. So I'm trying to intentionally think about being kind and patient and welcoming when people are in the library because it's kinda my house but it's their house too.

Except.

There's this one older man who comes in every day. He sits in the same chair, he brings his laptop or he reads. And every day, after he sits down, he takes his shoes off and sits there in his sock feet.

I hate this. I hate when people take their shoes off in the library or, indeed, in any sort of public place where that's not specifically required by the venue. I know it's irrational and it's my own hangup and, because this gentleman is just sitting still and not walking around shoeless in the library, I don't say a damn thing to him. But he comes in every day - he's usually the first person through the door - and every day I think, "Oh god, he's going to take his shoes off again."

This daily occurrence is a Sore Trial.

Comments

[silveradept]

That might be against policy in the "this is a health hazard to you for you to take your shoes off" sort of way. Yes, it's aggravating, too.

[darchildre]

It's technically against the Patron Code of Conduct, but we tend to ignore that if people aren't walking around without shoes but just staying in a chair.

[silveradept]

Okay. It might have been a way if they were the only person doing it.

[st_chair]

I don't mind people taking off their shoes (especially kids who might otherwise dirty the chairs), but luckily our floors are almost always too cold for people to walk around without their shoes on. But I hate it when patrons put their feet on the table! I don't know which is worse - dirty shoes or sweaty socks on tables. We do ask kids and teens not to do it, but it's awkward to tell adults not to do it. Like, that's basic manners, adults should know better.

[frenchroast]

..it's not irrational to want people to keep their shoes on in public. There's a reason so many businesses have "no shirt, no shoes, no service" signs. Because if you want to walk around with no shoes, you should be outside or in your house. Not public spaces.

[raveninthewind]

Perhaps his feet swell when he's sitting and he has to?

I hope he at lest has no foot odor and clean sock.