Different generations often have different standards around what is considered appropriate dress.
But one woman on Reddit found herself up against a truly bizarre idea of what constitutes indecency: bare feet.
After her grandfather had a fit over her being barefoot in front of strangers, she wasn’t sure if she had handled the situation correctly.
So she went to the AITA (Am I The A**hole) subReddit for perspective.
The Original Poster (OP), who goes by the username Roseline Blanchard on the site, asked:
“AITA for laughing at my grandpa after he told me to ‘cover up’ my feet?”
She explained:
“So this one is fairly recent and he’s still mad at me so I decided to voice this story in hopes of getting corrected if I’m wrong or smth.”
“So this morning my grandparents informed me that some ppl would be coming to set up a new bed/frame etc.”
“Since I wasn’t needed I just sat down on the sofa and minded my business. (I asked if I should help but I wanst needed)”
“For context I was wearing a normal t shirt and some leggings. But no socks. This will be important later.”
“However during the visit my grandfather kept furiously pointing upstairs. Apparently he didn’t want to tell me what I needed to do but expected me to magically know.”
“After looking at everyone wearing masks I assumed he wanted me to wear one (I was pretty far away from everyone so I didn’t thought it was necessary)”
“So after I got up and put it on he seemed even more furious. I kept asking him what he wanted me to do but he refused to speak.”
“After the guy and the girl finished building the new bed and left, we sat down and talked a bit about the new bed, what happened etc.”
“That’s when I mentioned being confused at what he wanted me to do. And he promptly told me that it was vulgar for me to ‘display’ my feet the way I did.”
“Faced with the absurdity of the situation I laughed, imagining how the two builders would say: omg look at how hot this girl is bc of her feet. 😂”
“My grandmother then joined in, laughing with me about my ‘seductive’ feet with the power to make any man horny.”
“My grandfather however exploded saying that it was indecent/disrespectful to be at home without socks in front of ‘strange’ men.”
“He’s currently still mad at me for showing off my glorious feet in front of strangers.”
“So am I the AH for laughing at my grandpa for covering up my indecent feet?”
People on Reddit were then asked to judge who was in the wrong in this situation based on the following categories:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
- NAH – No A**holes Here
And as you might assume, they were not only on OP’s side but also found this situation pretty hilarious.
“Now you know your grandpa has a foot fetish” –Decent_Sky_9880
“Haha for real, that’s what I was thinking the whole time. Please only buy your grandpa foot themed items from now on lol” –SouthernComrade53
“This. My ex had a raging foot fetish and would get really jealous when I wore sandals out of the house without him lol he’d be like ‘you can’t just be showing those to anyone!'”
“And I’d be like ‘you’re the only one who sees them that way!'”
“So yeah I’d say gramps has a lil fetish.” –Masta-Blasta
“This makes it even worse bcs he was OK with her not wearing socks when she was alone in the house with him but the problem arose when other people came.” –National-Platypus144
“NTA. I have to admit I laughed imagining his face and when you decided to put a mask on rather than socks. The fact your grandmother was also thoroughly amused is brilliant too.” –LunaMissions0504
“Congratulations, you learned about your grandpa’s kink in a most bizarre way. We should all let OP alone now that she has to go scrub her brain with a soapy toothbrush.” –Euphoric-Round-5182
“NTA, but instead of bashing your grandad like some people in the comments are suggesting, maybe just mention to him that feet aren’t really seen that way anymore.”
“Maybe it’s a cultural thing, or it was just impolite when he was growing up. I’ve heard that in some cultures having your feet up in front of people is disrespectful – I think he just needs a wake-up call.”
“Many older people have conservative beliefs like that but they often get used to it when it’s pointed out to them.” –zmeyax
“NTA. This should be number one! I don’t think he has a foot fetish, he’s just old school! My grandpa used to yell at me when I was your age for being barefoot.”
“That’s just how they grew up (at least in conservative southern US). He eventually got over it when he realized that’s just kids these days!”
“He also complained how the younger generation didn’t dress as nice, lol!” –Underthesea428
“Bare feet simply make some people uncomfortable. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why I hate feet, but seeing bare feet on others instantly makes me think of the possible unpleasant smell. It’s hella weird, I know, but definitely not sexual.” –TopTopTopcina
“NTA – no matter what Grandpa was trying to get you to do, you are nta. He should have used his words like a big boy instead of expecting you to figure it out! & no, you are nta for laughing at the “cover up your feet” thing! That’s bizarre.” –RaqMountainMama
“You’re NTA however, I think grandpa might need a hug and a conversation about how things are nowadays. Seems like his mind is still living in the past and didn’t age with the times.” –LunaKittenDarling
“Everyone should watch the Key and Peele skit where they’re in a Middle Eastern country and all the women are covered up. They were talking dirty about their wrists and ankles, salivating over them. Lol… NTA Op.” –Mintyfresh_ella
“Lol. NTA, but I would genuinely ask him at some point what his deal is with the pointing and not having socks on.” –SimplySam4210
“NTA. Wow, that is really antiquated thinking about what is modest. So leggings are hunky dorry but bare feet are a shameful display? Weird.” –DeciduousEmu
“OP I am so sorry that this is how you found out that your grandfather has a foot fetish and has had a foot fetish long enough to assume that everyone has a foot fetish.”
“NTA, but good lord. Seriously, I would tell him that no one’s horny over your feet but him and he needs to quit being gross.” –GenusCorvidae
“NTA. Unless he somehow knew this builder’s had a foot fetish I don’t see how not wearing shoes is scandalous to him.” –snortsrainbows
“NTA- I disagree with all the people saying it’s a foot fetish. I think it’s more likely generational/classist.”
“My husband and I have had a general ‘no outside shoes on in the house’ rule since we moved into together years ago. My in-laws are in their late 70s are have always been very sensitive about it.”
“They clearly find it inappropriate and feel that walking around with out shoes on is being not ‘properly’ or fully dressed. Completely bare feet with no shoes or socks is even worse.”
“My MIL ALWAYS comments on it whenever they visit.”
“Despite the fact that we have never insisted they remove their shoes because 1) it so clearly makes them uncomfortable, their body their choice.”
“And 2) as they’ve aged they have mobility issues and having footwear on makes them steadier on their feet and we don’t want them to fall.”
“They have made it very clear those are not THEIR reasons for objecting to not having your feet covered however. To them it is inappropriate, ‘too casual’ and worst of all ‘low class’.”
“I hate socks and it’s my damn house so I wear (or don’t) what I like but it seems like this is what your grandpa was leaning towards OP.” –Tea_and_Biscuits12
After reading her fellow Redditors’ replies, OP came back to provide several updates on the situation.
“Update: why is everyone suggesting my grandfather has a foot fetishðŸ˜if that’s true I’ll start wearing socks forever omg”
“Update 2: WHY ARE THERE SO MANY SUGGESTIONS OF YOU TELLING TO MAKE AN ONLY FANS ACCOUNT FOR MY FEET PICS? OMG”
“Update 3: out of sheer curiosity should I open up an only Fans account?”
“Last update: so I have decided against doing one. Since I don’t rly know my ways around cyber security and everything. But to answer a few general questions.”
“My entire family is from Germany and we have a pretty lax view on how to dress (mostly just dressing appropriately)”
“My family isn’t religious with me being atheist and my gm being agnostic for example”
“Yes my dad has that fetish (I stumbled on his insta and he was pretty open about it)”
“Hope you had a nice laugh about this situation XD”
Hopefully OP and her grandfather can avoid any further conflicts about this.