My neurodivergent brain goes into tilt when using the term barefoot. Thats singular so I typically say bare feet. Thats both feet, not one foot.

I'm just recounting the most extreme example of being given attitude for lack of shoes in my life so far. So prepare for some rambling.

For most of the year now I've never worn shoes, and throughout this first semester in college, I've followed suit. I haven't had any issues being in class, and have in fact received a lot of friendly support from professors and classmates.

The only places that have a policy against being barefoot are the dining halls. It's an archaic policy from the 60's and 70's that just hasn't been reviewed, and so now it isn't really enforced. Food workers either don't think it's an issue or can't be bothered or don't get paid enough to confront a student and kick them out for it. But every once in a while there'd be a more managerial, corporate person who would kindly bring it up.

However, while I was in line to get dinner, this older lady walked up with an attitude saying that I have to wear shoes or beat it, literally trying to pull me out of line, toss the food I'd served, and send me out after I already paid to eat here. I stood my ground and stated that I already paid and need to eat. She complained to one of the chefs behind the counter, who said that there isn't much he can do.

As I was eating at a table, she picked me out and said she called her boss who confirmed with her that I'm breaking the policy, and I restated that I need to eat the food I've already served and am entitled to by the university; she threatened to call campus police. I know the campus police would take the path of least resistance and kick me out, but I found it kind of insane that she was willing to turn such a mundane, harmless situation into a scene involving the police that would turn everyone's attention toward us.

She said she'd let me finish my meal, but that's it, and walked away. A few minutes later I was done and went to take my dirty dishes to the designated area, and she called out from the corner to leave it at the table. So it turns out she was standing by the door, staring at me while I ate, waiting for me to finish, which is straight up weird and kind of grossed me out.

But either way I left and made a remark to her about how she'd rather people leave a mess at their tables than have one student without shoes on in the hall.

I'm just kind of baffled that some dining hall worker like her would make it their entire mission of the night to kick one student out for what they're wearing. The funny thing is, she didn't kick me out, because I ended up refusing to leave when she told me to and left on my own terms; though she still looked all triumphant like she saved the day when I left. It kind of makes me sad how important it makes her feel knowing that she's just another underpaid food service worker making below minimum wage, and enforcing an arbitrary policy like this isn't going to give her a raise.

Either way, shit like this just makes me want to keep doing it more, and I'm in the process of working with the student government to get the policy overturned for discrimination and infringement of students' right to self expression. But until then, I guess I'll keep finding myself in strange encounters like this one.

Barefoot 100% of the month, except for wearing flip flops two minutes entering a music club and two minutes talking to some plumbers on the side of my house where the gravel was rough.

Barefoot adventures included that music club, many many grocery stores, many restaurants (maybe a dozen or more), Home Depot, a few movie theaters, a few clothing stores, drugstore, a mall.

No comments or weird looks.