The Road to Poland: Clash of Cultures: Please remove your shoes
Martin: But what if people don't take their shoes off? Then they're walking all over the carpet and the floors with their shoes on. Besides, isn't it more comfortable to have your shoes off?
Me: Yeah, but I just don't think it's polite to make guests take their shoes off when they are here to celebrate a family event (Baptism) in their Church clothes, especially if they don't want to.
Martin: OK, ok. Fine, we'll ask them. Nobody *has* to take their shoes off.
Me: Thank you.
Notice that Martin and Olivia recognise that asking people to remove their shoes is not forcing people to remove them. A lot of people discussing this subject on the internet cannot see the difference between politely asking people and 'making' or 'forcing' them.
