Shoddies simply don’t care…
I recently had a very interesting, and somewhat disturbing exchange with a friend of my partner’s, who happens to be a nurse and has also been training for a running competition. While I have always known this person has never been supportive of my barefooting lifestyle, I never thought she would be so closed to new information.
This happened during a get together with a number of friends a week ago during the Pride Celebrations here in Toronto. After walking quite a bit, we were having a rest that afternoon over some drinks, another friend, who was wearing a pair of Vibram FiveFingers, complained about his ankle pain. The nurse quickly pointed out to him that his shoes didn’t offer any support and that was probably why his ankle was bothering him. He told her he didn’t think the shoes had anything to do with it, since the reason his ankle was suffering was due to a metal plate he has in the area, due to a previous injury (he has actually told me a few times that he thinks the VFFs have helped him with his ankle range of motion). At this point, I made the terrible mistake of adding that shoes with too much support are not usually good for one’s feet, since they can promote laziness in bones, ligaments and muscles, due to their constraint on feet’s natural movement.
Her reaction was rather defensive and obviously negative towards the information I was trying to provide. The conversation rapidly deteriorated towards an argument when I mentioned to her that a pain on her knee she’s been complaining about might have to do with the kind of shoes she’s wearing for running, as well as her running technique. She justified her knee problem by saying she’s over 50, then she proceeded to give me all the typical arguments as of why she would never even consider barefoot running (potential sole injuries, winter temperatures, etc.). Intermingled with her arguments, I mentioned a couple of times that the information I was providing had good scientific and professional support and I offered forwarding some of this information to her. When I was going to start telling her about minimalistic footwear; which would provide the protection she seeks, while allowing her feet to have a more natural range of motion during running and walking, as an option to barefoot running, she basically shot me down by saying rather loudly: “I DON’T CARE! – I DON’T CARE!”
Needless to say, I felt extremely frustrated during this exchange. After thinking about it, and comparing her reaction to the ones of many others I’ve encountered through the years, I realized that the core of my frustration is the realization that, at one level or another, most shoe-wearing people (unfortunately the great majority in our Western societies) share the same sentiment: they simply do not care and they are perfectly happy with the erroneous information and assumptions they have had for the last 100 years or so. Most sad is to realize that a great number of these people, like this nurse, are in health care occupations, yet they don’t seem to have an interest in further understanding how the human body really works; as opposed to seeking patch-type solutions to our health issues.
In my opinion, this clearly illustrates why barefooting as a lifestyle choice is facing such difficulties towards mainstream social acceptance. Furthermore, this really opens my eyes to the importance of having health care practitioners who are truly in tune with the human body and have an interest in keeping current with new information.
Keep ‘em bare, keep ‘em happy.
16 Responses to “Shoddies simply don’t care…”
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I’m here to testify. All foot pain that I had (as well as the nasty smell) has vanished since I threw away my shoes! Ten years and counting!
People in general are closed to information which challenges the way they see things. it is unfortunate, as it prevents change growth.
I’ve been wearing VFF’s for 4 months now and yesterday was the first time I’ve seen anyone else wearing them. Not one person, but TWO!! My husband looked at me like I grew a second head when I got excited about it (jumping up and down and pointing; rude yes but I couldn’t help it)I love, love, love em! I’m still working on convincing him on the benefits of it. Most of my friends seem to want a pair
Keep spreading your enthusiasm for Barefooting. I know I will!
The shod world doesn’t get it… they are so conditioned that they can’t break out of their old habits of mind. I find that breaking through that shell can be hard, but you have to start by grabbing their attention. With medical people, I usually let them state their case, then ask simply: “Do casts make a broken foot stronger? Do the muscles and tendons benefit from being immoblized?”
I have, countless times, listened to someone preach to someone else about how shoes are the most necessary thing in the world and running requires good running shoes and if you don’t wear shoes you will die. Okay, well that last part was slightly exaggerated, but you get the point. My rule: Don’t speak unless spoken to. I have avoided countless conflicts by just keeping my mouth shut and letting them observe me. People don’t like to be told they are wrong, but if they see your way and accept it they are not going to be harsh toward you.
Just my 2 cents. (Oh and I wasn’t criticizing you for speaking out, just expressing my thoughts on the issue)
Thank you all for your comments so far.
@ Barefoot Tyler: indeed! that’s a good practice overall – most of the time it’s best just to lead by example, rather than trying to convince people with a long rhetoric; unless of course, one’s opinion is requested.
I found that the challenges I got from the shoddies was similar to the reactions I have received from the “wheaties” and “whole grainers” since I went Paleo.
Yes, I must be doing something wrong by not eating breads, cereals, grains and pasta.
I did lose 70 pounds though, and almost have a full six-pack ab set, without doing a single sit-up. I bet if I fine-tuned my diet I could get my body fat below 10 percent.
But I’m too busy having fun for that!
Keep on keepin’ on, is what I say. Never mind the haters.
Hey Moe,
People react that way about many more subjects than we realize. Only when they react that way about something we are particularly interested in, and know a lot about, does it become really apparent, and frustrating.
Here is a good analogy, and why it is almost impossible to change certain types of people’s minds. We know many people hate insects and spiders. They are grossed out by them, spray their yards whenever the slightest crawling creature appears, and kill any bug that comes into their house. But there are some people who keep insects and spiders as pets. They captive breed them, exchange different species with other like-minded individuals, and enjoy observing their habits. Now imagine someone like that moves next door to your average bug hater. Can you imagine in your wildest imagination that this person could convince the bug hater to:
1)Stop spraying insecticides in her yard and use biological control – may contaminate areas and harm his pets.
2) Show the bug hater some large creatures, like a pet tarantula or something, and try to convince them that they are just fine, are harmless, and are in fact interesting. There is no way that the bug hater could be convinced to even touch the creature, never mind actually have it walk on their hand.
3) Finally, no amount of showing that person the merits of keeping insects and spiders, and explaining to them how interesting they can be will get them to try keeping one as a pet. They will think those creatures are ‘gross and disgusting’ no matter what you tell them, and will be continue to think that it is completely unacceptable to keep something like that in the house.
(This could apply to snakes as pets vs those who hate snakes, for example, as well.)
And that is why that person refused to try barefoot running. Facts to her are far less important than her perception and what she thinks. She does not care just like the bug hater does not care.
Here are memories of the 1970s, many from Canadians. Shows you how going barefoot then was no big deal, even in Canada:
http://www.misterpoll.com/users/echoc/messages/pg/1
Hi – it’s a weird one isn’t it! I have found the British to be more accepting of new things than perhaps our US cousins are although that could just be a small sample size… It really is best to treat this sort of exchange like a hostage situation – the second it starts to look fraught change the subject or say ‘let’s agree to disagree’. This last phrase is not inflammatory and in the cold light of day most people will start to respect your opinion if you respect theirs. Don’t forget – the VAST majority of people run in shoes and for them that is their ‘truth’. To let this go is very very hard for people afraid of experimentation (to quote Jason Robillard “Not THAT kind of experimentation!”)!
The best advert is to run in public, in competitions etc and to do so with a big grin on your face! I’m doing a 10k race on Sunday and will I’m sure be the only BF runner so will be smiling like I’m on Prozac!
Watch out for those little stones!
David – Malvern Hills Minimalist / BF Runners (facebook)
This so-called medical professional sounds closed-minded and immature. She DOES NOT CARE! So you should stop caring about relaying a message to her that would only benefit her.
It’s a good fight, but with some people, the fight is not worth it.
Hey all,
My girlfriend is a nurse and she constantly tells me I can’t do this and I cant do that. It just never ceases to amaze me, even today we ran 20km together, i was wearing my Vibram Sprints and was loving it. At the end she suggested that I couldn’t do a marathon in them. I told her I plan to do one per month next year.
She told me i couldn’t do that either, I would hurt myself.
I think we all have to go with our own truths. I had the worst knee pain ever 6 weeks ago and turned to barefooting and am running faster that ever and pain free. I think one of the future truths for me will be a new girl too.
Screw the shoes..run free.
Hi all – just did a 10k in Worcester, England and had nothing but positive, kind and interested comments. Not fast run – 54.01 but was really fun and had endless conversations from interested runners and marshalls alike!
Here’s interesting for ya: one chap who was rather patronisingly (in a nice way) suggesting that I’d ‘hurt my feet’ was examining a beauty of a blister afterwards! I’m convinced blisters are caused by heat and so I don’t get any.
No foot pains (a really nice warm ‘thrum’ from my soles though – comforting), no heel pains, no knee pains – no pains at all!
Last year I couldn’t even have run for 10 minutes without excruciating PF heal pains and a searing knee pain. Now I’m 40yrs old and can run like I am 18. Blessed BF running!
Sorry, not much use for Nurses.
I think it’s best to declare one’s bias and this is mine. I’ve had nurses give me instructions during crisis situations (don’t know why they pick me) and they don’t DO a damn thing. Happy to dispense advice, not so willing to act.
They are NOT doctors and they often act like they are. The profession is worthy of respect, but I think they have an inflated view of their expertise. I know one vet that when someone identifies themselves as a nurse, they clear the room and all reverently say, “She’s a NURSE!”. He’s tired of nurses telling him they have the same level of knowledge. I get it.
I really don’t know if the barefoot trend is healthy or not. I am sure that they are finding that people with back problems should NOT lie flat on their back because it atrophies other supporting back muscles and the problem grows worse. I heard that on the radio from a man touted as the BEST expert doctor when it comes to backs.
I just wonder if there isn’t a parallel between what they are finding with back problems and this trend towards minimal footwear. I don’t know if it’s right, but I applaud the exploration. Time will tell.
Good luck to all! (Nurses too!)
As barefooters, we all know what its like to have someone actively disrespect the view that what we do is healthy and right. While it may be shocking to find out just how intensely some people cling to their ignorance, we can’t do anything to change them. I started on my barefoot path about a year and a half ago with a pair of Fivefinger KSOs, and have been telling people how amazing it has been since. In that entire time, I have officially convinced one person that being barefoot is a healthy and fun way to live. He has recently started ditching his shoes as much as possible and is awaiting an order of Fivefinger Sprints. Out of the hundreds of people that have heard me preach, the fact that only one person has listened is, to me, a rousing success. I have come to accept that not everyone, indeed hardly anyone, will change their lifestyle after they hear what I have to say, but the 1 person out of 100 who does is what makes it all worth it.
I just wanted to comment that I am a nurse and a BF runner. I know some nurses have an inflated view of their expertise, but nurses and doctors have to remember that they may be health professionals but don’t know everything. This is exspecially true when talking outside their area of specialty. Most nurses don’t specialize in foot care or podiatry.