It has never been odd to me. I grew around mostly Asians so when i went over to their houses its the norm to take off your shoes. Plus in my own house we did so for a number of reasons. Not to track dirt in being the main reason but you can also track unwanted things you pick up on the bottom of your shoes from being outside and they get engraved in your carpet. To this day i take off my shoes before entering a house and will continue to do so and my children will as well.

Ah, but you would make a fuss about it if someone came into your house and didn`t take their shoes off. I think that is what is meant.

Nice. I mostly lived in the Queensland area.
I can't say I don't miss it. I had a lot of fun there.

If someone forgot something they may run in and grab it with shoes on...some people may take off. for the most part. Shoes off.

I think Mexico does not, culturally like people only wearing socks inside their houses.

That's why I always thought it a bit disrespectful to take your shoes OFF, especially if you're not close to the person. You're making yourself too comfortable in someone else's home. Not sure if anyone else feels this way, though...

That's a good point. The way I see it, it would be better to offend someone by being too comfortable than trodding mud and dog waste all over their floor.

That's what the door mat is for ;)

Why do you step in dog waste?

Because it makes a cool, squishy sound.