Norwegian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (former secretary general of NATO) standing just in their socks, visiting some ordinary family in connection with the election campaign before the general election. It is an unspoken rule in Norway and from what I know in the other Nordic countries to take off your shoes when entering a private home. In more formal settings, like a party, you are welcome to bring your own indoor shoes. (Source: Aftenposten)

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Posted by Pterodactylus1

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35 Comments

  1. The fact that peope walk inside with their outside shoes that is dirty all around their house is in my opinion insane. Imagine all the shit you have stepped in outside and then bring that into your own house…

  2. What is strange is voting for a mango maniac, and spending the next four years going to bed every night wondering if the next day will bring civil war.

    So no, the discovery that politicians can take their shoes off is like one Planck length of weirdness in 2025.

  3. its weird for uneducated and rude Americans,everywhere else you take your dirty ass shoes before you enter. ever heard of Japan…?

  4. I think it’s quite common in other countries as well, especially far north where we have snow in the winter. Going in with shoes in the winter would quickly make your home into a wet mud hole. Then we just keep doing the same in the summer.

    It’s just more sanitary, cleaner and easier to clean if you don’t drag the outside indoors. That goes for everyone, even Prime Ministers.

  5. Never have I ever seen anyone bring indoor shoes to anyones homes. Only for indoor events at venues where it was requested.

  6. Pale-Accountant6923 on

    What is strange for Americans is too see political leaders treating regular people like equals lol. 

    Trump would be walking out with his pockets full after demeaning them. 

    But no – most places in the world have manners that dictate the removal of shoes. 

  7. >It is an unspoken rule in Norway and from what I know in the other Nordic countries to take off your shoes when entering a private home

    Nah, it’s spoken, as in if someone walked into my house wearing shoes I’d normally speak up about it. 

  8. In the UK this is pretty normal to take off shoes when you enter. I dont think anyone would object to indoor shoes, even in an informal setting though.
    There are some (my uncle, for example) that wear shoes around the home and are happy for visitors to do the same, Id say these are the exceptions though and definitely wouldnt assume my shoes are staying on when visiting an unfamiliar home.

    The real weird bit about this is politicians visiting a private person’s home. Wouldn’t happen over here i dont think.

  9. If you are from a country where shoes inside is polite or preferred, what the fuck do you do if you want to stretch out your legs on a sofa or bed when watching TV. Do you put on your dirty outside shoes after taking a shower just to get to bed? I have so many questions

  10. If someone walks into my house other than the hallway with shoes on, they will get a bucket and a mop also.

  11. Total number of countries where wearing shoes indoors is somehow said to be acceptable, even when they have fluffy carpets everywhere (but where most who live there still hate it, for obvious reasons): 1.

    Total number of countries where the heads of state will endear themselves to the general populace by deliberately acting like a lofty douchebag: 1.

  12. Same-Alfalfa-18 on

    In Slovenia this is completely normal. I think also in other countries where they use wooden flooring. 

  13. What’s crazy to me is that Americans usually wear shoes indoors but they also have way more carpet flooring than we do here in Norway. Like HOW do they keep it clean???

  14. Do you wear your shoes when you go into public toilets? Subways? Urban settings?

    If yes, then why the f would you wear shoes in your home. Let alone allow others regardless of rank to wear their shoes in your house.

  15. What’s strange is walking around your house with shoes on. Dumb as fuck.

    The whole point of shoes was to protect our feet from outdoors.

  16. wearing shoes is a sign of disrespect and carrying dirt from the streets to the home of the family you are visiting.

  17. Dirty Americans even lay on sofa with shoes on and rub dog shit all over the carpets and floors. Just incredible

  18. In Canada, people take their shoes off at the door. In the winter, we wear boots when we go out to a party or event and take regular shoes to wear with us in a plastic bag.

  19. *”It is an unspoken rule in Norway and from what I know in the other Nordic countries to take off your shoes when entering a private home.”*

    Its more like basic common sense and hygiene. And politicians are treated as human beings here because (newflash) we are all human beings, so of course he takes his shoes off. Doesnt matter who you are.

  20. Minimum-Virus1629 on

    I think most societies have figured out that shoes don’t belong inside, trudging dirt and mud on the carpet and such. It’s not really a Scandinavian thing or a Japanese thing, those are just the most media represented ones, but most of Africa for example this is the norm.

  21. Dude every country in the world will leave their footwear outside before entering homes(even india).

    Only AMERICANs do walk with the same dirty footwear inside house