 Which is ruder. Asking guests to take their shoes off or wearing your shoes inside someone else's house. In many countries taking your shoes off indoors is an unspoken rule. For many people it's about germs and dirt. 421,000 units of bacteria live on the outside of your shoes and 96% of that bacteria comes from poop. Viruses have also been found on shoe bottoms. Do you really want all that on here? Plus shoes are an easy way for allergens like pollen and dust to hitch a ride into your house. So it makes sense because this makes some people breathe easier. But being too intense with their shoe rule can also be rude. You don't know someone's feet, maybe they're self-conscious about their foot odor, their toenails, or maybe their socks don't match. So little advance warning on your aggressive shoe policy would be appreciated.