Socks and Sandals Belong to the World
How the fashion against wearing socks with sandals is a sign of a general stupidity.
Geoffrey Hamilton
Blog, June 13, 2006
Fashions for foot binding, or tattoos, or earlobe plugs which stretch the ear skin into novelty
cup holders are among the acceptable stupidities that grace the clique-ee catwalks of various locales
and eras.
On the adverse, the unacceptable stupidities are generally only ignored.
However sometimes it is the unacceptable moments derived by pure genius that catch the most ire from the
fashion police. One of these moments is the organic, frequently rediscovered
fact that you should put socks on with sandals.
Everyday thousands of people make this discovery and wear this combo. Usually they're older,
wiser and less threatened by fashionistas. Then there's the 'cool' kids. They
think it's funny and point and
try to tease the wise about their footwear, like children do with each other regarding natural bodily
functions. But the organic inside of us calls everyone to the same facts.
A hot sunny day requires a way to keep
your feet safe and cool. Sandals make the grade, but only to
the first level because you soon realize there are a few drawbacks:
the sun will still give your toes a good burn fairly quickly. All that sun screen you try to
put on will wash off at the first opportunity and besides sun screen is always too uneven to rely
on. And sun screen does nothing to stop your feet getting hot from the sunlight contacting
the skin directly, a failure of forethought which
defeats the whole purpose of the sandals. Next there is the fact that all that direct contact
between smelly feet and sandals means slippery unsure footing when running and you get a
quick whiff of unseen
street people when you sit down at a cafe. Then if you walk any distance the dust and dirt
sticks to your toes and adds luster to your 'bum's' tan. Finally you can add pain for the conventional
sandal wearer: pebbles, blisters and cuts - not to mention the chaffing sores
or a bloody stubbed toe.
What is it that the self appointed fashion police want to arrest anyway? They are
a mixed up lot. Sometimes they add white to their complaints about sandals and socks as though
white is an further insult to having socks. The colour white, need they
be reminded, reflects the most sunlight and heat. White is easiest to clean and helps
you discover hidden stones or bugs. What else could you want?
Now, if stupid is as stupid does, wearing white socks with sandals is about as far
away as one could be. But that is not the problem. The problem is the general stupidity
of humanity of which this present subject matter is only a symptom. People are stupid. I'm no exception.
Intelligence and knowledge are not distinguishable from idiocy and ignorance. Morals
and values are all based on stupid ideas and people. Even motives for living are all
founded on moronic sensibilities.
There is nothing that is done that is set on any hard foundation or rational purpose. Foolishness is an
inbred fundmental requirement for every breath that is taken. There is not even a greater or lesser
stupidity because any and all actions are equally foolish, just as all actions are equally actions. So why
am I starting this pressure group called Socks and Sandals Forever? You can answer that
as well as anyone.
GH
