I was just in the Lounge of a another forum that I go on,...the thread question was "Do you have a foot fetish?" Almost every one of the posters think it's either "not a turn on", "disgusting", or "perverted"....of course now, many of them have "shoes and socks" fetishes as well as the well known "butt" and even "armpit" fetish...
I know the saying goes "to each his own", and all that jazz, but really now..
I didn't bother posting a comment...these guys were all so alien to me. i guess i live in my own cocoon, and amidst my fellow foot fans here, but can't imagine their perspective on feet...I don't even bother with them, much less even post a video or anything...it would be like casting pearls before swine It's like some of the weirdo's who post vile and insulting stuff on You Tube, they're a minority however, not every damned one of them, like on this particular forum. To not appreciate the beautiful, sexy and dirty soled bare feet of a lovely woman walking in public is unfathomable......what say you, my fellow foot fans?

My experience has been that even the most open-minded people at first think foot-fetishes to be quite bizarre and weird (especially if they have never had any experience with this). Many people actually don't know much about it (or fetishes in general) and they have quite strange stereotypes/prejudices/fears, plus they also tend to mix up fetishes with other sexual-activities. It is best to talk to them about it and explain what it really is (and the different aspects). I've noticed that quite a few people (especially women) even become really curious in foot-fetishes and start paying much more attention to their feet (or the feet of others) after they realise that it is completely harmless and that many foot-lovers are extremely polite & charming human beings
Regarding foot-fetish-bashing on the internet: Most people on the internet act like jerks behind the anonymity of their computer keyboard and just let off steam because they are frustrated with their pathetic lives. It's best just to ignore them.

-Hal-

Hal, I agree, as i did again today when I looked in on that thread,...today one guy admitted to the mildest form of foot fetishism....nothing that would appeal to or interest anyone here in City Feet The word "pervert" and "sicko" was used to bombard the guy. One guy said the female feet were "disgusting"...and that "feet were made to just walk on", etc.,..
And quite contrary to being, or feeling stigmatized by these type's use of such terminology, I, on the contrary truly feel that THEY are the maladjusted ones...the one's that wouldn't get turned on by a lovely female walking barefoot in public. I consider THEM to be quite weird, as though the vernacular that they've been using applies to themselves...not us.[B]

I don't expect anyone to share my longing for bare female feet but I do expect everyone to respect my sexual preferences. I don't want to waste my time on bigotted people. It's 2015 and we should all have an open mind.

-Hal-

Well said Hal, and I completely agree with you about being open minded in these modern times - Unfortuantely when it comes to feet, most people just arent.

What's even more unfortunate is the fact that you only really have to spend 30 minutes or so on Facebook, Twitter or any number of other social media sites to work out why people have a problem with us. The number of inappropriate comments that are passed out to anyone who even hints at the word "feet" is just unreal.

This is one of a plethora of reasons that I don't go on Facebook....I dissolved my FB account for a variety of reasons...
This a reason that I only talk feet,...the sensuality/sexuality of a beautiful barefoot girl with my compadres on City Feet. I used to go on the Mouse Pad,but they're just about as infantile and uncontrolled in their lusts as some of those idiots on You Tube and FB that refer to jacking off on the model's toes, etc., they also prefer shots of sanitized, pinkish, "display-case" type of feet...like the model came in with shoes and socks,had a few pictures taken, then put her shoes and socks back on and scurried away. A far cry from the natural beauties on CF and in my past in public places like grocery stores, and other public places. I don't understand nor waste any time on these offensive assholes.

I don't think that the hostility has anything to do with foot fetishism. Some people are cruel and vindictive by nature and will go after anything that they perceive as a vulnerability. Unless you enjoy getting caught up with trolls, the best thing to do is avoid them. The only way to win is absolute silence. What ever you say can and will be held against you if stoop to their level and become just as vindictive and nasty as they are, they turn around and act like a victim of your bullying. That's why I like silence, absolute silence, to completely disengage and cut them off. If they want to make an ass of themselves, then let them. Napoleon said "Never interrupt your enemy when they are making mistakes"

I think everyone has made good points so far. The best advice? Do not feed the trolls.

I actually like the Mousepad okay, though I would agree that they are more about the "display case" studio feet than the natural outdoor look we enjoy here. I think the Pad has some interesting discussions, and their posting user base is larger than it is here.

As far as the anti-foot fetish brigade goes, there's a specific group that is surprisingly hostile. That would be the lifestyle barefooters, pretty much exemplified by what used to be called the Dirty Sole Society, and is now the Society for Barefoot Living. I get that the female members don't want to be harassed by clueless jerks who send extremely inappropriate comments, but the attitude of the "Society" toward all foot fetishists/enthusiasts is very dismissive.

They always complain that they're not accepted as barefooters, and they wish they wouldn't get kicked out of stores and restaurants just for being a little different, but they treat foot fetishists like the scum of the earth. Isn't that just a bit hypocritical?

I mean, they look down on us, and we're the one group that would actively support and encourage their public barefooting. Well, the women, anyway. I don't care what the guys do. ;-)

How right you are! This forum I'm on is called The Lounge,...and the subject of feet is never brought up,....except on rare occasions when a thread like this one...about feet fetishism is brought up. I never, never,ever post a thing to them, and wouldn't even think of posting a pic of one of the lovely CF models. However,someone did post a pic of that gorgeous brunette barefoot Romanian girl with the Henna designs on her legs that was circulating a few years ago. That.oddly enough got a good response,though the guy was fantasizing her wearing 'effin' pumps...oh, those are the weirdo's,....AND judgemental weirdo's of the worst kind. They're on my ignore list though, from now on.

I have to amend my post somewhat, because via someone else's FB acct, I have access to City Feet's Facebook page.....believe me.it's the only thing on FB worth visiting.

This is really a very interesting thread on a fascinating topic. I have nothing against gay people, but I consider amazing that people in general are far more understanding and supporting on a guy who has a "fetish" on other guys than on a guy who has a healthy interest, delight or fascination on barefoot women.

Actually I think that the term "fetish" is wrong regarding to female feet, as they are not "inanimated objects" like shoes, lingerie, etc. Talking personally, more than being interested in female bare feet, what I actually like is to see a pretty girl who happens to walk barefoot, just naturally, casually. So I do not consider myself a "foot fetishist" but rather an "aretifist".

Let's think positive: I guess that in time this will become more accepted, and that, some day, girls willl realize that they look even sexier when walking barefoot.

That was an intelligent and enlightening response to my thread topic DG2001! I had intended to include your points originally but I don't think I could have quite as succinctly as you did!
An attraction to an attractive woman's feet certainly is not a "fetish"...absolutely for the reasons that you've given. I make the qualifier "attractive woman" because I certainly am NOT interested in seeing just anybody's feet...in other words, the mere sight of the human foot does not necessarily "turn me on", i.e., there are many, many women who should ALWAYS keep their feet covered, and I am NEVER interested in seeing a man's feet, either bare or in sandals, flip flops, etc., ..
I am definitely an "aretifist"...and thank you for tipping me off to this term....
When I see an attractive woman going barefoot...I don't necessarily equate "attractive" with "beautiful", though going barefoot in public amplifies even a rather plain Jane into an attractive woman...instantly. I not only appreciate her feet..as though indeed thay were separate objects, divorced from her face and body, but rather, as lovely, erotic parts of a lovely "whole" package.
I find it ironic at times that there are women who do go barefoot in public yet react with scorn as well as hostility to see a man looking at her feet (looking discretely that is) as though she buys into this "if you like feet, you're weird" stuff herself.
It's highly ironic and puzzling because she must have no idea how unbelieveably sexy a barefoot female in public is. That's a reason why being discrete in appreciating her barefootedness should be so important to a man. A drooling, leering, out of control type of male reaction could turn the girl off from going shoeless in public altogether.
Like you, and I remember the good old days when this happened here where I live, I loved the sight of a girl, seemingly oblivious to everything, and certainly oblivious to the conventions of society, casually going about her business, whatever it was, barefoot in public. Grocery shopping used to be such a treat in those times. Even the post office, the drug store, even in bygone days, girls hitchhiking barefoot....but those days, here, where I am, are long gone.[B]

Sometimes, I feel that our society is more accepting of gay men than it is of men who are attracted to women's feet.
And yet, I've read that as many as 20% of all men have foot fetishes!

^ It is roughly 5%, and that also includes fetishes that are (loosely) connected to the foot fetish, e.g. trampling, crushing, giantess, stocking & socks, shoes & boots, etc.
Even 5% means there are a theoretically over 100 million men on this planet who are in some way or another into feet

IMMO it's a general issue stemming from lack of tolerance for difference and from narrow-mindedness.
I am always upset in seeing that fewer and fewer people apply the "live and let live" approach I love so much. A lot of people, especially on social networks (where they can be "sheltered" by anonimity and/or by no actual contact with other people), need to show that they fight for or against something/someone.
Now, I am fully aware to be in a minority and that my enthusiasm for barefoot women (female feet detached from the "owner" mean little to me) is rather uncommon.. I have no intention to "convert unbelievers" and I have nothing against men who aren't into barefoot women.. I simply ignore them.. so I really cannot understand why these men should fight against me.. what harm am I doing to them?
I share with my dear friend Southerncrossfire44 a long experience of the "barefooters vs. bare (female) feet enthusiasts" friction.. and I saw it reach really nasty confrontations. This is even more frustrating, as basically you get despised by the very women you love so much (I have never paid attention to male barefooters' complaints about us "foot pervs" ).
This said, it's not true that all people on social networks are assholes.
I am on Facebook, DevianART, Tumblr, YouTube, Flickr, Fetlife.. and I have found a lot of people there who appreciate what I do, and who share my enthusiasm for barefoot women.
Some of the greatest female barefooters on the planet, like Olga Gavva, Cecilia, Melissa Lynn, Eva Takacs, my model RED-X (a.k.a. Ariel Barefoot) are on Facebook, and are super-friendly towards people who find their bare dirty feet sexy.
Sadly the trolls are everywhere, in both virtual and actual social contexts.. DBF is ultra-right.. just IGNORE them.. or even tell them they are right.. they are simply great at making a fool of themselves..