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Comment by zerr | Hacker News Reader

India has a space program and modern military, so why don't they fund "slippers" and such basic needs for population?

When I was growing up (early 70s) summer meant barefoot for kids. I've talked to many others from PA, California, and Texas and they said similar.

What's wrong with kids running around barefoot?

Depending on where you live in the world, a lot of infectious diseases can spread by either wounds on the foot or vectors invading through the sole of the foot.

Considering that the commenter jut told you where in the world he was talking about, I don't think you need to be as generally worried and vague as you're being here.

I mean, depending on where you live in the world, a lot of infectious diseases can spread by either wounds on the hand or vectors invading through the palm of the hand.

GAHHHHH! All the children must wear hand-shoes all the time!! Otherwise they'll all die! Maybe we adults (alleged adults. I refuse to believe I am one.) should too.

You're just being silly and worrisome.

The commenter actually didn't say where they lived, and didn't limit the question to any location. I live in Kenya and my one year old walks around a lot of the time without shoes, which is a calculated risk. I assure you I'm being neither silly nor worrisome - I just factually answered the parent's question about what the potential issues are with not wearing shoes.

edit: to be less vague:

(1) Tetanus spores are present in soil all over the world and can easily infect a cut on the foot - between 1 and 2 in 10 cases are fatal (https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/index.html).

(2) Hookwork larvae are present in soil all over the USA (and many other places) and can infect through intact skin - not fatal but can have unpleasant complications (https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/hookworm/)

(3) bilharzia infects through skin contact with contaminated water which includes puddles and just wet soil - not in the USA but many other countries - and kills tens of millions every year (https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/schistosomiasis/index.html)

Same thing. Born in Texas in the late 70s. I never wore shoes as a kid or teenager. I mean, I'd wear them to school and stuff, but when we were playing around outside there were no shoes.

I don't know about you, but the only reason I need shoes in my day to day life is because I grew up wearing shoes. Left to their own account, my feet would be at least as durable against thorns and rocks as a pair of Amer-Aid flip flops.

Shoes are a prison for the mind.

These shoes might solve that problem: [1]

[1] https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/b7/69/46/b769...

I own a few pairs of Vibram Fivefingers, they're lovely. You feel so much more of the ground you're walking on, so many textures!

Death to all footcoffins!

Every time I see those things, I can't hold back laughter.

They're pretty funny-looking :)

I think the toed socks are definitely very weird-looking, especially when they come in white, looks like a some sort of fetish gear.

The exposed toe is easy to damage, that's why it makes sense to encase all of them in a single container.

They're not so much footcoffins as they are toe and sole protectors.

What do you mean by exposed? Unless you're doing intricate climbing the chances of catching a toe on something in VFs is nill.

All VFs have a bit of rubber padding on the front of the toe to prevent toe-stubbing.

I've noticed a significant improvement in the coordination/sensitivity of my feet, I stub my toe a lot less often in VFs than when I wear regular shoes. My calves have also become a lot stronger, and my balance has improved as well.

I have a few pairs as well. I do recognize that they are weird-looking. But they feel so good to wear. Especially in winter. I love the way it feels to walk around in the snow in those things.

I don't wear them all the time, but it's fun when I do.

Do they make a version for weirdos like me with a Morton's toe? (Longer second toe than big toe)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton%27s_toe

Ahh, ye olde hallicusbradymetatarsalgia!

Wow, I have that too! Now I know what it's called.

For what it's worth, I have a pair of vibrams and they're very comfortable, even for weirdos like us. I imagine it's just a matter of sizing.

https://xkcd.com/1065/

I've been thinking about buying these, along with a worn out pair of "normal" shoes.

Then I'll cut out the soles and put the top part over the weird comfy shoes.

Best of both worlds!

Walking barefoot is not a big deal. And many times there is religious / cultural aspect too [1]

[1]http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/In-this...

[2]http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/0/21235888

Because Indians are smart enough to realize that it's better to fund those slippers using an uber-successful space program than to tax people or asking the reserve to print more currency.

EDIT: Let me rephrase (hence "slippers" in quotes) - when I see the photos of India, I see poverty, people starving, literally living in garbage, etc... That might not be 100% of India, but I suspect it relates to significant part of the population. So how this goes in tandem with the country being able to fund a space program and so on...

> when I see the photos of India, I see poverty, people starving, literally living in garbage

Lets take that sentence and s/India/Flint/. "When I see the photos of Flint, I see poverty, people starving, literally living in garbage". It isn't far off isn't it? So how would you feel if a person from China asked us, how are you able to fund NASA when you have your own citizens desperate in Flint? How are you able to fund NASA when you have growing illiteracy in many American cities? People believing the earth is flat. People killing each other in Chiraq. People asking us why we have the highest incarceration rate and effectively modern-slavery system in the world. Do you see how your question reflects more on us and our own culture?

Funding the space program is part of the aspirational work that a country does that brings about the cultural change and technological productivity boosts necessary to help solve the first order poverty problems.

Because poverty isn't a problem born out of "literally not enough money to feed the population" it's significantly more complex than that.

That space program is a revenue making venture - so don't worry about India - we can travel to space just fine without burning a hole in our pockets. Can you ?

What makes you think they need shoes?

I don't know, but maybe because of the caste system ?

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