The longest line I have ever seen in North America was inside a store that had a sale on flip-flops:
A culture where this is possible does not care about beauty.
Proof
Opinions, art, debate
Opinions, art, debate
The longest line I have ever seen in North America was inside a store that had a sale on flip-flops:
A culture where this is possible does not care about beauty.
Clarissa's Blog 
Thank you for cracking me up this morning. I needed the laugh. 🙂
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How the hell does one get enough of a shortage of flip-flops that one has to establish a quota, anyway? I mean, unlike Clarissa, I can see the uses of flip-flops (you’re on a holiday, ran out of wearable shoes and need something really cheap that doesn’t rub on the sores other shoes made and isn’t dripping wet either), but how the hell do people in a country known for its business acumen run out of flip-flops severely enough that they need to limit the number they’re selling to each customer like they were selling oranges in a communist Eastern European country I’ll never understand.
Wait, I just realized. What sort of person even buys that many flip-flops, anyway? If it was just the flip-flop fetishists, the misers and the hoarders, they aren’t numerous enough to pose a stock problem.So this is saying that there are lots of people who buy in bulk an item nobody needs more than a pair of.
I don’t understand this. I don’t understand this at each and every level I try to understand this at. If anyone who’s from the US or has spent time there can explain to me wtf is happening there, I’d appreciate it.
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May be prices are lower there than in the people’s home towns, and they buy flip-flops as something to wear at home for the entire family, adding possible presents for relatives and friends, who aren’t on vacation.
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I really don’t get wearing rubber at home. I walk barefoot at home all year long. Even when I lived in Montreal.
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I wear something similar to the following photo at home, and Crocs are very comfortable and long lasting, even though I wouldn’t choose them for walking long distances, unless it was on the beach in sand.
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I wondered too when I saw the announcement in the store window. And then I entered the store and saw a queue the likes of which I hadn’t seen since Soviet times. There was definitely over 150 people in that line. We thought there was something special about those flip flops but no, they were completely regular, simple, boring flip flops.
BUT – and here is what attracted all these customers – they cost just $1 per pair. I don’t know how much they cost normally but people were hugely excited about this price.
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They don’t want one person to buy out the whole stock and then go sell them for $2 on the beach. Part of the point is to get people into the store.
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Ah, that certainly makes sense. Thank you.
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I am fairly fastidious about my appearance (almost always have my hair and make up done, only wear sweats to the gym, love my jewelry etc etc.) But I think flip flops are cute. I always have about 3-4 pairs that I alternate with my various summer outfits. Still, I would never wait in line for them–even if they were $1.00. 🙂
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A few people can get away with wearing them but most people just do not have good enough feet to go around exposing them in that way. I formed my strong opinion because of having to sit next to rivers and oceans waiting for things and in the process, seeing cruise ships disgorge people. The vast majority really should not inflict their feet upon us in this way.
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I grew up with flip flops (when I wasn’t running around barefoot on gravel roads and sandspur infested grass) and they’re very comfortable for indoor or casual outdoor use. There’s lots of times (school or work for two examples) I wouldn’t wear them but in their place they’re great.
As for the beauty think a commenter on another thread (shakti?) has it right. Some Americans care about raw physical beauty but the majority doesn’t feel the need to dress up (or… well for that matter) much of any time.
In Poland I recently heard someone ask “Is this sweater okay to go outside in or would a coat look better?” when they were getting ready to take out the trash.
Different cultures, different priorities…
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Do you mean they care about looking good naked but not dressed? 🙂
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I think that’s pretty much it, this is a culture that worries about fat ankles after all.
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I’m amazed that Americans actually wear flip-flops, they’re the third world’s footwear – ok, the warmer climes anyway!
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