# A word of warning about flip flops **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507 "2014-07-31T17:41:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/21 "2014-07-31T23:09:24Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > [FOX 5 New York](http://www.myfoxny.com/story/26163154/woman-plunges-to-death-over-cliff-in-catskills) > > Woman plunges to death over cliff in Catskills Took out some of the article. You posted it all which may be a violation of copyright, so just to be safe, I gave it a trim. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/22 "2014-07-31T23:16:46Z")
I was on the unfortunate receiving end of a car wreck about 15 years ago. Young girl with a new license got her flip flops snagged in the pedals and couldn’t stop in time. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/23 "2014-07-31T23:31:25Z")
I wear them any and everywhere and have never suffered injury as a result. Plus my feet are in fantastic condition. Overly “supportive” shoes causing muscle atrophy is the real problem. I guess if someone normally keeps their feet in some sort of rigid constraint and then suddenly tries to wear flip flops for extended periods, they would lack the needed musculature and could injure themselves further. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/24 "2014-07-31T23:46:27Z")
I wore very thick soled flip flops most of the time when I was off duty when I was stationed in the Bahamas. I thought they were appropriate. It took maybe 2 years for the tan lines on my feet to fade after I was transferred. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/25 "2014-07-31T23:59:18Z")
Here in Australia we call them thongs. (Pause for Jokes). (Pause some more). (Yep, heard that one, too). Anyway, we wear them a lot - just good for hanging around, when you want to protect your feet from gravel, or some other minor potential hazards. You normally don’t wear them in the wet, but if you slip them on just to go out to the garage for a sec, or put something in the rubbish - if the concrete or paving is wet, they can be very slippery - it’s like the thongs almost aquaplane. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/26 "2014-08-01T00:26:27Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Here in Australia we call them thongs. As did we years ago when I was a kid. Flip flops was a later name in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/27 "2014-08-01T03:37:31Z")
I don’t think the majority of people are standing on cliffs and not paying attention while wearing flip-flops, so they’re probably okay. (Yeah, we called them thongs when I was a kid too. I definitely prefer the shoe type.) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/28 "2014-08-01T03:43:01Z")
I knew them as “zoris” growing up. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/29 "2014-08-01T04:07:04Z")
I’ve got 3 pair of thongs, for different uses. My dress thongs have a thick sole (with built in bottle opener) that actually has some grip and a canvas rather than rubber strap bit. the molded rubber set that are for distance cruising in the hot weather, wearing to the beach and in water The el cheapo crap pair that usually sit around the back door that I can grab when i’m bare foot and want something on to go out in the yard. Nah, I’m not bogan much. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/30 "2014-08-01T04:11:48Z")
They’re pretty much required wear in Hawaii. Here too. I seem to recall it’s illegal to drive while wearing them in some locations but can’t recall exactly where. If it’s Hawaii, then there are a whole lot of lawbreakers driving around. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/31 "2014-08-01T04:29:20Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > I’ve got 3 pair of thongs, for different uses. > > My dress thongs have a thick sole (with built in bottle opener) that actually has some grip and a canvas rather than rubber strap bit. > > the molded rubber set that are for distance cruising in the hot weather, wearing to the beach and in water > > The el cheapo crap pair that usually sit around the back door that I can grab when i’m bare foot and want something on to go out in the yard. > > Nah, I’m not bogan much. Mate you’re not a bogan just an Aussie. Yep thongs at the back door are a must. I wear mine in the summer a lot and have never had any issues but I don’t go bushwalking in them. ---
**Author:** ![7e42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/51bf81/32.png) [@7e42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7e42)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/32 "2014-08-01T04:36:55Z")
I always thought flip flops were for the beach Looks so stupid for women to wear them on a city street ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/33 "2014-08-01T05:11:03Z")
I like [Tiddies](http://www.mytiddies.com/home.php?cat=283). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/34 "2014-08-01T06:00:49Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > Never ever ride or drive a motorcycle while wearing flip flops. Just saying. Or ride a pushbike in them. You should see the scar on my foot. Even medical personnel are usually impressed. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/35 "2014-08-01T10:00:06Z")
IIRC, it’s actually unlawful to wear thongs when driving a car in Australia. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/36 "2014-08-01T11:10:10Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > you’d be better off with real shoes if you are going to push a power mower. I was mowing my lawn once, barefoot (it was drizzling, but I had to get the grass done). My neighbor came over to warn me that they were having company, and he was a cop. After much 😕 , I figured out that she thought it was illegal to mow barefoot. I tried explaining that some things were stupid/dangerous, but not illegal. She insisted my mowing was illegal and she was being neighborly by warning me. > [@susan](#): > > I knew them as “zoris” growing up. When I was a kid, half the town called them “flip flops”, half called them “thongs”. But there was a weird family that called them “zories”. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/37 "2014-08-01T11:58:04Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I knew them as “zoris” growing up. I did as well - Jersey, early 1960s or thereabouts. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/38 "2014-08-01T13:09:09Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I never understood how people wear flip flops anyway. I always feel like I have to curl my toes to keep the things from flying off my foot. I get that too. I would like to be able to enjoy flip-flops, but they always feel like they are about to fall off my feet, so I end up walking in a curled-toed shuffle. What is the secret? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/39 "2014-08-01T14:05:07Z")
I love 'em, wear them all I can and find them extremely comfortable. (Brace yourselves…) When it gets cool by the lake, at night, I don’t hesitate to wear socks with them. Even though it irritates my friends, I’m aware. (Deep breath, deep breath,…) I don’t drive a car and change to real footwear for lawn mowing and bike riding, hiking and climbing. But I’m certain I’ve been caught wearing them when I maybe ought not. _::::shrug:::::_ ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507/40 "2014-08-01T14:23:28Z")
Do not wear flip-flops when working with horses! You cannot dodge or take that safety step backwards [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-word-of-warning-about-flip-flops/694507.md?page=3)