Going barefoot is the practice of not wearing shoes, socks, or other foot covering. ***************** It is more common in developing countries and among poor groups but less common, at least in public, in most industrialized countries due to greater availability of footwear and societal taboos against going barefoot. Some people who live in areas where going barefoot in public is more or less uncommon nonetheless choose to go barefoot in public part or all of the time. Some of these people call themselves barefooters and make an effort to go barefoot as much as possible. Popular surfaces include grass, sand and warm pavement. Many enjoy the sensation of their feet in direct contact with the ground and/or may have other motivations such as perceived spiritual or health benefits. People who self-identify as "barefooters" tend to be those living in developed countries, as the term itself has been popularized primarily via the Internet.**************A significant portion of the population even in developed countries enjoy going barefoot and some are resisting their society's taboo against doing this in public. In the United States social folkways that frown upon bare feet in public are more pronounced in certain parts of the country than others, where they can hardly be said to exist at all. In some industrialized nations such as those of Oceania, people of all ages and backgrounds, while a minority, are seen walking barefoot for pleasure, comfort and style as they go about their daily business in settings where people dress in blue jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sandals or other informal/casual attire. Upscale restaurants and most pubs, however, generally require shoes.**************Some barefooters and social historians old enough to remember American life before the 1960s have theorized that the often inaccurate but nonetheless persistent stereotypical image of the filthy, unkempt, barefoot hippie from the later part of that decade has contributed to an overall change in society's attitude toward the practice of going barefoot in public. The widespread appearance of "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service" signs can be traced to this era, and some decidedly non-hippie individuals and even families who had gone barefoot in public on a regular basis opted to begin wearing shoes, lest they be indentified with opposition to the Vietnam War and other causes associated with the counterculture.**************People who prefer walking barefoot to wearing shoes maintain their barefoot lifestyle is a matter of personal choice that harms no one, intends no disrepect and is consistent with the tradition of individual self-expression that has historically been a cornerstone of liberty in democratic nations. Many barefooters are optimistic that with increased awareness, education and visibility, social acceptance will return to pre-1960s levels and in time, the illogical anti-barefoot sentiment of the late 20th and early 21st centuries will be little more than a footnote in the history of footwear. Some barefooters are now promoting barefoot living as a part of a simpler, more family-oriented way of living. They believe that it is healthier to raise children in a family oriented environment where going barefoot is strongly encouraged.