AITA for refusing to take the shoes off at a friend’s place? – my rare medical condition means I must wear shoes indoors
This AITA story went viral on Reddit.
A 38-year-old man was invited to a Dungeons & Dragons session at his friend Alex’s house. When he arrived, Alex’s wife immediately asked him to take off his shoes, since they have a strict no-shoes policy because of their crawling baby.
The guest explained he suffers from epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), a painful skin condition that makes his feet extremely fragile. Without cushioned orthopedic shoes, he risks painful blisters, bleeding, and tears in the skin.
Instead of accepting this, Alex’s wife suggested “grocery bags or socks over the shoes,” which he found unsafe and insulting. When Alex joined, he sided with his wife and told his friend to “just deal with it for a couple hours.” The guest refused, saying he wouldn’t risk injury just to play DnD, and left.
Later, Alex canceled the entire session, blaming him for “making a scene.” Some mutual friends say he overreacted, others blame Alex and his wife.
AITA for refusing to take my shoes off in my friend’s house, even though his wife canceled the DnD session for everyone?
This story raises bigger questions:
- Should house rules bend when genuine health issues are involved?
- How should friends balance protecting children with accommodating medical conditions?
- Was canceling the entire DnD session an overreaction?
From both a moral and practical standpoint, OP wasn’t wrong here. Protecting one’s health is not negotiable. The real failure was in communication and empathy from the hosts.
Community Reactions
- Supportive Views: Many commenters felt the poster was justified, citing the medical necessity. They stressed that no game is worth risking health.
- Critical Views: Some argued that the poster could have compromised, such as playing at a different location, though these suggestions often ignored the immediacy of the situation.
- Neutral Perspectives: Others focused on the broader social tension: how friends might handle conflicting obligations when one person’s needs prevent group activities.
Source: Reddit