Stinky Socks

While one never puts on shoes without pulling over socks on one’s feet, the other day I noticed one of my colleagues having shoes sans socks. This prompted me to search for explanations for use (or otherwise) of socks. Hence, according to the definition;

A sock is an item of clothing worn on the feet. The foot is among the heaviest producers of sweat in the body, as it is able to produce over a pint of perspiration per day. Socks help to absorb this sweat and draw it to areas where air can evaporate the perspiration. In cold environments, socks provide warmness and decrease the risk of frostbite.

Hence, irrespective of weather conditions, everyone wears socks as part of his formal dress. The trouble starts when one keeps wearing the same pair repeatedly, day after day, resultantly generating unbearable stench around one’s seat. Ironically most of such people remain unaware of this bad habit or tend to be or simply don’t care. And whose socks stink most of the time? Perhaps no one would confess. Interview the wives and majority of them would reveal that their husbands keep wearing dirty and smelly socks without having a feeling of embarrassment.

I remember vividly a hostel-mate who would change his socks only rarely. The horrible odour of filthy & perspirant socks would bar us from visiting his room especially at times when we knew he would dry them out on the edge of study table so that he could again use them next day. One day I was forced to visit him for exchange of study notes and much to my surprise I spotted a stainless bedsheet. I couldn’t resist asking him; Yar! New and clean bedsheet! Amazing! How come a pleasant change? He smiled at me mockingly and replied; I’ve just placed it upside down. Its’ front side has gone dirty. My God! At least he could distinguish clean from dirty. I was lucky not to spot any socks drying up around.

The hazardous areas where you need to be careful of the stinky socks are drawing room (highly polluted because traditionally the guests are requested to put off their shoes. I wish the hosts asked for putting off socks as well! ), living room (people would always put off shoes and stretch their legs on center table so that everyone around could get benefitted of socksy-aroma while they enjoy watching silly and incessant talk shows on TV), and, of course, bedroom (Poor wife! she has to live up with all kinds of hubby’s smells).

Some hosts are quite caring and kind; while they request you to put off the shoes before entering the drawing room, they also spray your socks with eau de toilette.

So, how frequently one needs to change the socks?

Ask yourself or your wife preferably.