A man says a planned Dungeons & Dragons game was abruptly canceled after a dispute involving his footwear and his friend’s wife.
In a Reddit post, the 38-year-old explained that he had been invited to play at his friend Alex’s home with four other players. Upon arrival, Alex’s wife asked him to remove his shoes because of a strict no-shoes policy, noting they had a crawling baby in the house.
The man shared that this presented a serious issue: he has epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), a medical condition that makes the skin on his feet extremely fragile.
“Even mild friction or pressure can cause painful blisters and tears, so I have to wear supportive shoes with cushioned orthopedic insoles at all times, even indoors,” he wrote. “Walking barefoot or just in socks causes me pain and can lead to bleeding.”
He said he explained this to Alex’s wife, but she suggested he cover his shoes with grocery bags or socks. He told her that would be unsafe and felt the suggestion was dismissive.
The man also noted that he had texted the group chat a few days before, raising concerns about his condition. According to him, Alex reassured him not to worry, which is why he hadn’t brought a separate pair of indoor shoes.
Ultimately, Alex’s wife refused to allow the shoes in the house, saying she would not “compromise her baby’s health for his comfort.” When Alex arrived, he reportedly told his friend to “just deal with it for a couple hours” or leave.
“I told him I wasn’t going to risk injuring myself over a DnD session, and if my shoes were that big of an issue, I’d respectfully leave,” the man wrote.
After he returned to his car, he overheard Alex’s wife telling the group that the night was canceled because of the “huge scene.”
Many Reddit users sided with Alex and his wife, arguing that the man could have simply covered his shoes as requested. Some also said his reaction to the suggestion was unnecessary.
“Maintenance people do this all the time when they enter homes, it does not affect how well you walk and seems like it would have been a good compromise,” one commenter wrote. “YTA for thinking this is insulting.”
The general consensus was that the man should have respected the household rules. As one person put it: “Her concerns for her child are completely valid, especially in their own home. Heck, just wanting floors that don’t have outside dirt tracked in is valid.”
Another added, “Yes, you have a medical condition, but it’s not your house. You find her wanting you to cover your shoes insulting. Too bad. The soles of shoes are extremely filthy and still not your house.”
