Make. It. Stop.

Wow, this is really embarrassing. With everything this country is going through right now--so many people out of work, our brothers and sisters being killed in Iraq, the threat of terrorism, and yes, global warming--do you think anyone cares about this? Get a life. I'm embarrassed that I even read this actually...

I broke my foot and the only shoe I was able to wear for 2 years were crocks. Thanks to crocks I was able to work and get out my house. Lot's of places do not let you in if you are barefoot.
I agree they are not the most fashionable shoes, but they have their purpose. People with feet issues, sensory issues as well as people with allergies found a shoe that works.
Before you cast the first stone, make sure you have all the facts. Maybe you will break your foot and who knows, we will see you with the almighty shoe!

I totally agree...but, what about Uggs? They, too, should be banished as should the idiots wearing them in the Summer with SHORTS!!! What the hell is wrong with the general public? i.e.: 99% of you!

They are pretty ugly looking. It is kind of A stupid topic but I was in the same boat. I made fun of people that would wear these things. Then I was deported to Iraq for A year and when I was given A free pair of crocs, I tried them out. Its no fashion show out here so who cares right? Exactly nobody. We use them as shower shoes and they actually are comfortable. I guess what im saying is, dont knock em til you try em. If you hate crocs that much, dont buy them.

such a hater!!

I don't know about getting caught in escalators or recycling and I don't care about fashion. What can say for sure, is that for a person like me who spends a great deal of time in and around the ocean there is no better shoe. I love my flip flops but they aren't to good for walking around on the rocks. Crocs never get stinky from the sea, they float, they get good traction on wet surfaces, and they will not rot from the sea and sun. I guess it's more the material that I like than the design of the shoe. There is other equipment used in and around the ocean that is made from the same material and also sets the standard for it's application.

I am a big fan and so are many of the fellas from Hawaii........ Brother you would be in a bad way if you tried to assault this "Dorc".

To the parents who are worried about there kids getting stuck in the escalators, YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO GROW UP WEAK ANYWAY with parents like you!!! If your kid gets sucked into the escalator by their slip on shoe made from soft foam..........Well thats called natural selection. I would be a bit more worried about hanging shoe laces. God forbid they ever leave the city and find them selves in the outdoors where their is actually real danger.

Siah

I think this article was hilarious!! I agree 100%! My sister bought a pair recently and I made fun of her for it. She works in the boating industry and blabbered on about how practical they are though she never is actually on a boat herself and has no real use or need for them other than for fashion. I am reminded of the "jellies" fad of the eighties myself, my sister and all of our childhood friends succumbed to along with New Kids on the Block and other embarassing things whenever I see them. I noticed a lot of people writing in to defend their purchases which I find as hilarious and the croc fashion fad. I can kind of understand there are those who need to wear them for medical reasons and my boyfriend has a pair for work purposes (he works on yachts) but I would refuse to walk beside a friend in public wearing those things and would photograph them wearing them to embarass them in the future with (just like my pictures of me wearing jellies and hammer pants from the eighties).

They are pretty ugly looking. It is kind of A stupid topic but I was in the same boat. I made fun of people that would wear these things. Then I was deported to Iraq for A year and when I was given A free pair of crocs, I tried them out. Its no fashion show out here so who cares right? Exactly nobody. We use them as shower shoes and they actually are comfortable. I guess what im saying is, dont knock em til you try em. If you hate crocs that much, dont buy them.

maybe crocs are ugly but so is your t-shirt and kaki shorts but do you see anyone writting an article about them. apparantly the number of people that like crocs out number the ones who dont otherwise they wouldnt be everywhere. they are comfortable and are very easy to keep clean which makes them the perfect shoe for doctors offices and schools. I would much rather see my teacher or doctor in crocs than in some worn out pair of shoes. so maybe you should keep your opinion to your self. we cant make you like them and you cant make us hate them. so keep your thoughts to yourself.

Wow, there are people who feel more strongly about tasteless shoes than even I do. Aesthetics are important to me, even when being comfortable. While I never spent a huge amount of energy hating Crocs, or really paying attention to them for that matter, on the occassion that I did notice them all I could think is how could people wear such ugly shoes? Why? Why?! But then again, I have a thing against all bright, ugly plastic (or plastic-looking) things, and that includes bottles, boxes, etc. Personally I like anything you'd find over a 100 years ago: wood, metal, fabric, glass, etc. I don't like living in a 'plastic' world.

So, this guy doesn't really have a reason for hating these shoes, he's just bored and needs to bitch? Did anyone get anything else out of that extra long "nothing" article? I really expected it to be something worth while since it was "front page" news on newsweek. (So much for the intelligence of newsweek.) *sigh* another 3 minutes I'll never get back.

Would someone please tell me how on earth this qualifies as news? Did you not have anything else better to report on than the fact that there are a lot of people who would much rather wear something comfortable rather than what's "fashionable"?

Maybe Crocs aren't attractive. But I would SO much rather see them than look at another pair of scuffed, stained, grotesque, or even BRAND NEW.....BIRKENSTOCKS! You have just GOT to agree that BIRKENSTOCKS are the god-awfullest, most foul, repugnant and blue ribbon most sickeningly ugly footwear ever to have been donned by humans. They are the worst excuse for shoes that I have ever seen. They don't even TRY to be attractive. Horrible, just simply horrible. If that's all you've got, just go barefoot! I'd rather see someone's dirty, ragged toenails than look at those mushy, sorry, moth-eaten-appearing suede nightmares. Crocs - not so good. Birkenstocks - AAEEEEEIIIIIIII!!!!

I am SO damn lucky. I going to give my dad a big hug for not teaching me to find things to hate about others.

OMG, this is funny! My 10 year old son and I sat here reading it and we laughed our butts off! You think YOU'RE a late bloomer. I'm 38 years old and didn't know what those things were made of, what they were originally used for, or that "fashionistas" have poo-pooed them. LOL I just plain think they are ugly. LOL My son says: "I really like your statement in paragraph nine about "leaving the house in neon green Crocs". I laughed so hard! Thanks for the great laugh. Oh, BTW, I don't own the things and would NEVER allow my son to wear them as well.

i understand how many people may feel about crocs. and i am not an advocate of following after anything just because everyone else is doing it. but my reason for buying crocs has been different than most people. i suffer from something called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome. It affects my feet, sometimes even to the point where I cannot walk on them. At one point it was affecting my feet so badly that I could not wear any type of shoes that I had - and it was too agonizing of a pain to be able to wear them anywhere. I reluctantly was brought some crocs by a relative, and was deeply surprised that I could wear them - and that if i bought a black closed toe pair and wore them with a nice long pair of slacks, that I could even go out somewhere nice. crocs, to my chagrin, became a lifesaver to me. and i find myself grateful. just something to think about.

This author needs to try out a pair of Crocs, in order to have a valid argument based on experience rather than superficial features. The value of these shoes is their comfort rather than their appearance. They are not hot, with all the holes. Nevertheless, I wash mine regularly. Mine are neutral beige so the color selected is individual choice. I rarely wear them outside the house or yard...for me they are not my professional shoes. My husband and I recently read where a humanitarian company was collecting discarded Crocs to melt down and fashion shoes for needy children around the world.

I was probably one of those "dorks" you and your son like to count on Old Town. I had no idea that a rubber shoe could cause such hatred in anyone, but frankly as the mother of two children on the Autism spectrum I don't have alot of time to ponder the fashion value of Crocs. I just know they are the most comfortable pair of shoes I've ever worn, and my other mom friend who has two autistic kids feels the same way. They are easy to take on and off, and you can easily run after you autistic three year old who can't self regulate and runs away from you constantly. My autistic mom friend and I could care less about the "style" value they offer, so if they are building up in the warehouse great! We have both said we will be wearing them long after they go out of style. I know two people who will be buying them in volume when the price drops so we can keep up
with our kids. I don't even care if they are peacock blue or not.. Maybe I'll write a song: "I was a crock wearer when crocks weren't even cruel"

I'll admit, at first, I thought Crocs were hideous. Hell, I even practically protested my husband going to work for them. HOWEVER, since being hit by a drunk driver 6 mo's ago & left w/a spinal injury making it almost impossible for me to bend over & walk on some days, I've come to love Crocs. Yes, I'm a convert. And for the record, not ALL of Crocs shoes look like hideous clogs made of swiss cheese, they have a sandal line that's quite nice & even dress shoes. I own both a pair of their ballarina flats (no HOLES, look like normal flats) & a a pair of their Mary-Jane style, suede (YES, SUEDE!) flats as well; I get comments on both pairs of shoes ALL THE TIME & ppl never fail to be stund when I tell them, "Thanks, they're Crocs." And YES, they are comfortable.