Whether or not it is appropriate to wear sunglasses indoors has been a matter of debate for years. It’s a debate that seems to have no resolution. So, for the sake of the argument, let’s say that wearing your shades indoors is okay under some circumstances. That would also have to mean there are other times when it’s not okay.
The basic premise behind not wearing sunglasses indoors is that doing so is considered rude. People want to be able to look you in the eye when greeting or conversing with you, which they cannot do if your eyes are covered. The other side of the coin are those people who wear sunglasses constantly due to medical reasons. They make a good point about never removing their shades.
In the interest of settling this question once and for all, a compromise is in order. So unless you’re suffering from a medical condition that requires you to wear sunglasses in every environment, here is a list of buildings at which you should always remove your shades prior to entering:
Houses of Worship
When you visit a house of worship, you are supposed to have nothing to hide, right? Well, wearing your shades in a church gives just the opposite impression. It tells the priest, imam, rabbi, pastor, etc. that you’re up to something. And even if you forget to remove your shades when you’re entering a church, absolutely don’t forget when you’re entering a confessional. Who knows what kind of signal you’ll send attempting to confess with your eyes concealed.
Art Museums
There is only one class of people capable of getting away with wearing sunglasses in an art museum: artists. If you are not one of them, do not even think about it. You’re just not cool enough to compete with all those classic works of art hanging on the walls and setting atop pedestals. Even worse, other patrons might confuse you for a shades-wearing artist. Imagine your embarrassment if someone were to ask you a question about some Renaissance painter you’ve never heard of.
Gyms and Fitness Centers
There’s absolutely no practical reason to wear sunglasses inside a gym or fitness center. And according to Olympic Eyewear, a Utah designer and wholesaler of fashion sunglasses, wearing a pair while inside your local gym could actually be dangerous. Sunglasses could prevent you from seeing clearly while you are walking on the treadmill. They could fog up in the sauna and send you tumbling head over heels into a pile of hot coals.
Bank Branches
People who rob banks wear sunglasses and hats. Need we say more? Probably not.
The Doctor’s Office
Show up at the doctor’s office wearing a pair of sunglasses and the receptionist may assume you just forgot to take them off. Keep wearing them right into the exam room and you have just created a problem for yourself. Your doctor will assume there is something wrong and put you through a regimen of tests checking for everything from glaucoma to macular degeneration – “just to be sure.” You’ll end up with an expensive prescription whether you need one or not.
Your Lawyer’s Office
Last but not least is your lawyer’s office. If you don’t understand why, go back and read about houses of worship. Lawyers don’t like people who are hiding things. They would rather see you with shifty eyes than shades.
Of course, all of this is in complete jest. We live in the United States of America. Feel free to wear your shades wherever you want, unless doing so is strictly prohibited by property owners.
