5/22    I'm trying to decide whether to put in tile on the kitchen floor.
        I've been told by many people that hard tile can be bad for your legs
        and back if you stand on it a lot. Nobody has given me a decent answer
        of why that is the case.  The total weight one puts on the floor is the
        same regardless of what surface it is.  Anybody know why?  Thanks.
                -- new homeowner
        \__ A tile floor is harder than a linoleum floor, which means that
        there is less "give" when you step on it. This means that the pressure
        exerted on your feet in response to you stepping on the floor is
        greater because the original force exerted on the floor is not
        dissipated as much. Over time this would mean greater wear and tear
        on your feet, legs, and back. This is, of course, assuming that you
        actually walk across your floor while you're standing on it.
        \_ Would you rather sleep with your head on a pillow or a cement block?
           same total weight, right?
           \_ You should cover your kitchen floor with pillows.
              Preferably big fluffy soft pillows that look like clouds.
              Soft on your feet, wont chip, and not as slippery.
        \_ Ridiculous.  The reason for not using tile in your kitchen is that
           spills will stain the grout and make your floor look like crap.
           You'll never get the stains out. Don't do it. --knows these things
           \_ Grout sealers do a good job of preventing this; that's what
              they use on tiled counter-tops at least. (Or use black grout,
              that's what I've got.) -- Marco
                                        \_ Polo!
                \_ They're not perfect and don't last forever anyway.  The
                   grout is going to stain within 2 years, easy.
        \_ Tiles are more slippery when wet.  Bad if you have kids.
                \_ Here we go with kids again....
           \_ But mopping up blood is a snap with tiles!
           \_ Why is that bad for kids?  There'll be less stupid kids after
              a few slips.  It's Darwin all over again.
        \_ Ceramic tiles will chip and show the clay color under the pretty
           glazed pattern if you drop canned foods or glassware
           on it.  Likely to happen if you have kids or if you are not
           careful.
           \_ as opposed to linoleum, where you drop something sharp, get
              a gouge in it, and have a hole there until you redo the
              ENTIRE FLOOR.
        \_ hardwood with good finish or high quality linoleum.
        \_ tile is just high maintenance.  if you like the look, go for it,
           just as long as you know it's extra work.
        \_ Is this one reason why chinise people wear slippers?
                \_ No.  They're too poor to buy $250 Nike's, dumbshit.
        \_ if you've ever checked the condition of your floor, you might
           notice how dirty it is given the fact that most people don't
           mop or scrub their floors on a daily basis.  Lots of people
           don't like to get this dirt on their feet, and it's
           nothing particular to Chinese people, so get a clue.
           \_ I think it's mainly because people generally do not have
              central heating in places like Taiwan, and the floor is
              pretty cold without slippers or carpets.  This resulted
              in the habit of wearing slippers.
        \_ What kind of tile?  Ceramic?  Mediterranean pavers?
                \_ The kind that makes your kitchen look like a bathroom in
                   a gas station in a bad part of town.