Your house, your rules!
(originally posted on Bubblews)

In 2011 I visited the Vatican City.
To visit the St Peter's Basilica we have to pass through a check control, similar to those you see in the airports to see if you are entering with anything dangerous but they also check how you are dressed. They have a dress code, a simple one, but still one.

So if your shoulders and/or upper legs are exposed you cannot enter. That's the rules.

It is a rule not only for the Basilica but a lot of churches in Italy have that rule, so when I travel there I'm always carrying a scarves to cover my shoulders.

Anyway in 2011 I was about to enter the Basilica and in front of me were some young people screaming (in Portuguese to my shame) something like: "WHY CAN'T I COME IN IN SHORTS? JUST BECAUSE IT IS A CHURCH?"

Well... does it matter what it is? It's a property, a private one, that let you in for free if you follow some rules, if you don't you won't come in. It's simple really...

In your house you make the rules, in their house the rules are theirs. I'm not going to your house to tell you how ridiculous it is the way you are living... If I find it ridiculous I just don't go, if I want to go I follow your rules... right? It is a church, but could be a court, a parliament, a café, or your house. It's the rules.