The Casual Footwear Trend

What is it with this "casual footwear in the office" trend? I am sick of hearing FLAPFLAPFLAPFLAP as someone in flipflops makes their way down the hall. There's a reason they call them that and it ain't complimentary! In yesterday's conference I noticed several people--men and women-- wearing gardening clogs. You know those big, heavy vented plasticky things that come in a range of strange colors that people wear to pull weeds? When did THIS become acceptable work attire? What's next, paper hospital slippers? Jeezlouise!