Keep Off The Grass!

Okay, so yesterday I got chastised (well, I got a dirty look, anyway) for walking on the grass, instead of choosing one of the myriad paved paths that crisscross the campus, trying to predict any possible path one might be interested in taking. Well, there wasn't a path that anticipated my needs, so being the adventurous soul that I am I struck out on my own. I was pulled up short by a disapproving look from a passerby indicating that I should keep off the grass. I kept going anyway, but what is up with that?
Oh, yes, by all means, save the grass - it is endangered, isn't it? Since when did grass become so prized that we are only allowed to look, not touch, like it's a piece of art? It's GRASS. How did it gain status over all the other plants that seek to populate our lawns? Is it prettier? Not really. Easier to maintain? Not hardly and if you doubt me go to any suburban neighborhood on an Saturday afternoon and witness the extensive landscape maintenance taking place.
Okay, so if that's not it, what is the redeeming feature of grass? Well, it's nice to walk on in your bare feet, that I cannot dispute. Too bad that is frowned upon. Moreover, if you do choose to rebel and walk on it, you definitely cannot do so barefoot! If you did, with the chemicals used to maintain said lovely-to-walk-on-grass, your children would have three heads.