You'll have to pardon me, but,,,,,

[SeaCat]

After a pint or two too many I have come up with a question for the board. What are your views on public nudity? (Pardon me if this has been posted before.) My views closely follow the author R.H. Henlein. There is no such thing as Indecent exposure. Personaly I would love to see it if they made it so that all clothing is voluntary. Yes clothing isimportant if you are fighting the elements, ie. cold, but what other use is it ther than that?
Personaly I view the laws on clothing as created by the few who wish to controll the many by saying it is a sin. Nudity is equal to sex outside of marriage which is a carnal sin.
What are your views on this?

SeaCat

 

[Just_John1]

Hmmm...

Its kind of difficult to explain to the kids on the way to the baseball game why the big fat guy on the subway has such a small dick though...

JJ1

 

[kellycummings]

I never knew Heinlein thought that way but thinking back on some of his books, he did have a very casual attitude about nudity.
Personally, I couldn't care less but since you're talking about public nudity you'd have to consider children and adults who don't want to see it. If everyone had the same attitude it wouldn't be a problem but that aint gonna happen.

 

[kellycummings]

Re: Hmmm...

Its kind of difficult to explain to the kids on the way to the baseball game why the big fat guy on the subway has such a small dick though...

JJ1

Thankfully I had just put down my coffee when I read that. LOL

 

[destinie21]

I find the human form beautiful and I think public nudity is fin so long as it's sanctioned. making clothes voluntary would be great if I could have voluntary or selective vision.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I also think the human form is a marvel to behold, but I also know that spandex is not everyone's friend. If I am having a romantic night out with someone speial, I really prefer the waiter, chef and partons be clothed. Ditto if I get on a crowded subway and someone just got up to get off at their stop, I would prefer they have pants or a skirt or something between thier butts and the seat. Like wise if I take a seat inthe park to admire the beauty I would rather not have Ed the plumber taking a stoll and showing off his packeage and gut.

Clothes can be nice, at the very least they are a courtey to eveyone around you who may not wish to see that scar you got as a kid on your tricycle.

-Colly

 

[flawed_ethics]

Can you imagine an all nude resturant? The chef would be wearing more than just a hair-net!

Whatever you want to do in the privacy of your own home is fine. As for in public, I think society as a whole is still far too immature to handle the concept decently. There'd be too much groping or 'accidental' rubbing and bumping of certian organs.

In a utopian society - sure, no problem. Nuff said.

 

[minsue]

Can you imagine an all nude resturant? The chef would be wearing more than just a hair-net!

Now there's a concept that'll be stuck in my brain for awhile!

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I know that clothing is all about social standards, but I also know that nudist colonies exist and that they aren't full. Many people use clothing to hide or protect themselves. Society is far too judgmental for most people to strut around baring all or even half. Just think of how we treat people for wearing baggy pants that sag half past their ass, or overweight people that wear form fitting clothes.

I like clothing, simply because what's beneath it (in my case) is special to me and I am allowed to choose who sees it. Your physical self is one of the only things that is just yours and whom you choose to allow access is an important thing.

I know you're speaking generally and I don't think there's anything wrong with the human form...I'd love to see more sheer clothing or shorter skirts and more low cut blouses. But when it comes to sanitary issues, the prospect of public nudity is ghastly. (Not to mention, if my former boss had run around in any less clothing I never would've gotten a damn thing done.)

Had Adam never bitten that apple, things might be different. But as things stand now, there is no way in hell the public will go for it. People have way too much to hide.

~lucky

A side note: One thing that has always irritated me, though, was why men can run around topless and women can't. I don't think it should be a big deal for women's breasts to show at the pool or beach. Just because men don't attach babies to their nipples doesn't mean theirs are less of a focal point or object of desirous attention for many. (This stems from bitterness over a Cancun trip last year where topless women ran around all over the place and I loved it. Didn't bother me or anyone else in my party in the least. What's the big deal?)

 

[dirtylover]

re

I'm not a fan of nudism. More because of aesthetics and practicalities, rather than conservatism. Wouldn't mind seeing

a Cancun trip last year where topless women ran around all over the place

though.

 

[Guest]

I prefer nudity in private, or on a webcam (with the right audience of course).

Perdita

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

To say nothing of the complications between those seated and the strap hangers.

Ah ha ha. I like being seated with a male strap hanger in front of me. I've perfected pretending to read.

Perdita

 

[rgraham666]

I think it will be a long time before most human societies will be ready to accept nudity as an everyday and unimportant thing.

I'm thinking of an incident several years ago.

On a very hot summer's day, I am walking south on a street. On the other side, northbound, is a guy with no shirt. His gut literally hung down to his knees. Put me right off my lunch that sight did.

So I at least, have a ways to go before I'll be able to handle nudity of all types.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I'm only offended with public nudity if the person in question is ugly.

 

[SeaCat]

I agree with much of what you have said.

In a utopian society it would not be a problem, but in all of the societies I have had the enjoyment of visiting it could be a problem. There are problems with it this is true. My problems with it are the ones dealing with hygene, as well as with aesthetics.
Hygene. It is too true I would not want to park my butt, or anyone elses butt where some people have been sitting. After working in a hospital for a couple of years I am still amazed at how many people treat their bodies, and many of these people are highly successful, inteligent people. (Surprising to many it is the fact that the people in the lower income brackets, with a lower education level are the ones who seem to take more pride in their personal hygene.)
As for aesthetics, well I live in southern Florida and have made the mistake of going to some public beaches during the winterwhen everyone from out of state is there as well. My wife and I have been thrown off our feed more than once by obese people wearing bikini's or thongs. What is even worse though are these same people only with more body hair than the apes in the zoo. (Not something I want to see walking out of the water at me, shudder.) (I still say there should be a law against the truly ugly working at the makeup counters in department stores. I've seen this too many times while out shopping with my wife.)
What would be nice though would be the ability to go to a beach, (other than those which are hidden away and charge large fees for entry,) and be able to find a place where you can chose not to wear clothing. Maybe we could make our beaches like they do in some places in Europe. Section them, one section for clothing only, one section for clothing optional, and one section for no clothing.
As for women going topless, I'm all for it and personaly think the law is stupid. (Then again I think many of my countries laws are stupid but we won't open that can of worms right now.)
Clothing can be and is usefull. It can entice people. (It is much more erotic if you leave a little something to the imagination, why do you think Lingerie is so popular?) It can hide deformities or disfigurments, and it is a great protection against the elements and other hazards. Unfortunately it also leads to taboos, stereotypes and judgments, as well as in some cases even crime.
Well, maybe some day we as a people will wake up and grow up, one can only hope.

Cat

 

[SlickTony]

I think society as a whole is still far too immature to handle the concept decently. There'd be too much groping or 'accidental' rubbing and bumping of certian organs

Don't let's forget that there are, or at least there used to be, many societies in which people ran around naked, or at least, in very little clothing. A look at National Geographic will show you tribes in Africa where young women go bare-breasted to indicate their unmarried status, just as women in western society wore their hair long and then put it up after they were out of circulation; and I believe that up until early in the 20th century (if there are any Aussies out there with a bent for social history, please corroborate or set me straight, either one) a hair g-string was the only thing that Aborigines ever wore, especially when they were way out there in the Outback and not coming in daily contact with Anglo society.

Naturist friends inform me that no Naturist goes anywhere without their little towel to put between their butts and whatever they're sitting on.