Nudity and Americans

[SNOWFLAKE]

I was inspired to post this due to this article:

Can Prude Americans Handle the Rise of Clothing-Optional Bathing Culture?

Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show you around.

www.fodors.com

A bit lengthy, but some tidbits:

It’s no secret that America was founded on Puritanism and that the ideals of this religious reform movement are still the foundation on which many of us are raised. Having grown up in a strict religious household, I can attest to the fact that I was brought up to believe that all nudity—outside of the context of sex within marriage—was inappropriate and, dare I say it, evil.
This may explain why, in contrast to Europeans, we are uncomfortable when we see a woman nursing her child in public, a naked toddler, or a woman topless at the beach (while public nudity is illegal in many States, women do have the right to be topless in Canada, just most choose not to). We are taught from a young age that nudity is something to be hidden, to be ashamed of in a public setting, and that it invites unsuitable behavior.

So, the poll asks, where or when is nudity appropriate, even partial nudity, as in topless women, or breast feeding.

 

[Lutherf]

I was in Cyprus last year. Nude sunbathing wasn't unusual. I don't have a problem with it but, in general, if you're 70+ and shaped like a refrigerator then a little discretion would be appreciated.

 

[Lycanthrope]

I was in Scandinavia two weeks ago. They (Swedes, Danes, Norwegians) have little problem moving from sauna to cold plunge and back naked.

Context is important, but in general Americans are far too uptight about nudity.

 

[Hello My Son]

Randomly in public, no. In settings that it's designated and everyone knows what they're signing up for when they enter, all good.

Nobody deserves to be ambushed in public by someone with horrible sexual boundaries and potentially weird-ass fetishes.

 

[Mr Person]

Designated areas, whatever.

I don't want your raw taint on the bench I'm about to sit on, thanks.


That said.. I've always looked askance at the statement "the body is not sexual", because

1. Genitals have explicit sexual function.

2. Other parts have undeniable secondary sexual characteristics, ie, breasts (theory: 'cause they imply better breastfeeding), buttocks ('cause they imply better thrusting, and 'cause proximity to genitals)

3. Considering the human mind is attached to the human body, talking about whether the "body" itself or not is sexual is silly.



That said, there are absolutely non-sexual situations for bodies with mind, ie, medical treatment. Or severe emergency. If you're pulling someone from rubble, nobody is worried about anyone's junk.

But then, if a perfectly attractive naked person of the sex you are attracted to is walking around in front of you, don't try to tell me that does not in any way invoke sexuality. You're gonna look, and it's not because you're an artist trying to figure out how to portray the shadows. (And even then.. artists often had to hire prostitutes to pose, and guess what often ended up happening during the session)

 

[Lovebug]

I was in Cyprus last year. Nude sunbathing wasn't unusual.

Been nude swimming myself, not a problem.

I don't have a problem with it but, in general, if you're 70+ and shaped like a refrigerator then a little discretion would be appreciated.

Ok, some people look better dressed but that's not the point.
Look them in the eyes and don't judge them by their appearance.

 

[Risky Thicket]

I was in Cyprus last year. Nude sunbathing wasn't unusual. I don't have a problem with it but, in general, if you're 70+ and shaped like a refrigerator then a little discretion would be appreciated.

So they called you names and threw beer cans at you and made fun of your date? These things happen.

 

[Aristaeus]

In England, public nudity is legal anywhere as long as you're not doing anything sexual. You could walk down the high street stark naked and not be committing any crime.

I'm going to Germany in a few weeks time. One of the things I'm planning is going to a sauna, which in Germany are nude and mixed sex.

 

[Aristaeus]

Been nude swimming myself, not a problem.

.

Last year I did a skinny dip with 1500 other people. Fun, but the water was cold.

 

[Slartibartfast]

I don’t care as long as people aren’t actively being sexual in public. Normal nudity doesn’t mean anything.

 

[Lutherf]

So they called you names and threw beer cans at you and made fun of your date? These things happen.

LMAO!!

Hey, I was fully clothed and lots of people appreciated my Borat mankini and Jack Black body.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

with horrible sexual boundaries and potentially weird-ass fetishes.

So you are assuming anyone who is topless or nude has weird-ass fetishes?

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Designated areas, whatever.

I don't want your raw taint on the bench I'm about to sit on, thanks.


That said.. I've always looked askance at the statement "the body is not sexual", because

1. Genitals have explicit sexual function.

2. Other parts have undeniable secondary sexual characteristics, ie, breasts (theory: 'cause they imply better breastfeeding), buttocks ('cause they imply better thrusting, and 'cause proximity to genitals)

3. Considering the human mind is attached to the human body, talking about whether the "body" itself or not is sexual is silly.



That said, there are absolutely non-sexual situations for bodies with mind, ie, medical treatment. Or severe emergency. If you're pulling someone from rubble, nobody is worried about anyone's junk.

But then, if a perfectly attractive naked person of the sex you are attracted to is walking around in front of you, don't try to tell me that does not in any way invoke sexuality. You're gonna look, and it's not because you're an artist trying to figure out how to portray the shadows. (And even then.. artists often had to hire prostitutes to pose, and guess what often ended up happening during the session)

Hmmm, didn't figure you for one of our more "conservative" types when it came to nudity.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Look them in the eyes and don't judge them by their appearance.

We tend to look at disasters as well as beautiful sights, it's in our nature.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

In England, public nudity is legal anywhere as long as you're not doing anything sexual. You could walk down the high street stark naked and not be committing any crime.

I'm going to Germany in a few weeks time. One of the things I'm planning is going to a sauna, which in Germany are nude and mixed sex.

Trouble with nudity in England anywhere is that you bound to get wet and cold.

 

[KingLeo]

I was recently in Germany, Berlin in fact, and it was interesting how different the Germans view nudity as no big deal. Even German TV and other media tends to censor violence in programs but not nudity. Kind of the complete opposite of what we experience here in the US.

 

[btthegreat]

Some people look better in a swimsuit than others. Some look better without a shirt than others or with their thighs uncovered. I don't want these decisions made because of body shame. Everyone gets to go swimming or to the beach. We can handle unattractive people in our lives and sights. Same is true of sagging breasts or fat cheeks, or a hairy mole on the face, or a burn scar on the arms. I repeat, we can handle unattractive people in our lives and sights and we had better do a good job of it, if we want people to live active social lives, rather than sit in front of a computer screeen. Body shame is not healthy for society.

 

[Bodi]

Americans get bashed for nudity and it is like the rest of the world forgets that America lead the world in ****ing weirdos raping and murdering people and mass shootings. Do we want these people to be allowed to run around naked now?

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

I was recently in Germany, Berlin in fact, and it was interesting how different the Germans view nudity as no big deal. Even German TV and other media tends to censor violence in programs but not nudity. Kind of the complete opposite of what we experience here in the US.

Yeah, show an image of someone's brain being blown out and some Americans think that's cool, but show them some tits they freak out.

 

[btthegreat]

Americans get bashed for nudity and it is like the rest of the world forgets that America lead the world in ****ing weirdos raping and murdering people and mass shootings. Do we want these people to be allowed to run around naked now?

Looks like American state bans of nudity did not stop those rapes or murders or mass shootings, doesn't it.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Looks like American state bans of nudity did not stop those rapes or murders or mass shootings, doesn't it.

Not like nude people can conceal a lot of weapons on their person.

 

[btthegreat]

Not like nude people can conceal a lot of weapons on their person.

Not a lot of street brawls I would imagine either.

Maybe among the options for sentencing, judges could ban the wearing of clothing among gang members! Imagine if the Latin Kings, and the Aryan Brotherhood had to be nude if they left their homes as a condition of parole.

 

[quip]

Chronic, domestic, late-stage obesity....a hard 'no' to PDNs.

 

[jaypatriot]

I was inspired to post this due to this article:

Can Prude Americans Handle the Rise of Clothing-Optional Bathing Culture?

Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show you around.

www.fodors.com

A bit lengthy, but some tidbits:


So, the poll asks, where or when is nudity appropriate, even partial nudity, as in topless women, or breast feeding.

I feel comfortable walking along a nude beach where there are no children present. After all, what could happen?
Perhaps I could attract the right attention?

 

[Phys251]

I was inspired to post this due to this article:

Can Prude Americans Handle the Rise of Clothing-Optional Bathing Culture?

Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show you around.

www.fodors.com

A bit lengthy, but some tidbits:


So, the poll asks, where or when is nudity appropriate, even partial nudity, as in topless women, or breast feeding.

Most Americans are way too uptight about nudity. It's just a human body, and our culture chooses to sexualize it.

Once the clothes are off, we're a lot more alike than we think.