Talk Elections

A good question to see where people fall on the moralistic spectrum.

It's messed up we are all disgusted by the human body in the first place.  Yea, legalize, but put some signs up.  

And I offer a challenge to anyone to convince be being naked is somehow ammoral.  

I think you mean "immoral."  Amoral would mean that it is neither right nor wrong.

If you had asked me this question 20 years ago, before I'd ever visited a nudie beach, I'd have said Yes.  Now that I've been to a couple and had to stare at some octogenarians shriveled wrinkled elevator-button penis, and at some overweight sow's oversized asscheeks, I can honestly say that I'm glad most americans aren't walking around nude.

I do favor egalitarianism in this respect though.  I favor the right of women to walk around shirtless, and I think that woman in NH who sued the city for giving her a ticket for using her riding mower topless did the right thing.  She argued that it was discriminatory against females, and she was right.  It is.  

I like nudity, but I voted for "No, except on private property."  

My biggest concern would be with minors -- how to explain to the young ones what's going on, and how to control the older ones (teens), who you know are going to act up around any public places where it's posted (another option).

Again, just my $.02 worth  :-)

I'll go with option 4

Did I mention we came upon one in Maui.  It's called Little Beach, and is just south of the town of Kihei.  I don't want to be misconstrued.  I have no philosophical objections to what they're doing.  I do know how silly I felt when I was completely naked and surrounded by other naked folks.  I felt so silly that I didn't even get the normal physiological response when a hot chick walked by.  Not that there are too many hot chicks on nudie beaches.  That's the real disappointment.  What there are is lots of fat old farts.  I admire their lack of shame, but I do not envy it.  My wife was so shocked at the situation she couldn't speak and wanted to leave, but even she doesn't feel it should be made illegal.  That which is tasteless shouldn't be made illegal.  Otherwise we'd never have seen the rise of Reality Television.

Little kid: "What's that, mommy?"
Mommy: "That's a (name of body part).  (You/Your brother/sister) have one too."

Not really a problem.  Kid grows up with a healthy outlook on the human body, unlike what we have today.


This isn't really a problem within the nudist community.  A common thing you will see at nude beaches is familes bringing their kids.  No trouble whatsoever.  Actually, the teens rebel from their nudist parents by insisting on wearing clothes, and refusing to go to any nudist activities with their parents. :)

I agree with all of that

Beef,
I'll vouch for that.  Lots of families there and it didn't seem to be a problem.  I agree that there are worse things for your kids to see than a triangular patch of hair.  But you kid yourself if you think that single young mothers outnumber flaccid old geeks at those nudie beaches.  Ewww.  Some old guy in Negril, Jamaica, on a naturist beach came over one day, hands me a beer and starts checking out my package and commenting on it and such.  Now, I'm no homophobe, and certainly don't advocate clothing for the attractive, but that was just downright creepy for me.  I was too damned stoned to realize it at the moment, but in days later I found that I was disgusted by the whole episode.

I agree that most people who go naked have no business whatsoever doing so, but does that mean it should be illegal?  Most men who go shirtless look like hairy pregnant women.  Not very pleasant to look at, but do you think it should be illegal for them to go that way in public?

As a college student in Madison - the San Francisco of the Midwest - I've been hit on by so many dudes, it no longer bothers me in the least.  Although, had it been some old guy, I admit it would be a bit disturbing.

I think we're in complete and total agreement on this issue.  Anyway, I chose the first option.  I only mention because I, too, was once a teenager who had a gross misimpression of what it'd be like to go to a nude beach.  I have been to several, and I can tell you that it's not what you might think.  And the few attractive women there are usually young mothers with their children, and husbands.

I also recall the Boston Globe story of the NH woman very well.  Progress of the case was reported once in a while in the Globe for some time till it was resolved.  I was reminded that as late as 1950 men in Massachusetts were being cited for public indecency for going shirtless to beaches.  Now men are (generally) allowed to do so while women are not.  I'm not sure that one isolated NH case really made a difference, but it did occur to me that whatever laws we do have certainly amount to a double standard, which I think might be an even bigger story than the story that there are a few places in the world where nudity is allowed (a handful of beaches in CA, FL, TX, Jamaica, etc.) but in most of the world it's not.  Try going nude on a beach in Egypt sometime and see what you get!!!

I don't have any moral objections to it but i wouldn't want to be grossed out either.

Nudist are fine to be nude in a commune or a camp. Many chose to live with people who think as they do about nudism.

Public nudity goes to far. I guess towns could be set up for nudists (wouldn't they be fun to drive into durring a road trip :) ), but beyond that it goes to far.

Too many fat people in America, hence, I'm against public nudity.

I say option 3. It should be legal, and laws against women being topless but not men are clearly sex discrimination. I do think that it should be legal to be completely nude but only in certain areas. Children should not have to be exposed to it in public, unless parents choose to expose them to it, thus having nudity be legal everywhere tramples on parental rights. However, it certainly should be legal in designated areas.

Perv.

No, absolutely not, no way. I don't live in the jungle, I live amongst civilized human beings. Ya hafta keep yer clothes on, 'nother words.

Option 4, but I came close to voting for option 1 or 2. And I'd like to comment on option 5: no one is making you look at naked bodies, you can simply close your eyes or look away if you please.

I agree with your prefered options, but I don´t see how you could close your eyes in the streets (e.g., while driving).

number 3

Who?  Me, for asking the question?

I believe that it should be legal for only attractive females.

Attractive to whom?  Do you propose a Federal Board of Female Attractiveness?  Or maybe a reality TV show...

Yes, that's actually what I would support, a board to determine so. of 9 heterosexual males + 1 lesbian to get the ratio right.

And I voted option 3. This is the type of thing I might think sounds good, but after seeing some nude beaches I realize it probably isn't.

Option 1.

Nudity should be legal in all public places. (Private property is up to the owner.)

Even if nudity is tasteless is some cases, this alone does not make the argument for illegality.

Besides, it would be good for society to become more accepting of the human body.

As far as children are concerned, exposure to the human body may actually be educational.

With regards to parental authority, given that nudity would likely not be present everywhere, parents can choose where to go with their kids. (Parents may also prefer to "protect" children from other things they may find offensive; yet there usually is no legal protection.)

Oh God....

Exactly...I wouldn't want to be grossed out either, and would prefer for people to act in good taste, but don't see a legal argument against public nudity.

Option 3

Legalise it in designated areas, eg. beaches, but don't allow nudity everywhere. I wouldn't like to see someone's privates dangling in front of me on the train to work.

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAAHHAHA

LOL.... now here's an issue that needs to be confronted. I voted that nudism shall be completely legal. That's how we are intended to live anyways!

I agree that most nudists have disgusting bodies, but I think that as long as they're happy with being naked it's ok.

You wouldn't?!?!?

I can see it now.. you getting on the bus to go to work and ths BIG HUGH FAT HAIRY guy gets on the bus who is a nudists.. and there is no sits left so you has to stand right in front of you with his hairy butt crack in you face! LMBF

I wouldn't. But what someone does with their own body is nobody's business except their own.

Yes, but only for Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Alba and Katie Holmes.

None of the above.

Current laws are sufficient.

Note- While I was in Southern California last summer, I "noticed" several topless (women) sun-bathers on public beaches.  Clothing was mandated, but the authorities "looked the other way."

You forgot about Beyonce Knowles, Jessica Biel, and Jennifer Garner.

Also, the US Olympic Women's Swim Team should be required to compete nude. :)

Biel is okay, but has an odd look to me. Garner is too flat-chested. I agree with the rest.

You have the right to bare your butt if that's what you want to do, but please respect the rights of others not to have to see it. Keep it on posted beaches or private beaches.
I was on a beach in Cancun where some of the women went topless, not full nudity, just topless. A few of the women were attractive but most were members of the geezer set. Whoa! I may never have sex again!

Exactly. I don't approve of nudity in a lot of cases, but I feel that restrictions on personal behavior should be minimal.

I should also say to the forum women: you are entirely entitled to advocate nudity for Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, and George Clooney.

There is nothing wrong with nudity, but people who don't care to be exposed to it shouldn't have to be.  so go for it, just give people a heads up  

You forgot Ki-Toy Johnson, that chick in the Outkast video.

Hoo-wee!

It's kind of impossible not to go against someone on this issue.  On one hand, yes, if a person wants to be nude, I see no inherent reason why they shouldn't be allowed to.  On the other hand, I've seen a lot of people who, er, are not cut out to be models, and I personally would really rather leave it up to my imagination.

For the record, I voted that it should be legalized.

I guess I'll post my opinion, and it will surprise some of you, with me being a Bible-believing Christian and all:

I think there's nothing at all indecent or gross or lewd about the human body.  I think God created us in His image, and to say that our bodies are indecent is to say that God is indecent.  I think that, if we can learn to accept one another for who they are, without covering or pretention, the world will be a better place.  Strip away clothes, and you strip away all social and class divisions between people.  We are are really the same underneath it all.  I also think that if nudity became acceptable and normal, we wouldn't be sexually objectifying the human body, like we do now.  We wouldn't be so sex-obsessed, like we are now.

I do, however, think that sex is something that belongs behind clothes doors, and really should be a sacred thing shared by a husband and wife in private.  I am completely against any lewd or sexual behavior in public.  I think that it is perfectly healthy for children to see naked bodies in a non-sexual context, but it is criminal child abuse to expose them to sex before they are sexually mature and able to consent.

So I voted option 2.  It's probably the most radical thing I believe, but so be it.

Not in public.

On private property the owner can decide.

Utter idiocy

I still stand by what I said.

Women can apply for a "nudity license" and if they're good looking enough they can do so. Everyone else has to keep their clothes on.

Other's state of attire is not my business.  Nudity is fine.  Though my favorite is extremely skimpy outfits.

It is interesting that many free market conservatives would oppose the second sentence.

I wouldn't object if they legalized public nudity, but I am certainly not going to go out of my way to promote it.

Like who? If it's in public view, then hell no. If it's really private, absolutely no one opposes that.

republicans have tried to ban nudist resorts before. I think there was a bill in the Kansas legislature that would've banned someone from being naked around anyone except their spouse or a medical doctor.

Damn.  Then no pre-marital sex.

I think you could still do it through a hole in a sheet, in traditional relgious-nut fashion.

However no doubt a state that would ban private nudity would ban premarital sex.

I don't have any huge problem with it.  I like wearing clothes, but I don't have any awful hang-ups about nudity.  The fact that people are going "but ugly people!" alone is the problem - nudity is sexualized in America.  It's very hard to change that.  I don't think doing so is an urgent concern.  I don't blame people for feeling that way, though; it's part of our culture.

Only at beaches and parks and what not. Like in sane European countries.

I'm for it.  But not on moralistic grounds.  I pretty much look like a bag lady any time I go out.  except on the days when I lecture, and then I shave, wear nice italian shoes, a tie, etc.  but mostly I wear as little as they'll let me get away with and I don't shave.  So I'd be up for letting us go to the mall, Wal-mart, etc., in come-as-you-are mode.  Even if it means I have to look at all those fat people naked.  It's worth it not to have to dig out some underwear, sandals, and a gimme T-shirt just so they'll let me in the front door.  I'm lazy like that.

In thoery, I would like this. However, I suspect that the only people who would actually go nude would be gays and old people, two demographics that are very unappealing to heterosexuals.

Why are people answering this question based on whether or not they'd like to see the naked people?

Certain people I've come to expect that from, but libertarians deciding what should be legal based on their personal preference?

Sure. Reserve usage of state power against peopels' activities for when they do something like rob/assault someone else or embezzle 150 million. And anyone who says "but zomg the children" will be bitchslapped.

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST IS GRAPHIC

Their is such thing as public decency. You have a right not to see old people nipples, so I think it would be fair to have certain beaches be nude, so long as they were properly identified. But, I personally would not go to them, because they will probably be filled with old people and gay people.

Depends on what you mean by 'public'. Certainly having some common decency isn't "wrong" even by a liberals rather pathetic standards.

You're not much of a libertarian, are you?  More of a "libertarian except in things that discomfort me and/or would directly affect me" kind of deal.  Very Rocky Mountains.

It's really not an aesthetic issue.  If you're bothered by the nudity, you're sexualizing it. 
That's your choice, but stuff like that wouldn't upset you if you didn't.  Obviously the outright thought of naked old/fat people bothers me too, but I know that's not really rational and is more societal conditioning.

If it got to the point where you were used to it, it wouldn't be much more gross than obese people clothed.  (Edit: Stop that, Gabu :P)

I don't really see why you're so much less bothered with seeing heterosexual men named than homosexual ones, either.  :P  (I'm just yanking your chain a little there; I know what you're going for.)

I find morbidly obese people in general disgusting to look at, clothed or otherwise.  Is that reason to ban morbidly obese people entirely?

Having common decency isn't "wrong"--the issue is, is it the government's responsibliity to enforce it?

public nudity should be completely legal.

I am naked right now guys

I mean ladies

Full nudity should only be legal in designated areas.

Female toplessness should be legal anywhere that male toplessness is legal, though.

Put your pants back on, Tik.

this forum gets dumber by the day

We can't all be such effective leaders as yourself, jmfcst.

America really needs to acquire a more European sensibility when it comes to nudity, either on screen or in real life. 

Why would you outlaw public nudity? Is there a rationale anyone could actually think up and not be laughed out of my private court of opinion?

Now, public fornication. That'd be another matter. Maybe nude snorgling, too. :P

Legalize it.

I think public nudity should be legal, if only for the sole purpose of pissing off the self-appointed moral watchdogs you see floating around these days.  :P