Comments on: Sheesh, Mig sees a few naked people and goes wild

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 06 Jun 2002 07:59:54 +0000

My Dad was naked a lot around the house – not while we were growing up, but later in life when he was able to indulge himself living alone. I did spend a summer with him in Florida when I was in college, and it was interesting to see the Jehovah’s Witnesses react when he would come to the door, sometimes wearing a t-shirt and nothing else.

There was only one time I ever saw him embarrassed. It involved chest hair and a new suit. Maybe I’ll tell the story some time.

By: ginger girl

ginger girl — Thu, 06 Jun 2002 01:17:14 +0000

well, if we’re talking about around the house, I run around naked all the time. But there’s no one there who hasn’t seen me naked before (by choice even, except, I suppose, the cats). And I certainly don’t find anything wrong with that.

Puritanical backgrounds aside, clothes are armor, don’t you think? People hide in them. Or don’t, as the case may be. But it’s also a social mechanism, an expression of who we are. Without the shell we *choose* to show to the world, we’re naked in more than one sense.

Not an argument pro or con, just something that occurred to me while I was writing.

By: Miguel

Miguel — Wed, 05 Jun 2002 23:13:58 +0000

How awful. Some people just don’t get it.

(URL?)

By: Pristine

Pristine — Wed, 05 Jun 2002 22:32:26 +0000

I agree with you Mig, to me American’s DO take nudity to a seedy dark place! I mean hell if you take nude photos you are total porn, if you enjoy a nude statue, you are sick and so on. I think it dates back to the days where sex was suppose to be dirty or something.

My Mother saw my “cowgirl Pics” and they were NOT even nude and she freaked! She told my whole family that I was showing nude photos of myself online! I was like WHAT? Only if you could have heard the calls I got after that from family….oh man! All because one persons idea of nudity was “dirty”!

By: Miguel

Miguel — Wed, 05 Jun 2002 12:16:38 +0000

Well, look, two things. First, I’m not selling public nudity; I think it’s only polite to balance the Freedom To with Freedom From. I’m not saying, either, that people run around naked all the time in my town. The most visible difference, I suppose, would be for example when you go to a park or swimming pool, more little kids running around naked, more topless bathing, and a more relaxed attitude about changing into a dry swimsuit right there where you’re lying in the sun rather than walking all the way back to the changing room. And more guys taking leaks next to their cars on the shoulder of the hiway. People generally don’t get all worked up about that. Yet skinny dipping is still great fun. (But I’m not saying, either, that people are all blas

By: Xkot

Xkot — Wed, 05 Jun 2002 11:31:34 +0000

I’m uncomfortable with the nudity of others. I like the fact that people I would rather not see naked are generally clothed. I don’t find it morally repugnant, just visually.

By: space

space — Wed, 05 Jun 2002 07:51:29 +0000

I agree. It’s silly. Although I think a lot of people are pretty relieved that we do have such hangups. Not everyone considers their own body beautiful, sadly. maybe if there weren’t the constraints no one would feel that way, I don’t know.

I do know if that if it weren’t for our puritan heritage, skinny dipping might not be as totally exhilerating as it is here.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 05 Jun 2002 05:05:28 +0000

Seriously, tho, Berkeley’s full of naked people.
A few years back, the city council decided that breast feeding was obscene and that men and women should all keep their tops on at all times. Well. That sort of micromanagement is not appreciated by the constituency.

The Naked movement of the early 90s had as its proponent a very handsome young man, some might call him a hottie supreme, as it’s chief proponent. Oh, Naked Guy, so idealistic and so well received by such wrinkly, flabby followers. No matter how much it’s Berkeley, this is still the USA., complete with the SlimFasted, silicone powered American Dream.

See, that’s the thing I think we’re up against here when we try to open ourselves to healthy public nudity: the body image thing. If it isn’t pretty, it should be hidden. Either way, pretty or not, someone is going to get in your face and tell you what they think about the image they assume your projecting for their entertainment (the theme of the film I’m writing). That right there is obstacle enough.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 05 Jun 2002 04:53:36 +0000

Here in the Wild West we even dress our trees.

In shoes.

;)

By: James

James — Wed, 05 Jun 2002 04:42:04 +0000

Wow. Great points.