Agnostic.com

308 29

Should public nudity be legal?

The AANR (American Association for Nude Recreation) has the view that public nudity should be legal as long as the person is not doing anything with the intent of sexually arousing either themselves or anyone else.

The most stated reason by members is to get over "body shame", because doing so helps boost self esteem and confidence. There have been studies showing that children raised in nudist family have higher self esteem and confidence and are just generally more comfortable with who they are as a person.

On the other side there are those persons who seek out nude beaches and nudist events who have seual agendas. AANR nudist clubs don't tolerate such persons, and forcibly remove them shoudl they show up. I refer to such persons as "swingers" because they seem to fit the swinger lifestyle more than they do the nudist lifestyule

However, as a point of freedom. A freedom of expression, which does tno do harm to anyone, shoudl public nudity be legal? As atheists are nto burdened with religious mores , I was just wondering what the people here think?

I am a natuirst (nudist) and I have ridden the Portland (OR) World Naked Bike Ride, which has over 10,000 participants each year, and I have gone on nude hikes, visited clothing optional beaches

So, what are your thoughts?

snytiger6 9 Oct 18
Share

Enjoy being online again!

Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.

Create your free account

308 comments (126 - 150)

Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.

0

Hell no. Who wants to see that junk flapping around. Unless you're a gay man of course. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

The point of naturism/nudism isn't to seer other people nude, but rather to experience more freedom and move away from feeling guilt, shame and/or fear concerning onw's own body.

We have been conditioned (taught) to see nudity as a negative, I do not think it is healthy to abhor our natural state. Many,if not most, naive trival cultures saw nudity as natural and normal. This changed aroudn the world due to the spread of Western religious dogmas. In Australia, the Aborigines say the greatest evil (or curse) Europeans brought to them was clothing.

I have been to several nudist clubs, and without clothing to denote status, everyone treats each other a lot more equally

1

Well , I believe I am a bonafide nudist. Been a member of a Nudist club for the last 26 years. It's where I do most of my socializing, Dancing, Karaoke, dining, swimming, Hiking, and of course sunbathing. For me it is mostly a weekend thing, although alot of people live there. As much as I love it, I believe it should be secluded to clubs, ( no matter how big ) . The general public does not get it !!! It is NOT a sexual thing. Although like everywhere else you can find whatever you want there, just ask someone. I find Nudists to be much happier people than most and you will find ALL types of people eg. race, body type, age, beliefs, and professions. I consider nudism to be my ' Religion ' ! It's MY freedom, my Peace, my Lifestyle. So there you go ! 😉

That has pretty much been my experience too. Nudists are happier and a lot less judgemental.

0

You can be naked if you want, I don't care. I will say this. There are very few of humanity That I have seen in clothes could improve their looks by taking them off. Naked does not improve most of the world's looks.Too much skin exposed to sun=more chance skin cancer.

Skin cancer is primarily the result of persons who go from practically no sun at all, to getting a great deal of sun without beuilding up the boy's natural tolerance for sun exposure. For the most fair skinned persons, they should probably not risk it, if they can't really tan. Otherwise you cna greatly reduce risk by gradually increasing sun exposure, tanning and buildin thing a tolerance to sun exposure.

As for "improving looks", that isnt' the point. However, an all over tan does look much better than tan lines when naked.

1

I'm a nudist and I'm nude a lot in my house and backyard. My friends and family know to call me before they come over. I think if nudity was legal the whole sexual arousal thing would not be so much of an issue. Nudist look at a nude body as just another state of dress. You wear as little or as much as you feel comfortable with. if people get used to the naked body they no longer get instantly turn on when they see it.

Exactly. I fnudity were "normal" it would nto be a big deal.

1

And the next guy I see getting a hard on while observing my granddaughter will get sprayed with the bottle of shame! ( my training tool for the chihuahuas.)

In nudist/naturist communities, erections sometimes happen, but generally it is just polite if everyone just ignores it, and nobody draws attention to it especially the person who has it. And, it goes away.

However, I definitely do like yoru idea of spraying or hosing a person down shoudl they try to draw attention to themselves.

0

I would also worry about planetary nudity exposing one to more chances of major infections.

One shoudl nto doubt take proper precautions for your current environment.

1

If only we all appeared like a Greek sculpture, what beauty we might behold when nude! But we're not, for the most part, Apollo and Venus, and the thought of all of us naked makes me shudder. And yet, upon further reflection, how many of us are blessed with flawless bodies? Perhaps it would do us some good to humble ourselves in this way? I doubt we will see that day, and yet I have periodically fantasized about being invited to a Betazed wedding!

Not all Greek sculptures we of models of ideal beauty, but those are the only ones we ever see or are (widely) photographed.

1

I think it is already here in Oregon. LOL. Don't really care much, most humans look a lot better in clothes!

Bunch of giant naked no hair primates. Gross. hehe

Yeah, in Oregon the state supreme court ruled that nudity is a right under the state constitution's freedom fo expression. However, the language of the ruling was pretty abiguous, so it is only clear that it is legal when you are protesting. The rest of the ruling was kind of vague or gray. So, local ordinances against nudity are still on the books, but so far, everyone who challenged such laws got the cse thrown out based on that court ruling.

0

Some studies have shown that children raised in such an environment are psychologically better balanced, and some show that exposure to adult sexual organs contributes to a feeling of body shane and feelings of inadequacy in children. Maybe there should be more studies with better paradigms to get to the truth.

My general feeling about nudity is that it seems unsanitary to me. People can leave germs on places other people sit, and some areas that come in contact with those germs, some of which can sit there for awhile, are areas that are more likely to pick up disease.

Beyond that, my first husband pretty much insisted on only wearing a muscle shirt around the house, and I got really annoyed with having to constantly try to get brown streaks off my white couches and light tan dining room chairs.

Wow. It sounds like yo had good reason for your ex to become an ex.

Nudist culture pretty much has persons carrying dowels to sit on for sanitary reasons.

Between the studies for kids raised by nudists and non nudists, all show that if parents don't make children feel ashamed of their own bodies, then they have a more positive life outlook and higher self esteem. Body shaming is actually much more common among persons who insist that everyone wear clothing all the time.

1

Don't "stone me", but I think no. These are my reasons. I grew up in a cult with major sexual abuse. Another example is the Catholic and Baptist churches with their sexual abuse stories hitting the fan. Plus intranet child porn being at a high. All of that to say it just provides too much more "easy access", in my opinion. There are simply too many deviants in our precious USA.

At nudist clubs I hear stories about the few deviants who show up are quickly spotted and removed with the clear message that if they ever come back they will held for the police. Teh Naturist/Nudist communities watch out for such persons and let them know they aren't welcome.

Of course that is at private clubs...

2

Yes. Is the human body so disgusting we have to make laws to prevent it being seen? No wonder we have so many problems around sex in this world. That being said, it's too late for me. I'm not showing my naked ass in public.

A lot of nudists actually start later in life. It seems the attitude is after you get so old that they just say "what the hell". Pesonally I wish I had started much younger.

1

It sounds like you have plenty of options for going naked. Good for you, and enjoy! I enjoy nude resorts and spas myself from time to time.

If you are advocating for the freedom to be naked at any time, in any public space, I would have to take exception to that. Just as "freedom of religion" should imply "freedom FROM religion", so should "free to enjoy nudity" should also imply "freedom to avoid nudity in public". Or something like that.

Excellent point. As per smoking, feel free to subject your own lungs to it, but don't force others to have to share it.

1

Are we all carrying towels for hygiene, I FERVENTLY hope!?!

I'd hope to too. In naturist/nudist clubs that is the general etiquette.

0

I'm not really sure if it something that we need to be seeing, nudists walking down a city street. If they wanted to go to places where nudity would be more acceptable, no problem. Would nudists be acceptable in the work place? Would there be limitations? Going nude on public transportation?

For purposes of hygiene there would of course have to be some limitations. However the idea of feeling shame about nudity or about ohne's own body is a learned behavior that I think society could do better without having.

0

I work with a guy who is my height-5'7" and is way over 300 lbs and it's not muscle-so I really think that clothing optional is not an option here.
Although I think that the right clothing can make the after dinner date dessert way more interesting and fun.

I think ideals of beauty are nostly learned, as is feeling shame over how one looks.

The truth is that the guy you describe, would be seen as "disgusting" by most of society with or without clothes on. It is even worse for women. I dont' see any value to that learned behavior.

1

I don't have a problem with as long as people carry a towel to sit on or hygyne reasons. For me personaly, I went topless at the beach for the first time last year. It was a big confidence booster because I'm transgender and was self consiece of my breasts. Now I go topless often anytime a man would, at the beach, hiking, etc. As far as I know it's legal in Hawaii and should be anywhere.

Good for you! Feeling positive about one's own body is a good thing. In Oregon, I have seen transgender persons go fully nude at the beach, even though they were in mid transition (breasts up top, penis down below).

I think most of our cultural taboos regarding nudity are rooted in religion, which has used fear, guilt and shame to try to manipulate us and maintain power and control over us.

1

It's a shame what religious leaders have done to people over the course of history. Telling people they were born in sin and should be ashamed of their bodies is unnatural and perverse. Nuns in the Middle Ages were ordered to shower with their habits on so as not to offend God. The purpose is to reject our animal nature, but that's precisely what we are.

I look at it as religion attempts to control us by instilling feelings of fear, guilt and shame, as a way of manipulating us. Cults do the same thing, only to a much greater extent.

Naturism/Nudism helps people get over feeling shame about their bodies and their appearance. Children raised i Naturist/Nudist homes have a great deal more self confidence and self esteem, because they were nto taught to be ashamed of their bodies and who they are.

The rest of us have to "recover" from a body shaming cultural poractice3 rooted in religion. Even many here, on this site, who have given up religious beliefs still unknowingly have kept a lot of dogma rooted in religion, such as the fear, guilt and shame regarding nudity.

2

I would actually like to try a nudist event at one point in my life.

Do a Google search for World Naked Bike Ride and your nearest major city and chances are you will find one. In Portland Oregon, they have over 10,000 participants each year, but I am told that Portland has one of the worlds largest. London's first ride had between two and three hundred.

Anyway, The World Naked Bike Rides are protests about the continuing dependence on fossil fuels. That message usually gets lost in the news coverage though, but that is the original purpose of the rides.

In the U.S. the largest nudist organization is AANR (American Association for Nude Recreation). However, there should be similar national organization in Canada, the UK, Australia, etc... tht organize and promote platonic nude recreational activities.

1

It is in San Francisco, you just need your Id and a towel to sit on.

And the desire to do so . . .

They changed the laws in San Francisco a few years ago. Except for special events nudity is now illegal in most parts of San Francisco. Still legal at the nude beaches though.

I can understand why they changed the laws. A few guys were walking around with genital piercings and/or cock rings, which kind of draws attention to the genitals, and in my view, that crossed the line where instead of just the freedom to be nude, and moved towards serializing their nudity by specifically drawing attention to the genitalia.

1

Yes, I think people should have the right to chose as long as they are not violating other people's rights or harrasing them.

Yes, the key here is in the freedom to choose.

1

Just keep in mind some things cannot be unseen

Right you are on that.

0

As someone who is very interested in looking at naked ladies I find myself conflicted. On one hand you want to show, but on the other you don’t want me looking. Should it be legal, sure. Anytime, anywhere? Not sure that is not asking for trouble.

At one time women kept ankles hidden, said it was too sexy. You adjust and get used to it. Nobody hides ankles anymore, next is breasts.It's that simple.

3

As long as there are no health & safety issues, e.g. machinery that might catch on dangly bits.

I think people whould wear clothing for warmth and protection when necessary. I just also think that if it isnt' necessary, then they shoudl have the option of whether or nto to wear clothes.

3

I am totally supportive of nudism. I grew up in Europe, where religious driven body shaming does not have the strangle hold it does here in the US. I have been to nudist camps, beaches and resorts and had a great time. But on the other hand, I don’t believe in imposing my naked body on people who’s personal sensibilities make them view the human body as something disturbing. There are entire villages in France that are clothing optional. We could use some of thos over here in the good old hung up USA, but my guess is the “righteous” for miles around would go on the warpath! ?

0

No thank you. Seeing me in the buff would scare the hell out of people.

It's not really about beign seen or seeing people, but more about just having the option (freedom).

Write Comment
You can include a link to this post in your posts and comments by including the text q:1727
Agnostic does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.