Nudity in Parks

[Superman]

Apprently some folks complained to the Seattle Parks Department about some bike riders they saw who were protesting something with their bike parade. Oh yeah....the bike riders were nude. Of course.

Seattle (and Portland) has a long tradition of nude bicyclists at demonstrations and parades. The nude bike riders in the Freemont Parade are widely renouwned and perhaps one of the most featured attractions in that celebration. Apparently, Portland has an annual event at which 1200+ nude bicyclists participate.

So....the parks department is mulling over a proposed ban on nudity in public parks. A hearing is scheduled at which there is expected to be very good attendance. I believe clothes are required at the hearing but you never know......

So, when was the last time you guys had a public nudity ban hearing?

Is nudity obscene? I mean.....lewdness is of course obscene, but is nudity automatically offensive or obscene? I mean.....as long as it's not Byron. Of course.

[Jeff Higgins]

Why is it the vast majority of folks that like to run around naked are pale, overweight, and middle aged or older? Thank god for indecent exposure laws.

Maybe we can license nudity. Everyone is born with a license. At age 18, it comes up for annual review. At 30, it is revoked for life. Of course, it could be either extended (or revoked early) on special petition. I'll volunteer to be the first Minister of Nudity, a cabinet level position at minimum.

[M.D. Holloway]

I like nudity, but only with physically proportioned women...

[bivenator]

I don't want to even consider riding a bicycle nude. The idea makes me squirm in my seat and drives me nuts.
Seriously uncomfortable.

[Superman]

I understand you guys' viewpoints and would like to send you my resume' Jeff. I think I would be very effective at evaluating the young, slender, large-breasted females.

But that points to an interesting observation. To some, large breasts, long legs and slender waists are acceptable and Byron is offensive. But to others (wives, for instance) the unacceptable appearance is the large breasted yougn female with the slender waist. Beauty...and obscenity....appears to be in the eye of the beholder.

Sometimes, Group 1 points at Thing A and says "that's offensive, make it unlawful" and Group 2 points at the same thing and says "That makes me feel good, I appreciate and support its appearance." Conversely, Group 2 might be offended by what Group 1 finds meaningful and important. When this happens, we tend to call the Things "Art" and protect them as expressions.

Why do we consider nudity to be so offensive and obscene? (I know the answer to this, but want to see who else does)

[futuresoptions]

Wish more peeps would run around naked...

[cantdrv55]

Bill, you should qualify that request. I don't think you'd want to see me naked.

[911boost]

Am I the only one here seriously concerned with Supe refering to Byron naked more than once?

Wears a dress - check

Talks about another man naked - check

Is there something you want to tell us Supe? Its ok, its not as dark out of the closet.

Bill

[Dan in Pasadena]

As a country, we are uptight about sexuality and the human body.

Long, long ago in 1976, my then girlfriend (later ex-wife), brother-in-law-to-be and I were in Europe for the summer. It was a particularly warm summer and when we were in Denmark the women from little girls of 4 or 5 to older women of 70+ were lounging around topless in the park. I was then 21 and of course I needed my head to be on a 360 degree swivel...for the first day or two. Honestly? After that, even in the prescence of young 20-something Danish blonde girls (GAWD they were beautiful) it wasn't such a big deal. Yes, they were beautiful and even enticing unintentionally. But they were unashamed. It was normal for them in very hot weather and I got so I could ACTUALLY look them in the eye. We need to chill the hell out in this country (Ha ha, I just saw your boobies, he...he...he....What a bunch of 12 year olds we are collectively) Just my $.02.

[DaveE]

It doesn't bother me. I don't have too much trouble looking away from what I don't want to see. And I don't want to tell others what they're allowed to look at. I'm a liberal though.......

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by bivenator

I don't want to even consider riding a bicycle nude. The idea makes me squirm in my seat and drives me nuts.
Seriously uncomfortable.

Exactly what I was thinking!

Re: Nudity, yeah I think Americans as a society are way too uptight about nudity, if I were king all parks and beaches would be clothing optional.

And yes you have to take the good with the bad (nudity that is).

[kach22i]

No more Naked Mile here in Ann Arbor, the NAZI's won.

[rammstein]

The fear of nudity in the United States is astounding.

I can turn on my tv and see someone get an icepick driven through his eye on primetime tv, but nipples are off limits.

I guess its just to shelter young boys from the reality that as adults, nipples control us. Stupid nipples, always bossing me around....

[dd74]

No big deal to me. Let 'em ride. Just be warned of the saddle soreness.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by rammstein

I guess its just to shelter young boys from the reality that as adults, nipples control us. Stupid nipples, always bossing me around....

I thought I was the only one that heard the voices...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Why is it the vast majority of folks that like to run around naked are pale, overweight, and middle aged or older? Thank god for indecent exposure laws.

Maybe we can license nudity. Everyone is born with a license. At age 18, it comes up for annual review. At 30, it is revoked for life. Of course, it could be either extended (or revoked early) on special petition. I'll volunteer to be the first Minister of Nudity, a cabinet level position at minimum.

Jeff for dictator! Couldn't agree more....I mean, what's with all the braless women in their 60's? Don't they know that their time for that look has passed?
Randy lives in Eugene...he knows what I mean.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

In NYC is legal for women to be bare chested. On a hot day in Central Park, you can easily spot the Europeans, they are all in bras.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

Bill, you should qualify that request. I don't think you'd want to see me naked.

yeah, seeing paterno clothed can be a whorra....

[scottmandue]

Oh sure... everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

As a country, we are uptight about sexuality and the human body.

Long, long ago in 1976, my then girlfriend (later ex-wife), brother-in-law-to-be and I were in Europe for the summer. It was a particularly warm summer and when we were in Denmark the women from little girls of 4 or 5 to older women of 70+ were lounging around topless in the park. I was then 21 and of course I needed my head to be on a 360 degree swivel...for the first day or two. Honestly? After that, even in the prescence of young 20-something Danish blonde girls (GAWD they were beautiful) it wasn't such a big deal. Yes, they were beautiful and even enticing unintentionally. But they were unashamed. It was normal for them in very hot weather and I got so I could ACTUALLY look them in the eye. We need to chill the hell out in this country (Ha ha, I just saw your boobies, he...he...he....What a bunch of 12 year olds we are collectively) Just my $.02.

This is correct. As many of you know, I work security at a hippie fair each summer. Yes, I wear skirts. For the fun of it. Many women attend the fair topless. At first, it would take me a full day or so for those breasts to stop being interesting to me. Stop being prurient. After about fifteen years of doing this, each summer, it takes me about ten minutes to stop looking at their chest and resume looking at their eyes and face. Eyes and faces, without makeup, are more beautiful than you guys can imagine. I'm not kidding.