The Naked Body:

[Kresselack]

I dont mind the naked body. I just dont care for whoring it off and people having public sex right infront of everyone. Keep the dirtiness in the bedroom, but the "natural" stuff is alright with me.

[stephanie]

I agree, Kresselack.

 

That public stuf is really 'gross' sometimes.

[Wookiee]

i don't want to answer the poll because the second question is problematic.

 

Of course the naked body is associated with sexual activity... not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

But if everyone was naked all the time I think we would just become desensitized and we would no longer associate it with sexual activity... the porn industry would take a dive. and body language would be much easier to read. The transition faze would be... troubled to say the least. and I live in a place that hits -20... nakedness would be a good sign of insanity here. :)

 

Rambling... the naked body is what THE VIEWER makes of it. its not like every naked body is having sex with every other naked body. just that we cover them up so much the only time we generally see them is when we WANT to have sex. Now what is more shameful? the naked body, or lust that makes you WANT to see someone naked?

[Tchos]

i don't want to answer the poll because the second question is problematic.

Of course the naked body is associated with sexual activity... not that there is anything wrong with that.

Now what is more shameful? the naked body, or lust that makes you WANT to see someone naked?

I was all set to agree with you until that last line. Neither are shameful, I would say.

[Wookiee]

yeah i find nothing wrong with lust or nudity myself (in fact i find them quite enjoyable sometimes) I'm just attempting to point to the crux of the issue. that people are not offended by nudity itself but rather are agitated by there own reactions to it (which i guess is the definition of "offense") the people who are comfortable with nudity are probably the most well adjusted.

 

(god that last part was just begging to get flamed wasn't it!)

[Kresselack]

Lets say I had a nasty skin irritation on my buttocks. I dont think most want to see that. Some people who are self-concious about their weight usually wear more clothing and would not like to reveal themselves. Very few consider an obese nudist "natural" and "artistic."

[Tchos]

Very few consider an obese nudist "natural" and "artistic."

Except it is. And if you take art classes, those are the sorts of people you're likely to be drawing and painting. First one has to get over the aversion to nudity in general, then one can get over the aversion to less-than-ideal appearances and see the art. One does not need to find someone attractive to be comfortable with nudity. I personally am fine with seeing both sexes nude, though I am not bisexual. I've seen all shapes and sizes, and I've not only lived to tell about it, but I advocate getting over any aversion people may have to it.

[Marcus Wolfe]

You know, the reason some people like going nude, is because of the sense of freedom it offers. Plus, you save a bunch on clothing items! :P

 

But I agree with you where you said that it is taboo in Western Culture. But what if it was the norm? What if wearing clothes was considered taboo? If the norm was to walk around with your "bits" hanging out, and someone wore clothes, we would most likely find that sensual and "wrong."

 

"Oh my God, that person is wearing clothes! Cover your eyes honey!"

Next time you find a woman wearing pants, ask them if they feel liberated in their being allowed to wear pants. At best, you'll probably get a mean look, at worst, you may get slapped, hit, kneed in the groin. However 100 years ago, this question would probably be recieved differently (still maybe hostile, but differently). This is because what was once taboo has now become the norm, so that feeling of liberation, or freedom doesn't really exist as it pertains to those actions. One whole generation grew up with it being acceptable (WWI and WWII era) and two generations have grown up with it being fairly common. The same is true for other taboos which have been accepted by society. Once they have become acceptable, some of the qualities which made that act seem special, or meaningful, went away.

 

The simple fact of the matter is that clothing for many people, throughout history, was seen as a better alternative than being nude, even before it was mandated by anything we would considder law. Afterall, we as humans, probably spent most of our existance walking around nude, or practically nude, and it wasn't until we traveled to areas with harsh environments (sun, wind, rain, snow) that clothing became a tool of survival. Many people around the world would not survive if they did not have clothing. In the desert it helps retain your moisture and protects your skin, in cold, or significantly elevated areas it keeps you from freezing to death. It is really only in moderate climates, and where mankind is allowed leisure time that clothing is seen as a luxary and a symbol of status. This is why there is a perception of needing clothing in these climates, it helped distinguish between rich and poor. It cost alot to wear clothing, it costs nothing to be naked. Being naked also comes with certain hygene issues, which many commoners aren't capable of handling any way other than wearing clothing. One of the reasons why the black plague ravaged the lower and middle class in europe was because there was so little cleanliness. When people who were better clothed, and maintained a cleaner way of life were less likely to catch the disease, people took notice. Victorian era garb was designed around this premise, it was just explained to people as "modesty", when it was really about wearing clean clothing, and having next to no skin to skin contact with others. Religion afterall tends to be alot more effective, and easier to understand by uneducated masses, than what was at the time, an unexplainable relationship. Would you really want to sit down at a city bus stop when everyone is naked? Even the toilets aren't exactly free from question. Nude beaches, or closed communities are one thing, public places where you have people from all walks of life, and all the diseases they may have is another.

 

Thousands of years ago, clothing was a form of protection, yes. Sadly, nowadays it has become a social icon. One must dress according to the social "norm." No one wears just jeans and a T-Shirt anymore! It's so complex! :P

 

Okay. I am not going to walk up to a woman and ask what you said, because it's just downright rude. I believe in equality between the sexes.

 

 

As for your last sentence, what do you mean by, "avoid those who walk down the street with their diseases." ? Are you implying that nudity is "a disease?" (Forgive me for not understanding. My English is not the best at times. :no: ).

 

 

Actually, I do just wear a t-shirt and jeans.

[dezdimona]

I believe that the human body is a beautiful creation.You celebrate it how you chose to. I dress to impress,when going out with friends. I'm young, attractive ( so I've been told,not my opinion of myself) and I like sex. I don't care if someone doesn't like what I'm wearing because no one anywhere has the right to judge me by their moral standards.I'm open about my sexuality and I like exposing parts of my body in a mature and sensual way because I see no shame in that.Look at all the mediums that use the female body and the male body as an art form.

 

Its only certain people who are unhappy about themselves that see it as wrong, and these are the same ones usually doing things behind closed doors that I would find disgusting.

You don't like it,just don't look at it.

And I think that pedophiles are disgusting.

[Tchos]

Finally, someone I can agree with in full.