Nakedness

[Della]

I am sometimes accused of double standards because I believe in dressing modestly but I also believe in the right to naturism.

Recently, I have noted some hypocrisy concerning nakedness on the One and Other plinth in Trafalgar Square. The first case of partial nudity was a woman who exposed her breasts and this barely attracted comment. The first man to strip naked was asked to cover up. The next man to strip naked was allowed to remain naked despite a complain as, apparently, nakedness is only a crime if intended to cause offence. Today a man appeared naked with 2 inflatable sex dolls and an inflatable crocodile and again it was not considered offensive.............
meanwhile the naked rambler is still incarcerated in a Scottish jail.

Personally I don't have a problem with people appearing naked on the plinth but I do have a problem with double standards. If it is ok on the plinth, presumably it is ok in the crowd below (some were near naked today), so what about in other parts of the square, or other parts of London, or Basingstoke?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment...197748.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8233636.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8237104.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8235959.stm
http://www.nakedwalk.org/

[Chester]

Personally I only find what people say or do offensive - how they look whether it be their body or their dress is up to them. The exception to that would be wearing clothing with inappropriate words or images - in that instance nakedness would be preferable!

[Xtro]

(03-09-2009 11:40 PM)Della Wrote:  I am sometimes accused of double standards because I believe in dressing modestly but I also believe in the right to naturism.

Recently, I have noted some hypocrisy concerning nakedness on the One and Other plinth in Trafalgar Square. The first case of partial nudity was a woman who exposed her breasts and this barely attracted comment. The first man to strip naked was asked to cover up. The next man to strip naked was allowed to remain naked despite a complain as, apparently, nakedness is only a crime if intended to cause offence. Today a man appeared naked with 2 inflatable sex dolls and an inflatable crocodile and again it was not considered offensive.............
meanwhile the naked rambler is still incarcerated in a Scottish jail.

Personally I don't have a problem with people appearing naked on the plinth but I do have a problem with double standards. If it is ok on the plinth, presumably it is ok in the crowd below (some were near naked today), so what about in other parts of the square, or other parts of London, or Basingstoke?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment...197748.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8233636.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8237104.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8235959.stm
http://www.nakedwalk.org/

I would assume those on the plinth in Trafalgar Square are regarded as 'art'. Those naked in public places are usually arrested either for indecent exposure or breach of the peace.

As for the naked rambler he keeps getting sent to prison for contempt of court as he refuses to wear any clothes for court hearings. I read somewhere he hasn't worn any clothes for 6 years. Scottish law is also different from English law, so perhaps that might explain why he has been treated more harshly by the Scottish legal system.

[Moorial]

personally I would feel awkward if I saw someone naked if I wasn't having a relationship with them. It is not me being prudish but it is a phsical feeling of discomfort.

[Della]

So long as it wasn't sexual, I wouldn't be uncomfortable with someone being naked, for example historic art showing naked people doesn't make me feel uncomfortable but the scantily clad, provocatively dressed teenagers I see around town do.

A lot of people do feel uncomfortable with nudity so it is fair enough to show consideration and cover up in public I think, even if that is a bit unfair on people like the naked rambler.

[Della]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tays...504762.stm

Quote:On the past two occasions when he has been freed from jail, officers from Tayside Police were waiting at the jail gates to rearrest him.

Sheriff Foulis told Gough the same process was likely to occur "again and again and again".........

"I suppose it doesn't need an expert in crystal ball gazing to anticipate that if I impose a custodial sentence then in so many months time a similar scenario will arise."

Gough told Perth Sheriff Court he accepted it was "potentially" the case that he could remain in jail forever - apart from the few seconds of freedom he enjoys every six months or so.

The naked rambler has been jailed again. Bearing in mind that the taxpayer picks up the cost and simple nudity is not a danger to society, I can't believe that community punishment would not be more appropriate. He seems to be facing akin to a life sentence for sticking to his deeply held belief.

If his nakedness offends society, you would think that there could be a compromise such as being released with conditions such as living in a remote location, displaying a warning sign on his property, shopping on the internet etc. so that he could go about his business with minimum inconvenience to others. There could also be a bit of compromise and tolerance. I find the skimpy sexualised outfits that I see young women wearing in town on a Friday night more offensive than desexualised nakedness of naturism.

[Chester]

The letter of the law has to be applied. You can't change the law because one person disagrees with it. This person obviously has mental problems. Laying the matter of freedom of choice to one side for a moment clothes are not just for modesty but for warmth - especially in Scotland! If he is deliberately exposing himself to the elements as well as other people it must be painfully cold. Any other person who deliberately caused themselves pain and discomfort would be treated in a very different way.

[Della]

Well by that logic perhaps we need a police van in the town centre on a Friday or Saturday night to round up all the young ladies wandering about in short skirts and skimpy tops and all the men wearing only thin cotton shirts despite sub-zero temperatures. The smokers outside liquid are conveniently penned in for ease of arrest.