Topfreedom refers to a movement that seeks to change laws and social perceptions so that women would be able to publicly expose their areolas and nipples in any place that a man can. There is an organization, the “Topfree Equal Rights Association” (TERA). Their Statement of Purpose and Principles in part states TERA “. . . helps women who encounter difficulty going without tops in public places in Canada and the USA, and informs the public on this issue.” It is also stated that “It [COLOR=“Black”][their website] should interest women (and men) who understand — or want to understand — that women’s breasts are just fine, and in no way indecent, obscene, dangerous, or some other version of bad, any more than men’s are.[/COLOR]” The term “topfree” is distinguished from “topless” as “topfree” refers only to women who are not paid to go without a top on in public.
In 1992 the New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York State, ruled that the state law which made it illegal for women to expose their areolas and nipples in public only applied to women who were paid to do so, so it is now legal for women to expose their areolas and nipples in public, as long as they are not paid to do so, in New York State, at least as long as there is no local ordinance prohibiting it. There is no such ordinance in New York City. For the last couple of years there seems to have been an increase in the number of women who go in public without a top on in New York City. See Moira Johnston and the “The Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society” for examples.
Now that it has come to my attention through a disingenous, possibly paid-for, forum polluting form letter, I am against it.
Further, I am now worried that there are spambots out there that are so desperate to see boobies that they have developed intelligence and created a fake political movement. This is how Skynet really got started.
Rast3acr, engineer_comp_geek, JRDlirious, Furious_Marmot, Death of Rats, runner pat, you are all wrong either in your statements or your implication. Also, your replies show how juvenile and shallow your thinking is. It is also obvious that you do not put very much thought into your comments. I deserve an apology from each of you. Of course since you all are so juvenile you’ll probably come back at me with insults and by telling me how I should feel.
Smeghead is the only one who has shown any thought.
not sure how being in favor of topless women is juvenile, I’m in favor of nudity in general hell I wish I was okay on public beaches an so on as I hate being in a wet bathing suit.
Oh, also no apology, I do think it is spam or trolling. However you did post a reply which is more then many do. Once you’ve been here a while you will see many posts like your original that never have a follow up, however Welcome to the Straight Dope.
You are the electronic equivalent of a guy who walks up to a group of strangers in a public place, reels off a long spiel about an obscure topic, then expects signatures on a petition. Don’t be surprised when people mock and reject you. This is a generally friendly place, but your method of introducing yourself is lacking.
To be honest, equality of public toplessness is not an unreasonable idea.
One question: do you receive any money or other compensation from this political organization or any affiliated organization?
Calm yourself! This battle has already been fought and won where I live. And you know what? Nothing has changed. Not a damn thing. Women are not going topless on the streets, or even on the beaches, even though, by law, they are now entitled to do so.
Rsat3acr, my reference about you was in regard to your statement “based on topic, text and join date could this be trolling?” A more mature statement would be to ask me if it was “trolling” whatever that is. Also, I feel it was your statement that set off the rest. Although now that I think of it your statement “FWIW I’m all for topless women” does seem a little juvenile. Further, you continue to be wrong when you write “I do think it is spam or trolling” and I feel that jumping to that conclusion is juvenile.
Smeghead, you should have left well enough alone. Your last statement is juvenile.
Furious, my “spiel” was not long and I do not expect people to mock and reject me on a board that claims to be “Fighting Ignorance.” Also, Topfreedom is not a fake political movement and to me the use of the word “boobies” is juvenile. I am not affiliated with any organized political group, I’m a Republican. Sorry I couldn’t resist this play on a quote by Will Rogers. Actual I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican.
DrFidelius, who are you asking that question of?
Elbows, I am disappointed that you would tell me how to feel. Also, I have no bubble and in New York City women are starting to go topfree on the streets and in the parks.
Enderw24, I have no idea what you are talking about.
