# Are nude animals obscene? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 5, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383 "2006-04-05T05:58:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/1 "2006-04-05T05:58:12Z")
Let’s say I have a photo of my dog lying on his back, with his private parts exposed. Would you be upset if I posted that photo on, say, a popular online message board? Or some place where children might see them? What if the picture showed him with an erection? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/2 "2006-04-05T06:02:11Z")
Yes, you _ **pervert** _. ---
**Author:** ![the\_only\_bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b2d939/32.png) [@the\_only\_bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_only_bunny)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/3 "2006-04-05T06:03:53Z")
Here I thought you were talking about Donald Duck. Yes, it would be slightly offensive; not pervy, but really…why? Why would you post it? ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/4 "2006-04-05T06:19:27Z")
My blessed mother, who is Catholic, upright and moral, and offended by everything on God’s Green Earth that there is to be offended by… giggles like a schoolgirl at monkey penes at the zoo. So I’d say it’s pretty low on the offensive scale. 😉 _Me_? I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/5 "2006-04-05T06:47:13Z")
I wouldn’t usher my children out of the room if a dog in the room pulled the same pose, so I can’t imagine getting offended over a picture of it, unless the picture seemed to be intentionally of a blatant sexual nature. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/6 "2006-04-05T07:04:54Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > I wouldn’t usher my children out of the room if a dog in the room pulled the same pose, so I can’t imagine getting offended over a picture of it, unless the picture seemed to be intentionally of a blatant sexual nature. I’m not sure if I would or not. If I was with my eight year-old son, we’d probably have a good old giggle. In fact I can just imagine him hyperventilating and turning purple from laughing so hard (ya gotta love the humour of boys that age). Then again, I remember seeing a dog lying on the footpath sporting a great, big scarlet woody, and when the schoold bus stopped along side it to disgorge a gaggle of six year-old girls, I felt a bit awkward. If we were at the zoo, and a huge gorilla came up to the bars and started vigorously jerking off, I daresay I’d steer any kids in the opposite direction if I could. So yeah, there are limits. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/7 "2006-04-05T07:42:45Z")
If the dog had an erection it would be, inappropriate in my opinion (dog woods are pretty ugly.) If it’s just a dog lying on his back with his legs hanging open and his penis is all covered in cute dog fur, then it’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/8 "2006-04-05T12:24:33Z")
Of _course_ naked animals are oscene. Just ask Buck Henry and **SINA** : [http://www.djangomusic.com/actor\_bio.asp?pid=P+94069](http://www.djangomusic.com/actor_bio.asp?pid=P+94069) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/9 "2006-04-05T12:26:31Z")
Not to mention Alan Abel, who apparently originated SINA. I’d only heard of Buck Henry before I checked: [http://www.alanabel.com/sina.php](http://www.alanabel.com/sina.php) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/10 "2006-04-05T20:18:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Are nude animals obscene? Only if you do it right. ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/11 "2006-04-05T20:52:20Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > If the dog had an erection it would be, inappropriate in my opinion (dog woods are pretty ugly.) If it’s just a dog lying on his back with his legs hanging open and his penis is all covered in cute dog fur, then it’s fine. I was thinking the same (though the line about “all covered in cute dog fur” got a chuckle out of me). ---
**Author:** ![Logan\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Logan\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logan_5)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/12 "2006-04-05T20:54:08Z")
Personally I find clothed animals and their freakish owners to be obscene! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/13 "2006-04-05T21:01:19Z")
On “Dirty Jobs” a few weeks ago, they were getting semen from a stallion, and blurred out the penis. It was not only blurred when they were collecting the semen, but even after the horse was let out to run around. After that, Mike Rowe proceeded to scrub of a mare’s vulva and insert the semen into her vagina (shoving his whole forearm in, IIRC). Nothing was blurred. So I guess it depends. I’m still completely confused as to what it depends on. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/14 "2006-04-05T21:20:10Z")
> [@the only bunny](#): > > …but really…why? Why would you post it? Because defenseless animals are cute! Thanks for the opinions. I don’t actually have a photo of doggie erections. [This](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b86/kkobayashi1/2005-08-09-21h13m25.jpg) is as risque’ as my photos get. > [@kelly5078](#): > > On “Dirty Jobs” a few weeks ago, they were getting semen from a stallion, and blurred out the penis. … After that, Mike Rowe proceeded to scrub of a mare’s vulva and insert the semen into her vagina… Nothing was blurred. I saw that too, which was one reason I wanted to ask this question. Are you sure the mere wasn’t blurred though? I seem to recall it was very slightly blurred/softened. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/15 "2006-04-05T21:50:04Z")
I can think of one animal that is unquestionably obscene when nude. Have you ever been to Chincoteague and Assateague islands? They’re a pair of islands off the coast of Maryland, where I grew up. They’re both long, pencil-thin (less than a mile wide in many places) islands, one nested inside the other; Assateague shields Chincoteague from the surf and wind. Anyway, they are home to packs of wild ponies, reputed to be descended from horses that got away from Spanish explorers or something. Centuries of inbreeding, and possibly evolution to suit the harsh environment, have resulted in tiny little shaggy ponies the size of a Great Dane. And they have HUGE cocks. Think a mule is proprotioned funny? Think of that times three. I’ve seen Assateague ponies whose flaccid members cleared the ground by less than two inches. I have no idea how they mate; it must give the mare a stomachache to get her organs pushed around like that. We used to go to the islands for school field trips and such, and we were always grossed out by the ponies. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/16 "2006-04-05T22:05:56Z")
At a travelling zoo this summer, we saw a tapir masturbating. It was quite…impressive. Like the ponies mentioned above. This schlong reached from standing tapir belly diagonally to the floor **past his front feet**! Where he kept bouncing it up and down on the straw. It was well over four feet long. According to his red-faced keeper, this is what tapirs do when they’re bored. The kids were appropriately awed, but also giggly, screechy little monsters in response. I’ll admit, I tried to play it cool, but I was giggling inside, too. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/17 "2006-04-05T22:15:23Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > At a travelling zoo this summer, we saw a tapir masturbating. It was quite…impressive. Like the ponies mentioned above. This schlong reached from standing tapir belly diagonally to the floor **past his front feet**! Where he kept bouncing it up and down on the straw. It was well over four feet long. Let me just say - you aint seen nothing, until you’ve seen and elephant schlong. “Impressive” just doesn’t do it justice. (12+ feet people, 12+ FEET!) ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/18 "2006-04-05T22:20:32Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Let me just say - you aint seen nothing, until you’ve seen and elephant schlong. “Impressive” just doesn’t do it justice. > (12+ feet people, 12+ FEET!) Oh my god. _Feet people_? :eek: 😛 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/19 "2006-04-05T22:23:51Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Let me just say - you aint seen nothing, until you’ve seen and elephant schlong. “Impressive” just doesn’t do it justice. > (12+ feet people, 12+ FEET!) Yeah, but elephants are really big animals. Tapir’s aren’t. They’re about the [size](http://www.thetwocaptains.com/fullsize/39_tapir.jpg) of a burly man on all fours. (mmmmmmm…uh…what was I saying?) It’s the size of the schlong in \*porportion \*to the whole animal that I found rather shocking. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383/20 "2006-04-05T22:57:21Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > It’s the size of the schlong in \*porportion \*to the whole animal that I found rather shocking. Well, to my eyes a 12 foot schlong is shocking, regardless of what it’s attached to! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-nude-animals-obscene/351383.md?page=2)