# How would you feel about this domestic nudity? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099 "2014-09-10T18:29:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/1 "2014-09-10T18:29:01Z")
If you don’t like hypos, why are you still reading? There must be an NFL thread open someplace. Today’s story is about **Anne** , a middle-class, fifty-something woman a son she loves, a daughter-in-law she likes, and grandkids she adores. **Samuel** and **Leda** are in their late twenties; their kids are **Sam Jr.** , age nine, and twins **Helen** and **Clytemnestra** , five. As much as Anne loves the grandkids more than ice cream, though until recently she rarely saw them, as she only moved to the city where Sam & company live six months ago. Recently Anne was called on to babysit the kids because Samuel was in the hospital for emergency surgery. On the night of the operation she got to bed after four a.m., and so did not wake the next day until noon. The kids were already up. Having been raised to be fairly independent, Sam had already gotten them all breakfast and was now swordfighting with an imaginary opponent; Helen was inexpertly trying to clean the mess they’d made in the kitchen (but in fact making it worse); Clytemnestra was watching cartoons. None of that bothered Anne–but the fact that all three were naked as jaybirds did. Anne immediately told them to get dressed. Sam & Helen obeyed instantly; Cly whined throughout. But Sam’s obedience, though quick, was still grudging. “We hardly ever wear clothes at home,” he said. “Not if it’s just us. Mom and Dad say we only gotta put on clothes if people are coming over or if we’re going outside.” Helen and Cly confirm their brother’s account, and Helen clarifies that “outside” means “outside the _fence_”–that is, the ten-foot-tall privacy fence that surrounds their house. Inside the fence, weather permitting, they merely have to wear shoes. Otherwise the kids are allowed to be naked at their own home (and at the home of Leda’s parents) pretty much whenever they choose; their parents and maternal grandparents are naked most of the time as well. Anne is disturbed by this. Oh, she doesn’t suspect molestation; she is absolutely certain that her son would never do such a thing, and reasonably sure Leda wasn’t either. (That said, she’s sure that the domestic nudity is Leda’s fault; she’s always thought her stepdaughter was sort of a hippie, though she’s never said so out loud.) But she thinks that Sam Jr. in particular is too old to be regularly exposed to a naked female body, and she worries that about what will happen if, say, one of the twins is frightened at night and need to sleep in her parents bed. Would you share Anne’s concerns? If so, what would you do? If not, why not? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/2 "2014-09-10T18:37:50Z")
I’m sure the parents have sheets and blankets on their bed, so there’s no reason the twins can’t sleep in their bed in such circumstances. Otherwise it’s not my business if nudity is all we’re talking about here. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/3 "2014-09-10T18:45:34Z")
Nudity as such doesn’t bother me, especially between family members in the privacy of their own home. My concern here is the same concern I have about my three-year-old nudist: skid marks. House Rule #1: No Bare Butts On The Furniture. If you want to be naked, go to your own room. If you want to be out with the rest of us, put on panties. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/4 "2014-09-10T18:50:46Z")
Ann’s watch, Ann’s rules. She’s not asking the little rotters to do something they’ve never done or wouldn’t be doing under different circumstances. Put on some clothes! Goddamn hippies. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/5 "2014-09-10T18:59:37Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Ann’s watch, Ann’s rules. > > She’s not asking the little rotters to do something they’ve never done or wouldn’t be doing under different circumstances. > > Put on some clothes! > > Goddamn hippies. The question isn’t whether the kids should put on clothes while in Ann’s custody; two of the three do so without argument. The question is how you feel about the nudity in Sam and Leda’s home. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/6 "2014-09-10T19:01:57Z")
Fighting the hypothetical here.\* My mom’s been in town for six months. Of COURSE **Leda** and I had this conversation, both among ourselves and with the kids, and they ARE on board with the fact that when Granny’s coming over, it means someone is coming over. And Sam has been taught to not cook without at LEAST an apron on (we really LOVE bacon in our household). ETA: > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > The question isn’t whether the kids should put on clothes while in Ann’s custody; two of the three do so without argument. The question is how you feel about the nudity in Sam and Leda’s home. Anne (or Ann, whoever she is) doesn’t even _know_ about this. \*Just in case it’s not clear, I’m assuming the role of Samuel, here. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/7 "2014-09-10T19:03:58Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Fighting the hypothetical here.\* My mom’s been in town for six months. of COURSE **Leda** and I had this conversation, both among ourselves and with the kids, and they ARE on board with the fact that when Granny’s coming over, it means someone is coming over. > > And Sam has been taught to not cook without at LEAST an apron on (we really LOVE bacon in our household). > \*Just in case it’s not clear, I’m assuming the role of Samuel, here. Don’t make me fire the grapefruit cannon at you ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/8 "2014-09-10T19:04:56Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > The question isn’t whether the kids should put on clothes while in Ann’s custody; two of the three do so without argument. The question is how you feel about the nudity in Sam and Leda’s home. Should have been more clear: > [@QuickSilver](#): > > Put on some clothes! > > Goddamn hippies. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/9 "2014-09-10T19:18:54Z")
Domestic nudity in the privacy of one’s home is none of my business. Samuel and Leda should maybe have explained to the kids that Granny is "company’ and as such they should wear clothing in her presence. JMESHO ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/10 "2014-09-10T20:48:58Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > Domestic nudity in the privacy of one’s home is none of my business. Samuel and Leda should maybe have explained to the kids that Granny is "company’ and as such they should wear clothing in her presence. > > JMESHO This. The parents fucked up by not explaining, both to the kids and to Anne. Anne should never have been left to discover this family tradition on her own, without warning. That was shabby on the part of the parents. As far as the nudity itself, meh. None of my business, and I don’t give a rat’s patoot. I don’t think it’s harmful to children to see naked people. It might cause them some confusion in some social circles. They might mention it in conversation somewhere, and blow someone’s cool. Also, **Sattua** : good point. At least put a towel down. The famous naked guy at Berkeley had a towel. There are minimum standards of hygiene here. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/11 "2014-09-10T21:00:56Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > This. The parents fucked up by not explaining, both to the kids and to Anne. Anne should never have been left to discover this family tradition on her own, without warning. That was shabby on the part of the parents. I don’t know why I feel the need to defend fictional characters, but given that Samuel was in the hospital for emergency surgery, it seems likely that they simply forgot,on account of fear of death & stuff. 😃 As far as the nudity itself, meh. None of my business, and I don’t give a rat’s patoot. I don’t think it’s harmful to children to see naked people. It might cause them some confusion in some social circles. They might mention it in conversation somewhere, and blow someone’s cool. > [@](#): > > Also, **Sattua** : good point. At least put a towel down. The famous naked guy at Berkeley had a towel. There are minimum standards of hygiene here. Who is the famous naked guy at Berkeley? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/12 "2014-09-10T21:04:13Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Who is the famous naked guy at Berkeley? [Andrew Martinez](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Martinez) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/13 "2014-09-10T21:08:44Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > This. The parents fucked up by not explaining, both to the kids and to Anne. Anne should never have been left to discover this family tradition on her own, without warning. That was shabby on the part of the parents. > > As far as the nudity itself, meh. None of my business, and I don’t give a rat’s patoot. I don’t think it’s harmful to children to see naked people. It might cause them some confusion in some social circles. They might mention it in conversation somewhere, and blow someone’s cool. > > Also, **Sattua** : good point. At least put a towel down. The famous naked guy at Berkeley had a towel. There are minimum standards of hygiene here. > [@running\_coach](#): > > [Andrew Martinez](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Martinez) Martinez turned out to be mentally ill and later committed suicide. Not a good example in this case. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/14 "2014-09-10T22:35:03Z")
I grew up in a home similar to Samuel and Leda’s (in the 1950s and '60s) and had peers who did also, and do not find nudity alarming, or even particularly interesting unless in the right context. But yeah, Samuel and Leda should have done a better job letting their children know that being nude is only appropriate in very specific circumstances. The 9-year-old would be old enough to realise that. So, no big deal in my book, but parenting fail. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/15 "2014-09-10T22:54:28Z")
That seems like a really long, drawn-out way of asking what we think of nudism. I’m pretty thoroughly meh on the subject, provided nobody asks me to participate. That said, I pretty regularly take my pants off within 15 minutes of coming home and spend the rest of the evening in my undies. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/16 "2014-09-10T22:59:46Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Martinez turned out to be mentally ill and later committed suicide. Not a good example in this case. Not a good example of a person who put a towel down? What are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/17 "2014-09-10T23:07:00Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Not a good example of a person who put a towel down? What are you talking about? Not a good example for behavior in general. His nudity made great media fodder, but it may have been a symptom of his mental illness. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/18 "2014-09-10T23:08:37Z")
I’ve got no problem with the nudity. Now naming their kid Clytemnestra? They need to spend a week in your dungeons for that. No child should suffer like that. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/19 "2014-09-10T23:21:27Z")
No problems with the kids getting around naked at home from a moral/ethical perspective, only from a safety and/or hygiene perspective. Apart from preventing skidmarks on the furniture and carpet, clothes can also prevent sun burn and body parts being scratched, cut, entangled or spattered with fat while cooking. For some strange reason I just can’t accept naked people wearing shoes though. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099/20 "2014-09-10T23:23:55Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Not a good example for behavior in general. His nudity made great media fodder, but it may have been a symptom of his mental illness. Nobody mentioned him as an example of anything other than a person who put a towel down for sanitary reasons. I’m not sure what you’re on about. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-feel-about-this-domestic-nudity/698099.md?page=2)