# Nudity **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2000, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359 "2000-02-15T02:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/1 "2000-02-15T02:58:00Z")
Will public nudity ever become “normal?” For example, on a warm day, will people ever stroll down the street wearing only sandals and no one would wear bathing suits? Why or why not? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/2 "2000-02-15T03:04:00Z")
I doubt it, except maybe for special places and circumstances. Clothing has the effect of making nudity much more of a sexual signal, and we’re used to it that way. Especially in northern climates where you have to cover up much of the year, the contrast would be too much. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/3 "2000-02-15T03:11:00Z")
If it ever _does_ become an accepted activity, I think ‘people-watching’ down at the mall may become the new past-time for teenage males… * * * JMCJ This is not a sig. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/4 "2000-02-15T03:11:00Z")
Im thankful from the condition that americans are in that they wear clothes. * * * “I have gathered a posie of other men’s flowers, and nothing but the thread that binds them is mine own.” ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Stephen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/5 "2000-02-15T03:15:00Z")
Yeah, because the human body is a nasty, disgusting, shameful thing and all nudity is equivalent to sex and perversion… Seriously, travel to Europe some time. In many areas, nudity is fine just about anywhere you would go barefoot. Funny how we can’t seem to shake our puritanical roots. * * * Stephen [Stephen’s Website](http://stephen.fathom.org) Satellite Hunting 2.0.1 (Y2K compliant!) visible satellite pass prediction shareware available for download at [Satellite Hunting](http://stephen.fathom.org/sathunt.html) ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/6 "2000-02-15T03:19:00Z")
It would happen wherever clothes serve no practical purpose. I’d be uncomfortable walking naked down a windy street, from a bobbling, bouncing, stinging grit perspective. I suspect many large breasted women would feel the same way. * * * Never attribute to an -ism anything more easily explained by common, human stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/7 "2000-02-15T03:20:00Z")
Upon rereading my post, please believe that I’m making no comparison between the vulnerable bits of large breasted women, and my own vulnerable bits. * * * Never attribute to an -ism anything more easily explained by common, human stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![jaydabee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c89c15/32.png) [@jaydabee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaydabee)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/8 "2000-02-15T03:36:00Z")
Probably not, young good looking types may do it to show off but it would generally be impractible. Things such as weather,insects, hygene,style and loose change would make it quite awkward. The romans didn’t do it except in the temples I believe, and they were about as decadent as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/9 "2000-02-15T03:43:00Z")
Well, in Berkeley… Peace, mamgeorge * * * I only know two things; I know what I need to know And I know what I want to know Mangeorge, 2000 ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/10 "2000-02-15T12:31:00Z")
yeah, i think nudity will become “normal”. it already is normal among every other species on earth. i don’t think it will become totally normal within any of our lifetimes. this recent fascination with clothing is at odds with what our species has practiced throughout 99% of its existance. it really makes no sense for us to wear clothing when weather does not demand it. i would have no problem being naked in public, going to the hardware store, to work, etc. if not for nonsensical standards imposed upon us 🙂 what is really so wrong with driving to the grocery store naked during the hot summer months? anyway. if nudity were not so verboten in our society, if it was accepted, who many of you would be comfortable with not dressing up? ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/11 "2000-02-15T14:06:00Z")
- - - TV shows could be rated “adult” for not containing nudity. - - - Playboy could show centerfolds wearing snowmobile suits. - - - Kids would sneak off to play “dress poker”. - - - I seriously doubt that clothes or lack of clothes has much to do with one’s true attitude towards nudity. I understand that in many nudist camps, telling dirty jokes or having any contact other than handholding and/or excessive kissing, even just above the neck is considered enough to get one thrown out. All that doesn’t sound so relaxed to me, especially since I’m young enough that every now and then my equipment does a partial self-test, regardless of what I happen to be thinking about. It’s as if they are trying to reach some spiritual utopia, and they think that clothes are getting in the way when the real source seems not to be with, or with lack of clothes. The fact that people can be naked and still manage to be uptight about sexuality means they are quite missing the point of _being naked_. ( -sexuality being of course, one of the favorite demons we all know) - MC - - - - " - for your clothes, as they conceal your beauty, do not hide your ugliness, , ," - K Gibran, _The Prophet_ ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Thing\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_1)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/12 "2000-02-15T15:03:00Z")
From Mangeorge: “Peace, mamgeorge” Appropriate typo for this topic. John ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/13 "2000-02-15T16:06:00Z")
"Who cares if you’re so poor You can’t afford to buy a pair of Mod A-Go-Go Stretch Elastic Pants? There will even come a time when You can take your clothes off when you dance." – Frank Zappa, “Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance,” from WE’RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY, 1967 (Believe it or not, the above verses scan properly when they are sung to the very odd rhythms of Mr. Zappa’s composition) And if Frank says it, I believe it, and that’s the end of it. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/14 "2000-02-15T17:01:00Z")
Stephen, the human body is a beautiful thing but americans are not in condition. Now if they all looked like Cindy Crawford & Arnold Swarzenegger, nudity might be okay. But then everyone’s naked asshole would contact all the chairs & everyone would be sharing naked asshole germs…ever think of that Stephen? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/15 "2000-02-15T17:31:00Z")
“All God’s children are not beautiful. Most of God’s children are, in fact, barely presentable.” —Fran Leibowitz ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2000, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/16 "2000-02-16T06:49:00Z")
Reasons To Go To Work Naked -No one ever steals your chair. -Gives “bad hair day” a whole new meaning. -Diverts attention from the fact that you also came to work drunk. -People stop stealing your pens after they’ve seen where you keep them. -So that -with a little help from Muzak- you can add “Exotic Dancer” to your exaggerated resume. -You want to see if it’s like the dream. -To stop those creepy guys in Marketing from looking down your blouse. -“I’d love to chip in, but I left my wallet in my pants.” -Inventive way to finally meet that special person in Human Resources. -Can take advantage of computer monitor radiation to work on your tan. -Your boss is always yelling, “I wanna see your ass in here by 9:00!” ---
**Author:** ![PTVroman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bb73d2/32.png) [@PTVroman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PTVroman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/17 "2000-02-15T19:00:00Z")
> [@](#): > > what is really so wrong with driving to the grocery store naked during the hot summer months? You obviously don’t have vinal seats. * * * _“The large print givith, and the small print taketh away.”_ Tom Waites, “Step Right Up” ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/18 "2000-02-15T19:13:00Z")
“A naked driver is a careful driver.” –guest on radio show _Whad’ya Know?_ ## (by the way, in speech competitions I’m performing an essay by David Sedaris called **naked** ; it’s about a week he spends at a nudist park; really funny and really interesting; read it) Mayor of [Snerdville](http://fathom.org/snerdville), the home of Mortimer Snerd “I’m just too much for human existence – I should be animated.” –Wayne Knight ---
**Author:** ![WillGolfForFood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/82dd89/32.png) [@WillGolfForFood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillGolfForFood)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/19 "2000-02-15T19:15:00Z")
Allow me to chip in as one of the older participants here (one that gets to see what happens to an aging body first-hand). Given that the median population in the US is continually rising - to the point that within 30 years there will be one retiree for every two workers - the average nudist walking down the street will _not_ look like Arnold Schwartznager. Picture Jerry Seinfeld’s parents walking down the street… You sure you want this? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Prose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Prose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prose)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2000, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359/20 "2000-02-15T20:26:00Z")
It’s already legal in some places of Ontario for women to go topless during summer months in public. It’s not unlikely that it will become more common place as we mature as a society here. But I cannot see anything more than toplessness, just wouldn’t be practical in most places to go completely nude during the whole year. Nor can I see for public places like malls, men can’t even go into malls or buildings without a shirt, so there would be no point. * * * I am a fire whose flames lick and spit at the boundless sky forever desiring wonderous consummation -me [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nudity/7359.md?page=2)