# Tops off! The acceptability of public half-nudity for women **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 28, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630 "2013-01-28T18:20:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/101 "2013-01-31T01:24:43Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > [You might find this helpful](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogy). [You might find this helpful.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_analogy#False_analogy) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/102 "2013-01-31T01:40:38Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > [You might find this helpful](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogy). Oh, you’re right. You were only saying being nude was like taking a shit, which is so obviously correct (as everyone here agrees except me) that I owe you a massive apology. Me and my semantic games. I don’t know what comes over me sometimes. Put down your shovel. It won’t get you out, but at least the hole won’t keep getting deeper. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/103 "2013-01-31T02:00:43Z")
One man is standing there naked. One is naked with fluid coming out. Seems close enough to work with to me. Feel free to come up with a better, more useful one if you would actually like this discussion to go somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/104 "2013-01-31T02:27:15Z")
Why don’t you just stick with what you said in post #96? That’s where we will end up if I respond to your post and chase you through again. Unless you are a particular fan of groundhog day. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/105 "2013-01-31T02:34:53Z")
HOBOSTEW: I don’t like x for the same reason I don’t like y. CHORUS: That analogy doesn’t work! Y is a health hazard, x isn’t! HOBOSTEW: OK, how about I don’t like x for the same reason I don’t like z? Z is just like y except it isn’t a health hazard. CHORUS: That doesn’t work either! Z is smelly and leaves stains! HOBOSTEW: OK how about z-prime? It is just like z except doesn’t smell or leave a stain. CHORUS: Still no good! HOBOSTEW: OK fine, why don’t YOU provide an analogy that you think is closer? CHORUS: No! …annnnnnnnnnnnnd SCENE! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/106 "2013-01-31T02:39:02Z")
One was already offered. Perhaps you missed it: > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Lots of people think fat people are gross. Are they entitled to an ordinance telling fat people to stay indoors? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/107 "2013-01-31T02:46:51Z")
And once more for accuracy: HOBOSTEW: I don’t like x for the same reason I don’t like y. CHORUS: That analogy doesn’t work! Y is a health hazard, x isn’t! HOBOSTEW: OK, how about I don’t like x for the same reason I don’t like z? Z is just like y except it isn’t a health hazard. CHORUS: That doesn’t work either! Z is smelly and leaves stains! HOBOSTEW: OK how about z-prime? It is just like z except doesn’t smell or leave a stain. CHORUS: Still no good, but let me help you by setting out an analogy that is actually apt at post #94, and point out that with an apt analogy, your position amounts to a statement that your weak personal preference should trump others rights. HOBOSTEW: I’ll try to save some face here by criticising your debating style. And OK look, I’ll just admit that my only point is what I should have stuck to in the first place, namely that I just think it’s gross so there. CHORUS: Hooting and laughter at disingenousness HOBOSTEW: I don’t like x for the same reason I don’t like y. CHORUS: Wait, isn’t this just a remake of Groundhog Day? I don’t know this is going to have much of audience, second time around. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/108 "2013-01-31T02:56:38Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > One was already offered. Perhaps you missed it: Actually i did miss it, thanks for the reminder. And i think thats even less accurate an analogy, because forcing people to stay indoors is several orders of magnitude more burdonsome than forcing people to wear clothes. Seeing as how I dont think anyones getting anything useful out of this exercise, though, I think I will bow out. Enjoy your (clothed in public) selves! ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/109 "2013-01-31T03:25:53Z")
I’m for nipple equality. I believe that any law with a poor justification should be struck down. To those against nipple equality, I say don’t worry. I agree that few women will go topless in public even if they have the legal right to do so. Re Breastfeeding In Public Last time I checked, at least a few states had exemptions in their indecent exposure laws to allow breastfeeding in public. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/110 "2013-01-31T12:21:13Z")
Wouldn’t it be a fairly easy law to challenge, because of the obvious inequality? Any law types that know? And anyway, what about moobs? Of course the hysteria silly. And damaging, it’s all about controlling women’s bodies, about shame, about being a slut or not being sexy enough. It’s time to get over it. ---
**Author:** ![JumpSmashJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e495f1/32.png) [@JumpSmashJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JumpSmashJack)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/111 "2013-01-31T12:27:33Z")
You all must know that most women have breasts that are quite unsightly…I say keep 'em covered !! ---
**Author:** ![TopTom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e68b1a/32.png) [@TopTom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TopTom)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/112 "2013-01-31T12:39:43Z")
Gyrate, I want to thank you for posting this. However, there is additional information in my original post that is appropriate and important. Not allowing that information is censorship. Tom, ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/113 "2013-01-31T12:53:08Z")
> [@TopTom](#): > > Gyrate, I want to thank you for posting this. However, there is additional information in my original post that is appropriate and important. Not allowing that information is censorship. > Tom, Um. no, it isn’t. However, feel free to add it to this thread. We shall discuss, ignore or mock as needed. (ETA: oops, too late.) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/114 "2013-01-31T20:19:39Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > One man is standing there naked. One is naked with fluid coming out. “Someone cover up that naked man; he’s bleeding!” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/115 "2013-02-01T13:36:25Z")
> [@TopTom](#): > > Gyrate, I want to thank you for posting this. However, there is additional information in my original post that is appropriate and important. Not allowing that information is censorship. > Tom, That’s me, the iron-plated jackboot of internet face-stomping, oppressing all and sundry by starting a new thread that actually addresses the points the other one was trying to make while removing the stuff that got the other one closed. Fear me and my awesome censoring power, all ye people! Maybe that guy should think about going bottomfree; it would solve his problems with twisted panties. Ah well. Buh-bye. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/116 "2013-02-01T13:52:16Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > Wouldn’t it be a fairly easy law to challenge, because of the obvious inequality? Any law types that know? And anyway, what about moobs? > > Of course the hysteria silly. And damaging, it’s all about controlling women’s bodies, about shame, about being a slut or not being sexy enough. It’s time to get over it. I like tits. I don’t think I’m getting over it anytime soon. Not sure I want to either. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/117 "2013-02-01T14:54:45Z")
Dead horse warning: this refers to pee, poop, and San Francisco. My friend in San Francisco assures me that one of the hard and fast rules regarding fetish and swing parties is that one should always be wearing substantial bottomwear when approaching the food table. I think applying a similar rule to public interaction is not unreasonable. Topfree is reasonably sanitary and what not; bottomfree, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630/118 "2013-02-01T15:52:06Z")
> [@TopTom](#): > > Not allowing that information is censorship. How ironic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tops-off-the-acceptability-of-public-half-nudity-for-women/648630.md?page=5)