# Women going topless may cause society to collapse **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627 "2016-03-01T13:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/41 "2016-03-02T11:47:52Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > As a non-native English speaker the word “topless” sounds funny. As a heterosexual male, I prefer women “topfull”. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/42 "2016-03-02T11:51:14Z")
It wont hurt anything. Police have better things to worry about plus few will take advantage of it. At public pools more people are actually wearing swim shirts. Plus the women I know of who do sunbathe topless, already have a private place to do so. No reason to have their picture everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/43 "2016-03-02T13:23:25Z")
It’s less of a collapse and more a slow increase in sagging. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/44 "2016-03-02T14:11:09Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > The women of the ancient Minoan civilization, on the island of Crete, wore open blouses that exposed their breasts - [1](http://www.dollhousebettie.com/images/b/blog/posts/auto/36/r/Snake_goddess41.jpg), [2](http://www.dollhousebettie.com/images/b/blog/posts/auto/36/r/Minoan-palace-scene.jpg), [3](http://www.costume.org/gallery2/d/64174-4/PSP_C016_12_014_002.jpg) (NSFW) - and it never did them any harm. > > What’s that you say…? Their civilization destroyed by a tsunami…? Oh… Gives a whole new meaning to The Topless Towers, doesn’t it? Yes, I know that’s supposed to be Troy. The joke only works if you associate it with Crete. Deal. And the term predates Christopher Marlowe. ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/45 "2016-03-02T14:22:21Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I am not convinced that Republicans are _terrified_ of women’s bodies, just disgusted by them. Men _and_ women Republicans. It’s a complete WTF either way. The ironic thing is that female nudists are modest and well-behaved compared to male nudists. I’ve done the clothing optional thing a few times in locations that allowed it. I’m always amazed (and disgusted) by how many men will stand in front of someone who is sitting down, turn away, and bend over to pick something up, giving a full and clear view of their “dangle”. They seem completely oblivious. And there was the time we visited Haulover Beach in Florida. For those who haven’t been, half the beach is nude only, the other half is clothed only, and the two are separated by a very-tiny-obviously-more-marker-than-barrier fence. There was a dude there who laid his blanket about two feet from the fence, on the nude side, and was doing … I don’t know if it has a name but he was on his shoulders like the yoga “plow” pose, alternating his legs between straight up and straight out. Clearly that was a deliberate provocation of the clothing people on the other side of the fence. (No surprise the clothed beachers were well away from the fence that day!) If anything, there should be a law against MALE nudity only. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/46 "2016-03-02T14:51:20Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > If anything, there should be a law against MALE nudity only. Let’s get more specific. Only fit young women should be naked. If there’s going to be a law that should be it. I’ll go further to say that in terms of public nudity if equal protection is a problem then no one should be naked in public because as much as I enjoy the sight of a fit young woman naked I do not want to see anyone else naked. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/47 "2016-03-02T14:53:48Z")
All I can say is that I’m going to have to give female nipples a lot more study and then return at a later date with a more well rounded opinion on this subject. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/48 "2016-03-02T15:46:51Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > It wont hurt anything. Police have better things to worry about plus few will take advantage of it. At public pools more people are actually wearing swim shirts. > > Plus the women I know of who do sunbathe topless, already have a private place to do so. No reason to have their picture everywhere. The serious issue behind all the jokes is breastfeeding. It’s the situation where the average woman is most likely to “expose” herself in a public setting. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/49 "2016-03-02T16:14:57Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The serious issue behind all the jokes is breastfeeding. It’s the situation where the average woman is most likely to “expose” herself in a public setting. It is, indeed. There was a mass protest in an Australian mall about that recently. But, in their defense, I observe that the two New Hampshire legislators proposing a new law specifically exempt breastfeeding, so I can’t fault them there. ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/50 "2016-03-02T19:27:54Z")
I’ve encountered many women breastfeeding in public but I have never seen one of them flash a boob. I don’t get what all the uproar is about. But then, even if I did see a boob, my attitude would be “eh”. I’m just not shocked by such things and don’t understand why other people are. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/51 "2016-03-02T20:00:51Z")
Well, in addition to breastfeeding there’s the issue of equality under the law - I’ve never seen anyone provide a clear description of exactly what the compelling state interest is in preventing women, but not men, from public upper body nudity. “Well, BOOBIES” generally is not a convincing legal argument. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/52 "2016-03-02T20:36:44Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > I’ve encountered many women breastfeeding in public but I have never seen one of them flash a boob. I don’t get what all the uproar is about. > > But then, even if I did see a boob, my attitude would be “eh”. I’m just not shocked by such things and don’t understand why other people are. I don’t think women are generally harassed for breastfeeding but the possibility remains that some overzealous police officer might decide to enforce the literal letter of the law. So I can see why women would want this issue settled. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/53 "2016-03-02T20:43:14Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I am not convinced that Republicans are _terrified_ of women’s bodies, just disgusted by them. Men _and_ women Republicans. I most definitely do NOT resemble that remark. > [@Pantastic](#): > > Well, in addition to breastfeeding there’s the issue of equality under the law - I’ve never seen anyone provide a clear description of exactly what the compelling state interest is in preventing women, but not men, from public upper body nudity. “Well, BOOBIES” generally is not a convincing legal argument. Wasn’t the reason it was legalised in NY because the court ruled that not letting women go topfree was discrimination, and therefore illegal? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/54 "2016-03-02T20:49:57Z")
Been legal here in Ontario for awhile, and as far as I can see, no-one cares: a total non-issue. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/55 "2016-03-03T01:09:31Z")
Except during sexual congress. I just want it clear. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/56 "2016-03-03T01:47:29Z")
This has to be from today’s WTF file. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/57 "2016-03-03T02:04:35Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > It sounds like the same lame-ass “slippery slope” argument they use against gay marriage. If you let them do this, then next it will be this and this… and where will it end? Next thing you know, we’ll have naked dogs and cats everywhere. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/58 "2016-03-03T05:32:25Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > It’s a complete WTF either way. The ironic thing is that female nudists are modest and well-behaved compared to male nudists. I’ve done the clothing optional thing a few times in locations that allowed it. I’m always amazed (and disgusted) by how many men will stand in front of someone who is sitting down, turn away, and bend over to pick something up, giving a full and clear view of their “dangle”. They seem completely oblivious. > > And there was the time we visited Haulover Beach in Florida. For those who haven’t been, half the beach is nude only, the other half is clothed only, and the two are separated by a very-tiny-obviously-more-marker-than-barrier fence. There was a dude there who laid his blanket about two feet from the fence, on the nude side, and was doing … I don’t know if it has a name but he was on his shoulders like the yoga “plow” pose, alternating his legs between straight up and straight out. Clearly that was a deliberate provocation of the clothing people on the other side of the fence. (No surprise the clothed beachers were well away from the fence that day!) > > If anything, there should be a law against MALE nudity only. Thats what I heard about such a beach in Texas. A nude beach quickly became a gay beach. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/59 "2016-03-03T06:19:29Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > [Male Politicians Warn Exposed Boobs May Cause Society To Collapse | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-hampshire-law-topless-women_us_56d49cbee4b03260bf77b2ff) > > We need more “reckless disregard”, IMHO. Especially when I read the next sentence: > > Bare-chested women in the library? I think that we should do all we can to _encourage_ women to go topless at the beach. What happened to “live free or die”? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627/60 "2016-03-03T13:39:48Z")
I’m all for women going topless whenever and wherever they want BUT as a person who has had a zillion skin cancers removed, I sort of think they shouldn’t. Men shouldn’t either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-going-topless-may-cause-society-to-collapse/747627.md?page=4)