Encounters...what to do?

[eyesup]

I enjoy the occasional topic drift. It can be fun but sometimes puzzling. 
Plus, you never know when something relevant or interesting will pop up.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

I don't want to comment on American gun laws because I know these things are viewed very differently each side of the pond.  But I have to say that if someone's got a gun and is prepared to use it then they're far more likely to shoot someone or get shot in retaliation than if neither side had  a gun in the first place.

Peter

Yes and no. There is the obvious, as you state, but out here in the wild west, things have proven to be different. When two people have guns, or one doesn’t know if the other is carrying one for protection, there is a greater civility, no aggressive behavior, like say road rage, unless one of them is totally drunk, mentally ill and/or totally stupid.

As the bumper sticker says, ”Smith and Wesson the great equalizer.” If my person is about to get damaged by a large younger aggressive person, I’ll be happy to protect myself and others. When there is no one to protect me, which is nearly always, and as perpetrators make a point not to break laws in front of cops, or mostly others. I have a right not to walk in fear.  I definitely don’t want to get beaten and/or robbed and then see justice done to the a-hole that did it to me, which is rarely the result. That is NOT my first choice. In Arizona, we can carry a weapon unconcealed. We have to be licensed and trained to carry it in concealment, which makes it so it doesn’t make others uncomfortable.

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around Bobbies being unarmed. I don’t mind a cop carrying a holstered gun, as long as the cop doesn’t mind me having mine, but cops don’t like mutual respect. Everyone should be required to complete weapons training. Everyone needs to know exactly how destructive, how dangerous, the potential for use, how to avoid use, and what is proper safety. We need to see this to take away the romanticism, the bravado, and instill practical healthy fear and respect for weapons. Probably a high school requirement.

Every creep needs to know that anyone could be with a gun and a camera.

That being said, in my perfect world, where would I put my gun? I would be at a disadvantage. Think of the tanline that a belt with pistol would make, or worse, a shoulder holster! Maybe a small ankle strap? Guns are like clothing.

Nearly always people are okay to be around. If I walk around naked and unarmed, am I asking for trouble? That's like telling a raped woman that she was asking for it.
Jbee

[Greenbare Woods]

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around Bobbies being unarmed. I don’t mind a cop carrying a holstered gun, as long as the cop doesn’t mind me having mine, but cops don’t like mutual respect.
Jbee

There is an old saying, "To a carpenter, every problem is a nail."  When your solution is a hammer, then every problem needs to be hit.

Or. as Dilbert's porcupine put it, the solution to any problem is, "shoot them with quills." 

When cops are carrying guns their solution to every confrontation is "shoot them."  American cops shoot more people per month than UK cops shoot per century.   They are not safe around citizens when carrying guns, and should be disarmed.  They would then have to be more respectful of citizens.

Bob

[ric]

theres probably more shots fired at police in the us in a year than there is in the uk in a century.


back to the national arberetum.... theres a little used nature reserve the other side (south?) of the river , its got a railway line running through it,  but its possible to have a naked wander there.

[eyesup]

Looked at the photos on "The Beat" website and it looks rather sparse with little in the way of natural shielding undergrowth. It's a wide open area.

What are the rules in the UK with regard to CO activities on public lands? Is it the same as anywhere else? Especially with regard to a memorial.

Duane

[Davie]

The arboretum has only been open about 15 years. I think the part ric was referring is outside the arboretum. I think going naked within the memorial grounds would be insensitive, just as dressing as say a clown would be. It's a serious and thought provoking place and whilst many of us would like to naked everywhere this is not one of those places, at least not at the moment and I don't think the naturist community in general  would think otherwise.

Davie 

[ric]

the nature reserve i referred to is one of the wildlife trusts, maybe staffordshire wildlife trust?  its 3 or 4 years ago that i was up that way,
the national arboretum is far too busy, its now a well established busy tourist trap, 

[nuduke]

Umm .....might I return from the seismic variety of topic drifts to comment on Safebare's experience with the police officer?

He noted that the woman who called in was particularly concerned that her 12 yo son was in the car with her when they passed

.
Blimey, how innocent can you get? Although I would believe anything is possible in the USA, that mum needs to get real!  How many 12 year old boys haven't experienced the many naked 'delights' that the internet porn department has to offer?  Is a fleeting glance of a middle aged naked man in the twilight so much more corrupting than the things that any 12 year old can see online? 

John

[jbeegoode]

Umm .....might I return from the seismic variety of topic drifts to comment on Safebare's experience with the police officer?

He noted that the woman who called in was particularly concerned that her 12 yo son was in the car with her when they passed

.
Blimey, how innocent can you get? Although I would believe anything is possible in the USA, that mum needs to get real!  How many 12 year old boys haven't experienced the many naked 'delights' that the internet porn department has to offer?  Is a fleeting glance of a middle aged naked man in the twilight so much more corrupting than the things that any 12 year old can see online? 

John

I must refer to any gym locker room situation. The boy just observed another male. Where's a problem?
Jbee

[eyesup]

My take on that scene by Safebare was that a mom saw a man on his property and he happened to be naked, which to her seemed out of place, so she felt compelled to "DO SOMETHING".

Unfortunately that involved showing her son her appropriate response to that. To bad for him.

Duane

[Safebare]

I agree. I don't think it's the sight of a nude man, but the knowledge that a man is nude in sight of her and her son. How will she explain it that will support her repressed since of modesty?
It also speaks to the locker room comment. Those locker room days are long gone. Seeing your peers in their natural state is no longer part of growing up. Hopefully the recent efforts to promote public body acceptance will bring innocence back to the young minds.  Free the nipple and the penis from the oppressive morality police.

[eyesup]

Those locker room days are long gone. Seeing your peers in their natural state is no longer part of growing up.

I was in a discussion on another forum and the subject of locker rooms came up. I was surprised from there and from my kids to discover that in most jurisdictions that PE coaches no longer require students to shower after class.

While there was some equivocating on that forum about reasons why, when I was in PE class, the concept of personal hygiene was intentionally taught to students as something you do for yourself and society. You don't walk around smelling like a locker room. Leave it there in the shower.

I don't know why that is the case. If it's time constraints or more body aversion in general. What better place  to teach about self esteem, hygiene and body image than in a PE class.

Duane

[Greenbare Woods]

I agree. I don't think it's the sight of a nude man, but the knowledge that a man is nude in sight of her and her son. How will she explain it that will support her repressed since of modesty?

I have observed that many adult nudists are those who were the most taught body shame by parents.  Perhaps this young man will be out running naked in the night before the year is out.

It also speaks to the locker room comment. Those locker room days are long gone. Seeing your peers in their natural state is no longer part of growing up. Hopefully the recent efforts to promote public body acceptance will bring innocence back to the young minds.  Free the nipple and the penis from the oppressive morality police.

Yes.  More exposure of naked human beings would reduce the sudden shock at seeing naked people to a level that is almost ordinary. 

Bob

[eyesup]

Good point, Bob!

A young kid sees an adult doing chores on his property while naked. He may conclude that a normal looking man was knocking about in his yard nude and not making a big deal about it and that it is in fact ok and normal, contrary to what mommie says.

Duane

[Davie]

When I was a member of a badminton club only two of us would bother to shower the others saying they would do so at home - why when the showers at the centre where so good?

Davie