Well, so many different things to talk about here.
Back on topic, it's also possible to think of Las Vegas in an opposite way: people might think of it as a place where you go to do the things you can't do at home!
True enough. But another ad campaign here is that what happens here stays here. I am sure many intend to do just that, but there will be the occasional visitor that ignores prevailing attitudes and learns from experience.
That might include sunbathing topless for women, but it wouldn't change the things that a woman thinks are repulsive, like being totally naked.
This is true. What they are doing here is “unique” and “exciting” and has nothing to do with home or their everyday life. I have always been puzzled at the intense response by others, and the young lady in the article, by referring to be naked as disgusting, repulsive or nasty! It’s a strange over reaction to such a relatively innocuous activity.
You mention the concept of equality, but you've avoided touching my point about conflict of interest. If you're a man who doesn't think of women's breasts in a sexual context, you're unusual.
Suh!! I take exception to the accusation of being unusual with regard to the appreciation of the female form. One of Mark Twain’s favorite quotes was, “There are three types of lies: lies, damn lies and statistics”, and that suh, is a
damn lie.
. . as you are referring to this:
My main point though, is that we males have a blatant conflict of interest in talking about women going topless! Any non-nudist who hears naturists talk about this will just laugh, and say it's guys doing what guys do. We'd be wiser to stay out of it and let changes happen, or not.
There is no doubt that many would think exactly that. That does not mean I do not agree when I hear an honest appraisal of a situation or condition.
There is nothing more appealing and appeasing to the eye of a man (me) than the appearance of the female form. Are her breasts part of that appealing nature? Absolutely! Can they be regarded in a sexual manner? Yes! Are they always that way? No! For me it is not only about the body parts.
That is what I was speaking of. That there are laws that specifically state that one group of citizens have a common right to do a thing and another group is denied that same right for no better reason than the refusal to offend sensibilities. It is a blatant double standard and those laws deserve to be repealed. Women shouldn’t be forced to cover nor should they be forced to uncover.
I claim we wouldn't be honest if we discuss something that's clearly sexual to most of us, while failing to mention our own attraction. I certainly don't deny it on my own part, and that's why I'm calling it "conflict of interest";
Breasts are not sexual organs, we all know this. Can they be portrayed they way? Watch anything from Hollywood and you will have the answer to that. Can they be shown otherwise? Yes, and I think this is what part of the topless movement is talking about. It doesn’t have to be that way and when it isn’t, the legal aspect of how women are portrayed and treated is returned to them, by law. Which is as it should be.
I think it's best if we step back and let events take their course in this area.
If a man stands and supports the right of a woman to walk about without wearing any kind of top, that does not mean he is advancing a sexual agenda. Is he aware that his universe is about to be altered in a more positive way? Yes! Does that mean we lie and say that breasts should be covered in order to protect women from men unable to control themselves? Well, we’ve heard that line before.
If I were to state that I cannot take a stand on the issue of topless women because some people will think I have prurient interests at heart, that would merely take the women’s agenda for a more equitable place in society and culture and hijack it into a protest of how men are unfairly judged when it comes to women’s issues. When appropriate I will voice my opinion and if needed, I will take my medicine and, accept the fact and accusation that men enjoy they sight of the female breast. I will also advocate their right to show them or conceal them. It will be their decision not mine, nor some committee or cabal.
We don't often hear women's own opinions about it, and I wonder if a woman would tell us how happy she is about our male feminist outlook, or if she'd respond with peals of girlish laughter. Which would it be?
Laughter or camaraderie, as long as they know I am in support, they are free to respond as they please. I am not about to try to control other peoples reactions. And, taking my life in hand I don’t see it solely as a feminist outlook. It is a plain display of a disparate set of rules. These are intended to maintain a fading level of public control of women. In this case, the fact of the public display of female breasts being discussed, does qualify it as a feminist position. One of many.
Whew!
Duane
