Nudes in the news

[John P]

I've spent a couple of days (several years apart) with Richard Collins, the former "Cambridge Naked Cyclist", but he now lives in the Bexhill area.

"Offences for someone being naked in public can range from indecent exposure to a public-order crime" sounds as if it's meant to intimidate people who don't know the law. "Indecent exposure" isn't part of any law, and the Sexual Offences Act was written carefully so as to exclude non-sexual nudity. But it is true that when nudity is prosecuted, it's treated as an offence under the Public Order Act.

[eyesup]

Well, the guy is right. He is getting bolder because he is testing the reactions of people. If no one has a problem, why wouldn't he?

Like Bob, said in his post in the, Stealth in an Urban Environment thread:
". . . when the same person has seen a naked person 2 or 3 times, it no longer is uncommon and they quit reacting."

I guess this complainer imagines it is all done to offend him.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/14510923.Concern_over_naked_rambler_on_mountain/

On the other hand, a naked hiker in Wales is bringing out the usual panic reaction.

“I don’t think it is right," said the witness.

The annoying/worrying bit of the report is added by the newspaper, with no attribution: "Offences for someone being naked in public can range from indecent exposure to a public-order crime. " Reads liek it came from the police, though.

peter

Could be that the runner is misreading the complainer's reaction and thinking that he is making progress with the locals.

Someone is annoyed with the unusual, "I don't think that it is right." The observer sounds so like the ignorance of a robot, "It does not compute. It does not compute."

Nice to hear the lack reaction from the police.

Now, where did the "You hear of things like this escalating" remark come from. What is going on in this dweebs imaginative fearful mind and where did that seed come from?
Jbee

[eyesup]

I think the quote was, “You hear about these things that progress to more serious matters."

This usually refers to what is going on in the person's mind. 1st this, then that, then the next thing you know people are running round doing whatever they want to. Meaning that this person isn't doing what he wants to for whatever reason and is upset about that.

Duane

[Peter S]

Of course, as is always the case, the shocked onlooker is not too shocked to reach for his phone and snap a picture...

peter

[ric]

i started reading the readers comments.... someone said theyre more offended at seeing overweight people...it kicked off from there,.   seems overweight people are  far more of an issue for the public than the odd naked rambler ,

[eyesup]

The motives behind anyone's behavior tend to be defined by the beliefs of the observer. If you don't have direct information you really don't know what is going on. This is the reason why the authorities question people. To get at the intent. Of course, if you aren't doing anything illegal there's no justification for questioning.

Those that commented negatively on the article seem to be of the type that merely observe and believe their own fictional account.

Others were of the opinion that there didn't seem to be any harm being done.

Duane

[Peter S]

The motives behind anyone's behavior tend to be defined by the beliefs of the observer.

So right. That's also why people are so often surprised by others' behaviour or reactions, because they expect the others to perform as they would themselves.

In this case the naked runner is making the same mistake; as jbee says, he thinks the lack of overt reaction from people who have repeatedly seen him (and he has repeatedly seen) is gaining him acceptance. They think he is getting bolder and potentially more dangerous.

Same meeting, same people, two completely misunderstood reactions.

peter

[eyesup]

It seems one of the (place tongue firmly in cheek) most open-minded, liberal and progressive (remove tongue from cheek) campuses in America is at it again.

I have read many articles lately how the PC mentality has infected our bastions of learning, effectively shutting down the open and free exchange of ideas, no matter the subject. UC Berkley, always (sic) at the forefront of political, social and cultural advancement seems to be advancing in the tradition of Wrong-way Roy Riegels.

See this article about the Campus Nudist Expelled in California.
At least Riegels made an honest mistake and owned up to it.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

1993. Andrew Martinez? We don't get it?
Jbee

[Peter S]

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/How-Berkeley-s-Naked-Guy-met-a-tragic-end-3232119.php

http://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/may-june-2009-go-bare/out-eden


Sadly "Naked Guy" Martinez died in 2006, but his brief stand for naked rights sounds remarkably similar to our own Steve Gough.

peter

[eyesup]

Well, at least someone is paying attention, Jbee. My mistake. I didn’t even notice that. I will do my homework next time.

Yeah, Peter. When I saw Jbee’s reply I decided to check to see what he had been up to in the last 14 yrs. I found the same articles you did.

As you say, this is a sad story. I briefly considered removing the post, but decided to add a comment about his circumstances. While this is a sad story, his notoriety occurred apparently while still healthy and events surrounding him were part of that publicity storm. It does in fact shine a light on cultural trends of the day.

I suppose it has some relevance today but the tragic end of this story probably makes it less a commentary on nudity than on the risks and dangers of celebrity.

The ‘Out of Eden’ article was I thought a better response than any thing I could come up with.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

All of this talk about notoriety in the "Eden" article got me to thinking. I don't remember mainstream media coverage of "The Naked Guy." I heard about him in more alternative media, naturist/nudist publications. The only mainstream that I can recall was Playboy and Playgirl. It wasn't a Johnny Carson/Opra thing, and it wasn't in the news as far as I know. Perhaps this is why Eyesup didn't recognize him, or remember him. His notoriety, which was mentioned, may have been more local Bay Area, like the other examples in the article. I do remember at the time, thinking that it would be good if he got more publicity and I looked for more of what he had to say and what he was teaching the masses. I didn't find much. Eventually there was a good article in "N" magazine mentioning his rally one afternoon on Berkley campus and occasional lecture visits to naturist resorts. Even those, didn't sit well with many of the nude listeners.

Stuff like this on the net will keep him legend.

 Does anyone remember coverage (and I don't mean the pixils ) of him in national media?

There was some anger at his tactics of change at the time of the passing of new anti-nudity laws in Berkley. His coming to the pulpit and addressing the council while nude was thought to be what pushed them into the ordinance. Otherwise, those restrictive laws may have not been passed. On the other side, usually a council, when it gets to that point and goes into public vote is already set, so the one article that accused him of blowing it for the rest of us may have just been an opinion of perspective. Standing ground and pushing ones natural rights to ones freedom tends to create a push back, eventually, like what Sara Moore and the group of nudes in San Francisco experienced.
Jbee

[eyesup]

Perhaps this is why Eyesup didn't recognize him, or remember him. His notoriety, which was mentioned, may have been more local Bay Area, like the other examples in the article.

No, I had never heard of him.

It may have been for the reasons you said, but also in 1992 we had a new addition to our family and that was consuming most of our attention and time. Not much in the way of energy or time to be spending on pop culture news.

Free time outside of work, childcare and normal distractions was hastily devoted to sleep! 

The points about pushback in the form of restrictive ordinances because he "crossed" a line do demonstrate how you have to be careful with your tactics.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

I was similarly busy and may have missed evening news and the talk show circuit. So, anyone else? Remember Martinez and where you heard about him?
Jbee