Why are so many people "offended" by nudity?

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   Academicviewsposted 11 years ago

   Why are so many people "offended" by nudity?
   
   Does anyone else ever wonder why we are so offended by nudity? We are born that way and yet many people are repulsed by seeing another human being naked. As a society we seem strangely tolerant of seeing beautiful people’s flesh and less so if they are not conventionally attractive. Why is that?

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2. 53

   whonunuwhoposted 11 years ago

   Most adults that appear to be offended by nudity are in a protection mode for their children. This is because as the kids grow up, social issues demand that they behave and respect others and cover their bodies. This also prevents sexual issues from happening at the wrong times in children's development, as well. If society so deemed it alright to be nude in public, then I suppose we would all live in one big nudist colony. Do you think this might promote wrongful sexual actions or perhaps make the sex act permissive in public, as well. I think that it would be morally wrong for this kind of behavior and would lead to "Sodom and Gomorrah" all over again.The more public nudity and illicit sexual behavior, as well as pornography.are made"okay"the further down the toilet society will drop, and perhaps a new reckoning is warranted after all.

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      Academicviewsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sexual acts and pornography are not synonymous with nudity. It is interesting reading your points as the sub text of my question is that it really is not that big an issue for many people yet for others nudity is exclusively related to sex and thus a

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      "Sodom and Gomorrah"?  "Illicit"?  "Pornography"?  Not sure I like the (unintended?) connotation.  There IS no causality, "provable" ONLY by scientific method, between public nudity and homosexuality - and "morality" is irrelevant to the latter.

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      whonunuwhoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Stanwshura, can smoking marijuana lead to use of other more potent drugs, especially by youth, needing guidance? Can public drunkenness lead to maiming the innocent and death of many, including the offender? Posting porn? Sick society, Don't you see?

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Wnnw, one big problem in the world is that too many mistake correlation for causation.  Just because B occured with or after A does not mean, nor especially PROVE that they are related.  A and B could have been caused by C.  And again, why is A bad?

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   ashleybunnposted 11 years ago

   I believe that being offended by nudity, especially the nudity of certain types of people, is a social construct. Nudity is completely natural, and while someone may not want it paraded in front of their face all the time, it shouldn't offend them. People are more commonly offended by the nudity by the non conventionally attractive because they are just that - non conventional. Society has made it very clear what we are "supposed to" find attractive, and many of us are exposed to these expectations from such a young age that we begin to adapt them ourselves.

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      Academicviewsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There is an issue here that as a society we are told, mainly through the media, what and who to find attractive. Your points are the kind I wanted to debate. There has also been a comment which linked nudity with sex and pornography which is not the

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      whonunuwhoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I suppose if we all streaked up and down the country on the Fourth of July, we could kick off the new society of "Nude Dudes".

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Wnnw, that's a rather manic and alarmist/prudish tone.  Besides, I think all the consumption, arrogant pride, flag-waving and chest thumping is far more offensive than would be the exposed breast, penis, vagina or backside.

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   WhydThatHappenposted 11 years ago

   For the same reason that a pregnant woman gives birth to the beautiful and the ugly (a baby and the afterbirth). Technically both come from the same place and processes, and end up in the same place after the same birth, but there are nuances and variances that matter. One looks healthy and one doesn't. That's a big part of it. No one is offended by a baby's nudity, either. Even though they are anatomically identical to the offensive nudity of adults- there are nuances that matter- one is matured and one isn't- there are connotations alongside the technicalities that contribute to taste.

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      Express10posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I could not have said it any better

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      whonunuwhoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for putting it in the right perspective,WhydThatHappen.

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   jackcoburnposted 11 years ago

   Sometimes I wonder why it's such a big deal, but some of the comments like parents setting a good example do make sense. I just wished that people would be less sensitive over something so natural.

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      whonunuwhoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Civilizations have had thousands of years to make a decision to be clothed or go nude. What choice have they made and why?

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   stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

   Peer pressure, mob mentality, and wanting their place on the band wagon.
   
   They want to be SEEN as being offended, and thus as a "proper" and "decent" member of mainstream society.

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      whonunuwhoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Answer this stanwshura, What kind of society would we have around the world, if we all lived as Nudes(except in coldest climes)would we still be an advancing civilization?

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Wnnw, the same as we have today, but sans Filenes, Macy's et.c, and the nausatingly objectifying catwalk and bling obsession.  Nudity is not immoral, nor does it compel (man) to same.  It's a red herring by folks who want things a "certain" way.

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   Cre8torposted 11 years ago

   I believe that though some may say they're "offended", they really should be saying they're "uncomfortable" with it. I agree with stanwshura in that being "offended" sounds way cooler and much more exciting when the "pot is stirred". People love that.
   
   Truth is, I'm uncomfortable with "public" nudity because I was raised in this world where I was taught to be and regardles of what I think or teach my kids, that is what the world will impress upon us though it chooses to feed it to us on every media. And no, I really don't want to have this conversation with my kids in WalMart but if I did, it would probably go something like, "Well son, it's nothing you haven't seen before and I bet he's really cold when choosing an ice cream flavor. Moving on."
   
   My last thought on this is that I also believe many are uncomfortable by a "less than socially acceptable beauty" and others are uncomfortable because they are unsure they could control themselves in the presence of great beauty. This presents either a negative and confrontational situation or perhaps a dangerous situation. It's plain science that nudity will create tension and that tension must somehow be released. Science does not predict in what way that tension will be released.

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      whonunuwhoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Insightful commentary,Cre8tor. Thanks for the sensibility.

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      Academicviewsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      very good points. In truth I wish I hadn't posted the question as some people seem to draw other conclusions. Think is was oscar Wilde that said "its the spectator and not life that art really mirrors". maybe apt in this context. best answer thanks.

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      WhydThatHappenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      To be offended includes being uncomfortable, right? If you have been offended then someone else has caused you to be uncomfortable by their actions. So I disagree with that first statement, as it seems to simplify people's opinions to make a point.

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      stanwshuraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Brain surgery (the whole experience) is uncomfortable.  Innoculations are "uncomfortable".  Chemo is "uncomfortable".  Being doggedly, literal-honest can be uncomfortable to uphold.  Childbirth is uncomfortable.  Are these wrong?  Nope.  Full stop.

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   pagesvoiceposted 11 years ago

   I remember when I was so proud of the way I looked and there wasn't a mirror I was afraid of. However, 7 months of being on steroids and I run past the full length mirror when exiting the shower. For crying out loud it's my own body and I don't want to look. Although my wife reassures me that I'm fine, my mental imagine tells me otherwise. Have you ever seen the men in their late 50s and 60s and 70s in Miami wearing a Speedo? Yikes, make it stop. Okay, on Sunday's when the Polish music is on (I've written about doing the naked Polka) I do still comically dance around after my shower doing the naked Polka. Yes it is free and also in the comfort of my own home so as not to offend the unexpected.

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      whonunuwhoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Obviously,pagesvoice, you are a respectable individual, and hopefully you do not have any older, or grown kids about the house...and They thought their dad was a prude.

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      No kids at home and just the Mrs. and me.

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   Nudistguyincoposted 8 years ago

   I believe that it comes a lot from our upbringing. Our parents inadvertently teach us to be ashamed of our bodies. For example, if a parent sees a naked man in public and their kids are around their response is usually something along the lines of, "Don't look kids, there's a pervert running around without his clothes. He should be ashamed of himself. What is wrong with that man.".  So guess what this teaches us? It teaches us that nudity is shameful and perverted and it makes us uncomfortable to be around it.
   
   But there are numerous other reasons and another big one is that media has brainwashed us into believing that if we have less than a perfect body, we should be embarrassed and ashamed of it.  So we pick apart our bodies and are embarrassed if someone sees our flaws, which makes us uncomfortable seeing others in their less-than-perfect glory, even though being naked is the most natural thing in the world.

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