Would you allow a law that would let people go naked in public?

The only reason we have laws about what you can do in public is 'it inconveniences and distresses people'. You can't wander around an urban neighbourhood with speakers playing extremely loud music at night. Why? It distresses people. You can't graffiti a wall. Why? It distresses the people the people the wall belongs to, as well as the people who have to look at the wall. You can't have sex in public because it embarrasses the people around you.

You're also not allowed to spit or put chewing gum on public transport. Why? If people are offended by your spit, they can just look away and not sit near that seat, can't they?

I mean, I don't really think that nudity is horrifying. But if people don't want to look at it, they shouldn't have to. I don't see why a law against nudity is any different to laws against public sex, graffitiing or spitting.

edited 28th Jul '11 5:17:08 PM by LoniJay

Be not afraid...

Well, there are no natural rights either way, positive or negative. So in terms of policy, we can assert any rights we're capable of enforcing.

This thread started out as a question of what we as individuals would support in practice, and has taken the rather unpleasant turn away from preferences and towards claims about "shoulds", "rights", and other associated balderdash.

On what non-arbitrary basis may a choice be deemed illegitimate?

I would allow the law; however, I would also allow for stores, indoor public spaces, transportation services and such to enforce a minimum dress code for the purposes of hygiene. That way, people will neither get harassed for sunbathing in a park or going skinny-dipping, nor have to spend a bus ride sitting in someone else's ass-sweat.

edited 28th Jul '11 7:22:08 PM by MostlyBenign

I've seen some disgusting people on the bus. I shudder to think how worse it would be if their sweat and juices were clinging to the seats.

That's the best reason I've heard of.

Um, did you not see in the news when one of Bush's White House chief of staff decided that all of the Greco-Roman style art had to be covered rather than show off nudity? And that's not an isolated incident.

Usually that's the case if you buy in an area with a homeowner's association, which is typically run by the most anal-retentive person in the neighborhood.

I'm pretty sure that most nudist places put an extra emphasis on cleanliness/hygiene.

Might that be solved by the temperature of the sauna helping to act as a sterilizer?

You say that like it doesn't already happen.

Generally, nudist places also have to conceal their purpose, or they get run off by Moral Guardians. There's a nudist place ~30 miles from where I live*

^{I know this because my in-laws stayed there when they visited earlier this month}

, and their signs are carefully designed to look like any regular campsite. Not until you get down the very long driveway do you see the "warning: naked people ahead" signs.

You can - as long as no one can see you. God forbid you have the curtains open while you're sitting on the couch butt-naked watching The Daily Show.

Where do you live again?

Move to southern California? Or maybe Florida. Those are the two areas of the country I'd see getting the most use out of such a law anyway.

Me personally, yes, I'd allow such a law, with the afore-mentioned hygiene caveat.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

If I didn't think there'd be riots, yes.

But there'd be riots, so no.

I spread my wings and I learn how to fly....

Would they be naked riots, or burqa riots?

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

No! Just... no!

Sanity? Why would I need a useless thing like that? Now posting as Motor-Runner.

Naked burqa riots?

The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.

Not gonna happen.There would be protest from a lot of Islamic groups,Christian groups,and other religious groups who would get offended.And most of all it would be fan disserve if all the woman had flabby bodies.

Real life is not a work of fiction.

What? That's stupid.

I do know about that Pope who had all of the statue penises in Vatican broken off and locked away somewhere. Nowadays they're trying to match penis to statue and restore them.

Apparently they did it to the statues in some palaces of Poland, too.

edited 29th Jul '11 3:51:28 PM by annebeeche

Banned entirely for telling FE that he was being rude and not contributing to the discussion. I shall watch down from the goon heavens.

I know this is not really On-Topic, but this made me lol.

On-Topic, I personally would not have a problem with the repealing of public decency laws in regards to nudity, as long as anyone who chose to go outside naked was required to sit on a towel. I also imagine that anyone who chose to go nude would be expected to maintain a cleanly body.

edited 29th Jul '11 6:02:40 PM by Galeros

There might as well be a hygiene law unless you're out camping in the wilderness or something.

Not that I believe people with terrible hygiene should be arrested or anything, just so that the police has an excuse to take the really filthy ones to a bathhouse and make them wash.

It'd be impractical, though, unfortunately.

Banned entirely for telling FE that he was being rude and not contributing to the discussion. I shall watch down from the goon heavens.