Naked Freedom

There is a guy in the UK who refuses to wear clothes. The authorities are becoming deeply exasperated and don't know what to do with him. Does he have the right to go naked in public if that is what he chooses to do? Or is he violating the rights of others by doing so?The whole case is kind of ridiculous. But I think it raises some interesting questions about individual liberty and the limits that should or should not be placed on that.What do others think about this guy's right to be naked? Should he be imprisoned for refusing to wear clothes?

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Naked Rambler Stephen Gough has spent more than six years in Scottish prisons for refusing to put his clothes on. The authorities have made it clear they do not want him there but the rambler is sticking to his principles. The result is possibly the UK's oddest legal stand-off.

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The Naked Rambler is about to be released from prison, possibly as early as today.

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If the last six years are anything to go by he will be arrested soon afterwards. Naked.Is the Naked Rambler the UK's oddest legal stand-off?

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Stephen Gough has 18 convictions relating to public nudity, serving virtually all of the past six years in a series of Scottish prisons. The offences have typically been breaches of the peace and contempt of court.

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Gough's spells of freedom have been as little as a few seconds, with arrest following his refusal to wear clothes on departure from prison.

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He has twice walked naked from Land's End to John O'Groats - in 2003-04 and 2005-06 - typically wearing only boots, socks, a rucksack and perhaps hat.

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Source

It would be nice if society got over its hangups and just let him ramble naked or not.Doubt it will happen.

On one hand, I REALLY hate doing laundry, so I empathize with him.But on the other hand, if you ever went to Vegas and people-watched, you would think clothes are a REALLY good idea.I think body acceptance is good and it might even lead people to healthier lifestyles/mindsets, but I think I have some Oni-prejudice against seeing physically unhealthy obese people, so I am tentatively against it. I know this thinking makes me a small person, but I am wondering how many others on this board feel the same way. Would any body like to publicly choose one of these choices:A. Glass mostly full: If I live in a neighborhood of young Swiss bikini volleyball players with the olympic proportions of physical beauty, sure, public nudity under certain circumstances would be ok with me.B. Glass mostly empty: If I live in a retired community outside of Vegas with 300 pound seniors, then no, public nudity under certain circumstances would NOT be ok with me.C. Either way, I am Ok with public nudity.D. Either way, I am against viewing God's physically grotesque and evil designs.

This guy is actually being imprisoned for being naked. 6 years in jail. You can get less that for killing someone.Would that be the same in the US? Do you have laws that explicitly prohibit such things?

Sorry, I only know we have public indecency laws, and they vary from state to state and perhaps county to county.You may not realize it, but this topic is bigger than it appears. My girlfriend is a eating disorders therapist. I don't want to widen your thread beyond practicality, but the issue of body acceptance, particularly among young girls/teens is a growing problem in america. Suicide is sometimes a result.That your country (perhaps mine too) has such harsh laws concerning public nudity is an acknowledgement of a much deeper problem. I don't know if it stems from authoritorian leadership, or the people who continue to vote in people with these mindsets.I suppose we could be in a worse location . . . some women in the middle east, if caught outside without wearing their full burka may risk having acid thrown onto them or get beaten.IMO, I think strict conformity is a bad thing. But I realize I am a little hypocritical here.Good potential topic, I hope it attracts more participants.

It depends on where you are.

"Topless Day In Bryant Park Was NSFWomen"Photos: Topless Day In Bryant Park Was NSFWomen - Gothamist

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Today was the fifth annual national Go Topless Day, a celebration of women's legal right to bare their breasts in public in NYC.

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According to photographer Katie Sokoler, who took the lovely photos above, there were less than 20 women participating in the event at Bryant Parkbut there were 10 times as many men hanging out, taking photos, and generally being disrespectful. "They would just swarm a girl and get right up in her boobs to take close ups," she said. "Three girls got so angry, they screamed, 'They're just fucking boobs!' and left."

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Although there were shirtless men there laying in the grass, they were left alone for the most part. "People wouldnt even ask to take a picture of the women," Sokoler continued. "They would just be surrounded by 50 dudes taking pictures of their boobs. And that's why although it's legal to be topless, it's not equal."

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This may be an urban myth but...I have heard that in the UK if a woman is naked in her backgarden and the man next door looks over the fence he can face prosecution as some sort of peeping Tom.But if a man is naked in his backgarden and the woman next door looks over the fence he can face prosecution for indecent exposure.Whether true or not ther seem to be very different attitudes taken to male and female nudity. male nudity seems to be associated with threatening behaviour of some sort......Or something like that.

Not sure what your point is.

Here too. I'm not entirely convinced the two are as related as you suggest.I suspect many who would consider the nudity of the rambler guy in my OP offensive have little time for the non-eating-habits of young girls. They would simply suggest that the first cover himself up in the name of public decency and the latter stop being so silly and get some hearty meals down them.Those with the most prudish approach to public nudity in the UK are unlikely to have much sympathy with "new-fangled" psychological eating disorders in my humble experience.

Neither am I. I am not a therapist so I won't advance my arguments like I know what I am talking about. I AM hoping my opinions will go on to stimulate dialogue so that I may learn something, even about myself. I probably would have thought the same thing a few years ago. But it really isn't so simple. As I suggested, the "non-eating habits" are a symptom of a greater problem. Often, but not always, it is from a strict authoritarian upperclass household. Republican and highly religous households are common causes. (And SOMETIMES from physical or sexual abuse. Just "getting a hearty meal down their throats" is more difficult than you or I could ever imagine. As I wrote before, sometimes it is impossible and ends with suicide.)My mere opinion that I am advancing is this same authoritarian mindset is the one that is creating the harsh sentencing for public nudity. Do you remember the great knashing of the teeth in America during Janet Jackson's clothing malfunction. Who was screaming the loudest for punishment? Ok, let's start there. In your opinion, why are people prudish?

It's definitely this one. He is violating people's rights to not see cock and balls swinging.In your home do as you please. But when you're interacting with other people, follow the normal customs. He probably needs mental help.And of course, here in America, the fattiest fat fats of the world need not remove any article of clothing what so ever. Can you imagine watching some slob eat Mc Donalds getting ketchup on his man-boobs? I can. It's not a good sight.Keep your clothes on, it's part of societies norms.- Oni

He's not getting 6 years for being naked - he getting a succession of prison sentences for continually denying the court's orders. A single offence of being naked in a public place would normally be dealt with by a police caution or at worst a small fine. But he's turned it into a purposeful act of defiance that the state can't ignore, sadly.Interestingly, a few years ago, topless sunbathing on beaches was routine here, but not so much now - though no laws have changed. We also have public nudist beaches and no-one bothers much.

A desire for respectability combined with some sort of need to feel superior to those who don't follow the same rules.It's a superiority/social class issue of sorts.
Or something like that... IMHO.

I suspect a lot of that is because it's fucking cold here on the coast/in then sea most of the time.I was much more "naked" when I was beach bumming abroad than I would ever be here.