The right to be naked: Why is this man in jail?

[Aladdin]

Many of you will have heard of the 'naked rambler', the bloke who is attempting to do a Land's End to John O'Groats walk in the nude. He didn't get very far- he was arrested twice while still in Cornwall and it seems that he's been in jail since the end of August.

Naked rambler in court (http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12809103,00.html)

Court conducted in jail cell as rambler refuses to wear clothes for the hearing. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3119856.stm) :D

Why oh why does anyone feel that it's right to send this man to prison???

As I understand it, being naked as such is not an offence so long as nobody makes a complaint. I find the whole issue rather ridiculous. Unless someone is forcing their privates on you, how could the human body be offensive? This bloke was just walking and minding his own business.

There is something fundamentally wrong with the human species and nakedness. When you think about it it's rather ludicrous really...

[SuzyCreamcheese]

oh no, i knew he was doing a naked ramble, but i didnt know he was in jail. Thats just outrageous, how could someone be offended by a bloke walking around as nature intended, its not sexual.

[Aladdin]

Exactly.

As long as he's in public, open space (as opposed to, say a restaurant,which is a private place that might object to his nakedness) then nobody has the right to arrest him- let alone imprison him- for not wearing clothes.

[Balddog]

I wouldnt want my children seeing a naked man walking around. :dunno:

I dont think he should be in prison though.

[dantheman]

Come on, do you really want people to walk around in public naked? I expect you don’t have kids Aladdin.
We don't live in some sunshine filled hippy peaceful wonderland,
Where free spirits can roll around in fields of fresh grass and smell flowers.
We live in a society where there are plenty of weirdo's and unsavoury characters, where nudity is seen as a sexual thing so therefore you can't let people just walk around in their birthday suits.

[VinylVicky]

Maybe its a tad harsh he's in prison but do you really want to see people walk around naked? If he repeatedly offends, what are the police supposed to do? There should be more designated areas for nudity but nudists should'nt put everyone else through it.

[Aladdin]

What is it with us the human species that seem to have such a problem with our own bodies?

The only reason it stands out now is because no one here does it, and because of conventional moral codes. I'm sure many a tribe in the rainforest or Africa enjoy happy family life pretty much to the same standards as Western society despite their nudity.

I understand that some people might take offence, but then there are very few things in life that nobody in the world takes no offence to.

Technically the man might have broken the law, but he should have NEVER be sent to jail for it.

[Balddog]

I dont have a problem with my body, i have a problem with some other peoples :)

Would you be happy to sit down for lunch in a restaurant and then have a 400lb naked sweaty man sit on the table next to you?

Lots of thoughts on public decency do date back to the more prudish victorian times and the like but lots of them are there for practical reasons...Of course its down to social conditioning but we cant do anything about that. I dont want to see naked people in public..Even cute girls...

[Namaste]

Originally posted by dantheman
We don't live in some sunshine filled hippy peaceful wonderland,
Where free spirits can roll around in fields of fresh grass and smell flowers.
We live in a society where there are plenty of weirdo's and unsavoury characters, where nudity is seen as a sexual thing so therefore you can't let people just walk around in their birthday suits.

Maybe we need to re-educate our society in some sense that nudity shouldn't be something to be ashamed of? After all, due to secularisation we're less Christian and to be ashamed of our bodies is a judeo-christian idea.

I wouldn't be bothered if I had kids and they saw a naked rambler really, just because it's a naked body and nothing else. There's a difference between seeing a naked man/woman or watching pornography or kiddy fiddlers.

Society is too repressed...

[Heydrich]

>>>Why oh why does anyone feel that it's right to send this man to prison???

Because this individual lives within the context of political power, and thus, as a citizen, he is accountable to the authority of the state.

[BeckyBoo]

He should be in prison because he cannot follow rules and regulations. He knew the consequenses of doing this naked, he has been warned on many occasions.
Just like here people get a warning, if they cant follow rules then they get whats coming to them.........its exactly the same with this fella here.

Why should I be subject (if i was in that area) to a naked fella walking in a public area ? Why should I have to make sure my Daughter does not see him because I totally disagree with children being amongst naked adult men ?


What is it with us the human species that seem to have such a problem with our own bodies

I dont have a problem with my own body, but children seeing strange, adults naked ? nah your having a joke aint ya !!!

The whole system is wrong, he has been warned, warned, warned and warned again, how many warnings do you have to give someone before they will listen ?

[SuzyCreamcheese]

Originally posted by dantheman
Come on, do you really want people to walk around in public naked? I expect you don’t have kids Aladdin.

no but I do, and I wouldnt have a problem with my son seeing a naked person.

[Aladdin]

Here's my thoughts on the matter: the more you 'protect' children against adult nakedness and other issues (such as a stranger ruffling a kid's hair or even lifting them in his arms to amuse the kid), the more you create an unnatural relationship and atmosphere of repression and guilt between adults and kids that ultimately might contribute towards child abuse.

I would have no problem whatsoever for my kids to see a naked man. None whatsoever. Why would I? Is this man any more likely to attack them? Are the kids more likely to fall prey of an abuser? On the contrary!

Back home it is not uncommon for strangers to grab kids and play with them in bars (the kid's parents being around naturally), or for kids of all ages to be taken to nudist beaches regularly, or for adults to sit down next to a school playground and watch the kids play a football game. I know these people who live by the sea and if they've spend a day on the beach with their best friends, when they all go back home to get changed the friends will remove their swimming trunks and get changed in the living room as the kids run around and play. And why not? Here on the other hand you'd have to be insane to even stop to tie your shoelaces outside a playground, let alone lift a kid in your arms... And if someone learnt that you got changed in front of your best friend's 8-year-old kid they'd probably call the police. :mad:

And you know what? As far as I can tell Spain doesn't appear to have even a third of the cases of child abuse we get in Britain. Coincidence?

Going back to the topic, of course I would not want naked people in a restaurant, or in any confined space (that would happen to be private space anyway). But in this case? Open space, public land, and a bloke who is clearly not a pervert or dangerous, just a rambler with a rucksack on his back walking on the countryside... I just can't believe the people who saw him could actually be bothered to ring the police and alert them there was a naked man rambling...

As it happens, the fact that is naked probably rules him out as a danger to anyone... Just an eccentric. It's some of the fully clothed ones you have to watch for.

[go_away]

I hope he keeps an eye out for nettles...

[BeckyBoo]

Originally posted by Aladdin
I would have no problem whatsoever for my kids to see a naked man. None whatsoever. Why would I? Is this man any more likely to attack them? Are the kids more likely to fall prey of an abuser? On the contrary!


Nobody is saying he would attack them, but as you have already stated its a PUBLIC place, we are not talking a nudist beach where you go and you know that you will see naked people.

If I went for a walk and bumped into a fella with no clothes on, bear in mind im in a public place id firstly shit myself, then run like mad then phone the police and make sure that he was arrested or sommat like that. Its indecent exposure isnt it ? which is a criminal offence and he has every right to be charged for it.

[SuzyCreamcheese]

But becky, I would feel completely differently, Im not frightened of naked people. It nota given fact that being naked is wrong, its just the way some individual people feel about it. I think that makes it your problem/their problem, and not the naked persons problem, If he isnt harming anyone then hes not doing anything wrong.

[SuzyCreamcheese]

I would probably be shocked by someone flashing at me, and I would count that as indecent exposure, but a naked ramber, minding his own business isnt indecent IMO.

[morrocan roll]

if it's so ok ...then we'll have naked people knocking on our doors next. as society has evolved it has evolved it's ideas of what are acceptable and what isn't. the guy should be on a mental ward.
if he knocks on my door i'll knock him out ok?
all the rules to make our societies work are being thrown out of the window at our own peril. why not let everybody do what the fuck they like? well why not ...thats the way we are heading.

[BeckyBoo]

Originally posted by rainbow brite
But becky, I would feel completely differently, Im not frightened of naked people.

Neither am I if I know im in a naturist park or sommat, I just dont think its appropriate to be going for a stroll and bump into a fella with nothing on. It would be the last thing I would expect to happen whilst having a wander.
There are places for people to go and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can go naked without causing offence to anyone.
All it is with this fella is a big publicity stunt, he's got the attention he craves.......In my opinion.

[Guest_]

The only difference between naked and not is the lack of shorts/underwear, and the "gain" of a pair of bollocks and a nodge.

What a waste of time/money to imprison him.

[Balddog]

People are sexual creatures whether some want to admit it or not...Genitals being flashed all over the flash can lead to nothing but trouble..Being more relaxed with our bodies is one thing, public nudity is another.

[Namaste]

I'm all for nudity! If we were meant to wear clothes we would be born with them on. But then society isn't that open-minded, so we gotta keep it covered :(

I mean, don't wanna go offending people.

[Balddog]

What a silly idea..

Does that logic apply to everything? We arent supposed to use anything invented by mankind because we werent born with it? Computers? Cars? Ovens?

I also dont simply wear clothes for the sake of decency...They look good and they stop me freezing to death when im outside..

Wearing clothes and covering ourselves is one of the things that elevates us above the rest of the animal world.

[Namaste]

Originally posted by Balddog
I also dont simply wear clothes for the sake of decency...They look good and they stop me freezing to death when im outside..


I didn't say you did...

No, really what I mean is that does society see shame in the human body?

[Balddog]

Originally posted by MoonRat
I didn't say you did...

No, really what I mean is that does society see shame in the human body?

Theres no shame involved...Well unless you lack self confidence but thats a side issue..

Its done because we no longer need to exhibit our sexual organs to the opposite sex..Ive no problem with nudity, ill happily show my wang to any girl that asks but naked in public is a no no...I dont want to force my beliefs on others like that.

Women may well see such a thing as a purely innocent thing, the vast majority of men wouldnt.

[BeckyBoo]

Originally posted by MoonRat
I mean, don't wanna go offending people.

Least you have the sense, just a shame the idiot here cant take warnings. He knew the consequences but decide to still go ahead.

[xxauroraxx]

Originally posted by bad seed
What a waste of time/money to imprison him.
Yes! Surely the Police have more important crimes to be dealing with? Their resources ar elimited enough and to spend time hounding a man who is just trying to ramble (which he does away from areas of high populance anyway) is just stupid.

I would have no problems letting my children see a naked man. I think children should be brought up to know that the body is something we all have.

Winter is approaching though, so I hope he doens't get too cold!

Those who are offended - look away!!

I find scallies in tracksuits to be offensive and would certainly shield my children's eyes from Kappa wearing toerags!

[BeckyBoo]

Originally posted by xxauroraxx
Those who are offended - look away!!



Why should I or anyone else look away in a public place when someone wants to let his meat and two veg hang around :mad:

[Dear Wendy]

There's time and a place for nudity, and for just strolling around it seems displaced.
Also how do you teach a kid that it is wrong for people to get too close to them naked, if they encounter it when shopping and doing everyday things?

In Denmark it is perfectky normal to be naked on the beach and in the parks when it is sunny, as it's a norm, so people are used to it, and people who would be against such stuff won't bring their kids. While it'd be extremely attention catching to walk around naked while doing grocery shopping.

[kevlar85]

Originally posted by Jacqueline the Ripper
There's time and a place for nudity, and for just strolling around it seems displaced.
Also how do you teach a kid that it is wrong for people to get too close to them naked, if they encounter it when shopping and doing everyday things?

In Denmark it is perfectky normal to be naked on the beach and in the parks when it is sunny, as it's a norm, so people are used to it, and people who would be against such stuff won't bring their kids. While it'd be extremely attention catching to walk around naked while doing grocery shopping.

Especially in the freezer aisles!! :lol:

Seriously though, I agree with Jacq, there's a time and a place for these things. I once read a report in a newspaper which I found quite interesting/amusing it said that in continental Europe it's only reasonably attractive young people who do the naturism thing but in Britain at the age when the European naturists are covering up British naturists are whipping their clothes off. Think about typical British naturists in the main they're old, like this rambler bloke, and while people might appreciate the beauty of a youthful naked body which is obviously the case if you look at all the nude statues of "perfect" bodies there is no pleasing asthetic in my opinion to a body which age has affected. There is such a thing as growing old gracefully...

[Namaste]

I'd be a naturist if I knew where the beaches and sweatlodges were... seriously. :chin: