Public nudity - yes or no?

[Jungle Red]

There's an ongoing debate in San Francisco about public nudity. It's tolerated in the Castro, but I saw a guy try on a busy afternoon in the Financial District and he was quickly dealt with.

Now, Supervisor Wiener wants to get it banned and fined. I love how the article mentions that it gives exemptions for street fairs and Bay to Breakers.
via CBS San Francisco

[TheatreDiva90016]

What the **** is a 'busy afternoon', and why would anyone try it on?

[Playbilly]

Most people need to keep their clothes on, let's face it. FOR the public good. Nudity at parades is just exhibitionism and narcissism.

[Reginald Tresilian]

I think unpleasant exposure should be against the law. Not indecent necessarily; just unpleasant.

[Jungle Red]

That sounds highly subjective.

[Reginald Tresilian]

And since I'm not willing to review the evidence, I withdraw the suggestion.

[SNAFU]

Personally I have no problem with the human form in it's various manifestations. You feel confident enough to share it, fine by me. I couldn't care less… that is if it doesn't spike my interest!

[EricMontreal22]

Is this the same issue about whether men in San Francisco who are nude in public should be able to wear****rings? Which, I admit, does seem to take it further than the law allows, though really just reading about it amused me more than anything else.

When I was there last year, we saw maybe four or five guys in the Castro who were naked. It didn't seem a big deal, and nobody was doing anything I could really see being offensive, though my friend who didn't know about the law there was kinda surprised to say the least.

[zepka102]

Hehe Weiner

[Brian07663NJ]

I was in San Francisco on Saturday, September 22 in the Castro at 11am there was a "Nude-In". 30 to 40 people were naked. Tourists were having a great time. No one was being lewd or sexual. Yes I am aware that that is still someone's neighborhood/home but you KNOW you are living in a very liberal city to begin with when you moved there!

In no particular order of importance:
1. Look the other way
2. Move
3. Get over it
4. Try it - you might like it
5. Stop trying to be offended because everyone says you should be
6. Rather see a 300 lb naked person than a LOT of other things we actually see on a daily basis
7. Why is rape/murder/violence acceptable on TV (regular television) but we are all offended by the human body?
8. Try to imagine having an ounce of the confidence and courage that they have
9. Embrace the freedom that they can do it - don't allow government to suppress yet one more thing. Freedom is what our country is supposed to be about.
10. Laugh at life - there is enough to cry about with just about everything from the economy, the Middle East, etc
etc this list can go on and on....

So obviously - I say YES let it happen.

[iflip4musicals]

In Vermont public nudity is legal only if you disrobe inside. It is illegal to take off your clothes in public.

[JoeKv99]

I say no. I don't want to see it.

[Roscoe]

The public nudity most often seen in San Francisco is a couple of guys who hang out at the corner of Market and Castro streets, there's a sort of public seating area, I've seen them there and wandering around the Castro over the past couple of years when I've been in town for the Silent Film Festival.

I'd rather see it legal than illegal, reprobate that I am.

[Mister Matt]

I just don't see the point. Unless you're trying to get an even tan. I have no problem with nudity, but public sex for sport creeps me out.

[Brian07663NJ]

Mister Matt - lewd sexual behavior is illegal. The ban is to make it illegal for them to simply being nude. The guys are very clear that their behavior is nude not lewd.

[EricMontreal22]

Roscoe--that's precisely the place, and the only place, I saw it.

It's interesting that they do exempt festivals in the proposal--which is where more blatant sexuality with the nudity is common (or part of the apparent appeal).

[Jane2]

I don't find the naked body aesthetically pleasing, so I vote no.

[South Fl Marc]

I don't find a lot of looks aesthetically pleasing, but I can't ban them. If you don't like it, don't look.

[Jane2]

"If you don't like it, don't look."

In order to know not to look at something, I would have had to already look at it. LOL

[StockardFan]

Good point, Jane!

[CarlosAlberto]

I let it all hang out and shing-a-ling on a Saturday night....catch it!

[Reginald Tresilian]

Deets, please.

[Jungle Red]

Which bar and what time?

I vote for Powerhouse!

[morosco]

San Francisco's Folsom Street Fair. A side show carnival of nudity (and I won't describe the activities).

[EricMontreal22]

I assume Folsom is excempt from the proposal and one reason they said festivals would be--but yeah it's hardly non sexual nudity.

[Jungle Red]

Folsom is as much about the nudity as it is guys wearing leather, and guys into guys wearing leather (or some other fetish).

It's not Nudists on Parade.