On 2 Sep 2009 at 11:04pm Smiler wrote:
A man stands on a plinth in Trafalgar Square for an hour naked
Is that a good/bad thing? Is it art?
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8233636.stm
On 3 Sep 2009 at 8:07am Old Ted wrote:
A man stands by the war memorial in Lewes naked - how long before he is arrested for indecent exposure. 'But officer,' he says. 'It's art.'
On 3 Sep 2009 at 8:45am Poppy wrote:
Artwave should be renamed Craftwave...very liitle true art on show in my humble opinion 
On 3 Sep 2009 at 8:48am eh? wrote:
why not? there are lots of statues of naked people. Greece and Rome for example. Don't see why a live nude is any different. Good or bad? no idea.
On 3 Sep 2009 at 11:04am TDA wrote:
That naked man thing yesterday was weird. Apparently it's not illegal to be naked in public - if you are not acting in a lewd manner (!) An ex-copper made an official complaint, but the police said the plinth chap was doing nothing wrong.....
BUT they told someone to come down from the plinth last month - er, for being naked.
On 3 Sep 2009 at 12:01pm Naturist Boy wrote:
TDA - the police made a mistake in advising the previous naked man that he might be arrested. Following that incident the plinth organizers clarified the situation with the police. Subsequently officers on duty were better briefed (!) and that's why the latest naked 'plinther' was not asked to dress following the complaint.
Old Ted - it is possible someone standing naked could be arrested for indecent exposure but that's because the police are sadly often misinformed about the law and not because the act of simple nudity in public constitutes an offence. In most cases of this sort the case will not be pursued although the result can often be distressing for the person arrested.
The issue in law is (as I understand it) not whether you are clothed or not, it's what you're doing. If a naked person is doing nothing that would be unacceptable to do with clothes on, then it is most unlikely an offence can take place.
On 3 Sep 2009 at 12:16pm sashimi wrote:
Times change. Do you remember the couple who walked from Lands End to John o' Groats with just boots and backpacks a couple of years ago. It says a lot for how relaxed things are that they got as far as Shropshire before they were arrested by some outraged country copper and nothing further happened till they crossed the border into Scotland. There the law is sterner and they were in and out of the cells and the courts for several months. But they stuck to their guns and refused to be bound over. Eventually the authorities noted that even the Scots weren't that shocked and they allowed them to complete the journey. But by then the journey which was scheduled to end in July had drifted into February. Locals came out to cheer them on and offer them drams. Eventually there was a photo op for a modest back view of the couple by the signpost pointing to Lands End before they rushed to put their kit on.
On 3 Sep 2009 at 1:22pm Naturist Boy wrote:
Sashimi, everything you say here is bang on but you should have bought the story up to date. Steve Gough, aka the 'naked rambler', is still inside in Scotland for various bogus offences realting to his refusal to wear clothes (even in the courtroom). His plight has divided naturists some of whom disown him as a self-indulgent exhibitionist and some of whom admire his determination and refusal to compromise his beliefs for the benefit of the prudish minority - as well as the clarification he has brought to the law, at least in England and Wales. Whatever view you take on that, the one unquestionable outrage in the grossly disproportionate response of the Scottish legal authorities - effectively keeping him in indefinite solitary confinement. Convicted bombers get more humane treatment.
On 3 Sep 2009 at 9:09pm Hay Nonny Mouse wrote:
Look I'm not especially a naturist but when in Germany I take my clothes off at the sauna like everyone else. It's not really a problem because everyone does it and noone would be so rude as to stare. (I do know that everyone has a sneaky peak but so what?) The difference is eveyone agrees and everyone is as vunerable as each other. It's a bit different when other don't have a choice. Also, we are really prudey in the Uk...
On 4 Sep 2009 at 8:54am Naturist Boy wrote:
Dunno what you mean HNM: others don't have a choice to do what? Do you mean they don't have a choice not to Look? You mean they just have to look at the guy standing naked on the plinth in Trafalgar Square?!
On 4 Sep 2009 at 6:32pm sashimi wrote:
I'd just like to make it clear that while I have no objection to someone standing on a plinth with no clothes on, I have no intention of doing this myself.
On 4 Sep 2009 at 7:40pm DEMON2 wrote:
PERV.LOL
On 4 Sep 2009 at 7:43pm Hay Nonny Mouse wrote:
What I mean is they can't avoid looking at a naked man or thier kids.
Not a problem for me but I can see why some might find it a bit distasteful.
Really doesn't bother me I can take my clothes off and feel fine about it(now, I did used to feel differently until I spent a lot of time in Germany), I don't feel any embarassment where it's the norm, I guess it's just that in the UK it tends to attract exhibitionists, those who like the seedier side of things and oddballs...so to speak
On 4 Sep 2009 at 9:04pm Naturist Boy wrote:
HNM - You sound very much like you'e engaging in vicarious offence (one doth proclaim one's own chilledness a bit too much I fear). And are you really suggesting that in Trafalgar Square there's nowhere else to look but at some guy with no clothes on standing on a plinth? Anyone of gentle disposition can always take cover in the National Gallery, but no, hang on a minute, aren't there paintings and sculptures of nudes on display in there?!
On 4 Sep 2009 at 9:47pm Squidward wrote:
I would love to stand and probaly dribble while watching a naked man stand on a plinth...
On 4 Sep 2009 at 9:52pm Hotlips wrote:
I dribble all the time, men don't have to be naked to get me going! 
On 4 Sep 2009 at 9:56pm Hotlips wrote:
Forgot to add i have xray vision
On 5 Sep 2009 at 10:26am sashimi wrote:
Hotlips, you sound like really good plinth material. Shall I book you an artistic spot and would you like me to wait below with a coat and a hot drink for when your hour is up? It should be worth a photo and a few column inches in the Sussex Express.
On 5 Sep 2009 at 10:52am Hay Nonny Mouse wrote:
I guess there are a lot of places you could look. Curious how the eye is drawn to certain things.
To be honest I can't argue for or against really, since I can see both sides of this arguement. I just think he's a bit daft.
On 5 Sep 2009 at 11:26am Curious. wrote:
Since we are on the subject of nudity which is of particular interest to me...
I have often wondered how nudists,men in particular cope if/when they get 'aroused.'
What do they do,think of something else or can you train yourself not to,or is it something you just get used to?
Anyone here know?
I am a girlie by the way.
On 5 Sep 2009 at 2:11pm No Pot Pourri wrote:
Mostly they are sunbathing, so they can turn over. In a naturist camp supermarket, head for the frozen food, buy peas, hold strategically. Think about ones own partner? I guess if one were constantly plagued by 'arousals', naturism could be the wrong hobby!