Authored by: Janis Johplin on Thursday, August 31 2006 @ 11:09 AM GMT+5

I voted for "I love nudity..." because it came closest to what I think. My real belief , though, is that nudity is our birthright. In fact, whether I love it (or anyone else does) is irrelevant.

Authored by: Mr. Buddy Love on Thursday, August 31 2006 @ 02:23 PM GMT+5

To me, people going completely naked in the downtown area just
looks tacky, like the guys who go into the convenience stores with no
shirt or shoes on (except at the beach where it's more appropriate).
What bothers me is that people get so worked up about it, like a little
old lady from Victorian times. Clothes are stylish, practical and frankly
better looking on most people, especially those who are older or who
have some fat on them. In winter, clothing is essential. But in the
summer, particularly when it is really hot outside, people should be
okay with toplessness on both sexes outside, and more loose-fitting
clothes in general, even some nudity. Where I like to have clothes on
people is in restaurants (I like to keep my food down thank you) and
in places where formality is expected. Americans in general need to
lighten up however about female breasts, male bodies and the
occasional completely naked female (most girls don't like to take all
their clothes off around guys I have noticed in Europe, but they are
okay with taking their tops off). And we shouldn't have a "no nudity"
law in Brattleboro. That would be completely stupid! Better to appeal
to common sense and some good taste that we would hope other
people follow.

Authored by: Malik on Thursday, August 31 2006 @ 03:52 PM GMT+5

However, if the town Selectboard intends to pass one as they seemed to say they are, it hopefully will be written to have jurisdiction in only the downtown area and public streets and parking lots, excluding the secluded swimming holes on the edge of town where no problems have ever risen over the clothing optionality of them.

This was a bees nest that was best left unstirred. The Harmont Lot goofballs have caused a buzz in the hive, and hopefully the real nudists who are mostly responsible and only go nude in secluded places won't be the ones stung by any town law coming down.

http://www.ibrattleboro.com/article.php/200608211518025#comments

Authored by: cgrotke on Thursday, August 31 2006 @ 08:34 PM GMT+5

There are some other problems to think about with banning nudity
downtown...

- There are changing rooms in clothing stores. Would businesses be
exempt from the downtown nudity ban? Or would people face arrest
for trying on clothes at Sams?

- People live downtown. I'd assume it wouldn't cover private homes.
Does anyone sunbathe on their roof?

- Does it cover infants? What about breastfeeding women?

- What about pictures of naked people? How about posters depicting
breastfeeding women?

- If it covers photos, does it cover other depictions of nudity?
Sculpture? Painting?

- How about the art galleries and studios? Could someone be arrested
or charged for posing as a model for a downtown drawing class or
photo project?

- It could impact fundraising. Many will recall the Men of Brattleboro
calendar - perhaps it needs to be brought to the decision making
meeting as a reminder that nudity can raise awareness and money for
a good cause. Or will this now be forbidden?

Just sayin'

Authored by: Mr. Buddy Love on Friday, September 01 2006 @ 05:44 AM GMT+5

Chris,

That brings up one other point here: WHAT *is* nudity? Is it the upper
AND lower half of a woman? If you define it only as the lower half,
that would leave the breasts out of the debate. This would be the
more sophisticated, 'Continental European' view of nudity. It would
also (like in most of Europe) allow women to feed their babies,
something that Puritanical America seems to think is somehow
"wrong" (!!).

Of course, sunbathing naked on your own property is fine with me. I
don't have a problem with most nudity. I think common sense should
apply to the debate. Not more American legal entanglements.

Authored by: Barry Dingle on Thursday, August 31 2006 @ 04:13 PM GMT+5

There are so many ways to feel about nakedness.

I just can't decide.

Authored by: Stevil on Saturday, September 02 2006 @ 08:59 AM GMT+5

While I still can't believe all the discussion this has engendered, there is a phrase which I have heard a few times to the effect that "it's always the wrong people who get naked". Now, in my understanding of the use of this phrase, it is not so much a detrimental comment regarding those who have stripped off as it is an expression of disappointment that a particular person or two didn't participate in this activity. So, of course, I have a suggestion. I think we should have a system which would collect votes for those we wish to see naked. The top five winners would, on a hot summer day, meet in the Harmony lot and for an hour indulge the citizenry in this wish fulfillment. This activity would certianly give new life to BABB's slogan, "All of Vermont close to home". Winners could help people out of their cars, carry packages, etc. A jar for donations (proceeds going to the Reformer's Christmas Stocking fund) would be made available for those who wish to express their appreciation of the winner's civic minded response. As it is likely that some winners may chose not to participate, the weekly poll would have to be weighted voting for, say, 10 candidates. Even if a person were to decline to serve, it should be noted that having won the poll could provide a needed boost to one’s ego. Let’s say that a winner is in public government and under fire for their decisions and actions - winning would let them know that they are appreciated on at least one level. There would have to be a rule, however, that this honor could not be used for political purposes. It is easy to imagine such an official who has, perhaps, publicly taken responsibility for so many things going wrong, having a discretely taken photograph available on an electioneering pamphlet emblazoned with the slogan “I’ve nothing to hide”. This sort of response would need to be discouraged. It must be established that there would be absolutely no voting for a list of those who should -not- take their clothes off, or express a request to put them back on. While accepting such a judgment might provide a great deal of contributions to the donation jar, such a vote would imply a negative judgment which could damage a person’s acceptance of their body image. There is no denying that such a vote might make a person seek out physical exercise which would have a long term benefit, but I would think such a response would quickly degenerate into an expression of negativity and personal animosities. I would also suggest that end of summer awards for “most improved”, “came from the further distance to participate”, “cutest”, or “most likely to succeed” would not be appropriate. This event should not become that kind of contest. And, of course, there should be no recrimination of those who decline the voter’s request. For my part, until I have recovered my 19 to 30 something year old body, I would refuse the offer on even the hottest most humid day as my random act of kindness and senseless act of beauty.


---
"If you start to take Vienna -- take Vienna." -- Napoleon

Authored by: cgrotke on Saturday, September 02 2006 @ 12:08 PM GMT+5

How about a Dollar Days sale where the percentage off any given item is
proportional to the amount of clothing worn. 20% off = 20% off!

Authored by: Mr. Buddy Love on Saturday, September 02 2006 @ 10:24 PM GMT+5

How about if we have a naked beauty pageant? The best-looking
winners could ride on floats in a parade, with different themes, like
"Roman or Greek Gods and Goddesses" or "Nordic/Viking Gods" or
"Celtic Gods" etc. There could be huge bonfires at the waterfront at
the end of the parade, where there could be drinking and celebration,
and lots of good wild music. We could shake the puritan dust off this
old burg and REALLY let loose with a pagan skin festival that would
make Aphrodite proud! It would be a celebration of the most beautiful
naked people, an inspiration for artists in the community. The
conservatives in the country would not know how to react. They'd just
be slack-jawed, amazed at our audacity and boldness.
It would be a real, Bachannalian event, do the hometown proud!
We put the cows through in June, and the naked could have the
streets one day in August, while it is still warm.
Why should the ancients be the only ones having all the fun?

Authored by: annikee on Monday, September 04 2006 @ 08:10 PM GMT+5

So who would be the judges? This will get political, like the Winter Carnival Queen.
I like Stevil's idea, it's democratic. And funny.
Being a Pagan, I hate the idea of the town coopting Paganism.
Besides, it'll all end up on dr. phil again.

Authored by: Mr. Buddy Love on Tuesday, September 05 2006 @ 06:24 AM GMT+5

The judges would be modeling agency people, and artists. They'd be
looking for "Pagan Beauty Attributes" from the Greco-Roman times,
using the Ancient Greek statue forms as a guide, as Aphrodite would
wish. But there wouldn't be any religion involved, pagan or otherwise.
It'd be a secular human kind of thing. And to tie it in with health
issues, there could be an anti-obesity message: something like "you
too could be a pageant contestant, if you shed that beer belly (men)
or muffin top (women)." I could see WVEW carrying the musical
festivities from a live feed down at the Commons.

All that being said, I meant my idea as a joke. I don't think the
people of Brattleboro are ready for my festival. It's too shocking, too
beautiful.

Authored by: Mr. Buddy Love on Tuesday, September 05 2006 @ 06:52 AM GMT+5

Here's a good site (tastefully German) that shows the kind of good
looking women I would want to include in my August Festival Parade:
http://www.bz-berlin.de//z/photos/index.php/item/beti/beti1

It's pretty hot! I think my favorite category is the "blond" but the
"hellblond" category sometimes has some nice ones too!

Authored by: Christian Avard on Monday, September 04 2006 @ 08:33 PM GMT+5

This story made it all the way to Raw Story and The Huffington Post.

Who's next???

Authored by: Tenacious on Monday, September 04 2006 @ 10:26 PM GMT+5

There are 167 stories up at the moment.

This is a vivid example of how the media can create a story out of tissue paper and make it look like a 20 ton monster.

Imagine what they are doing with serious stories like the occupation of Iraq etc. or the staged but very lethal presidency of Dick Ch...er, I mean, George Bush.

Authored by: Mr. Buddy Love on Tuesday, September 05 2006 @ 06:11 AM GMT+5

How was your radio show?

; )

Authored by: Christian Avard on Wednesday, September 06 2006 @ 10:38 AM GMT+5

Here it is

Authored by: annikee on Wednesday, September 06 2006 @ 08:39 PM GMT+5

The link isn't working...