POLL: What's your view on #FreeTheNipple?

In a way I feel saddened that such a group even feel the need to exist. I think that when breastfeeding, sunbathing, in a spa or on a beach it should be perfectly normal for a woman to be topless, and pass without comment. There are places where I want everyone to cover up, male or female, regardless.

Breastfeeding and sunbathing are fine.

All other times, I'd expect women to be covered.

No-one gawps or stares at a sauna in Germany when there are young women who are topless (or nude for that matter).

You 'expect' women to be covered?

So if I said I expected homosexuals not to hold hands in public that would be ok?

Blimey, that's a strawman argument if I ever saw one.

Being covered up relates to avoiding the crime of indecent exposure.

I have no idea why you think holding hands could be construed as indecent exposure.

It's not a strawman by any means. It's applying the OPs logic to a similar situation.

You for whatever reason don't think it's acceptable nipples to be out in public. You have a prejudice against it. Similarly if I had a prejudice against homosexuals I could use your logic to justify the position that homosexuals shouldn't hold hands in public.

The analogies here a very similar, with the example being the people in question doing something that has absolutely no negative impact on anyone i.e. showing a nipple in public and holding hands in public.

The prejudice here is equally an oppression of these acts not based on any justifiable premise. The premise is merely, you find nipples unacceptable thus these people should be oppressed from showing them. Equally I could claim gays holding hands are unacceptable thus they should refrain from doing so. In both scenarios you are causing a negative impact on someone doing something that has no negative impact on you.

The only real difference here is one is in one scenario it's still acceptable to voice your opposition and prejudices i.e. people shouldn't show nipples because of "indecent exposure".

My opposition do indecent exposure does not stem from prejudice, as that would indicate that I have a preconceived dislike of nipples. I can assure you, I don't.

I am against indecent exposure as it is inappropriate in our society, in the same way that queue-jumping, littering or spitting is.

In a way I feel saddened that such a group even feel the need to exist. I think that when breastfeeding, sunbathing, in a spa or on a beach it should be perfectly normal for a woman to be topless, and pass without comment. There are places where I want everyone to cover up, male or female, regardless.

I understand, but the nipple is also a very sexual aspect of the female body, and is (I hate to sound patronizing) a part of the breast.

But there are 3 generations who haven't always seen it and would mind! Yes, in an ideal world, we might not care that much about nudity, but just because we shouldn't see something as sexual doesn't mean that we don't, and I can't overwrite the fact that if I see boobs, I either think "yum" or "yuk" depending on how attractive they are! It's not fair to the people I'd yuk at to get that reaction, or the people I'd yum at to be perved on, or to ME to have to react like this becase I've effectively been conditioned to it, and then deal with the anger of the people I've offended by the reaction I can't help.

You should try going to the beach in Europe. Pretty women can walk around there topless without being harassed, mind blowing I know!!!

Oh and taking photos of anyone topless without their consent is very illegal :\

The reason taking topless photos of women is illegal is because of the sexualisation of the breast - it goes alongside the fact that exposing it isn't allowed. If if were accepted for women to walk topless in public, they would be captured on CCTV etc - same as any men who walk topless - and exposed to the same sort of photograph. You can't suggest freeing the nipple but feel it's a violation if we actually free the nipple and no longer consider it private etc.

Yeah but if someone was taking pictures of a man walking round topless that wpuld still be illegal sureley? You need to give permission to be photographed by a randomer?

damn. I wrote the wrong thing. Not pussy. I mean pussy. ... you see. Pussy as in pus or is it puss. I don't know. You know. liquidy growth.

Not in a public place.