tuscl

Do you think women should go topless at the beach?

shadowcat
Atlanta suburb
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 9:25 AM
I'm all for it. A sign at Orient Beach on the island of St. Martin cautions drivers to be mindful of nude pedestrians. A TripAdvisor survey found that 78% of Americans approve of toplessness at beaches where it's culturally [view link] a beach etiquette survey of about 1,100 U.S. travelers by TripAdvisor, released this morning, 78% of respondents think toplessness is OK in destinations where it's culturally acceptable. That certainly goes against the stereotype of Americans as being prudish when it comes to public nudity. The survey also found that 6% say "European" sunbathing is acceptable at any beach or pool. Another finding that's a surefire conversation starter: people who get up early at resorts to leave towels and personal belongings on chaises, then don't show up for hours. That happens at every big resort I've seen, and it ticks off fellow guests. A whopping 85% of survey respondents think this is bad form, and only 11% say they do it (if you ask me, the percentage of chaise hogs is higher). Other interesting results: *60% of respondents would like to see child-free zones at beaches (72% want such zones at pools). And 72% want pet-free areas at beaches; 66% at pools. *Most annoying beach behavior? Blasting loud music (27%); intoxication and littering (12% each). At the pool, music again was most hated (21%), but second was beach-chair hogging (18%). *What U.S. beach has the worst-behaved beachgoers? Miami Beach (which can get pretty rowdy with models, bachelor partiers and others going wild), say respondents. Worst behaved beachgoers are from New York, followed by New Jersey. (Did The Jersey Shore party-hearty cast have anything to do with that?) And Americans voted themselves the worst-behaved at beaches. • At a crowded beach, 28% say six feet is the closest acceptable distance to sit next to a stranger; 28% say three feet. And finally, 34% say it is an etiquette violation for a man to sport a Speedo.

21 comments

  • vincemichaels
    •
    13 years ago
    My opinion is well-known as I've publicized the world-known topless beach in Miami Beach. Come on down anytime of the year and enjoy for free the beauty of the world's women.
  • SuperDude
    •
    13 years ago
    Civility, respect and manners are dead in this country. The clearest manifestation of this decline is conduct at public beaches and pools. I watched my daughter, a lifeguard at a public pool in a wealthy suburb during her college summers, struggle to maintain safety and order. Diapered babies were allowed to defecate in the pool and mothers expected the lifeguards to clean it up. Underage drunks smuggled glass bottles into the pool area and called their poltically connected fathers when the booze was confiscated--and got away without a ticket or fine. Smoking pot, blasting music and foul language were common and could not be stopped without major confrontations. Resorts like Hilton Head Island, SC charge for beach chairs. You pay for it and it's yours for the day. Umbrellas were extra. If someone takes it from you, they are escorted off the beach. Or you can bring your own. Some parents might not want their children exposed to topless beaches. Those in favor of toplessess will tell parents that they are prudish and should get over it. Making out on the beach used to be stopped by lifeguards. Don't even try that now. How about homosexual couples making out? If heterosexual making out is OK, then gay making out on the beach cannot be stopped. When drunk teen-aged boys start teasing topless women for being flat chested or top heavy, who will stop them? Is the woman who goes topless asking for rude comments? Boorish behavior is everywhere and lawyers will be looking to sue lifeguards, beach operators, park authorities and others for failing to stop boorish behavior or for using too strong an approach to stop it. UGH! Makes the case for private country clubs--which I know I cannot join.
  • Clubber
    •
    13 years ago
    I do not think it should be allowed. Required, yes! One caveat though. Most any man should have the authority to tell a woman to cover up or get the hell out of sight!
  • Cravey
    •
    13 years ago
    The vast majority of people who visit clothing optional beaches do so not for the nudity but rather the freedom to be.. clothing optional. I'm ok with identifying beaches where nudity is allowed and prohibiting it from other locations. Doing so provides individuals the option of totally grossing each other out by taking off their clothes. And having gone to a couple clothing optional beaches, I can say with certainty that 90% of attendees at these beaches are undressing for reasons other than to impress anyone. I grew up in Austin, Texas and we have a nice clothing optional option: [view link]
  • rl27
    •
    13 years ago
    Yes I do. With the caveat that only the hot ones go topless. There are far too many women out there I would not want to see topless. It's bad enough seeing many of the women on beaches in bikini's I don't want the horror of seeing them topless.
  • dudeanonymous
    •
    13 years ago
    I've been to a lot of topless beaches. Most of the women who visit them should definitely keep their all of their clothes on.
  • gatorfan
    •
    13 years ago
    I think skinny younger girls should go topless
  • newmark
    •
    13 years ago
    I agree with Clubber on the nudity thing. As far as the rest of it, what can you do? We live in a world full of selfish assholes.
  • Rod8432
    •
    13 years ago
    In a word, yes. And what rational reason should they not be allowed to go topless? Men can and toddlers of both sexes can. It's clearly sexist and discriminatory to forbid it. And from my experience, once allowed for awhile, nobody cares.
  • vincemichaels
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    13 years ago
    That is true, Rod8432. It's life as usual on South Beach. Noone cares, except for the few plainclothes pigs in beach gear patrolling. :)
  • SuperDude
    •
    13 years ago
    True story: At Copocabana beach in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, topless is open and acceptable. So open on this public beach, that some sunbathers get topless as soon as they arrive. VW Beetle rolls up to the parking spaces. Two Brazilian hotties get out and start to remove street clothes. After stripping down to bikini bottoms which were under the street clothes all along, they lock up the car, step over the parking lot barrier and strut topless out onto the beach. This was the beginning of the post work day rush at 3:30pm and was repeated many times. My then wife forced my attention back to the newspaper's crossword puzzle.
  • vincemichaels
    •
    13 years ago
    Yes, SuperDude. The unfortunate thing about life in Rio is AIDS is rampant. My buddy used to be sent there on business, and there were so many women he wanted to fuck, but he couldn't bear the thought of getting AIDS.
  • jackslash
    •
    13 years ago
    No. They should wear burkas on the beach. Well, most of the women I see at the mall should wear burkas.
  • newmark
    •
    13 years ago
    There should be a vote by guys on a case by case basis. Let them upload their pics and we can decide.
  • georgmicrodong
    •
    13 years ago
    I'm with Rod. There's no justification, aside from imposition of one's desires on another, by force if necessary, for forbidding the practice. If you don't want to look, avert your eyes. I daresay there's plenty of *guys* that should think twice about taking their shirts off in public.
  • SuperDude
    •
    13 years ago
    VM--I have heard that the highest incidence of AIDS in the Western Hemisphere is in Rio. Also, on my trip back I was seating next to a guy from Boston who had to unburden himself about his troubles. He picked up a topless hottie on the beach, went back to the room, did everything, feel asleep and got rolled. His wallet,company AMEX card and U.S. passport were gone, along with the girl, when he woke up. He had to go through his wife and boss to get replacement documents and the loss had to be explained in sworn affidavits.
  • LeeH
    •
    13 years ago
    You can't have some arbitrary ruling as to who should and who shouldn't. It's not fair, even to the "viewers". Guy A likes itty bitty titties. Guy B doesn't like anything under a DDD. Guy C gets wood every time Krusty the Klown's superfluous third nipple appears on the screen. And to make this more SC-related, guy A would be very happy at most Atlanta clubs these days.
  • vincemichaels
    •
    13 years ago
    OUCH!!! SuperDude
  • jerikson40
    •
    13 years ago
    I agree that Rio is f-in insane. But the difference is that Brazilian chicks are in general incredible. I mean, go the damn mall in Rio and you'll pop a boner, guaranteed. Seeing those girls topless is wonderful. Seeing some old chick with tits sagging to her knees topless is something else all together. Topless beaches need some guy standing at the gate, and admitting only those girls with insane bodies. I've been to a nude beach in the US. It's not pretty.
  • newmark
    •
    13 years ago
    If you want to see topless Brazillians, just go to a strip club in New York.
  • vincemichaels
    •
    13 years ago
    Or go to a strip club in South Florida. Lots of hot Brazilian babes there, also.
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