h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Woo!

I think the Dutch merchants used English crew's and took a few British ships as payment

But the main thing is, where the merchants naked when they sailed down the Thames?

Probably not, unless the captain told them that was the official sailors uniform, or else...

at least you didn't mention Italian courage...

Theres a bloke in London who keeps getting arrested for wondering around naked. Hes quite well-known but I can't think of his name!

That'll teach The Count for not logging on. Not that he'd be in a position to disagree.

I know I'm one of those that always gets things off-topic, but I think we should get back to nudity. Of course that is one of those things I always get the topic to turn to usually. But I am curious about people's opinions on this.

Apparently it's classed as behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace. So we are responsible for other people's behaviour? It ain't right! Hmpf, arrested before a crime has been commited. Wrong wrong wrong!

My mum trained as a biologist and watches animal programmes. She also thinks it is obscene for humans to go naked?! As she believes its okay to watch naked animals but not humans, I think shes a pervert!

I think nudity is fine, in fact I used to go to nudist beaches and sports clubs when in Plymouth. A friend invited me to one in London, but it sounded very seedy, and then he made a pass at me! So I've given up now!

Without Dutch courage, probably not. I am, however, in the habit of opening the curtains and then getting dressed - not because or despite of anyone watching (gr?), just that I don't feel self-conscious about it. I always make sure I face the wall though.

One good reason not to run naked: too blasted cold!

There are dress codes everywhere you look: whether formal or informal, the difference is is that the naked one is formalised by law.

I may be wrong but I've heard it told that it's perfectly within a persons rights to walk down the street naked and it is only considered a breaching of the peace if someone makes a complaint. If you wander down the high street wearing nothing but a smile, and everyone is quite happy with you doing it then you can do it to your hearts content ... as I said, I may be wrong but I think this is the case in the UK.

But what about the beach for example. If you're there it's probably not because you're too cold. And sitting in shorts and t-shirt in your garden and sweating just seems stupid.

I may be wrong but I've heard it told that it's perfectly within a persons rights to walk down the street naked and it is only considered a breaching of the peace if someone makes a complaint. If you wander down the high street wearing nothing but a smile, and everyone is quite happy with you doing it then you can do it to your hearts content ... as I said, I may be wrong but I think this is the case in the UK.

but who'd want to go naked round here anyway? it's freezing, the goo's blue!

My garden gets nice and warm when it's sunny. I'd sunbathe naked if my neighbours didn't keep ringing social services.

The nude protester you were thinking of is Vincent Bethell - who regularly gets arrested for "behaviour likely to lead to a breach of the peace" when he appears naked in public.
His campaign is called the Freedom to be Yourself - in Jan 2001 he appear in Southwark Crown Court and was cleared of being a public nuisance by the jury - he had however spent the previous 5 months in solitary confinement in Brixton Prison because he would not wear clothes.
(information from a search on the BBC news site & google).

I personally do not see what the problem is with being naked in public or private and cannot understand why anyone would be offended by the sight of my (or anyone elses) unclothed body. Nudity per se is not sexual - so that cannot be the establishments hang up - or is it just because it will be harder to categorize us if we dont wear clothes.

They call social services for you sunbathing naked in your own garden? Sheesh, and you're not even one of those fat germans we have on our beaches

experiment: how quickly will this post get moderated?



first ever nude h2g2 meet is planned! meet in trafalga square, avoid the pigeons.