The Naked rambler

The "naked rambler" never gave up walking about with nothing on bar a rucksack, year after year. Trudging across the countryside from town to town with all on clear display. The cold would deter most folk. As too the endless cycle of being arrested and being repeatedly locked up for months at a time. Despite the challenges, the rambler has been making an enduring stand for freedom.

It seems preposterous that someone who is not really doing any harm to anyone else, would be incarcerated over and over. There is the issue of disgust, sexual misdemeanours and hygiene to consider.

Hygiene is a serious problem. If lots of people went about naked, there would be a major health issue to contend with. Nudist camps insist you have your own towel to sit on and a similar policy and respect for others is needed in the great outdoors too. We really don't want even microscopic amounts of faecal matter cloying seats. The owners/managers of any property have the right to decide the dress code. Rights of entry always override any personal dress preference. Hence most establishments can legitimately insist that certain levels of clothing must be worn if someone wanted to enter. Public transport would be the same. Prior permission to enter nude would always be needed and I am sure plenty would refuse. For the building where permission is granted to enter naked, they would have measure in place to deal with the hygiene problems. You have to assume that people would not want you entering a shop or office naked unless you contacted them prior. Further issues would relate to sitting on public benches and in bus stops etc.

Our genitalia has a dual purpose. It is not simply for facilitating sexual interactions. Thus prudishness can be misplaced at times. Irrespective of any laws that we may want to enact, we are not discussing the forbiddance of masturbation in public nor sexual displays. We are debating the idea of being a free individual who is allowed to walk about as they were born, accepting our human condition. It is completely normal in many Amazon rainforest communities.

For most parts in the modern world, we are bound by entrenched conformity. We become conditioned, sometimes too conditioned. We tend to accept the status quo. We accept things they way they are - far too often than many would like. Pushing the boundaries of the norm is not worth the effort for most. Some do make themselves stand out with bizarre vivid clothes and adornments. Hence a cynic would be right to apply a label of attention seeking to someone who is a determined public nudist. Nevertheless, being permitted to wear any clothes of our choosing is a quite popular ideal. We have some expectations drummed into us of what clothing fits each occasion. We instinctively adjust it to fit the time and place in order to appease those around us.

Many will raise an eyebrow or two then someone enters the scene with clothing that is rather revealing, let alone being on a walkabout stark naked. Whether completely naked or near enough bar a thong, it stirs opinions. Many people think they are inviting trouble on themselves. A greater source of dismay, is that too many are quicker to blame the victim of some assault, rather than expending time and resources tracking down and chocking off the culprits.

On aggregate people are invariably more attractive with clothes on than without. As a result, I doubt that many will start taking their clothes off and copying the naked rambler en masse. Most people will jump to the impact it has on children. We feel that they should be shielded at all costs from our animal characteristics. We feel embarrassed and guarded with children around. Yet children learn by copying and frequently get their disgust from us. Whilst they may find it amusing and will be rather curious, the probability of them being harmed in any way by seeing someone walking by naked is pretty negligible. If it became a common sight the novelty would soon wear off. It seems that the adults are more squeamish than the youngsters. It is not to be confused with 'flashing' or other blatant displays that are disturbing. They are violating the decency we expect of others.

The freedom to govern our own attire would be a desirable aim. How we behave in any level of nakedness is a different issue. If feels wrong in my opinion to arrest and detain a person for being in their birthday suit. The walking and roaming is far removed from any sexual act. I accept that others are bound to push the boundaries of decency if this was permitted. Would some start 'fiddling' with themselves if this naked freedom was granted? It complicates things. However, the world is a complex place and enforcing minimum dress requirements is an attempt to make things more black and white.