patrick.net

The reason that clingy swimsuits that leave nothing to the imagination is ok for women but taboo for men (in the US only) is that in the US, men's bodies are not permitted to have any sexual value. Except if you are in the top 0.5% of male bodies, in which case US women will oooh and aaaah to no end.

And the remaining 99.5% of US men are only permitted to have value in terms of what their body DOES, in terms of producing and providing (and conquering).

On the other had, even a bottom 10% US woman demands that her body has intrinsic value, and will complain bitterly about sexism and misogyny and (especially) "the male gaze" if men instead choose to ogle only the top 20%, say.

And that is the sociology of speedos. I might break mine out this weekend.

one bizarre thing in Germany is if a child is pre-pubescent it's considered perfectly acceptable for them to walk around naked, especially at the beach.

Hey Rin,
When are we going to the Deutschland beaches?

justme says

The reason that clingy swimsuits that leave nothing to the imagination is ok for women but taboo for men (in the US only) is that in the US, men's bodies are not permitted to have any sexual value. Except if you are in the top 0.5% of male bodies, in which case US women will oooh and aaaah to no end.

That's not it at all. It's because in the 90's retired pot bellied Canadians killed that look in this country, wearing Speedos on Hollywood Beach Florida. In Florida a middle aged man in a Speedo is a signal that you are a foreign tourist and is probably loaded. That's good information for both the crooks and the businesses.

The Original Bankster says

one bizarre thing in Germany is if a child is pre-pubescent it's considered perfectly acceptable for them to walk around naked, especially at the beach.

Strategist says

Hey Rin,

When are we going to the Deutschland beaches?

Hmm, I know Rin likes 'em young, but I didn't get the impression that young.

Only when they start attaching tassels and pasties to their privates and twirling them at you, or grinding on you with streaming dicks and sliming pudenda does it become mildly offensive.

Heck, I couldn't go naked that long anyway, I just can't take that much sun or exposure.

My neighbor has an old video of a vacation he took in Germany during the summertime and yeah, at the beach, it is clothed, half clothed or naked, nobody seems to care.

I saw a humorous YouTube video of a guy who "streaked" a Norwegian nudist resort wearing full clothes and gloves. He was chased and detained by a naked posse and told to leave and not come back.

I saw a tall hippie guy on a standup surf board in Santa Cruz yesterday wearing a pretty small speedo type garment. He had the physique for it, so it wasn't offensive, but the old guys with guts that make them look like grote underwear really need to give the world a break, or go completely naked, that would be somewhat more acceptable.

Ceffer says

He had the physique for it, so it wasn't offensive,

See what I mean (first post)? This is how Americans, even some men, think. Women are permitted to wear severely unflattering clothing, including skimpy swimsuits, now matter how similar they are to a hippo.

But if a man does it, it is "offensive".

This is utter bullshit, and symptomatic of a massively flawed culture where women get away with murder (often literally), whereas men are held to impossibly high standards.

Whatever happened to the so-called "equality" of sexes? All we got was women are equal, but men must be 3X better. Absolute bullshit, through and through.

The Original Bankster says

one bizarre thing in Germany is if a child is pre-pubescent it's considered perfectly acceptable for them to walk around naked, especially at the beach.

That is pretty normal even in some third world countries. It is perfectly fine to see kids nude in some places-like say a river/lake beach etc. When one grows up there-one views them as innocent and not in any deviant way. In many such places, there is a rapid change in view when the child hits puberty and then is expected to conform to society. Though in places like Germany-I guess they still go nude!! But American laws are horrible treating a person as a child until they magically reach 18-1 day before and a 19 yr old having sex with this person is child molester. One day after 18 and a group of 90 yr olds can have an orgy with the newly turned 18 yr old and it is perfectly legal . Dumb laws. The gubmnt in every family and every life-controlling every aspect of it.

It's not 18 in every state. There are quite a few which draw the line at 16 for the statutory thing. How does that affect the morality of such actions? In New York it's a crime to bed that 17 yo, but in Alaska it's fine. So which state has the Word of Moral conduct? How can mere geographic location change the morality of an action?

justme says

See what I mean (first post)? This is how Americans, even some men, think. Women are permitted to wear severely unflattering clothing, including skimpy swimsuits, now matter how similar they are to a hippo.

But if a man does it, it is "offensive".

I think both extremes need to cover up a little, so as to not scare the kids.

lostand confused says

justme says

See what I mean (first post)? This is how Americans, even some men, think. Women are permitted to wear severely unflattering clothing, including skimpy swimsuits, now matter how similar they are to a hippo.

But if a man does it, it is "offensive".

I think both extremes need to cover up a little, so as to not scare the kids.

Americans are the most obese. If this is where we're headed, I'm gonna have to renounce my citizenship.

The Original Bankster says

one bizarre thing in Germany is if a child is pre-pubescent it's considered perfectly acceptable for them to walk around naked, especially at the beach.

Coincidentally also a major destination of vacationing catholic priests...

lostand confused says

I think both extremes need to cover up a little, so as to not scare the kids.

Wrong. This is not "scary". It may not be attractive, but it is not
"scary".

Allow me to illustrate(sarcasm alert):

Image2 is judged by many American women as being "offensive", "scary", "icky", "rapey" and the like ("eeeeuuuuwwww!!"):

Image1 is just an average person expressing herself and using her god-given right to wear whatever she pleases without being judged, objectified or ogled.

Double standards much ?

justme says

Women are permitted to wear severely unflattering clothing, including skimpy swimsuits, now matter how similar they are to a hippo.

Well, if it's any consolation, I don't think it's okay. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to wear anything that accentuates one's flaws. Why would anyone want to highlight their least attractive feature? Perhaps the ballet flat is all the rage, but if you have long, narrow feet, they can look like skis. Better a really strappy sandal with a heal to give the impression that the foot is shorter and fatter. If my belly were hanging over itself, I sure as heck wouldn't put on a crop top. Naturally large breasted women aren't especially flattered by a bandeau-style bathing suit top, as it makes them look droopy. But it's a fantastic look on a flatter-chested woman.

The point is there are styles that look better on certain figures. People (men and women) who insist on wearing something that is unflattering on them (because that's what's popular) would be much better off finding a look that suits their specific features -- hiding what's wrong and highlighting what's right. A speedo on a guy who isn't in fantastic shape is a mistake. As for Miss Stars and Stripes up there, there are no words (yikes!).

justme says

Image1 is just an average person expressing herself and using her god-given right to wear whatever she pleases without being judged, objectified or ogled.

Who in their right mind would ogle at that??

turtledove says

The point is there are styles that look better on certain figures.

Sure, but that is NOT the point. The point is that in the US, men are held to impossibly high standards, and women are not.

turtledove says

A speedo on a guy who isn't in fantastic shape is a mistake.

It may be a minor fashion blunder, but in the US it is being deemed "offensive" and "scary" and all those other words I mentioned. And only when it is men making the blunder, not when women do. If a woman makes the equivalent blunder, she is just an "empowered woman" who is "celebrating her womanhood", no matter what shape it has. The level of demonization of men and the level of double standards is, to use that same word, OFFENSIVE and harmful.

Animals are good-they never differentiate between genders and have no problem calling a spade a spade.

The Original Bankster says

one bizarre thing in Germany is if a child is pre-pubescent it's considered perfectly acceptable for them to walk around naked, especially at the beach.

No, you're thinking of the Vatican.

lostand confused says

Love him in StarWars. I cried when his rancor died.

Maybe you aughta geta room and change your panties before they bleed out into your outer garments...

justme says

This is utter bullshit, and symptomatic of a massively flawed culture where women get away with murder (often literally), whereas men are held to impossibly high standards.

speak for yourself.

justme says

lostand confused says

I think both extremes need to cover up a little, so as to not scare the kids.

Wrong. This is not "scary". It may not be attractive, but it is not

"scary".

I love it when you illustrate your points.....

turtledove says

The point is there are styles that look better on certain figures.

And, just on cue, Huffington Post publishes one of their endless affirmations of womanhood: Every Woman Has a Bikini Body

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tony-posnanski/every-woman-has-a-bikini-body_b_5154818.html

Would someone please hold their breath while we wait for the accompanying article named "Every Man Has a Speedo Body" ?