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TealCuttlefish
08/24/09

In reply to Dare To Bare
If I were to go topless, I don't think anyone would be titillated. I'm nearly 50, fat, and have one saggy, tired breast. I'm not sure whether the floppy boob or the mastectomy scar would draw more stares!
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Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
08/24/09

@TealCuttlefish: but the physical 'condition' of one's breasts is really beside the point, do you not think?
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TealCuttlefish
08/24/09

@Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith: In my opinion, definitely. In the opinion of the voyeurs, not so much!
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lavenderstain
08/24/09

In reply to Dare To Bare
In Canada, we have the right to bare chest(s), but not many of us utilize it.

While this is an equality issue

- Canadian Supreme Court ruled in the 1990s that based on our Charter's requirement that people not be discriminated against based on sex or gender, obsenity laws preventing women from going topless were illegal-

Its also a cultural issue. Most women I know dont go topless because they are afraid of being harrassed, yelled at, or even stared at in the streets.

So while, the law may progress, the culture still binds us.

unoftunately.
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Lymed
08/24/09

In reply to Dare To Bare
The NY courts ruled in the early 90's that it was unconstitutional (per the state constitution) to outlaw only women from going topless. So all state property women are allowed to be topless unless they are being "lewd" or using their nudity to advertise. I don't remember much of any change afterward, no sudden topless bathing at the beach. (I promise the whole post on this appeared while I was typing this comment)
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JuliaStepchild
08/24/09

In reply to Dare To Bare
what is the point of 'activism' on this issue? men haven't stopped sexualizing breasts, so it's not like they are going to see it as as issue of equality.
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greengrey
08/24/09

@JuliaStepchild: Men also haven't stopped sexualizing legs, butts, torsos, or most of every part of a female.
Burqas on the beach? Either make men cover up, or make the law equal.
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lavenderstain
08/24/09

@JuliaStepchild: this isnt about how men view us.

its about Fairness and Equality. I want to have the same rights as they do, I want equal rights for ALL.

if they can bear their chest, I should be able to do so as well.

I shouldnt be LEGALLY (or socially for that mater) prevented from doing something because of what i have between my legs (or chest).
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Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
08/24/09

@JuliaStepchild: Because, technically, a breastfeeding woman can still be arrested or fined for committing an indecent act in the US and most of Canada?
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JuliaStepchild
08/24/09

@HeatherNumber1: they don't seem to be taking up breasfeeding in public, which i support, as an issue, just toplessness. i suppose since it it legal to be topless on the beach and in the park in NYC, i take it for granted, but honestly, i'm surprised at the "this isn't how men view us" response. i never said it was--my point was that men have just as much responsibility as promoting equality as we do.
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JuliaStepchild
08/24/09

@lavenderstain: actually, lavenderstain, i believe men can and should take more part of promoting fairness and equality, so i do include men in my thoughts on this.
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JuliaStepchild
08/24/09

@greengrey: burqas on the beach is a bit bombastic, and of course, far from what is happening or would happen in the US. naturally, toplessness should not be illegal, but it sucks that the social paradigm is such that men would completely miss the point of this protest and simply think "naked boobs!"
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staryberry
08/24/09

In reply to Dare To Bare
I was at Venice beach yesterday and the whole thing sounded more feminist than it was in person. There was a guy MCing who kept making agruments like "Don't you want all this beautiful women to be able to avoid tan lines. Come take a picture guys!" There was a lot of fat-bashing too: "The breasts of a 300 pound man are way more indecent than the breasts of these women."

I have no problem with topless sunbathing but the event left me with a bad taste in my mouth
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Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
08/24/09

@staryberry: Ewwww. What I was afraid of.
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Sputnik_Sweetheart
08/24/09

@staryberry: I also have absolutely no problem with topless sunbathing, but I am generally wary of these types of protests. It always reminds me of how Hugh Hefner and Joe Francis claim they are helping women embrace their sexuality and bodies when really they are just helping men to see boobs. From what you say, it seems like I am right to be apprehensive.
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morninggloria
08/24/09

In reply to Dare To Bare
I don't think that men should be allowed to be shirtless in public, though, so I can't get on board with this.
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GirlFailer
08/24/09

@morninggloria: Just be thankful you don't live in the south, where it isn't uncommon to see a man rip his shirt off as he exits the store he was just in. Just because he has to wear a shirt and shoes in the store, doesn't mean he's going to keep it on outside dammit.
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NefariousNewt
08/24/09

@morninggloria: I'll second that.
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Snowbunny
08/24/09

@morninggloria: Much like the shaved armpits initiative (for men) earlier this week, I would like to sign your bill. Shirtlessness for both sexes is very sexy in private but always feels awkward for me in public.
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morninggloria
08/24/09

@Snowbunny: I have no problem with shirtlessness on beaches, but I do have a problem with shirtlessness on the El train.
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alexa
08/24/09

@GirlFailer:
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Zombie Ms. Skittles
08/24/09

@GirlFailer: I used to work retail in NC and on multiple occasions had to ask someone (a dude) to go back to their car, put a shirt on, and then come back.
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SarahMC
08/24/09

In reply to Dare To Bare
Woohoo! Why is "nipples" in quotes?
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SarahMC
08/24/09

@SarahMC: and capitalized?
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Skellatrix
08/24/09

@SarahMC: I'm really trying to think of an "Explanation" that makes "Sense", but I "Can't."
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SarahMC
08/24/09

@Skellatrix: Let me know If you "figure" it Out.
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Rare Affinity
08/24/09

@SarahMC: Nipples are in quotation marks because exposure of the nipples constitute legal nudity of the breast area. Janet Jackson got into trouble for exposing her nipple not her cleavage however deep. Likewise, that is why dancers wore coverings for the nipples but left the rest of the rest bare. I have no idea why female nipples per se are so contentious.
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BeckySharper
08/24/09

@SarahMC: Sometimes people just don't "get" how to "punctuate."

(also, I love your avatar!)
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bluebears
08/24/09

@SarahMC: weird. maybe thats a key word in the legislation? like the crux of the law is that women must keep nipples covered to avoid being "exposed"?
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SarahMC
08/24/09

@Rare Affinity: That doesn't explain why it's in quotes.
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InCahoots
08/24/09

@Rare Affinity: Probably because they can be used to provide food, and we need to keep that kind of thing on lockdown. See! It all comes back to America's food-phobia.
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Rare Affinity promoted this comment InCahoots was starred InCahoots was unstarred

Rare Affinity
08/24/09

@SarahMC: Surely that exactly what it does do? The quotation marks are probably QUOTING the relevant legislation which makes exposure of the female nipple an offence.
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Rare Affinity
08/24/09

@InCahoots: As male nipples CANNOT do that, you would think their nipples should be kept hidden as they only have a sexual function.
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SarahMC
08/24/09

@Rare Affinity: ?

"Nipples" doesn't have a double meaning. Even if that's what the legislation says, there is no need to quote the word. It's like putting a sign up that says Welcome to the "bagel" shop, when the shop does, in fact, sell bagels.
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
08/24/09

@SarahMC: I'm going to start saying "welcome to the bagel shop" whenever I expose my breasts.
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InCahoots
08/24/09

@Rare Affinity: Did you know, they actually can. I wish I had the article bookmarked, but it turns out that if necessary a man can start lactating. I think it has to be a very serious circumstance. For example, say a man and woman get snowed into a cabin with their child and the woman (who had been breastfeeding) dies. Some sort of instinctual need can kick in and the man can produce milk to feed his child.

It sounds crazy, and I'm skeptical until I know someone it's happened to, but I thought that was pretty cool.
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SarahMC
08/24/09

@Grim Reaper of the Forest: "Would you like some lox with these?"
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Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
08/24/09

@SarahMC: Send it to the "blog" of "unnecessary" quotation marks!

[www.unnecessaryquotes.com]
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Rare Affinity
08/24/09

@SarahMC: The sign writer believes feels there IS a need to use quotation marks and draw specific attention to the word nipples. As it is their sign, that is all that matters.
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dreamweave
08/24/09

In reply to Dare To Bare
What a titillating idea.
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sassy
12/30/08

In reply to Oi Oy Oi
i got my nipples pierced at 20 and good lord if i had got them done any younger i'd probably have lost both of my boobs to a horrible flesh-eating infection. i am barely careful enough for them now, and it has been ~4 years.

i knew a girl who got her clit pierced at 14, and the most fun she had with it was showing it off to her friends ON THE SCHOOL BUS. what. the. hell.
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cuteasabutton
12/30/08

In reply to Oi Oy Oi
Also Reverend Fred Nile is your typical conservative crazy.
[en.wikipedia.org]
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
12/30/08

@Dr.cuteasabutton.who: He seems like a lovely fellow. /eye roll
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Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni!
12/30/08

@sarah.of.a.lesser.god (and the ovumlord of the rings): @Dr.cuteasabutton.who:

No! Wait You must bear witness the full extent of his Commitment to God, Queen and Country:

[www.cdp.org.au]
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tscheese
12/30/08

In reply to Oi Oy Oi
From what I understand, most professional piercing parlors in the US won't do anything without parental permission if you're under 18. Hell, just to get my cartilage done a few years ago, I had to flash some ID.

I would feel a little bit weird if teens were running up to their parents all "Mom! Dad! Can I pierce my nipples? Okay, can I have a ride to the piercer? And also can you sign this form?" Just...eeegh.
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cuteasabutton
12/30/08

In reply to Oi Oy Oi
I got a tongue and belly button piercing when I was 20 (in Australia), but they are gone now. But at the time it was a huge deal to get piercings, and anyone under 18 could have it done provided you had parental permission. Also there was the usual scaremongering via newspapers and current affairs shows about the dangers of them but as usual those crazy kids just ignored them and now have terrible chipped teeth!
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Eeva
12/30/08

In reply to Oi Oy Oi
Well, when you live in a place called Not Suitable [for] Work, what do you expect?
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Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni!
12/30/08

@Eeva:

As a Victorian(there's been a ridiculous interstate feud with NSW going since forever) I'd never heard that one before! Nice!
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Jack_Burton
12/30/08

@Eeva: When I was there, I don't remember seeing anyone topless at the beaches - but I didn't go "looking" for topless beaches either...
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WaltzingMatilda
12/30/08

In reply to Oi Oy Oi
As an American, topless sunbathing abroad feels AWESOME. I was so timid at first and then realized that everyone was doing it. But... that didn't stop the creepy Italian men from staring. I just kind of got over it and then the next woman would take her top off and I would be old news.
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NefariousNewt
12/30/08

@WaltzingMatilda: Italian men stare at anything. I remember walking through Firenze (also known as Florence) with my wife on our honeymoon and having Italian men checking her out. We were both a little bit skeeved.
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WaltzingMatilda
12/30/08

@NefariousNewt: They are pretty terrible. I do an excellent impression of Italiani using their skeevy pickup line "Che cosa fai stasera?" complete with eyebrow slicking goodness.
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stacyinbean
12/30/08

In reply to Oi Oy Oi
I'd think it was basic law to not allow piercings until 18, though I guess I'm just applying our laws. Also, I think anyone should be able to be topless at the beach. Who the hell cares. It's just a HUMAN BODY.
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Samanthrax
12/30/08

@stacyinbean: Excuse me... don't you know there are chronic masturbators everywhere?? Hiding behind rocks, under sand castles, etc. They love nipples, and you can never be too safe.
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Ascendo_tuum
12/30/08

@stacyinbean: No kidding. I soo wish I could go nude at the beach.

I did hike nude with a group of gay male nudists (and one other woman) a couple years back, and it was AWESOME.
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