ExtremeModerate wrote: I've always wondered why America is more tolerant of violence than nudity.
The real question then becomes are we more violent as a nation?
If you look at the murder rate (I did a quick internet search on this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog ... urder-data
) It would appear the murder rate in the US is higher than that of most European countries....
An interesting topic. I'm waiting for a few to jump in here who gave SG such a miserable time for being the woman she is. I fail to understand the skittishness towards nudity. We are all born without clothes... I think. Hummm... just think of all the money that could be saved by not wearing clothes. Being European in upbringing clothes are optional for me if I feel like it. It makes NO fun at Mardi Gras "Show me something"
The violence (murder) data is indeed interesting. One wonders if there is a direct correlation or other factors are in play.
major bean wrote: The reason is that there are very few men and women who are presentable enough to be naked in the U.S. The next time you are at Walmart, let the better half do the shopping and stay in the auto and observe the vast quantities of blubber that waddles in and out of the shopping center entrance. The answer will eventually dawn that we are not prudish, just that without clothing we would be obscene.
major bean wrote: The reason is that there are very few men and women who are presentable enough to be naked in the U.S. The next time you are at Walmart, let the better half do the shopping and stay in the auto and observe the vast quantities of blubber that waddles in and out of the shopping center entrance. The answer will eventually dawn that we are not prudish, just that without clothing we would be obscene.
I think this points to a large part of the problem. Americans grow up with the notion of heavenly bodies, not reality. Age does not foster retention of heavenly bodies. Hence anyone who deviates from that ideal is viewed negatively. Hell, most old men and women simply have disgusting bodies given this perspective. I think we are jaded by our ideals. Americans do have overweight issues, but here are many Europeans who have less than ideal bodies, yet this does not dissuade them form going natural. I think there are fundamental differences in acceptance of what the human body reality is. The human body is ours regardless of shape or age, it remains acceptable.
Rockdoc Franz wrote: I think this points to a large part of the problem. Americans grow up with the notion of heavenly bodies, not reality. Age does not foster retention of heavenly bodies. Hence anyone who deviates from that ideal is viewed negatively. Hell, most old men and women simply have disgusting bodies given this perspective. I think we are jaded by our ideals. Americans do have overweight issues, but here are many Europeans who have less than ideal bodies, yet this does not dissuade them form going natural. I think there are fundamental differences in acceptance of what the human body reality is. The human body is ours regardless of shape or age, it remains acceptable.
Well said!
But I also think that there is a strong taboo against sex and nudity in our society bore out of our strong religious influence. Most of the original "settlers" to the US were fringe religious groups looking to escape persecution in Europe. Violence was tolerated, nudity & sexuality were not.
Rockdoc Franz wrote: I think this points to a large part of the problem. Americans grow up with the notion of heavenly bodies, not reality. Age does not foster retention of heavenly bodies. Hence anyone who deviates from that ideal is viewed negatively. Hell, most old men and women simply have disgusting bodies given this perspective. I think we are jaded by our ideals. Americans do have overweight issues, but there are many Europeans who have less than ideal bodies, yet this does not dissuade them form going natural. I think there are fundamental differences in acceptance of what the human body reality is. The human body is ours regardless of shape or age, it remains acceptable.
Well said!
But I also think that there is a strong taboo against sex and nudity in our society bore out of our strong religious influence. Most of the original "settlers" to the US were fringe religious groups looking to escape persecution in Europe. Violence was tolerated, nudity & sexuality were not.
No question. Our morality views have their roots in religion and what you identify is of paramount importance.
